Wednesday 13 March 2013

A strange red light

Seeing red
Red for stop
Red for danger
Red for courage
This mysterious red light entered our house yesterday. Where was it coming from?
Red for rubies
The morning sun shone brightly into the garden catching the red brake light on our car sitting in the driveway. It then reflected through the study window and bounced on out into the hall creating this wonderful red, pink and blue glow.
Sky-watchers in Europe could catch a glimpse of a visitor from very deep space this week - the comet PanSTARRS, will be bright and visible until March 18th. A lump of ancient ice, it will not be passing by this way again for 75,000 years. If the skies are clear you will be able to catch it at sunset. 

32 comments:

  1. PanSTARRS is a very special visitor indeed. 75,000 years? I'm just getting the same sensation I first had when I tried to get my mind around the concept of infinity when I was a child. It's humbling to say the least.

    I hope you are well and happy, Rosemary.

    Warmest wishes,

    Stephanie

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    1. Dear Stephanie - these concepts are so difficult to understand, I still cannot comprehend infinity - how can something go on and on forever?
      Sending spring greetings to you, and hope that things are warming up in your corner of the world.

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  2. It is good you were home to see the red light. Sometimes I am oblivious to my surroundings. I had a package of cookies and nut bread at the door this morning and have no idea who dropped it off. Not in the same category as your light but I need to pay attention to the driveway.

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    1. Dear Olive - the peculiar light was with us only briefly, but fortunately my camera was close at hand. Within seconds it had gone on its merry way.
      A nut bread and package of cookies is far superior to a red light - lucky you.

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  3. Dear Rosemary, Red, a great color and sometimes not. Will be looking for the comet tonight. We are told to look for it 20 minutes before sunset. Love your photograph of PanSTARRS on top of the mountains. I wonder if it will reflect in my pond? ox, Gina

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    1. If it reflected in your pond that would be a spectacular sight Gina - do have your camera at the ready - I can picture the scene now.

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  4. Hello Rosemary, Those unanticipated side-effects of common objects can be extraordinary. I had a similar mystery light; it turned out that the sun was glinting off the beveled glass in a coffee table and projecting an intense spectrum on the upper walls in a different room.

    I will try to look for the comet, although the skies here have clouded over again.
    --Road to Parnassus

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    1. Hello Jim - the red light was very short lived, but my camera was close at hand. I was really surprised where it came from when I did a hunt to find the source - the driveway is so remote from the hallway.

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  5. How fascinating Rosemary but glad you found out what those red lights were, I know I wouldn't sit still until I'd got to the bottom of it. I'll definitely be looking out for the Comet.
    Patricia x

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    1. There is usually a simple explanation for these little mysteries. I remember once we had a very strange noise in the middle of the night in our bathroom that I could not locate at first. Eventually I discovered a bumblebee in the water cistern and the noise of its wings was resonating down the pipework making a very erie sound.

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  6. How amazing. That the light shone through the room and reflected on your doors, I would have been curious too.
    It's a sign, that spring is on the way. The sun's rays are changing.
    I will be looking out for the comet. Hope I will be able to see it from here.
    Today is our first day in over 3 weeks, that we have had no rain. .. I can feel a slight difference.
    val x

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    1. I suppose the red light lasted less than a couple of minutes, but it took me by surprise, and particularly so when I discovered what was causing it.
      If you have had a good clear day then it is a good chance that you will be able to see the comet.
      On the east side of the country where you visited they have had snow again. On the west side where I live we have not seen any snow but have had lots of sunshine, however, there has been a strong chill in the air.

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  7. Too bad we are back on this side of the pond. I wonder if we can see the comet here?? Will search online.
    Loi
    PS - Are your early spring bulbs blooming? I saw many snowdrops in England last week.

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    1. Not sure about the timing of the comet in your area Loi - plenty of colour in the garden with Hellebores, daffs, snowdrops and crocuses - we were fortunate and did not get any snow in the west of the country.

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  8. Pretty. Enjoy the celestial happenings! x

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    1. Hope we have a clear evening sunset before the 18th.

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  9. That must have been quite a surprise to see the brilliant red light suddenly appear in the house! The photos are quite magical. I have also found it a good idea to have the camera close to hand; you never know what you will find. Maybe the red was signalling the new pope who has just been announced ;)

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    1. That appeals to me - cardinal red!!! or for that matter how about red cardinal?

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  10. the supernatural has an explanation....its not aliens!

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    1. No your right - it didn't hang around very long either.

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  11. Dear Rosemary,

    What great photographs you captured. I'll bet the effect lasted for only 10 or 15 minutes, but your timing was perfect. My parents had a chandelier in their dining room, and they hung a prism in the window. Once — and only once — the light hit the prism so that each tier of the chandelier was a different color. Sometimes timing is everything!

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    1. Dear Mark - today it would be possible to capture the colours you describe on the chandelier with a digital camera, they are great little devices especially if you keep them close at hand.

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  12. Dear Rosemary, wow,what a fascinating red phenomena in your house. Good thing you captured it in your photos. It must be amazing to catch a glimpse of the comet.

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    1. Today we have a wonderful clear sky, so perhaps tonight will be a good chance to view the comet.

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  13. Amazing lights and great pictures of them, Rosemary. It would be fascinating to see a comet! Have a great day!

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    1. Not a cloud in the sky today, so I am all set to look this evening.

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  14. So amazing is the nature of such thing.

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    1. Very curious - I could not make out what it was at first.

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  15. Yes! red for courage too...
    I'll keep looking up dear Rosemary ;)

    (beautiful photos!)

    lovexoxoxo

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    1. How about red for love - red roses and red hearts.

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