Sky Light, Sky Bright [Munnar, February 1st]

We have seen the most marvelous skies here in Munnar. Perhaps it is because we are at about 6000 feet above sea level, with relatively clear air and very dark surroundings, but most is just dumb luck. When we first arrived we had a full moon-lit ride along the twisting road from Munnar to our resort, and it was our first glimpse of the groomed slopes of the tea plantations. We made mental note then of the fact that the moon would be fully waned around the time we would be leaving.


January 22 Sunrise (We DO get up before 10 AM.)



February 1 sunrise



This morning we awakened before 6 AM, and I peeked out between the curtains to see if the world was still there. The birds had not yet begun their morning cacaphony, but I could hear a cock crowing in the village way below. The very first shreds of dawn were appearing along the hilly horizon but it was still dark overall, and low in the eastern sky was a magnificent, huge “old” moon. There was just a fingernail of light, but the whole shadowy orb was clearly visible in the early morning sky. The stars were still out and above the moon was a brilliant planet, ablaze with light. It was a magnificent sight, and I called Dean to come and look. We got out the binocs and cameras, and did our best to capture the sight of the moon, which was rising quickly and thus becoming smaller as we watched. The dawn light was expanding and stars were fading quickly. We crawled back into bed to warm our chilly feet.



About 6:30 I got up again, got dressed and prepared to watch the sun rise over the mountains. Dean was anxious that I take a photo exactly as the sun rose above the horizon, since he had done so on our first morning here and the sunrise has progressed northward by several mountainous notches in the two weeks we have been here. Sure enough, we now have photo-documentation of this little observed fact!



February 1 40 minutes after sunrise.  Where did the sun go?

Yesterday we had noticed “sun dogs” on both sides of the sun, seen in the thin wisps of cloud a few minutes after sunrise. We were laughing to think that they appear here when we are accustomed to thinking of them as a cold-weather phenomenon. Today again, through the thin morning wisps of cloud, we saw not two but three sun dogs, one on each side and one above the sun.

Once again it reminds us that there is so much to admire if one has both the time and the opportunity just to look, see, wonder, and have socks to keep your feet warm.

January 17 moonrise



Feb 1 Moon rise