Moonset – Playa San Miguel, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
There’s something primal about being immersed in absolute darkness while gaping skyward at the universe around us. A full moon casts its spell over the landscape while we bask in its magic. Meteors dart from one quadrant of the sky to another, as if playing Hide & Go Seek. Witnessing the sun’s arrival while the moon slinks beyond the horizon is worth the sacrifice of normal slumber.
How thoughtful that the sun and moon coordinated their rendezvous eclipse at sunset! (Costa Rica) (Image copyright Lisa Brunetti)
Many times in Costa Rica, my friends and I have celebrated the random eclipses and meteor showers. Conversations between friends entertain us, but how beautiful it is to stare skyward in collective silence until a meteor sizzles through the scene and prompts exclamations of wonder!
This weekend’s annual Perseid meteor shower peaks on Saturday night and early Sunday morning. If your local weatherman forecasts clear skies, why not plan a star-gazing evening? Go to bed early and awaken at midnight for the best opportunity for a memorable evening; as we pass through an old path of the Swift-Tuttle comet, specs of dust, metal and stone transform into shooting stars!
When I lived in Costa Rica, I often strung a hammock between two leafless trees and enjoyed the annual Leonids each November. For four or five days I counted hundreds each night until eventually I questioned, “Just how many meteors does one need to see?!”
Last night I ventured outside around 1, only to see the usual band of clouds that often shrouds the equator. Each night is worth a peek, and I hope that one of these years I’ll witness one of those rare meteor storms of hundreds per hour. I certainly don’t want to hear, “While you were sleeping, the star watchers of the world witnessed a rare meteor storm!”
While you were sleeping – Sunrise at the Estero/Playa San Miguel, Costa Rica
Counting meteors while being immersed in nature, surrounded by the universe, and tapping into the quieter side of one’s soul awakens our senses; why not plan an outing to the closest dark corner of your world! Witnessing the event with friends magnifies the experience!
May your skies be clear on Saturday night, and may your evening be streaked with meteors! Z
Embracing Dawn – Playa San Miguel, Costa Rica
Look what I have been missing. A beautiful reminder.
Great! Hopefully someone in this great big world will experience a wonderful evening with the meteors! Z
Beautiful!!
Moonset, eclipse, meteors showers… How can I forget all these? Your beautiful story reminded me of when I was younger where I would just stare at the stars, the moon, even catch some falling stars during long hours of blackouts. They were happy, simple memories. Thank you. Your beautiful post, words and images made me realize that even today, I can still see the magical night spectacle. All I need is to look!
I always embrace power outages, as there’s no light pollution to hinder star-gazing opportunities. One never forgets those peaceful moments when gazing up in wonder at the mystical universe!
Thanks so much for your insightful comments. Z
Spectacular visions of peacefulness.
Thank you so much! Z
Great photos Z!
Hey Lisa, I am sending my husbands e mail address, he loves reading the blogs from you. I wish I had more time on this earth, I would love doing what you are doing. If you ever get back to Natchez PLEASE come and stay with us here on Buffalo, we are 30 min. South of Natchez near Woodville.
When a person comments for the first time, WordPress sends a ‘moderation’ notice. What a beautiful surprise you sent, and I will wear a sweet smile the rest of the day! Thank you so much! I am way overdue for a trip back home and it will be great to see you! My dear friend Margaret Byrd might have her feelings hurt if I stayed with anyone except her, but we will work that out whenever I am back in Dixie! Thanks so much! Lisa
I’ve been to town and am now home, though I wondered earlier, “What’s keeping you from an exploratory trip?” Ecuador is so lovely, and I highly recommend staying in a few of the old haciendas of the andes and of course visiting lovely Cuenca.
Maybe you can make that happen! Lisa
How you make me long for the days and times I’ve known when light pollution wasn’t a fact of life. Even though I’m south of Houston proper, the lights from the petro-chemical plants, entertainment venues and shopping areas make star-gazing of any sort nearly impossible. The planetary conjuctions often are visible, but the Perseids? I doubt it.
There are ways to move away from the light, such as the beaches of Galveston, but security is a real concern. A group would be safer, but I never would go by myself for a night of star-gazing. I do have a friend with a beach house – if I’d been more aware I would have arranged to head down the coast to her house. Ah, well. There’s always a next time! I’ll let you have my portion of the shooting stars this time!
How well I remember taking one of Mother’s lounge chairs into the yard and sleeping (or staring skyward) all night beneath the stars! I was lucky to have grown up in the country where light pollution never prevented a chance to appreciate the stars. My sister, Pat, and I often rode horses on full-moon nights. The moon’s light reflected off the sandy loam of the cotton fields, and we could see for miles- magical miles! I wonder why some of us are affected so deeply by our beautiful planet, and others barely notice!
I’ve always thought that the heavens must be incredibly beautiful when viewed from a far-away point no the ocean. If the skies are clear, I’ll count every other meteor for you!
We only get an opportunity when we go into the jungle or to a remote resort. You know what the sky looks like above a big city
. You are truly fortunate to be able to witness these wondrous things so often! And your photos are breathtaking Lisa! Thank you for sharing them with us.
Maybe if there is a collective wish for the skies to be clear here tonight, I’ll count meteors for everyone! ten hours from now I hope to be smiling and X’ing them off as they streak across the sky! Z
(*sigh*) I could so use a nap in that hammock
For sure! That’s a pretty special vantage point for viewing meteors and for leaving one’s worries behind! Z