EDITOR’S NOTE: A “blue moon” is generally understood to be second full moon in a month, a phenomenon that won’t happen again until 2018. But the moon won’t look blue. See Fact Box at right.
HERE ARE TWO THINGS you can do to celebrate tonight’s “blue moon”:
STARS AND PLANETS — Explore the star-filled summer sky with an evening hike.
Led by John Goar of the Olympic Astronomical Society, this “full moon hike,” which is 3 miles round trip, will depart from the Hurricane Hill trailhead, 1.5 miles past the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center, at 8:30 p.m. tonight, with the return to the Visitor Center at about 11 p.m.
The Ridge’s visitor center is 17 miles up Hurricane Ridge Road from Port Angeles in Olympic National Park.
“Please wear sturdy shoes,” said Goar. “A constellation tour will occur at the top of Hurricane Hill.”
Goar’s hikes will be canceled if skies are cloudy. (At the moment they aren’t.)
To check the status, phone the recorded Hurricane Ridge Road hotline at 360-565-3131 anytime after 4 p.m. today.
Free astronomy programs
Next week, Goar is resuming his free astronomy programs at Hurricane Ridge, one of the best light-restricted “dark sky” sites on the Peninsula.
With participants using his telescopes, he shows Saturn and its moons, other planets and stars, globular star cluster M13, the Ring Nebula and the Andromeda Galaxy.
Participants should dress warmly because temperatures can drop into the 30s at Hurricane Ridge.
The program will start at the Visitor Center at 10:15 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 10 p.m. from Aug. 7-14, 9:45 p.m. from Aug. 15-18 and 9 p.m. Sept. 3-6 and 11-12.
The programs are held if skies are clear. For program status, call the park recording at 360-565-3131 after 4 p.m. the day of the program.
While the programs are free, there is a $20 per carload entrance fee to Olympic National Park (good for seven days).
FOR MORE INFORMATION, see our July 5 story: “Get lost in a starry sky! Free astronomy programs at Hurricane Ridge,” https://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20150705/NEWS/307059987
WATCH A COLORFUL HOT AIR BALLOON — Morning Star Balloon Co. owner Captain Crystal Stout is hosting a free “balloon glow” for the public tonight.
A huge hot-air balloon will look “like a giant light bulb” as it floats 50 to 100 feet above the audience.
The event will be at Sequim Valley Airport, 468 Dorothy Hunt Lane, in Sequim beginning at 8:45 p.m. and lasting about 30 minutes.
Bring lawn chairs or blankets to sit on while you watch.
The Morning Star Balloon Team will arrive at 8:30 p.m. and begin operations to set up the hot air balloon “Diamond Sun.”
From the Morning Star Balloon Co.:
“The public is welcome to get an up close and personal view of the inflation as well as the balloon glow.
“A balloon glow (also known as a nite/night glow) is the process of standing up a hot air balloon and instead of flying, it is attached to the ground and when the sky turns from day to night, the balloon lights up like a giant light bulb.
“The lighter the colored fabric, the brighter the hot air balloon seems to glow.
“The burners (or the heaters which throw the 30-foot flame into the envelope) have several valves to heat the envelope.
“The standard use of a burner is to put heat in the balloon for flying by using a “blast valve”. This valve opens, draws propane around a coil, which then shoots a clean and efficient flame.
“The ‘”glow burner’ valve allows the propane to bi-pass the efficiency, shoot raw propane past an ignition source, which allows the the flame to become ‘dirty,’ and provides for an amazing glow effect inside the envelope.
“Weather conditions are forecasting light winds tonight. At approximately 8:45 p.m., ‘Diamond Sun’ will rise up to a height of 50-100 feet, attached to a rope or two — and stay in the air glowing for about 15 to 30 minutes.
“Captain Crystal is celebrating the arrival of the full moon with the balloon glow and is excited about sharing the beauty of flight.
“”I have been asked for years to show people what a balloon glow is all about . . . I decided it was time to make that happen,’ she says.
“‘This is all very spontaneous and should be great as long as Mother Nature does not blow winds our way.’
“She is hoping to make this a regular event with the full moon. Tonight there is just one balloon glowing. However, with sponsorship, we could have a balloon glow at the Olympic Peninsula Air Affaire [festival] on the last weekend in August with many balloons.
“Hot air balloon flights are conducted year long with Morning Star Balloon Co. out of Sequim Valley Airport.
“There is a discounted price of $250 per person during the Olympic Peninsula Air Affaire, Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 29-30, at the Sequim Valley Airport.
“For more information on hot air ballooning, flights and the Olympic Peninsula Air Affaire, contact Captain-Crystal Stout at 360-601-2433 or airboss@nwplace.com.”
