On the road again

I'm a couple days into what should be my last long work trip for a long time. Montana this time. This is a busy trip. I'll be in 6 different hotels in two weeks this time, although I'm cooling my heels for four nights in Helena right now.

The weather's been beautiful out here. It's a bit cold at night, but it's been totally clear. On my way out on Monday, the night was clear enough and the moon bright enough that I was still able to see all the mountains around me, which makes for much better night driving.

Speaking of the moon, I've monitored the eclipse from my window this evening. It looks like the moon is going to make it. I tried to check out Saturn's rings too, but my little binoculars were no match for the distance.

I'm pleasantly impressed with the radio on the new minivan they gave me for this trip. I've been able to find something to listen to for almost all of the trip, even picking through the mountains. I do admit, however, that at one point I had to choose between James Dobson of Focus on the Family yammering on about something and loud angry music. I went with Metallica, Ministry, and Tool, along with a bunch of more recent bands I'm too old to recognize.

All in all, this isn't too bad a trip, as far as trips go. Montana has some beautiful scenery, and if you have to travel, this isn't too bad a choice. Plus, unlike Hawaii, I appear to be healthy this time. That helps a lot.

Another Strange Map: Solar Eclipses

This is another fun map from Strange Maps, although the graphic is actually from NASA. (Click on it for a much larger, readable version.) It shows all total solar eclipses that will occur between 2001 and 2025. It looks like Oregon is in luck in 2017, although I think we may have to scoot a little south of Portland for the full effect. It's only 10 years out. It that too far to plan? (I don't know Dave, what are you doing later this afternoon? Huh?) Maybe 10 years is a stretch, but it's still cool to look forward to it.

On a side note, the predictability of astronomical activity has always amused me. Scientists can tell me exactly where to be in a thousand years to catch a particular lunar eclipse, but they can't tell me with any kind of certainty whether or not it's going to rain tonight.