High Tech Fire Fighter

Welcome to the new Incident Command Vehicle for the Brussels, Union, Gardner (BUG) Fire Department.

The custom ride is designed to be first to respond to an incident.  Not only will it handle communications and logistics; it houses a high pressure, single operator, fire suppression system that breaks down water droplets into a fine mist known as a water mist system.  It works by creating tiny water droplets with a large surface area, allowing them to rapidly absorb heat from a fire and effectively extinguish it while using significantly less water than a traditional fire hose.

With the flip of a switch it also has capacity to lay down foam.

The Brussels Lions Club, local business and individuals contributed funding for this acquisition. 

Brussels Lions rock.
 

October Night Skies

In our part of the northern hemisphere the full moon appearance following the Harvest Moon is  generally known as the Hunter’s Moon.  Its appearance is typically in October - although it can also reveal itself in early November.  Last year it appeared on October 28. 

This full moon is also the third and largest of four consecutive super moons for 2024. It will appear about 6% larger and 16% brighter than a typical full moon.

Before European settlement Native Americans knew it as that time of year when people would hunt deer and other animals to lay-up stores of food for the winter. The Anishinaabe people knew it as the Falling Leaves Moon while the fall bird migration led the Cree to refer to it as the Migrating Moon  With the arrival of lower temperatures it has also been called the Ice Moon or Freezing Moon.  

The October full moon will be at its largest on October 17.  Nevertheless, If you are blessed with cold,clear viewing conditions it should appear full both tonight and tomorrow evening.

From October 2022 - Full Hunter Moon on the left, Jupiter on the right. 

October Night Skies

C/2023 A3 (Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS)

 

Auto exposure (3+sec) and auto stabilization - no tripod. iPhone 14 Pro.

Porch lights were on.  And I used a filter for enhanced color and B&W effect.

I set an alarm and miraculously the clouds parted!  

Bracketed a pile of photos - kept seven.

click on images for closer look

 

Cluck!

Not so sure what to make of this observation but I haven't seen any big bucks on the trail cameras lately.  Have my neighbors killed them already?  Plenty of does, a handful of spike bucks, does with turkeys and brood flocks of turkeys all over the place.  I suppose the acorn crop is an attractant.  Who knows?

 

October Night Skies

Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS (C/2023 A3 to astronomers) has been making an appearance since September.  Between now and the end of the month will be your last opportunity to see this in the night sky before it disappears into the cosmos.  Astronomers believe that this celestial body circles the sun about once every 80,000 years.

Brighter than the planet Jupiter it is easy to spot with the naked eye.  Binoculars or a telescope will enhance your viewing pleasure. 

Finally, was home to catch a photo last evening as the sun set.

Too many trees around here.  Although the foreground lighting from the porch lights is interesting.....

October Night Skies

 Sometimes I Cannot help myself.....

October Night Skies

Our moon is twelve days old today and there's something worth seeing all night long.

Both the moon and planet Saturn will ascend together as they make a close approach (technically called an appulse) in the night sky.  Look for the moon just to the left of Saturn.

Image Credit - Star Walk