Last Night's Lunar Eclipse Was A Reminder Of Nature's Wonders.

First Hike of the Year: Pinto Valley Loop at Lake Mead

Today, we embarked on our first hike of the year through the stunning Pinto Valley Loop at Lake Mead.

The weather was perfect, staying no hotter than 63°F, which made the experience even more enjoyable.

The landscape was breathtaking, with beautiful mountains and incredible colors surrounding us. The trail was adorned with pretty cactus and intriguing plants with white leaves and tiny red fruits. Although the path wasn't always easy to distinguish, often following a riverbed, the adventure was well worth it.

While the elevation wasn't excessive, it was definitely more noticeable than it seemed at first glance. It took me 7 hours and 35 minutes to complete the hike, but every moment was rewarding.

Feeling grateful for the beauty of nature and excited for more adventures this year!

Today, I had going to Kizuna Japanese Spring Festival: Haru Matsuri, and it was absolutely amazing! 🌸

It was a true journey into Japanese culture, filled with incredible arts, activities, and performances. I shared a special moment with my mom during the Japanese Tea Ceremony, marveling at the meticulous beauty of this tradition. I also discovered something new—the refreshing ice yuzu tea, which I absolutely loved trying.

I love the calligraphic and origami, ikebana, taiko drumming, koto music, yosakoi dancing, martial arts, delicious food.

It was a day brimming with culture and joy!

Thought of the day, Spring's Whisper in the Air

Though the celestial clock has yet to chime the official start of spring at 20:06 tonight, (Pacific time) the symphony of life around us is already tuning up to the melody of the season. #SpringIsHere in every sunbeam and sprouting leaf, and we're all invited to the early show!

Astronomically speaking, we're on the cusp of the vernal equinox, when day and night graciously share the stage in near-perfect balance. The Earth's tilt is about to bring us into a period of equal light and dark.

As we orbit our dependable star, we find ourselves in the embrace of warmer days, courtesy of the increasing angle of the sun's rays. It's a beautiful reminder that our planet's dance with the sun is as rhythmic as it is precise.

So while we count down the hours to the astronomical alignment that heralds the official start of spring, let's not wait to celebrate the changes all around us. The universe doesn't need an invitation to begin anew, and neither do we!

Feel the anticipation in the air? That's the universe conspiring to bring forth blossoms, longer days, and the freshness of a world reborn. Let's step outside and join the cosmic ballet!

Epic Journey Across America!

We passed through the majestic mountains of Colorado, the vast plains of Kansas, the lush Hoosier forests, and the breathtaking Appalachian scenery. Every moment was an adventure, filled with awe-inspiring landscapes and unforgettable experiences.

Here's to new beginnings and the road ahead!

From the high deserts of Nevada to the rolling hills of Virginia, we made an incredible trek! In just 3 days, we covered 2,311 miles in 37 hours and 26 minutes of just driving, witnessing the diverse beauty of this country.

Excited to support the Summer Challenge at Indian Springs Library! Today, I got to explore the wonders of our closest star, the Sun, using my trusty telescope.

I love observing the Sun's surface and its incredible features. From sunspots to solar flares, it's a reminder of the vast and dynamic universe we’re a part of.

Interview with Univision Nevada about the parcial solar eclipse event 2024

Did you know that the Milky Way has over 150 globular clusters?

One of the most striking globular clusters in our Milky Way is Messier 3 (M3) I came across an amazing image of the globular cluster M3 taken with the Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope. For comparison, I share a photo that I have taken through the DWARF II.

Did you know that M3 is a collection of several thousand to millions of stars, all gravitationally bound?

It's approximately 34,000 light-years distant and contains around 500,000 stars!

You can spot it high above the disk of the Milky Way after sunset and before sunrise. Take a look with binoculars or a telescope and see if you can spot T Cor Bor (which is about to go nova, one of these days!)

Just got back from an amazing time at the Death Valley Dark Sky Festival! I had the privilege of supporting the event with my telescope, and the experience was unforgettable.

The skies were incredibly clear and dark on Friday and Saturday nights, perfect for stargazing despite the chilly weather. We had the chance to see Jupiter and its satellite, Mars, Venus, as well as deep-sky objects like M42, M36, M31, M44, and M45.

During the day on Saturday and Sunday, from 10 to 4, I was at the Visitor Center with my solar telescope, observing the Sun.

We welcomed over 1000 stargazers each night and more than 500 visitors during the day. I absolutely love this event and can't wait for the next one!

Last night I caught some stunning shots of the Waxing Gibbous Moon with an impressive 88% illumination. However, I couldn't spot much on Mars' surface—just a little too elusive for my telescope.

I had an amazing time presenting and sharing the wonders of our solar system through a solar telescope at the Bunkerville Library today!

As part of the Summer Challenge Program, we explored the sun's surface, learned about solar flares, and discovered how our incredible star impacts our everyday lives.

It was fantastic to see both kids and adults so engaged and enthusiastic about astronomy. Your curiosity and questions made the event truly special!

Thank you to everyone who came out and participated. Don’t forget to keep looking up and stay curious. The universe has so much to offer!