the gibbous moon tints

the gibbous moon tints

 the banner of crystal clouds 

with a pink halo

The gibbous moon nestles like an ostrich egg in a circle of pink and white down. How quickly the high cirrus clouds slip away, while the much higher moon continues her slow ascent across the cobalt canopy. The Earth-born Moon, like a grown child, long ago moved away from her mother, but not too far. They remain connected by such a strong, invisible umbilical cord that the Moon never turns her face away from her mother. The clouds are also Earth-born, as is the atmosphere which they inhabit, but they hug their mother closely, afraid of the great emptiness beyond.

ice crystal halo

ice crystal halo

around gibbous moon tinged red --

the air smells like snow

Tonight there's a huge, thick white ring of light around the waxing gibbous moon, caused by a veil of cirrus clouds composed of ice crystals refracting the moonlight. My eyes, but not my camera, can take in the enormous corona. When I hold up my hands spread wide at arm's length, my thumbs meet the red-tinged moon in the middle while my little fingers graze the perimeter of the circle. The space between the moon and this 22 degree ice halo appears darker than the rest of the sky. Down on the ground the air smells like snow.

waxing gibbous moon

waxing gibbous moon

dances half the night away

with a big bright star

Gusty wind again all day. 2012 is coming in like a lion, so perhaps it will go out like a lamb. Just after sunset tonight, Venus appears all decked out in bright splendor, yet she retires early, while the Moon, half full of intoxicating light, dances with her brilliant partner Jupiter until after midnight.