Hours of Operation
Open Daily: 10:00am - 5:00pm
Closed: New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day
Call Us: (800) 991-2338
(509) 427-8211
Questions?: email us
Address Information
Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center Museum
990 SW Rock Creek Drive
P.O. Box 396
Stevenson, WA 98648
Driving Directions
Gorge Skies 4-7-10
On the 17th of March the planet Venus could be seen above Table Mountain, confirming that Venus can now be considered part of the Gorge’s evening skies.
Venus had finally made its transition from the morning skies and had climbed far enough above the Gorge’s western mountains to be seen after the Sun had set.
Since that time very little of the evening skies have been seen because of the wave after wave of Pacific weather fronts that have rolled in over the Gorge leaving behind the needed rain and snow that makes the Gorge what it is.
This week Mercury joins Venus in the western evening skies, and if the clouds dissipate enough, we might be able to see the rare view of Mercury in the evening skies. The two planets will be side by side as they make their way down to the western horizon.
The planets can be seen with the naked eye, but binoculars will bring them up close and much easier to find.
On the 15th of April, a two-day old waxing crescent moon will also help you spot Mercury. On that evening the Moon will be just above Mercury, and although Mercury will be closer to the horizon, the Moon will help you locate it.
By this time Venus will have risen higher, and no doubt will be shining brightly in the twilight glow above Mercury and the Moon.
April has now descended upon us, and with it comes the wild flowers from one end of the Gorge to the other, and from river level to the heights of the surrounding mountains. It always seems to be a magical time of the year, and it always leaves me wondering if Ireland can be any greener.
The month April is connected in Roman mythology to the goddess Venus, and this year the connection can be easily made, as the planet Venus will brighten the early evening skies of April. But its brightness doesn’t stop in April, Venus will continue to brighten our evening skies throughout our summer, and only in the fall skies of October will it leave us to return to the morning skies.
April also brings with it a full night’s view of Saturn, and although not as bright as Venus, it is still brighter than nearby stars.
Mars is already at mid-sky when the sun sets, but it has lost most of the brightness it had earlier in the winter. Mars continues to fade and grow smaller as it falls behind the faster Earth in its orbit.
As you read this article the space shuttle Discovery will probably be at the International Space Station, as it is scheduled to launch on Monday of this week. Aboard will be Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger a former teacher at Hudson Bay High School in Vancouver.
Discovery will carry a multi-purpose logistics module filled with science racks for the laboratories aboard the station. The mission has three planned spacewalks.
As we get further into April, weather patterns should start shifting, and hopefully we will start into the milder, clearer skies that make star-gazing a treat in the northwest.
Post Comments
Be the first one to leave a comment, use the form below.
Save & Sharing Tools:
Posted on Saturday, April 10, 2010
