Summer Is Gone, Fall Is Here!

Quick moving hurricane Michael took the muggy summer air with him and left Autumn in his wake. And, while Saturday afternoon and evening was classic, clear and crisp fall, the forecast "sunny" Sunday never happened and the week has kicked off with more rain. A warm front working up from the south is the rain reason this morning and will warm and muggy us up today before a cold front tomorrow will sweep it all away and quickly return us to fall, mornings in the 40's and high into the 60's. A few dogwoods are showing some color but the wet, warm, late summer has delayed the leaf change.
A quiet-ish day for quakes, only 3 quakes at or above magnitude 5. After a few big shakes early last week only one big quake at 6.7 on Saturday off Kamchatka. Alaska is a little shaky today with Anchorage rattled with a 4.5 quake and the northwest of the very large state shaken with a 5.3 quake.
If it does clear tonight, check out the thick crescent moon above the teapot of Sagittarius with Saturn sitting as if just poured out of the teapot's spout. The moon will be at first quarter a little after 2pm tomorrow afternoon and Wednesday and Thursday be approaching and then slipping by still quite bright and red Mars, which is parked right in the middle of the flattish V that is Capricorn.  Jupiter is still bright, low in the west after sunset, still hanging between Libra and Scorpio.
The Milky Way was spectacular in the clear, cool air Saturday night but with a brightening moon will be washed out a bit for the rest of the week. The quieter night sky (cooler air is moving less and views are better) of fall and the position of our galaxy make for wonderful views of our galactic home. Check it out, we have several hundred billion neighboring stellar systems, who knows who/what is looking out our way.
The mosquitoes seemed to have slowed and calmed a bit in the cool air, but don't stop for long, they are still out there with plenty of water to continue there year round breeding program. Not a bad idea to have rain gear nearby today, and we are in the season where layers are the clothing setup. Still, it's nice to have to add layers instead of trying to figure out attire to keep from being eaten alive and not have a heat stroke.
It's fall party week here at the tire house: Thursday and Friday, two nights, back by popular demand. And, then a high school reunion Saturday night. Saturday week is the big fund raiser, chickenstock party down in Montpelier. Woooooo!! Lots to do to continue getting ready, hope to seeeeeeeeeeya soon. But, as always, get out and visit your planet, without looking at a phone, Today on Earth.