Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Emergency services Since You Asked: You got pups? We got paper Mail Tribune 100 Get Up & Go: Nov. 29 Wrap Up, Nov. 28 Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services Wrap Up, Nov. 28 Former Central Point residents accused of abusing their adopted children Homemade bomb found inside stolen car after arrest of fleeing transient Police gain a clue in pumpkin smashing spree Politics and Elections Buckley again named Ways and Means Committee co-chairman Latest count shows Measure 92 supporters narrowing deficit Granlund cartoon: GOP wrecking balls Ballot measures played little role in mobilizing voters in state Senate race 'Euphoria' over pot initiative Education Homelessness is growing problem for Medford students Les AuCoin recommended for SOU board Good news for SOU: Enrollment's up Mom gives school lobby a makeover Crater students present play about Thoreau's night in jail Environment Hawks use I-5 as hunting ground Curbing urban runoff in Gold Hill Mt. View Estates' fill, riprap work lacked county permit Birders sought for bird counts Grow 'em before you plant 'em State News Bill would tighten limits on license plate readers UO teaching assistants prepared to strike Growers cheer higher Christmas tree prices Police dog fired for poor performance Turkey's great escape foils Thanksgiving plans Nation - World Grand jury won't indict Ferguson cop in shooting Obituaries Earle Morgan Swift Jr. Death Notices Lue K. Woolstenhulme Mary "Janet" Kimmons In Appreciation Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Sports Latest Stories Grizzlies snap Blazers’ streak Spurs win second straight without Popovich Kaminsky, Badgers kings of Atlantis Green light Chalmers leads Australian Open; McIlroy shares second Varsity 541 College Sports Kaminsky, Badgers kings of Atlantis Green light No. 12 Arizona takes Pac-12 South Western Kentucky edges No. 19 Marshall — 67-66 — in OT Texas A&M fires defensive coordinator Pro Sports Grizzlies snap Blazers’ streak Spurs win second straight without Popovich Chalmers leads Australian Open; McIlroy shares second Ray Rice wins appeal; suspension vacated Sherman’s big night leads Seattle past 49ers again Community Sports RESULTS/STANDINGS LOCAL EVENTS Business Latest Stories Blog: 'Twas the 12 Days of Deals... Asante expands cardiac center Jackson County sees workforce and job growth Regional hotels and motels outperformed statewide marks in October Incorrect labeling prompts Kroger ice cream recall Real Estate News Dear Monty: Violation of HOA rules creates conflict Farmers file suit over GMO crop ban Financial webinars offered for veterans and their families Home prices rise across Jackson County People In Business People in Business, Nov. 18 People in Business, Nov. 8 Transportation Allegiant Air will resume Medford-Phoenix service May 22 Medford airport passenger counts sky high in October Erickson reports third quarter profit Agriculture Farmers file suit over GMO crop ban Lawsuit seeks to overturn Jackson County's GMO ban or net $4.2 million for farms Latest count shows Measure 92 supporters narrowing deficit Opinion Latest Other Views: Klamath Basin agreement deserves approval Granlund cartoon: Holiday boxes Kent Bush: Ferguson case shows racism belief system still reinforced Maddocks: Republicans claim president overstepped his constitutional powers in pardoning turkeys Amy Gehrt: Justice is not color-blind Editorials Other Views: Klamath Basin agreement deserves approval Our View: Cheers (too thankful for a jeer this week) Our View: Day of abundance, season of sharing Another View: Logging still has a place in Oregon Our View: Lawsuit reopens the GMO debate Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Nov. 28 Letters to the Editor, Nov. 27 Letters to the Editor, Nov. 26 Letters to the Editor, Nov. 24 Letters to the Editor, Nov. 23 Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Are we the preferred path to global devastation? Guest Opinion: Fight for the rights of independent voters will continue Guest Opinion: 'Natural' not necessarily better for forest management Guest Opinion: County voters rebuffed judicial appointment process Fix health care reform, don't scrap it Lifestyle Latest stories Barry Lewis: When in America, do as the Romans do Frank Talk: It was all just a dream Facing Extinction Looking Up: Orion, a starry friend, returns Fishing through readers' stream of consciousness Food Community blog: In soup or salad, savor pumpkin with leeks Be a gravy-making star on Thanksgiving Food for Thought: Add new twists on Thanksgiving favorites Community blog: Feast on this blog's Thanksgiving recipes, tips Kitchen Call: Both sides of the kiddie table Home and Garden 9 ways to green your gift wrap Dear Monty: How to find a good real estate attorney Home Help: Quick tips for getting your home ready for the holidays Mortgage insurance: Your questions answered Home Help: Spruce up your home with quick DIY painting projects Health Health Watch: Fuel up on carbs before workouts Health insurance enrollment help available Community blog: Appreciating Clouds: Year-Round Gratitude Community blog: A Little Toilet Talk 'Tis the season to be jolly Hiking Biking Faith Religion news: Pope aims to expedite sex abuse rulings Religion news: Seattle-based mega-church dissolves Religion Briefs 'Walk the talk' Religion briefs Milestones and Achievements ACCESS receives $50,000 donation from Wells Fargo Wedding: Rogers-Horn Century Club Wedding: Tomlinson-Nowak Local farmers need more products in grocery stores Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Brunch at Loft Brasserie 2014 Providence Festival of Trees A grand illumination at the Commons Lighting up memories Jacksonville's Victorian Christmas Theater OCT's holiday show is a wonderful play New 'Alice' has some for kids ... and adults 'It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play' opens at Oregon Cabaret Theatre 'Red Noses' a romp through slapstick and pathos SOU presents 'The Drunken City' Music Shae Johnson releases 'Can You Feel the Music' Jeff Kloetzel releases 'Long Time Coming' A new guitar slinger in town Peter Chianca: Top 40 songs even a dad could love The Farr Side: Different artists, common songs Community Events 2014 Providence Festival of Trees A grand illumination at the Commons Lighting up memories Jacksonville's Victorian Christmas New exhibits highlight Third Fridays Dining Brunch at Loft Brasserie The Bohemian Club Thanksgiving comes early at Taprock Word of Mouth: Brunch at Brothers' Restaurant Blue Toba is a cultural experience Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Homemade bomb found inside stolen car after arrest of fleeing transient ... Police gain a clue in pumpkin smashing spree ... Neglect leads list of adult care facility failings ... Homemade bomb found inside stolen car after arrest of fleeing transient ... Police gain a clue in pumpkin smashing spree ... Neglect leads list of adult care facility failings ... Looking Up: Orion, a starry friend, returns By Peter Becker More Content Now MailTribune.com By Peter Becker More Content Now Posted Nov. 28, 2014 @ 9:19 am By Peter Becker More Content Now Posted Nov. 28, 2014 @ 9:19 am » Social News The other night while walking with my wife, we were delighted to run into an old friend. He's not the type of literal friend like a human relationship can provide, and unlike a cat or dog, this one doesn't even purr or wag its tail. Still, he’s very faithful, and I've seen him every year about this time for over 40 years since I someone pointed him out. He only shows up at night and only when it's clear. Another star-watcher? Not really! One last hint: He has a shining belt, a tight waist, carries a sword and has a bright foot and a shoulder that glows red. Give up? He is a constellation, Orion the Hunter. All of the 88 constellations of the night sky are fanciful, imaginative pictures made out of the combinations of stars. The starry realm, of course, is oblivious. The constellations as we know them are only valid as seen from Earth and our solar system. If an astronaut travelled only a few light years to the nearest stars, there would begin to be small but noticeable shifts among some stars and our favorite star patterns would start to distort. It would be interesting, though, if one could dart about the galaxy and watch Orion, for example, start to shift about. Picturing the constellation as a mythological hunter, we might imagine him in motion as our moving starship reveals the starry placement in three dimensions. From our two-dimensional view aboard the Earth, Orion seems to never change. We can enjoy Orion rising in the east around 8 p.m. in late November/beginning of December every year. By mid-December, Orion will be seen rising an hour earlier. As seen from mid-northern latitudes, Orion appears to rise at about a 40 to 45 degree angle, his starry “feet” kicking up first, brilliant white Rigel leading the way and marking the bright “foot.” The three famous stars of the “belt” seem to be almost straight up and down when soon after clearing the eastern horizon. The “sword” stars, with the fuzzy Great Nebula of Orion in the middle, are just below the belt. Orion seems to be leaning back as he rises. The bright reddish-orange star Betelgeuse marks the shoulder on your left. While looking at Orion as it rises, look further up for the bright orange red-orange star Aldebaran seemingly connected to a V-shaped star cluster known as the Hyades. Right above that is the marvelous and more compact and bright star cluster, the Pleiades. This is just a taste of the starry splendor before you. As December opens, you will need to wait until about 1 a.m. to see Orion at its highest, due south. You must wait until the end of January to see Orion due south as early as 9 a.m. Orion is typically associated with frigid winter nights, for those of us not living (or “snow-birding”) in the far south. Hopefully evenings in late fall will be a bit more mild, encouraging more people to stroll outside and see their familiar stellar “friend” we know as Orion. Full moon is on Dec. 6: another faithful “friend.” Even the bright moonlight fails to wash out the bright stars of Orion. Notes are welcome at [email protected]. Keep looking up! By Peter Becker More Content Now MailTribune.com By Peter Becker More Content Now Posted Nov. 28, 2014 @ 9:19 am » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2014 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501