@seansharp

Posts from the “science” Category

Earliest Sunset

Posted on December 13, 2025

We’ve passed the day of the sun setting at its earliest here at 44.05º North. That day was December 10th and now the sun begins to set a tad bit later, which is always welcome. The chart below was done by my pal Whitey Lueck. On his site, he explains it a bit better’n me, but we often nod in recognition of this day. Solstice is nigh! Other things that have been going on are below . . . Cheers! Whitey’s chart / graph of sunrise and sunset times here in Eugene during the winter months. I have this on my wall in my office and I look at it regularly during this time of the year. I was visited by these creatures while…

Florida – part 2

Posted on July 31, 2025

More images from the trip to Florida, earlier in July. We spent two days at the Kennedy Space Center. Truly an amazing place! Each time we went back into an exhibit, we discovered that there was more to see. The Vehicle Assembly Building (or VAB). A wonderful exhibit of the space shuttle Atlantis. We had dinner that evening in Port Canaveral at Rusty’s, sitting across from two Space X Falcon rockets. It rained, it was windy, the food was great and the view was really cool as well.

Running & rockets

Posted on July 2, 2024

This is an overdue update, but it includes some running and a hike to the top of Spencer Butte in South Eugene to watch for the arc of a rocket launch. Firefly Aerospace is launching the rocket from just north of Los Angeles. The images are from last night’s hike, along with some from a bit earlier. I ran a couple of races in the Emerald City Trail Series this year and they often have photographers out on the course taking photos. The shirt is from the Big Timber Running Club that I belong to. Good race, good folks and I look forward to more next year! Hiking up to the top of Spencer Butte last evening. Launch was scheduled for 9:00 pm. It…

Mt. St. Helens, Ducks & Guinea Pigs

Posted on May 19, 2024

44 years ago on the 18th of May, I was camping with my Boy Scout troop when we heard a boom in the morning hours. I remember cooking eggs over the fire and looking up to a cloudless sky. We all thought it was another scout from another troop setting off an M-80 firecracker as we were at a weekend event with many other scout troops. When parents picked us up, we learned that it was the eruption of Mt. St. Helens. The photo is not mine (credit to the USGS). This morning I went out and looked up at our roof and these two ducks were happily viewing the(ir) world. And this week the guinea pigs celebrated their fourth birthday – Pinecone and…

Aurora Borealis

Posted on May 12, 2024

Jonah and I drove about 45 minutes north of Eugene on Friday night and saw the Northern Lights for the first time. It’s the third astronomical event I’ve seen with Jonah that has been a “first” for both of us. It was a beautiful evening.