Good Morning Gloucester

Yesterday while hibernating with a cold at home for New Years Day we ordered in chinese from Jasmine Garden and the sweetest lady with the nicest smile, came to deliver in the frigid temps and handed us these awesome little chinese ornaments with our order.   It’s these simple gestures that we don’t see much anymore.   So thank you Jasmine Garden for making us all smile!

With frigid temperatures in the forecast for the foreseeable future, I wonder how much further the harbor will freeze?

What does this look like to you?  I think it looks like a lizard-like creature rising from its sand home to have some sea grass for lunch.  When I come across something like this, I can easily understand how people might imagine they have seen sea creatures or some other-worldly being when in reality it’s a piece of driftwood on the beach at Parker River National Wildlife Refuge.  Can’t wait to get back there and see what it looks like covered with snow.

Today at 4:14 PM the Super Moon will rise on Cape Ann into screamingly clear skies except for the sea smoke blowing away from the coast. Anywhere you can get a look at the ocean horizon to the ENE and you can watch it rise.

But if you really want to see awesome Super Moon I suggest two locations. The upper level of Granite Pier in Rockport or Good Harbor Beach in Gloucester because then you either have the Rockport Breakwater or Thacher Island as back drops.

But if you are into it you want to know to the second and your phone clock can give you precise time so:

Granite Pier Rockport moon rise: 4:14:14 PM

Good Harbor Gloucester moon rise: 4:14:26 PM

You will notice those are to the second. Things that might change it by a few seconds: Warm air steaming off the ocean might bend the light around the horizon speeding the appearance of that first glimmer of the moon. The sea smoke might mask moon rise by several seconds maybe even a minute. If you are on Good Harbor Beach the moon is going to rise right behind the North Tower of Thacher. If the island blocks moonrise this might delay it by several seconds.

You can also go to the website here at mooncalc.org and find your favorite spot. Just pick up the marker and move it around. If you are planning on a shot from Good Harbor Beach I suggest going to the website and zoom in and out to see how Salt Island and the shore can get in the way depending on where you are. Back shore is also good because the moon will be to the right and clear of Thacher Island.

You can go to these spots and marvel at my amazing powers of prediction or you can take a photo and post it on the Good Morning Gloucester Facebook Page.