Nature & Science
Temperature: Precip.
Day Max. Min. Inches.
Fº Fº
April 13 58 38 .00
April 14 61 44 .00
April 15 68 49 .06
April 16 66 52 .00
April 17 68 51 .00
April 18 81 52 .00
April 19 64 46 .00
Water temperature in Edgartown harbor: 56º F.
The brightest planet in the sky tonight is Venus, high in the western sky. Venus is moving through the zodiacal constellation Taurus. It is a short distance away from the star cluster Pleiades, which through a pair of binoculars looks like a small dipper. The Pleiades, also nicknamed the Seven Sisters, is a short distance west of the planet.
Earth Day Beach Cleanup
Mother Earth needs you, all over the world, but here on the Vineyard, it’s her beachy bits that need the most care. That’s why on Earth Day, Saturday, April 21, the Vineyard Conservation Society is hosting its 20th annual beach cleanup day.
When we think of singing, we usually think of people or birds. In the spring we may think of pinkletinks, but we usually think of them as chorusing rather than singing. Very few people will think of grasshoppers, crickets and katydids as singers, but they are. And in this unusual spring, when oak trees are already beginning to leaf out, these insects may start their raspy singing soon.
David Stanwood, musician extraordinaire, recently made two astute observations; a recording and research on fish crows. He noticed “a procession of hundreds, maybe thousands of crows flying over our house and over Hoft Farm front field towards Long View.” David thought he heard what he noted was something “fishy,” so he made a recording of the call of the migrating crows.
Sunrise Sunset
Fri., April 13 6:05 7:19
Sat., April 14 6:03 7:20
Sun., April 15 6:02 7:21
Mon., April 16 6:00 7:22
Tues., April 17 5:59 7:24
Wed., April 18 5:57 7:25
Thurs., April 19 5:56 7:26
Fri., April 20 5:54 7:27
Saturn
The ringed-planet Saturn is in opposition on Sunday, closer to the Earth than at any other time in the past year. You can find Saturn rising in the eastern sky, soon after sunset. Saturn is in the zodiacal constellation Virgo, near the bright star Spica.
Almanac
A comprehensive guide to weather and tides on the Island.
Vineyard Gardener
I guess this past week weather-wise is called a January thaw. We did not really experience it the last several years as December was unseasonably warm.
Farm & Field
Beige and brown and tan and black, with horns spiraled or semicircular or in undulating waves, a legion of goats marched up the hill toward us, bleating in anticipation of fresh grass and leaves.