Categories
Astrophotography Birding Photography

At the Kit Fox Den Again and a Visit to Another Galaxy

Here it is, March 2, the day of the new moon and all I get is clouds. I’ve only had two good nights for astrophotography so far. At least the area got a little rain, 1/4 to 1/2 inch around the area. The biggest bird excitement was a Laughing Gull at Lake Ajo. Some birders came over from Tucson and for at least one it was an Arizona life bird. I’ve never seen one in Arizona myself. This afternoon I was passing by the Kit Fox den and saw two of the foxes outside taking a nap.

Both of the Kit Fox were pretty much sound asleep when I first got there. I just sat in the truck and watched.
I don’t think they ever sleep too long before getting up and looking around.
One spent quite a bit of time grooming the other.
Time for a good scratch too. One of the foxes then went to the den and appeared to be listening for something down in the hole. Could be pups in there!
This is NGC 4725 in the constellation of Coma Berenices. It is the brightest member of the Coma group of galaxies. NGC 4725 is about 40 million light years from Earth, the smaller galaxy above is NGC 4712 and it is over 200 million light years distant. That’s a lot of miles!
The Laughing Gull at Lake Ajo (the sewage ponds). First one I’ve ever seen in Arizona.

2 replies on “At the Kit Fox Den Again and a Visit to Another Galaxy”

I sure like seeing those kit fox photos, we need to get out there and see them in person sometime.
The idea that we’re seeing the light that left NGC 4712 two hundred million years ago is pretty amazing.

Comments are closed.