A CCAW Adoption Story Ruby Finds Her Forever Family

by Color Country Animal Welfare

family with Nancy and Elliot. She has welcomed each new season with open paws like a true gem. Though not a water dog, Ruby is a powder hound. She loves snow! She loves nordic skiing and ski touring and snow hiking and running. "Off skis" was an easy command for her, and now everyone can enjoy winter sports together safely. And of course this sandstone sun and snow hound looks forward to all her desert trips.

On the days when her people both have a long, full work day, she goes hiking with her doggo friends and the awesome crew at Aarf Pet Care.

She loves other dogs and playdates. She really just loves everything. The cats trust her completely at this point. Ruby understands that "feline" remains the Alpha species at the house (humans included). Although, they find her size and enthusiasm a bit much at times, they never hide from her. Sofa-sharing is happening.

Thank you to Color Country Animal Welfare for all of the work they do, and an extra-special thank you to her foster mama, Jen. If you see Ruby and her family around Wayne County, come say "hi." Nancy and Elliot say, "We cannot imagine our life without her now; it is as if she has always been with us."

March 27 - April 3

by John Mosley

I wrote that we’ll lose Jupiter before March ends, and, for practical purposes, that is true, but Jupiter is in a close conjunction with Mercury on the 27th and that may prompt people who enjoy a challenge to break out the binoculars and try to see it. Jupiter has been sinking in the west, setting four minutes earlier each night, and on the 27th, it sets only 50 minutes after the sun. But Mercury is moving around from behind the sun—just as Venus has all this year—and on the 27th, Mercury passes Jupiter (Jupiter going down and Mercury going up) at a distance of 1¼°. Jupiter is to the left and Mercury is almost as bright. You’ll need binoculars or a telescope and a flat western horizon and to look a halfhour after sunset. Good luck!

Mercury continues to set later each night, and next week will be a fine time to look for it with your eye alone.

Far easier to see is the Evening Star, Venus, which through July is at its prettiest, when it shines through colorful twilight clouds and sets late against a dark sky. Instructions to find it are simple: face west during the two hours after sunset and look for the brightest “star.” Venus is in Aries, moving up toward the famous Pleiades Star Cluster; using your own nightly observations, when do you predict Venus will pass the Pleiades?

Venus passes just over 1° from the planet Uranus on the 30th; Uranus is to the 8 o’clock position from Venus, and it’s easily visible in binoculars once the sky is dark. This is an opportunity see Uranus if you haven’t before.

The other evening planet is Mars. As winter began Mars was so bright, and it was in a part of the sky without bright stars to compete with it, and that made it obvious, which it was, but no longer. Mars is now more distant, and hence fainter, and it’s in front of the Milky Way, so now you have to know your constellations to pick it out. Mars is in the feet of Gemini where it’s surrounded by similarly bright stars.

Stargazers with binoculars—and which stargazer doesn’t have a pair —will enjoy watching Mars approach and pass the star cluster M35. M35 is nowhere as bright as the Pleiades, but it’s a popular and pretty object in its own right. Mars is just over 1° from M35 on the evening of the 28th, but it’s near it all that week. The stars of M35 are about 3,000 light years away; in contrast, Mars is 12 light minutes away.

Mars is traversing Gemini, moving eastward diagonally through it, and as June begins, it’ll take two days to pass in front of an even brighter nakedeye star cluster that you definitely won’t want to miss.

Meanwhile, Saturn has returned to the morning sky, and you might catch it in early twilight, but it’s not very high. Wait a few weeks.

John Mosley was Program Supervisor of the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles for 27 years and is the author of “Stargazing for Beginners” and “Stargazing with Binoculars and Telescopes.” He and his wife live in St. George, where he continues to stargaze from his retirement home while serving on the advisory committee for Stellar Vista Observatory.

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Low Water Update Mar. 17, 2023

GLEN CANYON

N.R.A - 1. South Lake Powell – Stateline Auxiliary Ramp: This ramp remains operable 24/7 to motorized vessels of all sizes. The park is working with Aramark to extend the Stateline Auxiliary Ramp and contractors will be on site beginning Monday, March 20. (This schedule is subject to change.) The work is expected to be completed in April. As was done last season during construction activities, the ramp will provide 24/7 access on boiler plates on one side of the ramp, while concrete is poured on the other side. When the new concrete has cured, access will rotate to the other side. Barring unforeseen circumstances, the park believes the bathymetry at this ramp will ensure sustainable, long-term motorized vessel access to south Lake Powell. The Stateline Auxiliary ramp is open for paddle craft users until May 1, 2023.

2. Due to the complex mix of factors that affect Lake Powell’s water levels, Lake Powell boaters are asked to please be aware that it will not be known when the lake reaches a certain water level until it occurs. Information about Lake Powell marina services and water level statistics are available 24/7 at this website: nps.gov/ glca/learn/changing-lakelevels.htm. Before heading to the lake, boaters should check the park’s website for the status of their preferred launch/retrieval destination. Information is also available at waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoringlocation/09379900.

—National Park Service