enjoy that night sky!

Early winter is a fantastic time for viewing the night sky! It gets dark early enough to view the stars at a reasonable hour (admittedly, some people think midnight and later is still “reasonable":), but it isn’t as bone-chilling cold as those January nights are likely to be. There are many things to watch for, like meteor showers, northern lights (usually visible in mid-Michigan a few times a year), the International Space Station orbiting overhead, and of course, good old “star gazing.”


For some assistance in locating objects in the night sky, check out these links:

1) To find out when the space station will be visible, click on the nearest Michigan city on this NASA website: http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/cities/region.cgi?country=United_States®ion=Michigan It will show how many degrees above the horizon the station will be visible, and from which direction it will enter and leave your view.

2) For SERIOUS northern lights enthusiasts, a move to the far north is warranted. But for Michigan folk, this site will let you know when there is a reasonable chance of a local show: http://www.gedds.alaska.edu/AuroraForecast/
If the forecast number is “4” or higher, we have a shot at seeing the northern lights even this far south!

3) Both of these sites provide good star and planet gazing information, from general “what’s going on this week” to more detailed astronomical highlights: http://www.skyandtelescope.com/  http://stardate.org/

4) And to find out exactly when it might get dark enough to SEE the stars, the U.S. Navy has this very user-friendly site to find out when the sun and moon rise and set:  http://www.usno.navy.mil/USNO/astronomical-applications

Chippewa Nature Center's Grand Re-Opening!

It's finally here! After nearly two years, Chippewa Nature Center's Visitor Center renovation is complete. To commemorate the occasion, you're cordially invited to a Grand Re-Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony this Thursday, October 28, at 3:30pm. After the ceremony, you'll have a chance to explore the renovated building, relax in style in the remodeled River Overlook and play with the kids in the new atrium discovery area.

You'll enjoy shopping in our Nature Center Store, learning about nature with Ecosystem Gallery exhibits and watching birds at the Wildlife Viewing Area. The welcome reception will include light refreshments and special tours and is free and open to the public. For more information, be sure to visit our webpage at www.chippewanaturecenter.org or give us a call at (989) 631-0830. Hope to see you there!

Fall Color Show

Tulip Tree leaves in the Arboretum.

Fall comes to the banks of the Chippewa River

Maples turn to gold in the Beech-Maple Woods

Aspen leaves on a bed of moss

Green, Orange, Red and Gold against a cloudy sky

Red Oak leaf  (literally!)

Spotlight of sun on a maple leaf 

Playlist for the Planet

Last week, we featured some of the amazing green living initiatives of Canada's David Suzuki Foundation. Another of their recent projects was a music contest to create a "Playlist for the Planet." With over 600 entries from musicians across Canada, the monumental task of choosing the winners is complete! Featuring a song from every Canadian province and territory, winners include musicians such as Joel Plaskett, Bruce Cockburn, Broken Social Scene, k-os, Gordon Lightfoot, Randy Bachman (with Sarah McLachlan and Nikki Yanofsky), DOA, Tom Jackson, Johnny Reid, Raffi, LIGHTS, Jessie Farrell, Rush, the Trews, Great Big Sea, and Tanya Tagaq. The playlist will be released as a CD in the coming months, but you don't have to wait to get a preview. You can stream the whole list on the cbc radio website and already download some of the tracks from iTunes. If you're a music fan, be sure to check it out! 

Green Living the Canadian Way

Since 1989, when his radio program It's a Matter of Survival premiered in Canada, David Suzuki has been a leader in the Canadian environmental movement. Today, the David Suzuki Foundation continues to be a voice for the environment through many initiatives, including a Climate Change Team and a green tips blog entitled The Queen of Green, which even includes how-to-videos about green living. Dr. Suzuki is also the author of numerous books including a one just published in September, entitled The Legacy: An Elder's Vision for a Sustainable Future.


One initiative of the foundation was to create "David Suzuki's Nature Challenge" which consists of ten simple ways we can all reduce our impact on the Earth. Accept his challenge to adapt three of these in your own life today!

• Reduce home energy use by 10%
• Choose energy-efficient homes & appliances
• Don't use pesticides
• Eat meat-free meals one day a week
• Buy locally grown and produced food
• Choose a fuel-efficient vehicle
• Walk, bike, carpool or take transit
• Choose a home close to work or school
• Support alternative transportation
• Learn more and share with others