Eagles In Pitt County

The River Park North Bird Club sponsored a trip around Pitt County on Saturday, Feb 8, 2008 to visit several sites where Bald Eagles are known to be present. This photo was taken along Sheppard Mill Road.

Trip to View STS-122 Cancelled

Due to continued forecasts of cloudy weather at Titusville, FL and NASA predicting only a 40% chance of launch on Thursday, Feb 7 I have decided to postpone my trip to photograph this launch. The weather looks marginal for Friday as well with Saturday looking clear. However, I have prior commitments here in Greenville on Saturday that preculde an attempt other than on Thursday. STS-123 is scheduled for March 11, 2008 at 2:31 a.m. est. While a night launch certainly would be spectacular, my goal is to photograph the shuttle in daylight as it heads out over the Atlantic on the way to the International Space Station.

Space Shuttle Atlantis STS-122 Update

As of Monday morning Accuweather is still showing Mostly Cloudy w/Chance of Showers for Thursday, Evening Rain but Otherwise Overcast for Thursday night, Partly Sunny and Pleasant for Friday and Clear for Friday night. For now I am postponing my trip to SC/KSC by one day and will evaluate further developments. Even if the weather suddenly breaks by 2:45 on Thursday it is not worth making the trip for Thursday. Terry has tested a text-to-cellphone function that will keep me updated on happenings at the Cape should the weather look more suitable for Friday.

Space Shuttle Atlantis STS-122

No additional news from NASA this morning. Weather forecasting now starts to become either a friend or foe. Accuweather long-range (translated innacurate) forecast for Titusville is Cloudy, w/ High of 77 on Thursday and Mainly Clear low 58 Thursday night. With a 2:45 p.m. launch Thursday afternoon it's still too early to call as to the transition from Cloudy to Clear.

While you're waiting for my next blog update why not visit Greenville's Daily Reflector website http://reflector.com and view photos from the Eastern Carolina Unnatural Resources Fair held this weekend at the Greenville Convention Center.