Sunset Moonrise

The skies are very different when you are so close to the Southern Hemisphere.  Bonaire is located about 12 degrees north of the equator. Many of the planets and constellations that are seen from the Northern Hemisphere are below the horizon here and visa versa.

We had never seen the Southern Cross before. Crosby Stills and Nash sang about it and we were finally able to see it from Bonaire's southern sky. The North Star, which has guided sailors for centuries, is seldom visible from the island.

This day, we were able to see the sunset and the moonrise in less than a few minutes.  We watched the sunset and turned 180 degrees to see the moon rise. It was also a full moon which made it even more interesting.

Venus, which we could often see low in the sky in Denver, now is  also low in the sky in Bonaire.  It seems to stay in the same position. The Big Dipper is upside down from what we had been used to seeing. We have not seen the Little Dipper at all. 

The most interesting thing is seeing the Milky Way.  With so little lighting on the island the galaxy is bright and large.  It fills the night skies.  I am the one that can see it as Rick is night blind and can only see the brightest stars.