Sunrise Sunset

Fri., Jan. 29 6:57 4:53

Sat., Jan. 30 6:56 4:54

Sun., Jan. 31 6:55 4:55

Mon., Feb. 1 6:54 4:56

Tues., Feb. 2 6:53 4:58

Wed., Feb. 3 6:52 4:59

Thurs., Feb. 4 6:51 5:00

Fri., Feb. 5 6:49 5:01

Tonight the gibbous moon appears next to the red planet Mars. The two rise together in the east, as the sun sets in the west. Mars is brilliant, brighter than at any time in the past two years. The moon and Mars are in the zodiacal constellation Cancer, a sign we associate with spring.

Extreme Tides

The moon is full tomorrow night and also close, in perigee. The combination of both the moon being full and close guarantees high tides at close to noon and midnight.

Six hours after high tide, the tide will be extremely low. The extreme tides began earlier this week and will continue into the coming week.

Groundhog Day

Next Tuesday is of course Groundhog Day. Nantucket has its own version of the day, when Quentin the Quahaug makes his forecast. If Quentin squirts to the left there will be six more weeks of winter. If he squirts to the right, spring is near.

The quahaug is then eaten, making Nantucket the only place where an animal is sacrificed to find out what the weather will bring.

M.A.L.