As the last light slides over the horizon, the colour spectrum that makes up rainbows is evident, with red on at the bottom, orange, yellow, green in a very narrow strip and shades of blue sweeping up overhead and fading into indigo and deep violet as darkness descends on this south western tip of Africa. After a scorching day, it is a relief to slip into the coolth of night, and overhead the first stars are appearing, no longer competing with the fierce glare of our personal star, the Sun, for their chance to shine.
Jupiter maintains its dominant presence near Aldebaran, the eye of the Bull, and nearby the most recognisable constellation in our skies, Orion, prowls through the night on his huntsman's quest. It's new moon tonight, and the skies will be dark, allowing those fortunate enough to live away from city lights to turn their gaze out into the universe, from where the light of billions of stars casts faint shadows around us. The Milky Way arches overhead, with beautiful clusters of stars providing a breathtaking hint of what is really out there.
Spiders are already busy spinning the night's web, anticipating a good catch of mosquitoes and other tasty morsels after the heat of the day, and I feel bad walking through their works of art to go out onto the balcony. But they will soon repair the broken strands with their seemingly infinite supply of material. I'm sure the swallows will have left some bugs for them to eat tonight!
Go outside and feast your eyes on a free light show!
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