June 14–27, 2021
MOUNT WASHINGTON — At nightfall, a cosmos of blinking earthly stars attracts and mesmerizes stargazers. Fireflies are connecting our joy in the celestial with breathtaking wonder close around us. In the dark, over gardens, forests, meadows, parks, and back yards, distanced from street and house lights, our attention is lured away from the starry heavens by undulating streams of countless fireflies flashing. Floating, glowing ribbons of curved light drop from the treetops.
The photograph at the top of this page is the image on the cover of a beautifully written and illustrated book, “Silent Sparks: The Wondrous World of Fireflies” by biologist Sara Lewis. More about “Silent Sparks” after an interlude of stargazing.
Unaware of time, I find myself alternately looking up to my favorite summer constellations, then stealing time to lower my eyes to the pulsating world of lightning bugs in the landscape all around me.
As evening twilight deepens, find the Big Dipper at the top of the sky (see diagram). A drop of golden starlight falls from the tip of its handle: it is Arcturus, the brightest star in the summer sky, suspended toward the south. Low in the west, locate a young crescent moon. The arch of Leo the Lion’s head is above the moon. Regulus, Leo’s brightest star, shines to the left of Luna. See the triangle at the tail end of the Lion. Below the crescent, rather dim, copper-yellow Mars glows to the left of Pollux and Castor, the setting Gemini pair.
For those with an unobstructed view to the west-northwest horizon, planet Venus makes a brief appearance at dusk today and is visible until nightfall by next week.
Summer Solstice arrives at 11:32 p.m. EDT on June 20. On that day, turn to the northeast to greet the rising Sun at 5:17 a.m., then to the northwest for sunset at 8:33 p.m. Full Moon occurs at 2:40 p.m. on June 24, when moonrise is at 8:57 p.m.
Night owls, the midnight stargazers, find Jupiter and Saturn rising in the east-southeast at month’s end.
In closing, click here to learn more about “Silent Sparks” and to watch an engaging little film that conveys the delight and mystery evoked by fireflies. Click here to watch a TED Talk with author Sara Lewis.
MORE: How to garden to attract fireflies
EXHIBITION: “Fireflies: The Photographs of Gregory Crewdson” at Berkshire Botanical Garden through July 19.