Virga in the NW Valley

Shihiyea · Joined: 20 Oct 2003 Posts: 1135

I had to run some errands tonight and when I was driving back home, I saw Virga over the Pinnacle Peak area. COOL, but isn't it a bit early for that? Mary

sam_hikes · Joined: 07 Apr 2003 Posts: 383

don't see this too often on here...

1st glance I thought it said blue pill Crazy

evenstar · Joined: 03 Jan 2003 Posts: 5548 Location: SCW by way of CA

blue pill over the pinnacle Peak area......gotta be some potent poopie Crazy

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Trishness · Posted: 6/24/2004, 9:28 pm Post subject:

Mary,

Maybe you're referring to the constellation Virgo (visible to the SW) in spring and summer in the Northern hemisphere. Or, if you were looking at one very bright star to the NE, it probably was Vega? Not sure what direction you were heading when you were star gazing Smile

T
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~~~Trish~~~

"Eastward the dawn rose, ridge behind ridge into the morning, and vanished out of eyesight into guess; it was no more than a glimmer blending with the hem of the sky, but it spoke to them, out of the memory and old tales, of the high and distant mountains." � J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of The Rings.

mike · What box? Joined: 30 Dec 2002 Posts: 3134

Nope, she's talking about Virga -> http://www.noaa.gov/questions/question_081701.html

We were headed north on the 51 to the 101 this afternoon and it looked like there were monsoon clouds building up north of the New River Mountains.
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Trishness · Posted: 6/24/2004, 10:05 pm Post subject:

And here I was thinking she was star gazing!!! I never knew they referred to that as Virga....you learn something new every day! Thanks for setting me straight, Mike!

Mr. Green

T
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~~~Trish~~~

"Eastward the dawn rose, ridge behind ridge into the morning, and vanished out of eyesight into guess; it was no more than a glimmer blending with the hem of the sky, but it spoke to them, out of the memory and old tales, of the high and distant mountains." � J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of The Rings.

mike · What box? Joined: 30 Dec 2002 Posts: 3134

Trishness · Posted: 6/24/2004, 10:29 pm Post subject:

[quote="mike"]

Shihiyea · Joined: 20 Oct 2003 Posts: 1135

I won't got there either!

Virga is precipitation evaporating before reaching the ground.

Trishness · Posted: 6/24/2004, 10:53 pm Post subject:

Funny I never heard if it referred to as "virga". Maybe that's something you learn after being out here for 5 years! After Mike set me straight, I looked it up on the Net and read up on it. We never had that problem on the east coast, ALL the precipitation hit the ground!

Mary, I thought you were star seeking so I sent you a night sky map! Oh well, it might come in handy Very Happy

T
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~~~Trish~~~

"Eastward the dawn rose, ridge behind ridge into the morning, and vanished out of eyesight into guess; it was no more than a glimmer blending with the hem of the sky, but it spoke to them, out of the memory and old tales, of the high and distant mountains." � J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of The Rings.

Shihiyea · Joined: 20 Oct 2003 Posts: 1135

I got the night sky map. Thank you, we'll see if I ever remember any of it! I just love to look at the skies, especially when there is activity going on. Mary

RedRoxx44 · Queen of the Walkabout Joined: 15 Jan 2004 Posts: 1167

Funny when I first glanced at it I thought it said "virgin" ----- lots of gorgeous clouds in Tucson and a little rain!!! Doesn't quite have the monsoon flavor yet. Soon???

Hikngrl · Posted: 6/25/2004, 6:42 am Post subject:

I noticed the very same virga last night Mary...was wishing it would move over towards us and actually hit the ground!
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dennisbench · Joined: 04 Jan 2003 Posts: 275 Location: El Mirage

Yeah I live over in the far NW valley, its a very common thing that I see "virga" out there. Just so happens there were two different ones when I was driving home yesterday from work.
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Shihiyea · Joined: 20 Oct 2003 Posts: 1135

Yes, I actually saw three area. It's cool. Mary