The Bluestocking: the one where AI finally learns what a blackbird is (we hope)

[Magpiecomplex]

Welcome all, New Year (nearly), new thread!

Well, it turns out I was wrong and also right. It is Venus that is closest today, but Saturn is above both of them.

Tomorrow Saturn will be occulted (hidden) by the Moon when it passes in front of the planet.

As you can see, I truly am a pedant...

I think, as OP, I shall allow you to stay. Just this once though, don't go getting ideas!

Now you're just confusing me Myrtle!

I know. I confused myself. 😔

The very bright light close to the Moon is Venus. If you look up (the moon sets in half an hour though) above the Moon and Venus, you can see another bright light which is Saturn.

Tomorrow night, Saturn will move behind the Moon, and this is called an occupation.

It cloudy here.

Foggy here, sadly. I can just see the planets, but no stars. It's very cold and this county, and five adjoining counties have orange weather warnings for tomorrow pm. Two other adjoining counties have yellow warnings. So maybe it's gonna snow.

I'm getting so old and boring my main reaction is to hope it doesn't knock out the electricity and that it doesn't hang around.

We've got amber snow and ice warnings, but the forecasts seem to be all slightly above zero and rain or sleet rather than snow. I suppose a degree either side of freezing makes all the difference so it's hard to get right,

Dd was meant to be going back on Sunday but may leave tomorrow instead depending on how it seems to be panning out.

Wow, Saturn! I don't think I've ever knowingly seen Saturn, now's my chance.
So all is forgiven Myrtle
..coming to think of it, no-one is ever wrong in the Bluestocking's Pedantry Corner, we just temporarily entertain different versions of right-ness..

Deano - that's an impressive understanding of the mind of a flying squirrel
.. very impressive.!
Suspiciously impressive in fact -
DeanElderberry - I put it to you - and I caution you that you are still under oath -* *are you, or have you ever been, a flying squirrel??

We're in the yellow warning but absolutely clear skies currently and only forecast a smattering of sleet tomorrow evening.

Sadly I have never been a very clever and very cute squirrel who can flyyyyyyyyyy. Wouldn't it be bliss.

However I have spent far too much of my life being cunningly manipulated by furry companions and know a pattern of behavior when I see it.

Dammit, after a few days of clear blue skies, it decides to get cloudy here too, so I still have not knowingly seen Saturn
Ditto meteor showers, Northern Lights etc etc etc.😠

I think where I am will probably get sleet rather than snow, if you are further inland, Deano, you may be less fortunate, and I hope it doesn't turn out too bad.
I'm sure you've stocked up on the Barry's tea by now anyway
Stay safe and stay warm, wherever you are, dear Bluestockingers!

No moon here but that's either because it's currently to cloudy or because it is only 3.30 in the afternoon here in deepest darkest Peru!

Speaking of snow warnings: when they issue a yellow snow warning, do you, like me, think that the warning is 'DON'T EAT IT!'😂

Yep...

Well, it was Venus and Saturn is above and when the Moon covers Saturn tomorrow, it's is an occultation, not an occupation - the Moon will eclipse Saturn.

We've been driving our youngest back to University, so I'm just catching up. I noticed the waxing moon (and Venus) as we were driving while it was still daylight. The moon in that phase always reminds me of the Cheshire cat. I wasn't 100% sure it was the evening star or an aircraft at high altitude. Large and far away or fucking enormous and really, really far away.

I'm a little concerned that the squirrel I successfully abashed may have scurried off to commit seppuko 😬

There's something about the Pokemon exhibition, the combination of low culture and high craft that's really appealing.

Really enjoying the moon and planets/stars conversations.

Here are some advertisements for the Bluestocking, should we need any.

🎶 Venus,Saturn
occultation, occupation
let's call the whole thing off🎶
cos it's cloudy
But it's interesting to have all that astronomical info anyway, thank you Myrtle

I love that I have tea and cake with Beetle and the gerbils!

(Yes, I am claiming any and all pictures of a white haired lady as being of me.)

AI it is very disagreeable and uncooperative when it comes to representing everybody. However, it will represent people and creatures nobody asked for, with verve and gusto, really.

What's a "pugrit"? It looks very cute.

Okay, we're now being promised not just orange weather but orange 'multi weather' so I'm going to go and panic buy some more STUFF.

I may be some time.

I'm finding the Quekie quite intimidating.

The bandicog is clearly another secret love child, but not mine and Fuzzy's for a change!
The "Wonoman Bar" sounds spot on, though.

I tried putting some of those names into the AI & mostly got banal furry animals, but 'handicoid' was interesting. First it gave me these...