On his feet, however, were a pair of ski boots.

For nine years Weber has organized the San Juan Skijoring competition, comprised of races in which skiers and snowboarders pulled by horses aim to complete an obstacle course made of snow. It’s Colorado’s version of a winter rodeo with additional high-adrenaline events like big air, which sees competitors jump over cars.

Organizers used 1.2 million gallons of water to create snow for this year’s course in Ridgway. The fastest competitors completed runs in under 25 seconds.

Weber has spent many years on horseback pulling athletes through the courses, and he currently competes in the professional division atop his trusty equine partner. But more recently, he decided to strap on a pair of skis and assume the position in tow. He competed last Friday in the novice division, which is specifically for newbies to the sport.

“It’s the most fun you can have with your pants on,” Weber said excitedly after his first ride. “People want to go out and buy a Corvette that has a lot of horsepower. Give me one horsepower on a skijoring track and I’m happy.”

Skijoring is said to have originated in Scandinavia, where residents rode the historic equivalent of skis and were pulled by horses as a means of transportation. The sport made its first and only Olympic appearance in the 1928 Winter Games in St. Moritz, Switzerland. More recently, it’s become popular among skiers and horseback riders because it’s a seemingly uncanny combination.

Salt Lake City resident Jackie Nadel was first introduced to skijoring by a friend who attended a competition in Utah. Nadel couldn’t believe what she was seeing, but as an avid skier who grew up riding horses, she couldn’t resist the urge to try it.

“The most similar thing I could say is it’s like water skiing, with a little bit more excitement and a little more unpredictability,” she said.

As Nadel stepped onto the Ridgway track and adjusted the rope in her hands, she felt her stomach turning. She’s competed before, but few things compare to the feeling of the rope going taut and launching in action. Seconds later, she cleared the first obstacle, gaining some air that almost threw her off kilter.

“It’s similar to some riding in general, it’s a huck and pray,” Nadel said.

Nadel is working to get more women involved in skijoring, especially young women who competed in sports during high school and college. Recruiting first-timers appears to be a pretty easy sell.

Lacey Andersen of Durango competed in San Juan Skijoring’s novice division for the first time last week after a friend who rides horses had their skier drop out of the competition. Andersen, a member of the ski patrol at Purgatory Resort, volunteered to fill the position without doing a single training session.

“You don’t get to do any practice runs or anything. You literally just look at the course and then your first time skiing it behind the horse is your run,” she said. The cheetah-print jacket and fringed chaps over her ski boots didn’t earn her any style points, officially, but they did help boost her confidence.

Similarly, Cam Stark had “a good friend who’s a horse person” and decided to give skijoring a shot. Before the debut run of his nascent skijoring career, the Montrose resident said he felt a little nervous, but he was hardly shaking in his faux fur coat and telemark skis. After completing the course, though, it was pure exhilaration.

“The centrifugal force around the first two turns, that’s where you really felt it,” Stark said. If the rope gets slack, there’s a feeling of whiplash when it pulls tight again, he added.

Skier Mike Ramsden of Grand Junction donned a neon green jumpsuit and partnered with his girlfriend to try skijoring for the first time. On his second run, he took a hard fall over the tips of his skis.

“That’s probably going to hurt tomorrow,” he said afterward. So would he do it again? “Absolutely.”

San Juan Skijoring was the first of several upcoming competitions in Colorado. Here’s where you can check out the action throughout the winter.

Skijoring events in Colorado 2025

Skis and Saddles: Jan. 18-19 at the Archuleta County Fairgrounds, 344 Highway 84, Pagosa Springs. Entry costs $10 for a day pass or $15 for a weekend pass. Children ages 12 and younger get in for free.

Estes Park Skijor: Jan. 24-26 at the Estes Park Event Complex, 1125 Rooftop Way, Estes Park. Entry costs $17.30 for a day pass or $28 for a weekend pass.

Silverton Skijoring: Feb. 15-16 in downtown Silverton. Entry is free.

Leadville Ski Joring: March 1-2 in downtown Leadville. Entry is free.

Here are the dates that every national park in the country will be free to visit in 2025. You don’t need a pass, but a few do require advance reservations. (See below)

• Jan. 20: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• April 19: First day of National Park Week
• June 19: Juneteenth National Independence Day
• Aug. 4: Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
• Sept. 27: National Public Lands Day
• Nov. 11: Veterans Day

So what about these reservations? Well, the National Park Service has instituted a reservation policy at certain popular parks during peak periods only, to keep visitors from being stuck in long traffic jams trying to get in. This is a good thing, right?

You’ll need to go to recreation.gov and search for the park you want and “timed entry” to find the reservation information.

You only have to get a reservation during the peak visitor periods, which vary according to the park. For example, at Arches National Park in Utah, you’ll need a timed entry reservation this year starting in April, between the hours of 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. If you can’t get a reservation or you don’t want to pay the $2 reservation fee on recreation.gov, then you can just enter the park before 7 a.m. or after 4 p.m. Or walk or bike in. Occasionally, like at Yosemite during holidays, the reservation policy is in effect 24 hours per day, so read up.

Keep in mind that these free days are really popular, so you’ll want to get there at dawn anyway, so you’ll have it more to yourselves.

But where to go? Well, you could trek up to Yosemite, Sequoia or Pinnacles national parks, if you want to stay in California.

If you’ve never been to Pinnacles National Park, I recommend checking it out. It’s a bit of a hidden gem.

However, when I take advantage of these days, I head out to Joshua Tree, in the desert toward Palm Springs.

I recommend going before the crack of dawn — I know, that’s just insane, but hear me out. If you leave your house in the dark, you can watch the sun come up over the desert, which is always dramatic.

Then, eat the snack you brought with you (you did bring a snack and water, didn’t you?) and hit a couple of trails. You can get a park map from the ranger, or if you’re there even before the rangers get there,  you can download one on NPS.gov.

And make sure you have gas and food and water, because there are no facilities inside the park.

When the rest of the hikers start pouring into the park, that’s your cue to leave, have a nice relaxing lunch and then drive home, maybe with a swim stop at Desert Hot Springs.

Enjoy! nps.gov/planyourvisit/fee-free-parks.htm

This year’s national winners include 3 vegetables and 5 flowers. ‘Green Lightening’ is a very attractive, striped pattypan squash that tastes as good as it looks. The 5-inch or so fruits weigh in at 1 to 2 pounds and are ready to pick about 50 days after planting from seed. Judges marveled at the abundant yields on these 2 feet high, bushy plants.

Kohlrabi ‘Konstance’ exudes a vibrant purple color as well as a sweet, crunchy texture. A curious but easy to grow and tasty addition to the vegetable garden, this kohlrabi matures at just 42 days from seed. Upright plants, about a foot high, produce round, purple 4 to 5-inch ‘bulbs’ that can be eaten fresh or served roasted or sauteed. Fruits are crack-resistant and plants resistant to several diseases.

Sweet pepper ‘Pick-N-Pop Yellow’ produces adorable, snack-size, extra sweet mini peppers. The pointed, conical fruits are about 4 inches long springing from compact 2-foot-tall plants. The prolific harvest begins about 65 days after transplanting. This variety shows great resistance to bacterial leaf spot.

One can never have too many dahlias and this year’s AAS winner, ‘Black Forest Ruby’ is a gem that can be started from seed. Since this variety is an octoploid (having 8 times the normal chromosome number) there is much variability in flower shape (ranging from single to double), plant height and structure. Most will be upright about 2 feet high with jet black foliage and ruby-red flowers. You can save tubers from the best-looking plants.

Dianthus ‘Interspecific Capitan Magnifica’ with its impressive bicolor pink and white frilly blooms looks as good in the garden as it does in a vase. Plus, the more you cut, the more blooms appear. Summer heat tolerance was impressive with the 2-inch flower heads also standing up to rain and cold. Plants range from 1 to 1 ½ feet tall and bloom all summer. Look for these vegetatively propagated plants at your local garden center.

Sunny sites will positively shimmy when planted with marigold Mango Tango. This rich red and primrose yellow bicolor blooms all summer long even without deadheading. Reaching only 8 to 10 inches in height makes it perfect for edging garden beds, containers or window boxes. Seeds can be started indoors and plants set out after the danger of frost has passed. Fertilize and water regularly for bountiful blooms.

Can there be too many petunias? ‘Petunia Shake Raspberry’ will convince you that there’s always room for one more. The fantastic flowers are reminiscent of a blended raspberry milkshake swirled with lemon-lime green sorbet. The 5 to 8 inch mounded plants can do front of the border duty, serve as groundcovers or billow over hanging baskets. Plants will bloom about 70 days from seed and hold up to heat and rain.

I’ve never thought of snapdragons as fragrant, yet ‘DoubleShot Yellow Red Heart’ is said to have an amazing candy-like scent. Aside from this unusual trait, Yellow Red Heart promises to delight with vibrant yellow blossoms with a red throat that start early and continue through to a heavy frost. This snapdragon reaches about 20 inches in height with semi-double 1 to 1 ½ inch blooms produces all season long and able to tolerate light frosts.

Four regional 2025 Ornamental Winners well suited to the Northeast, include one petunia and 3 nasturtiums. If you’re looking for a vibrant pink petunia great for bedding and containers, try ‘Dekko Maxx Pink’. The vibrant pink 1 to 1 ½ inch starry blooms are produced all season long and hold up well to rain and heat.

Nasturtiums are top performers in garden beds and containers and are noted for their hummingbird attraction and edible leaves and flowers. New colors in the Baby series of nasturtiums to try out this year might be ‘Baby Gold’, ‘Baby Red’ and ‘Baby Yellow’. All can be grown from seed and start blooming about 50 days after sowing. Two-inch blooms cover compact 12-inch-high mounded plants. Colors are intense and plants stand up to drought, heat, cold, rain and wind. Considering our fluctuating summer weather, these are sure to do well both in the garden and in containers.

Check out these and past AAS winners. They were chosen because of their remarkable characteristics and they are sure to be winners in your yard too.

For your gardening questions, feel free to contact us, toll-free, at the UConn Home & Garden Education Center at (877) 486-6271, visit our website at www.homegarden.cahnr.uconn.edu or contact your local Cooperative Extension center. 

Some of the country’s most popular national parks and monuments will require reservations to visit in 2025.

Continuing a practice put in place in recent years to control overcrowding, the NPS.gov website has identified 17 national parks for which reservations will be needed in the coming year.

Several well-known and popular national parks are included among those requiring advance booking such as Acadia National Park, Arches National Park, and Carlsbad Caverns National Park. New York’s Statue of Liberty is also among the parks that will require reservations over the coming 12 months, as is the Washington Monument.

The reservation system involves providing visitors with a timed entry to the park, which must be reserved in advance. For the most popular parks, reservations often need to be made months in advance. Specific requirements however, vary by park.

“Most of the sites managed by the National Park Service are free to visit, but some require an entrance pass. You may also need a reservation at a few high-traffic sites,” says NPS.gov.

The NPS website recommends making reservations for any national parks or monuments that require them well in advance.

National parks requiring a reservation in 2025

Acadia National Park

Adams National Historical Park

Arches National Park

Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Ellis Island Part of Statue of Liberty National Monument

Ford’s Theatre

Fort Matanzas National Monument

Frederick Douglass National Historic Site

Gateway Arch National Park

Haleakalā National Park

Independence National Historical Park

Perry’s Victory & International Peace Memorial

Sagamore Hill National Historic Site

Statue Of Liberty National Monument

Thomas Edison National Historical Park

Timpanogos Cave National Monument

Washington Monument

©2025 Northstar Travel Media, LLC. Visit at travelpulse.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Pollination is a key factor. Successful pollination occurs when pollen meets the sticky central part of a flower, known as the stigma. Fertilized seeds develop in the ovary, which will then form into fruit. Over the span of thousands of years, tasty fruit has proven to be a good way to help with seed dispersal in the environment. And taste, along with many other traits, have helped humans decide what plants to cultivate.

Houseplants that don’t require soil and can be displayed any which way? Look to air plants

Hybrid seeds, also commonly referred to as “F1” or “F1 hybrids,” have been developed through selective breeding. To create an F1 hybrid, breeders have selected parent plants with desirable traits and pollinated them under controlled conditions. While it sounds easy enough, lineages can be tricky. It can be time consuming for plant breeders and some will spend years of their career trying to achieve a specific outcome.

F1 hybrids are often praised for their environmental resilience and higher yields, among other traits. They may be less reliable for seed savers, though, as the offspring of the F1 hybrids are not guaranteed to come back with the same traits as the original plant from your first season, a term we call “true to seed.”

Hybrid seed should not be confused with GMO or genetically modified seeds. Hybrid seed is a product of breeding and selection and does not undergo the laboratory interventions that are needed for genetic modification. Currently, there is only one GMO product available to home gardeners, known as “The Purple Tomato.”  All other GMO seed is only available commercially and farmers using these products must sign agreements that lay out the terms of use for the seed purchased.

You may find the term “open pollinated” in your search for seed. These seeds are created without direct human intervention. They have stable genetics and produce predictable traits in their offspring year after year, since they are naturally pollinated. This is great news for those gardeners who enjoy saving their own seed.

It is best to plant open pollinated varieties of similar species away from each other to avoid random cross-pollination. Alternatively, gardeners cand hand pollinate a few flowers and keep them covered. For this, I recommend mesh party favor bags that allow for the fruit to expand. Allow the fruit to develop and harvest them specifically for their seed.

Heirloom seeds are open pollinated plants that have been passed down usually over generations. Often, there is a local history or cultural significance that comes with them. You can find interesting physical traits and some beneficial resistances from heirloom seeds. Since they are open pollinated, their genetics are more likely to be stable and produce true to seed offspring for seed savers, as well.

At the end of the day, I always advise gardeners to look beyond the title and really assess what is going to meet your needs and make your experience most enjoyable. If you love to tell a story with your garden, and enjoy saving your seeds year after year, an heirloom variety might be the perfect fit! On the other hand, if you bring home a packet of tomato seeds that have been bred for small space gardening, and you plan to buy new seeds every year, then enjoy that tomato to its fullest! There are many gardens out there with a beautiful blend of both.

If you have questions about seed selection, or for other gardening questions, contact the UCONN Home & Garden Education Center, toll-free, at (877) 486-6271, visit their web site at www.homegarden.cahnr.uconn.edu or contact your local Cooperative Extension Center.

Among the provisions in the wide-ranging EXPLORE Act (an acronym for “Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences”) were protections for rock climbers who use fixed anchors for safety. Last year the National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service issued “proposed guidance” that threatened to restrict the use of fixed anchors in wilderness areas, arguing they were “installations” prohibited by the Wilderness Act of 1964.

In September a letter signed by both Colorado senators and a dozen others urged the NPS and USFS to reconsider, arguing that the guidance raised safety concerns. Last month the NPS announced that it was dropping the issue.

Cynthia Hernandez, a spokeswoman for the NPS, delivered a statement on the matter but declined to elaborate.

“The NPS has discontinued the development of this proposed guidance,” according to the statement. “Park leaders will continue to manage climbing activities in wilderness on a park-by-park basis consistent with applicable law and policy, including the Wilderness Act.”

With the EXPLORE Act now law, the issue is moot.

“We had heard very informally that the park service was going to withdraw their proposed guidance,” said Byron Harvison, advocacy director for the Golden-based American Alpine Club. “I think they probably still believe in their attorney’s opinion that fixed anchors are prohibited installations per the Wilderness Act. We’ve always had the stance that (opinion) is incorrect.

Harvison stressed that the American Alpine Club supports the regulation of fixed anchors as long as federal agencies take a “reasonable” approach.

“Calling fixed anchors ‘prohibited installations’ was never the intent of the Wilderness Act,” Harvison said. “This is a chance to come together, compromise and work together collaboratively on reasonable regulation of fixed anchors.”

Fixed anchors are attached on rock climbing routes so climbers can use ropes to protect them from potentially fatal falls. They have been used since rock climbing became a sport more than a century ago. Examples of their use can be found on a nearly 1,000-foot vertical section of the East Face on Long’s Peak in Rocky Mountain National Park. No one can see them except climbers who are using them.

“There are still pitons in there from first ascensionists, back in the 1920s and 1930s, that are still utilized,” Harvison said. “Had the park service and forest service guidance become permanent, even those historic fixed anchors potentially could be removed. Now we’re dealing with the planning process for new fixed anchors. The alpine club has always supported wilderness, and we support the regulation of fixed anchors. We just don’t think it should start from that baseline of being prohibited. Now Congress and the president have affirmed this.”

To help encourage people to get outside, the state will offer in-person and self-guided hikes and programs at 17 state park and forest locations on Jan. 1. It’s all part of Connecticut celebrating First Day Hikes, a nationwide initiative to get people outdoors, according to the state’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

“A First Day Hike is the perfect way to start off the new year by getting outside with friends and family at one of Connecticut’s picturesque State Parks or Forests,” said DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes. “The variety of hikes and walks provide options for families and avid hikers alike to kick off the new year with some fresh air on Connecticut’s iconic hiking trails, which are rated as the best in the country!”

Across the state, both guided and self-guided hikes and programs will be offered for free at 16 state park and forest locations, according to officials with DEEP.

State parks and forests participating in Jan. 1, programming include:

• American Legion & Peoples State Forest, Barkhamsted
• Auerfarm State Park Scenic Reserve, Bloomfield
• Chatfield Hollow State Park, Killingworth
• Dinosaur State Park, Rocky Hill
• Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park, Groton
• Gillette Castle State Park, East Haddam
• Hammonasset Beach State Park, Madison
• Kellogg Environmental Center, Osbornedale State Park, Derby
• Kettletown State Park, Southbury
• Machimoodus Sunrise State Park, Moodus
• Pachaug State Forest, Griswold
• Scantic River State Park, East Windsor
• Sessions Woods Wildlife Management Area, Burlington
• Sherwood Island State Park, Westport
• Sleeping Giant State Park, Hamden
• West Rock Ridge State Park, New Haven

“Getting outside for a hike or walk on January 1, 2025 can be a refreshing and meaningful way to start the new year,” said Acting State Parks Director Jeremy Hall in a press release. “Stepping out into nature helps reset one’s mind and creates a positive mindset for the year ahead. Join us at one of our Connecticut State Parks or Forests listed above and feel connected to nature in Connecticut.”

The America’s State Parks First Day Hikes program aims to promote nature and well-being through connecting with the outdoors by taking a hike or walk at a state park or forest, according to the state’s DEEP. First Day Hikes originated more than 25 years ago at the Blue Hills Reservation, a state park in Milton, Massachusetts.

CT DEEP encourages residents to check DEEP’s Calendar of Events for updates.

Stephen Underwood can be reached at sunderwood@courant.com

This annual census of the birds, the world’s longest-running citizen science project, has been a long tradition nationally, with Pittsburgh records dating back to 1914.

The Pittsburgh Audubon Christmas Bird Count (CBC) will continue its tradition of taking place on the Saturday following Christmas on Dec. 28.

The Bird Count continues to attract legions of volunteers: It’s free, you learn something new, contribute to science and get outdoors for a respite from the holidays.

“The more eyes we have on a count, the more birds we will find,” said Brian Shema, operations director of the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania and coordinator for the Pittsburgh CBC.

One volunteer counter, Sheree Daugherty, of Pittsburgh’s North Side, has been participating for more than 20 years.

“It’s something I enjoy. I love birding and being outdoors.

“The CBC gives me an opportunity to add to scientific data, so it’s a win-win,” she said.

Daugherty, past president of the Three Rivers Birding Club, is also an avian and nature artist. Her work includes birds commonly found during the CBC hand-painted on glass holiday ornaments.

There are more birds out there than you think.

Last year, the local Audubon Society hosted 185 volunteers who recorded 76 species of the more than 35,000 individual birds counted in Pittsburgh, Shema said.

“The idea of participating in the CDC might scare people who don’t feel qualified. Anyone who wants to participate is welcome. We are good at pairing advanced and beginner birders,” he said.

Earlier in the month, Audubon offered some bird count primer events for newcomers to learn more about their avian subjects and how the count works.

Over the years, volunteering has become more palatable. You can put in as little as one hour in the field or count the birds from the comfort of your home at your bird feeder.

There is even a special Bird Count for school-age kids at Audubon’s headquarters at Beechwood Farms in Fox Chapel from 10 a.m. to noon on Dec. 28. An Audubon naturalist will guide the children, who must be accompanied by an adult and be pre-registered with Audubon.

The only limitations are geographic. Surveys occur in “count circles” with a 15-mile diameter. The Pittsburgh count’s center point is in Shaler. And there are other count circles in Allegheny and surrounding counties.

The Bird Count was was hatched in 1900 as a humane alternative to the annual shooting of birds during the holidays. The Christmas Side Hunt was a pre-20th-century tradition featuring hunters trying to bag the largest pile of birds.

The effort grew into the world’s longest-running citizen science project. Because there aren’t enough biologists to survey a large swatch of land — the Bird Count is flush with volunteer birders.

CBC survey data has been used by numerous government agencies and nonprofits. For example, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency included Audubon’s CBC data as one of 26 indicators of climate change in their 2012 report, according to The National Audubon Society. CBC data also helped develop Audubon’s Common Birds in Decline Report in 2007, which revealed that populations of some of America’s most beloved birds have plummeted over the past 40 years.

To some, the Bird Count is somewhat of a sport, with communities and individuals vying to tally the most bird species. But it is much more than simply hunting the rarities. It’s also about counting all the blue jays and juncos, as the number of birds considered common matter too.

“While the rarities are fun to find in winter, the common birds can act as a barometer as to what is happening to our wild bird population,” Shema said.

“Tallies of our common birds help us understand if local populations are fluctuating and help map the ranges of our local birds.”

The survey tracks bird population trends in our area.

Several decades ago, the red-bellied woodpecker was an uncommon species in the Pittsburgh region. It is now common because it expanded its range north from Southern states.

More recently, the Bird Count chronicled the burgeoning numbers of bald eagles in Pittsburgh.

Last year, eight bald eagles were tallied — the highest ever for the bird count in the city.

“The information gained from the bird count helps us understand the distribution and abundance of birds,” Shema said.

“Compiling all bird count findings helps scientists understand where conservation efforts are best applied.”

To volunteer for the Bird Count, contact your local count leader via the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania on its website or by calling (412) 963-6100.

(c)2024 the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

The Solstice Sea Star Search along the California coast is an initiative from the California Academy of Sciences to track sea star populations, which were widely decimated about a decade ago due to an infection with possible links to climate change.

The project runs twice a year in the months of June and December, around the summer and winter solstices, when tides are typically at their lowest. From Christmas Day through Dec. 30, various tides along the San Diego coast are under one foot.

To participate in the search, locals can look for sea stars and log their finds on the iNaturalist app — community science that helps researchers monitor the populations and the animals’ overall health.

“When you’re mobilizing so many people — not just gatekeeping research and science to institutions — you’re spreading out that responsibility and those efforts to the broader community,” said Olivia Poulos, the community engagement manager for the San Diego Museum of Natural History, which is helping get the word out about the sea star search.

So far, more than 1,600 sea star observations have been logged this month along the coast, including over 60 in San Diego County.

Here’s what else you need to know about the search and how to get involved.

Why do sea stars matter?

Sea stars are often called a “keystone species.” As predators in the intertidal food chain, they help keep the entire ecosystem balanced by eating other organisms like sea urchins, which in turn eat algae, such as seaweed and kelp.

Without sea stars, urchins will eat too much algae, which can destroy kelp forests and overhaul the ecosystem. Urchin barrens — areas devoid of kelp and dominated by sea urchins — have become a more frequent sight on the West Coast with the loss of sea stars.

“The kelp forest is a beautiful, amazing ecosystem with massive kelp that serves as a safeguard for animals,” said Olivia VanDamme, community science coordinator at the California Academy of Sciences.

Around 2013, sea star populations from Mexico to Alaska began to plummet due to sea star wasting syndrome, a disease that causes sea stars to develop symptoms such as skin lesions and lose their arms before eventually killing them. Research has suggested rising ocean temperatures may have played a role, with warmer water making the stars more susceptible to disease.

Some species have begun to recover, but others such as the sunflower sea star — which is proposed for being listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act — have seen less of a positive recovery and may be considered locally extinct in some areas.

In 2023, scientists as the Birch Aquarium successfully spawned three sunflower sea stars in an effort to bring back the population.

How can I participate? And how is the data used?

To get involved in the Solstice Sea Star Search, download the iNaturalist app on your phone and create an account. You can join the California Academy of Sciences’ Winter Solstice Sea Star Search project on the app, but it’s not required. Once you start logging the sea stars you find, they will automatically be routed to the project.

Searching for sea stars is a fun experience in itself — but your discoveries will also actually help scientists better understand California’s biodiversity.

The California Academy of Sciences is working with the California Ocean Protection Council and California Department of Fish and Wildlife to create an Early Warning and Forecasting System to monitor biodiversity change on the West Coast, using crowdsourced data from tide poolers and outdoor enthusiasts up and down the state.

“There’s no way my team could get enough scientists out into the field on these low-tide days … everywhere in California to see what’s going on,” VanDamme said. “The story with the sea stars is a success story for the field of community science.”

When is the best time to go tide pooling?

From Christmas Day through Dec. 30, the tide will be a foot and under at several spots along the San Diego County coast. There will be a new moon on Dec. 30, a lunar event that often coincides with low tides.

For more information about the specific time of day to go, check out the California Academy of Sciences’ Tides Finder, which shows low tides around the state, including at nine San Diego locations from Imperial Beach to La Jolla. The low tides at those locations this week are spaced out between noon and 4 p.m. each day — perfect for a leisurely lunchtime adventure with family.

Cabrillo National Monument also keeps a log of the tides on the Point Loma peninsula, and there are several websites that track high and low tides in other parts of the county, too.

Where should I go in San Diego?

Cabrillo National Monument, Tourmaline Surfing Park, Torrey Pines and Cardiff state beaches and tide pools in Carlsbad, near Shore Drive and Carlsbad Boulevard, are all good spots for tide pooling.

There are also a few places to go in La Jolla, including pools off Coast Boulevard, south of Cuvier Park, and at La Jolla Shores near the Scripps Pier.

And while the goal this month is to find sea stars, keep your eyes peeled for other critters living at the coast, including anemones, sea snails, octopus and sea slugs like the Spanish shawl.

Be sure to exercise respect for the wildlife and refrain from picking up animals and plants or removing them from their habitat. Walk slowly and cautiously, too, so you don’t accidentally step on one.

©2024 The San Diego Union-Tribune. Visit sandiegouniontribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Traditional telescopes have lenses of various quality and eyepieces. But typically, only faint images of deep sky objects in shades of grey (known to astronomers as “faint fuzzies”) are all that are visible through an eyepiece. However, with the advent of new camera sensor technology (specifically, complementary metal oxide semiconductors, or CMOS sensors), modern astronomy cameras, known as “astro cameras,” are now much more sensitive than the human eye, allowing for the gathering of dim light from objects millions of light years away. The images you will see with an astro camera can be spectacular, and it is now possible to see galaxies, nebulas and other deep sky objects with remarkable color, clarity and detail.

A typical astrophotography set-up will consist of a telescope, telescope mount that tracks movement of the Earth, camera, and laptop computer (or hand-held device). These items are typically all purchased separately, and there can be a huge range in price and quality of each component.

There are two main categories of objects you can view in the night sky: objects within our solar system (the moon and planets) and deep sky objects (stars, star clusters, galaxies and nebulas). Views of both categories of objects are enhanced when using astro cameras. Nebulas are large regions of cosmic gas and dust, and can be truly spectacular targets. One well-known nebula now visible in the night sky is the Orion Nebula, one of the most often viewed in the winter months, and found in the sword of the constellation Orion. An image of it through an astro camera reveals unbelievable detail of swirling clouds of gas and dust, in dramatic shades of reds and blues.  Another amazing nebula is the Horsehead Nebula, also located in the constellation Orion. These are truly “must see” objects for any amateur astronomer.

For planetary photography, Jupiter, Saturn and Mars are great targets. When photographing Jupiter, it is possible to see some detail on the planet’s great red spot, detail of its four Galilean Moons, or witness the dramatic crossing of a moon shadow across its surface. Saturn’s rings, and the well-known “Cassini Division” separating the rings are also visible on a clear night. Mars will show shades of muted reds on its surface, and its white polar cap can also be seen. The moon is also a great object to photograph; its craters and mountain ranges, when accentuated by shadows, can provide dramatic views.

As far as process is concerned, after taking photos, they are saved and refined through an electronic method called “stacking.” In this process, individual frames are stacked on top of each other to improve clarity. The final stacked image is then further refined with a variety of different software you can either download for free or purchase. This software sharpens the images and allows for the reduction of background noise or light pollution, and can remove other un-wanted effects. This may sound complicated but it really isn’t – it goes quickly and is easy to do, once you learn how.

There is another process you can use if you are displaying your images to a group, called “livestacking,” where the stacked images are displayed directly on a laptop or hand-held device, with no need for further processing. This is also referred to as “electronically-assisted astronomy,” or EAA, and is great for public outreach events. Groups can see the amazing arms of spiral galaxies, colorful nebulas or details on planets directly on the computer screen. These images can be as large as you want to make them, and additional larger monitors can be hooked up in tandem if desired.

In addition to livestacking, there are now “smart telescopes” available that will take and process images of the night sky as you watch. These units are compact, easy to carry, designed for the beginning astronomer and user-friendly. They are self-contained with all necessary components included. It is possible to get good images using these for a much lower investment than if you were to buy traditional astrophotography equipment separately (e.g., telescope, mount, laptop, camera, etc).  Whether you opt for a traditional astrophotography set-up or a smart telescope, the views are almost always better than those achievable with a traditional telescope and eyepiece.

As with any hobby, astrophotography can have a steep learning curve, and is not for everyone. It can also be expensive, and before you rush out to buy a new astro camera or smart telescope, I highly recommend you do your research first to figure out the type that is best for you.

Astro cameras are designed for different uses, such as planetary and lunar photography, or deep sky objects. Those used for deep sky objects are usually electronically cooled to reduce background noise, while planetary cameras are not. With a dedicated effort, talking with other amateur astronomers, and some careful shopping it is indeed possible to get good used (or loaned) equipment if you’re on a tight budget.

A great resource is membership in an astronomy club, where you can meet like-minded people and get advice from other astrophotographers. I belong to the Thames Amateur Astronomical Society based in Southeast Connecticut, which has been a great resource for me while learning the hobby. There are other astronomy clubs throughout the State, and it is easy to find one near you.

Also, if you’re just starting out, there is a wealth of information on the subject of astrophotography on-line, and I recommend checking out the many web sites and tutorials that are available. There are also a number of great you-tube channels dedicated to learning astrophotography that you can watch to step you through the process. These can be entertaining as well as informational. Some of my favorites are Heavenly Backyard Astronomy, Wido’s Astroforum, Star Stuff and Martin’s Astrophotography. All of these are well-suited for beginners interested in learning astrophotography.

If you want more out of amateur astronomy, astrophotography is the way to go, and will really enhance your experience. It can be an extremely satisfying and enjoyable hobby.

John Natale is an amateur astronomer and resident of East Haddam. If you would like more information on the subject of amateur astronomy or astrophotography, he can be contacted at jsnatale@att.net. Topaz Gigapixel AI software was used for clarity for inserting pixels where it calculates they are needed in photos.