Sky Shows

The sky above the Islands of Abaco is brilliant with stars on clear nights, especially in the quiet barrier islands. The sun setting into the Sea of Abaco on pleasant evenings paints gorgeous pinks, oranges and purples from the horizon to the rising moon.

The March full moon was particularly stunning this year sailing low over the cottages and boats in Hopetown Harbor on Elbow Cay. Its creamy reflection sparkled in the water as the sunlight waned.

But the most spectacular sky show I have ever witnessed occurred on Sunday March 15th when the space shuttle Discovery was launched at 7:43 in the evening. From the cockpit we watched as the blazing rocket streaked through a low bank of scattered dark clouds to our north. Because the sun had just set, the con trail left by the shuttle looked like a column of flames streaming across the evening sky. As the con trail dispersed we could just make out in the distance the faint track of the rocket as it arced across the heavens.

Suddenly a bright white cloud burst out of the darkness when the booster rocket separated from the spacecraft. So high above the earth that it was still in daylight, this ghostly cloud spread out and cast its reflection on the waters of the Sea of Abaco. We watched, mesmerized, as the cloud turned a beautiful sapphire blue and then the top half reflected a pure, pale yellow.

Slowly the cloud faded and dispersed into the velvety night and we were left with the stars and a near full moon peeking through the scattered clouds. . . this normally lovely sky show paled in comparison to the sight we had just witnessed.