These last days of January are the peak time to catch a dragon by the tail. Comet C/2022 E3 will make its closest approach to Earth for the first time in 50,000 years. The last time Comet C/2022 E3 swung this close to Earth was during the Ice Ages and the Upper Paleolithic period.
To view the comet, holler at your neighbors to turn off their halogen floodlights and look to the north between the Big Dipper and the Little Dipper. Between those two celestial kitchen gadgets lies Draco, the dragon of Greek mythology who guarded Hera’s golden apples in the garden of Hesperides. In the coming nights, comet C/2022 E3 will follow the dragon’s tail to the North Star. It will appear as a green streak about two hours before dawn.
Comets are dirty snowballs — chunks of ice and dust that originate in the icy edges of the solar system and follow gravitational forces towards the sun. As icy comets approach the sun’s heat, the surface of the comet releases gas and dust to form a glowing tail stretching for millions of miles. C/2022 E3 appears green because two carbon atoms fused within the comet, forming diatomic carbon — a green gaseous inorganic chemical. When diatomic carbon absorbs the sun’s ultraviolet radiation the reaction emanates green light.
If I were a talented writer, I’d wax poetic about Hera’s golden green apples rolling off dragon tails, straight on till morning. But instead, here’s a fiery treat to enjoy in the early morning hours of catching comets: Hera’s Dragon Apple Bites. Place frozen puff pastry shells on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes. Remove puff pastry shells from oven and remove tops. Fill with brie cheese and a spoonful of hot pepper jelly. Return the pan to the oven for another 5-10 minutes until cheese is melted and pastry is golden. Top cheese bites with sliced green apples, chopped pistachios, and a drizzle of honey.
Speaking of catching a comet and many happy tails …
Whiteout Racing Kennel is on the road again for the 2023 sled dog race season. This week is the kickoff ceremonies of the Pedigree Stage Stop Race in Wyoming. The team will race seven days, averaging 30-35 miles each day over snow-covered mountain terrain.
Close on the heels of that first week, the team goes on to mush Montana’s Race to the Sky. Last year the team came in first place. This year promises to be a strong sequel. Rounding out the end of February, the Whiteout Racing Team takes on the Canadian Challenge Sled Dog Race. Christina will be mushing her first 200-mile race with a 10-dog team, and Aidan will mush a 100-mile race with an eight-dog team.
Follow the team on the Pedigree stage route through www.wyomingstagestop.org.
To book a presentation, sponsor a dog, or learn more about the team, visit www.whiteoutracingkennel.com. For team photos and up-to-date race information on the Whiteout Racing Team, follow the team on Facebook, www.facebook.com/WhiteoutRacingKennel, and on Instagram @whiteoutracingkennel.
