Unidentified Objects in Palmer Sky

A surveillance balloon is NOT something we see in Palmer, I don’t think.

The whole thing is a strange curiosity, regardless if it is a stray, unmanned civilian airship, or a fleet of spaceships with friendly aliens.

Identified Objects In Palmer Sky— This is a long list. In Palmer, we are used to being sky watchers for many reasons. Our local sky is an active theater all the time. Because we are in a curious worldly time right now with the repeatedly weird Chinese balloon saga, let’s identify what we do know and see in our busy sky.

Palmer Airport Strobe— This safety beam punctuates the Palmer sky at times. If you don’t know what it is, then it can be a bit disconcerting. But if you’re a pilot, it’s a joy to see.

Sky Scribblers— These sky writers are normally from JBER formations performing skillful aeronautic exercises, formations and fly writing. Contrails sometime decorate the sky but they aren’t scary.

Fata Morgana— These distant sky mirages consists of multiple upright and inverted images over the original object. From Palmer and Lazy Mountain we can see these mirages quite a ways away in a narrow band, right at the horizon. Often they look like blocked cities or pyramids with walls.

SunDogs— These luminous optical rainbow orbs are phenomenons which occur on either side of the sun. They are brilliant daytime concentrated patches of light and are considered good luck. In Palmer we see them frequently.

Heart breaking Sunrises and Sunsets— There are no words to describe the elegance and beauty of our Palmer sky sunrises or sunsets. You just have to stop whatever you are doing and watch.

Air Traffic— Palmer sees lots of small airplane traffic, rescue and research helicopters, law enforcement flights, fire fighter transports, emergency transports along with some large cargo planes and jets. We occasionally see those obnoxious airplanes dragging a billboard sign message in our skies.

Night Sky—Our night sky is quite full with the moon, stars, planets, comets and satellites. We also have the honor of welcoming Lady Aurora with the Northern Lights.

Holiday Sky—Sometimes our sky is full of fireworks. And sometimes large flags are hoisted up into the sky. Our water tower has wonderful lights on it at holiday time and takes over the low Palmer skyline.

Flying Creatures—We have lots of big sky birds such as eagles, hawks, owls, magpies, snowbirds, and some little flutters like chickadees, red polls. All of these winter birds are welcome and recognizable.

Technology, Service and Communication Sky— Power poles, cell towers, Line Men, Drones, and Firetrucks with large ladders are important vertical parts of our lives and sometimes they are in our sky view shed, and we thank them.

Curious Clouds— Our friends, the clouds, are with us nearly every day regardless of the season. But we aren’t regularly overcast. Our clouds are varied and distinctive. They range from indigo to cotton candy to stretched lace to large, billowy, white thunderheads.

Wild Windy Weather Events— When the winds get fierce our sky can be thrashed with unusual objects such as garbage can lids, neighborhood trampolines, campaign signs, umbrellas, and porch furniture. Plus a large layer of glacial silt joins in making weather sky events even more exciting.

What We Occasionally See— Parachutists, SkyDivers, Eclipses, Hot Air Balloons, Stationary Observation Drones.

What We Don’t See— Blimps, the Green Comet, rocket launches and Chinese balloons!

Barbara Hunt is both Palmer writer and artist. She works hard to keep the robust pulse of Palmer, Alaska. She shares the good stuff in the weekly Palmer Alaska Buzz Column in the Mat Su Valley Frontiersman and daily on the Palmer Alaska Buzz Facebook Group. Contact at bhunt@mtaonline.net or text 907-315-3222