Southern Cross, 4th time around ... The skies aren't like LA around here ...

This is my fourth time "Crossing the Line" (so to speak). In 2010, I visited Brasil and Australia; then, in 2012, South Africa.

I was able to spot the Southern Cross on those trips, especially on the trip to South Africa where I stayed in a lovely light pollution free area of Cape Town for part of the trip).

But on this trip to Australia, I was in a perfect spot. Lorne, a few hours from Melbourne on the coast, had a perfect light free sky and clear skies, so it was easy to spot.

In fact, the night I went Southern Cross spotting, I was looking skyward when a man in a suit with an American accent asked "Are you Australian?" I said no, sorry. He said he was looking for the Southern Cross, so I pointed it out and him and said, "The skies are so different here." And he replied, "Yes, much different than LA."

Different indeed ...

Here's the post from South Africa.

When you see the Southern Cross for the first time / You understand now why you came this way

A little hard to see in this picture, but here indeed is the Southern Cross. When I was in Australia, I didn't get a chance to look up on a clear night, so I'll consider this my first viewing of the constellation.

When you see the Southern Cross for the first time
You understand now why you came this way
'Cause the truth you might be runnin' from is so small
But it's as big as the promise, the promise of a comin' day
So I'm sailing for tomorrow, my dreams are a dyin'
And my love is an anchor tied to you, tied with a silver chain
I have my ship, and all her flags are a flyin'
She is all that I have left, and music is her name
And you know it will
So we cheated and we lied and we tested
And we never failed to fail, it was the easiest thing to do
You will survive being bested
Somebody fine will come along
Make me forget about loving you
And the Southern Cross

- Steven Stills