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My Good Babushka

(2,710 posts) Thu Feb 27, 2014, 10:48 AM Feb 2014

4

Seafaring weather phenomena

In stormy weather at sea, lights would sometimes appear at the top of tall masts accompanied by a crackling noise. Sailors called this Castor and Pollux if there were two lights visible. This meant the storm was nearly over.
If only one light was seen, this was called Helen, and it denoted that the worst of the storm was yet to come.

8 replies

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Seafaring weather phenomena (Original Post) My Good Babushka Feb 2014 OP

I jut love tidbits of info like this. dixiegrrrrl Feb 2014 #1

Thanks! My Good Babushka Feb 2014 #2

Isn't that collectively known as St Elmo's fire? nt Wounded Bear Feb 2014 #3

Yes. nt My Good Babushka Feb 2014 #4

this calls for a song, I think Tuesday Afternoon Feb 2014 #5

Lol. I keep looking for the "like" button My Good Babushka Feb 2014 #6

Yes. That would be the DU version. Tuesday Afternoon Feb 2014 #7

Castor and Pollux... Callmecrazy Feb 2014 #8

dixiegrrrrl

(60,010 posts)

1. I jut love tidbits of info like this.

Reply to My Good Babushka (Original post)

Thu Feb 27, 2014, 10:50 AM

Feb 2014

Thanks for sharing this..
and the nice pic, too.

My Good Babushka

(2,710 posts)

2. Thanks!

Reply to dixiegrrrrl (Reply #1)

Thu Feb 27, 2014, 10:51 AM

Feb 2014

I try to make them not too long and boring. And I try to add pictures!

Wounded Bear

(58,773 posts)

3. Isn't that collectively known as St Elmo's fire? nt

Reply to My Good Babushka (Original post)

Thu Feb 27, 2014, 01:27 PM

Feb 2014

My Good Babushka

(2,710 posts)

4. Yes. nt

Reply to Wounded Bear (Reply #3)

Thu Feb 27, 2014, 01:30 PM

Feb 2014

Tuesday Afternoon

(56,912 posts)

5. this calls for a song, I think

Reply to My Good Babushka (Original post)

Thu Feb 27, 2014, 03:43 PM

Feb 2014

My Good Babushka

(2,710 posts)

6. Lol. I keep looking for the "like" button

Reply to Tuesday Afternoon (Reply #5)

Thu Feb 27, 2014, 03:48 PM

Feb 2014

I've been on facebook too much lately.
I guess on DU they say +1?

Tuesday Afternoon

(56,912 posts)

7. Yes. That would be the DU version.

Reply to My Good Babushka (Reply #6)

Thu Feb 27, 2014, 05:39 PM

Feb 2014

Callmecrazy

(3,065 posts)

8. Castor and Pollux...

Reply to My Good Babushka (Original post)

Thu Feb 27, 2014, 06:16 PM

Feb 2014

Are the names of the Gemini twins. I wonder if that bears some significance?

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