Northern Light   In February, we treasure every extra minute of
daylight.  Astronomers tell us that the days begin to grow
longer on December 22. On the winter solstice, the Earth turns
the northern half of its face back to the light. The progress is
slow at first; sunrise comes a minute sooner, sunset a few
seconds later. Unless you’re paying close attention, you might
not notice a difference for the entire month of January. The
darkness of winter can seem like a permanent condition.  Then in
February something happens. On your commute to work you spot a
pale sun cresting the tops of the pines in the east. Leaving the
office nine hours later, you see a wash of pink along the
western horizon where — just the other day — there had been only
blackness. Dawn and dusk no longer resemble the abrupt rise and
fall of a stage curtain.  “Magic hour” is the term that
photographers use to describe the first and last hours of
daylight. They’re referring to the spectacular effect the rising
and setting sun can give a phot