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This is a panorama of the ground and sky framing the badlands of Dinosaur Provincial Park,in the Red Deer River valley in Alberta,with the summer sky above filled with three dozen meteors from the annual Perseid meteor shower,of August 12,2023. The meteors all appear to be streaking away from the radiant point in Perseus at far left. The location is the upper viewpoint near the Park Entrance,and looking northeast to southeast. The lights in the valley below are from the campground and service centre. The one glaring sodium vapour light should be removed or at least shielded. The brightest hori
13999527 - This is a panorama of the ground and sky framing the badlands of Dinosaur Provincial Park,in the Red Deer River valley in Alberta,with the summer sky above filled with three dozen meteors from the annual Perseid meteor shower,of August 12,2023. The meteors all appear to be streaking away from the radiant point in Perseus at far left. The location is the upper viewpoint near the Park Entrance,and looking northeast to southeast. The lights in the valley below are from the campground and service centre. The one glaring sodium vapour light should be removed or at least shielded. The brightest hori
Comet Nishimura (C/2023 P1),at left,captured at dawn on September 7,2023 with the sky beginning to brighten with morning twilight colours. Plus the last quarter Moon was lighting the sky and landscape with moonlight. The comet appears with Venus,at right,beginning its morning sky appearance for 2023/24. In addition,the star cluster Messier 44,the Beehive,is at top right. The smaller Messier 67 star cluster is just above Venus.
13999315 - Comet Nishimura (C/2023 P1),at left,captured at dawn on September 7,2023 with the sky beginning to brighten with morning twilight colours. Plus the last quarter Moon was lighting the sky and landscape with moonlight. The comet appears with Venus,at right,beginning its morning sky appearance for 2023/24. In addition,the star cluster Messier 44,the Beehive,is at top right. The smaller Messier 67 star cluster is just above Venus.
A view of the great April aurora show of April 23,2023,looking to the south,with multiple curtains across the sky forming parallel ribbons from east to west at the zenith. Taken from home in southern Alberta,Canada. Dark clouds appear in silhouette in front of the higher aurora.
13998776 - A view of the great April aurora show of April 23,2023,looking to the south,with multiple curtains across the sky forming parallel ribbons from east to west at the zenith. Taken from home in southern Alberta,Canada. Dark clouds appear in silhouette in front of the higher aurora.
The infamous "Green" Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) passing by reddish Mars with both in the constellation of Taurus on the night of Feb 11,2023. The comet was 2° south of Mars this night. Mars was embedded in some of the dark obscuring dust clouds in Taurus,creating the dark patchy appearance to the background sky. The comet's coma glows cyan due to emission from diatomic carbon molecules,a common trait of comets. The dust tail and faint ion tail are just visible.
13998596 - The infamous "Green" Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) passing by reddish Mars with both in the constellation of Taurus on the night of Feb 11,2023. The comet was 2° south of Mars this night. Mars was embedded in some of the dark obscuring dust clouds in Taurus,creating the dark patchy appearance to the background sky. The comet's coma glows cyan due to emission from diatomic carbon molecules,a common trait of comets. The dust tail and faint ion tail are just visible.
The conjunction of the waxing crescent Moon with Venus (bright and below) and Mars (dim and to the left) on June 21,2023,summer solstice evening,with the worlds in clouds in the colourful twilight sky. Earthshine is just visible on the dark side of the Moon,despite the obscuring clouds.
13998286 - The conjunction of the waxing crescent Moon with Venus (bright and below) and Mars (dim and to the left) on June 21,2023,summer solstice evening,with the worlds in clouds in the colourful twilight sky. Earthshine is just visible on the dark side of the Moon,despite the obscuring clouds.
The galactic centre area in Sagittarius (at left) and Scorpius (at right) low in the south on a summer night at Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta. This was June 30/July 1, 2022. Being just 10 days after summer solstice and at latitude +50° North, the sky even to the south still has a blue tint from all-night twilight. I made no attempt to neutralize the sky colouration. In addition, some haze from smoke discoloured the sky and reduced transparency and contrast low in the sky.
13900618 - The galactic centre area in Sagittarius (at left) and Scorpius (at right) low in the south on a summer night at Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta. This was June 30/July 1, 2022. Being just 10 days after summer solstice and at latitude +50° North, the sky even to the south still has a blue tint from all-night twilight. I made no attempt to neutralize the sky colouration. In addition, some haze from smoke discoloured the sky and reduced transparency and contrast low in the sky.
A complex of halo phenomena on the evening of April 15, 2022, Good Friday of the 2022 Easter weekend, around the almost Full Moon. Ice crystals in the high cloud created the halos and arcs, set in the spring night sky, with the Big Dipper at top, Arcturus to the left, and Regulus and Leo at right. The colours of the arcs and sundogs were just visible to the unaided eye.
13900517 - A complex of halo phenomena on the evening of April 15, 2022, Good Friday of the 2022 Easter weekend, around the almost Full Moon. Ice crystals in the high cloud created the halos and arcs, set in the spring night sky, with the Big Dipper at top, Arcturus to the left, and Regulus and Leo at right. The colours of the arcs and sundogs were just visible to the unaided eye.
The Coma Berenices star cluster, aka Mel 111, with star glows added from haze in the sky to accentuate the star colours. The edge-on galaxy NGC 4565 (the Needle Galaxy) is at lower left; the spiral galaxy NGC 4559 is at upper left. Several other smaller NGC galaxies are in the field, which is similar to the field of view of binoculars.
13900479 - The Coma Berenices star cluster, aka Mel 111, with star glows added from haze in the sky to accentuate the star colours. The edge-on galaxy NGC 4565 (the Needle Galaxy) is at lower left; the spiral galaxy NGC 4559 is at upper left. Several other smaller NGC galaxies are in the field, which is similar to the field of view of binoculars.
A 360° panorama of the winter sky over Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta, on February 28, 2017. The Milky Way arches across the sky from south (left) to northeast (right). The Zodiacal Light stretches up from the western horizon at centre. The Gegenschein is faintly visible above the horizon at far left in Leo.
13900448 - A 360° panorama of the winter sky over Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta, on February 28, 2017. The Milky Way arches across the sky from south (left) to northeast (right). The Zodiacal Light stretches up from the western horizon at centre. The Gegenschein is faintly visible above the horizon at far left in Leo.
The Andromeda Galaxy (aka Messier 31) and the stars of Andromeda rising over moonlit formations at Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta. Illumination is from the waxing gibbous Moon, low in the southwest so it is providing a warm light. This is an example of a "deepscape" - a nightcape with a telephoto lens to also record a deep-sky object in the frame above the horizon. However, moonlight prevents the galaxy from showing up as well as it would in a dark sky.
13900215 - The Andromeda Galaxy (aka Messier 31) and the stars of Andromeda rising over moonlit formations at Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta. Illumination is from the waxing gibbous Moon, low in the southwest so it is providing a warm light. This is an example of a "deepscape" - a nightcape with a telephoto lens to also record a deep-sky object in the frame above the horizon. However, moonlight prevents the galaxy from showing up as well as it would in a dark sky.
The Orion Nebula complex consisting of M42, M43 and the reflection nebula area known as the Running Man Nebula, NGC 1973-5-7. NGC 1981 is the blue star cluster at top north edge. North is up, though in the sky from Australia where this was shot the object appeared upside down compared to this northern-centric view.
13899999 - The Orion Nebula complex consisting of M42, M43 and the reflection nebula area known as the Running Man Nebula, NGC 1973-5-7. NGC 1981 is the blue star cluster at top north edge. North is up, though in the sky from Australia where this was shot the object appeared upside down compared to this northern-centric view.
The galactic core area of the Milky Way over Maskinonge Pond in Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta. Jupiter is the bright object at left, with Saturn dimmer to the left (east) of Jupiter. In the summer of 2020 the two planets were close together in the summer sky. Jupiter provides the glitter path on the water. Antares and Scorpius are to the right. Sagittarius is at centre. This was July 13-14, 2020.
13899576 - The galactic core area of the Milky Way over Maskinonge Pond in Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta. Jupiter is the bright object at left, with Saturn dimmer to the left (east) of Jupiter. In the summer of 2020 the two planets were close together in the summer sky. Jupiter provides the glitter path on the water. Antares and Scorpius are to the right. Sagittarius is at centre. This was July 13-14, 2020.
The galactic core area of the Milky Way over Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta with the pairing of giant planets from summer 2020. Jupiter is the bright object at centre, with Saturn dimmer to the left (east) of Jupiter. In 2020 the two planets were close together in the summer sky. Sagittarius is at right. The Prince of Wales Hotel is the bright light source. This was July 13-14, 2020.
13899423 - The galactic core area of the Milky Way over Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta with the pairing of giant planets from summer 2020. Jupiter is the bright object at centre, with Saturn dimmer to the left (east) of Jupiter. In 2020 the two planets were close together in the summer sky. Sagittarius is at right. The Prince of Wales Hotel is the bright light source. This was July 13-14, 2020.
A composite of the November 11, 2019 Transit of Mercury across the disk of the Sun, on a day with no sunspots on the Sun. The temperature was about -20° C to -15° C this morning but the sky was perfectly clear.
13899177 - A composite of the November 11, 2019 Transit of Mercury across the disk of the Sun, on a day with no sunspots on the Sun. The temperature was about -20° C to -15° C this morning but the sky was perfectly clear.
A panorama of the glacier-fed Athabasca River and peaks around Mount Fryatt in Jasper National Park, as the Milky Way is setting and the waning gibbous Moon rising, lighting the peaks of the Continental DIvide with lunar alpenglow. Mount Fryatt is at centre, while to the right is Mount Geraldine, and to the left are Brussels Peak and Mount Christie. Jasper is one of the world's largest Dark Sky Preserves.
13899099 - A panorama of the glacier-fed Athabasca River and peaks around Mount Fryatt in Jasper National Park, as the Milky Way is setting and the waning gibbous Moon rising, lighting the peaks of the Continental DIvide with lunar alpenglow. Mount Fryatt is at centre, while to the right is Mount Geraldine, and to the left are Brussels Peak and Mount Christie. Jasper is one of the world's largest Dark Sky Preserves.
The Milky Way arching over Emerald Lake and Emerald Lake Lodge in Yoho National Park, BC. This was on June 6, 2016 and despite it being about 1:30 am, the sky, especially to the north at left, is still lit by blue twilight from the short solstice night.
13898833 - The Milky Way arching over Emerald Lake and Emerald Lake Lodge in Yoho National Park, BC. This was on June 6, 2016 and despite it being about 1:30 am, the sky, especially to the north at left, is still lit by blue twilight from the short solstice night.
Stack of two 6 minute exposures at ISO 400 and f/4 with 15mm lens and Canon 5DMkII camera. Taken Sept 10, 2009 with Moon just rising or about to, so sky is brighter than normal.
13898604 - Stack of two 6 minute exposures at ISO 400 and f/4 with 15mm lens and Canon 5DMkII camera. Taken Sept 10, 2009 with Moon just rising or about to, so sky is brighter than normal.
The summer Milky Way and galactic core area in Sagittarius, setting on a late summer evening in mid-September, with some of the foliage starting to turn to autumn colours. Thin cloud in the sky this night added the star glows naturally. This was from home in southern Alberta at latitude 51° N.
13898584 - The summer Milky Way and galactic core area in Sagittarius, setting on a late summer evening in mid-September, with some of the foliage starting to turn to autumn colours. Thin cloud in the sky this night added the star glows naturally. This was from home in southern Alberta at latitude 51° N.
The summer Milky Way over and reflected in the relatively calm water of Pyramid Lake in Jasper National Park, on a mid-October night. The Jasper Sky Tram adds the lights on Whistler Peak. Bands of airglow tint the sky with red. Lights from the Jasper townsite, still mostly unshielded sodium vapour lights as of 2022, add the skyglow at left. Altair is the bright star at top. The red Lagoon Nebula is just setting behind the mountain skyline. The slight wind rippled the water enough to prevent a perfect reflection.
13898290 - The summer Milky Way over and reflected in the relatively calm water of Pyramid Lake in Jasper National Park, on a mid-October night. The Jasper Sky Tram adds the lights on Whistler Peak. Bands of airglow tint the sky with red. Lights from the Jasper townsite, still mostly unshielded sodium vapour lights as of 2022, add the skyglow at left. Altair is the bright star at top. The red Lagoon Nebula is just setting behind the mountain skyline. The slight wind rippled the water enough to prevent a perfect reflection.
The Pleiades star cluster and the other stars of Taurus rising above Mount Kerkeslin at Athabasca Falls, in Jasper National Park, Alberta, October 22, 2016. The sky is brightening with the rising waning Moon off frame at left. Some cloud adds star glows and hazy patches to the sky.
13898251 - The Pleiades star cluster and the other stars of Taurus rising above Mount Kerkeslin at Athabasca Falls, in Jasper National Park, Alberta, October 22, 2016. The sky is brightening with the rising waning Moon off frame at left. Some cloud adds star glows and hazy patches to the sky.
A fish-eye lens / all-sky view of the STEVE aurora arc across the sky and in clouds on May 6, 2018, from home in southern Alberta, with a diffuse aurora to the north casting streaks of purple up the sky, and a green glow along the horizon. This night the aurora was very active to the north and east with a terrific display in Churchill, Manitoba about an hour before this, matching the usual STEVE characteristic of him appearing as a major storm subsides.
13898158 - A fish-eye lens / all-sky view of the STEVE aurora arc across the sky and in clouds on May 6, 2018, from home in southern Alberta, with a diffuse aurora to the north casting streaks of purple up the sky, and a green glow along the horizon. This night the aurora was very active to the north and east with a terrific display in Churchill, Manitoba about an hour before this, matching the usual STEVE characteristic of him appearing as a major storm subsides.
The International Space Station (ISS) flying away to the east over the moonlit badlands formations at Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta, on July 12, 2022, just before local midnight. The image frames the stars of Cassiopeia (upper left), Perseus (at left), Andromeda (centre) and Pegasus (at right). A couple of other fainter satellites are also in the image. Light from the almost Full Moon illuminates the sky blue and foreground a warm colour.
13898054 - The International Space Station (ISS) flying away to the east over the moonlit badlands formations at Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta, on July 12, 2022, just before local midnight. The image frames the stars of Cassiopeia (upper left), Perseus (at left), Andromeda (centre) and Pegasus (at right). A couple of other fainter satellites are also in the image. Light from the almost Full Moon illuminates the sky blue and foreground a warm colour.
The conjunction of the waning crescent Moon with Venus as they were rising low in the northeast dawn sky on June 26, 2022, taken from home in southern Alberta, latitude 51° N. Earthshine is visible on the dark side of the Moon. The sky exhibits the wonderful transition of colours from the orange at the horizon through the spectrum to the blues at top.
13897774 - The conjunction of the waning crescent Moon with Venus as they were rising low in the northeast dawn sky on June 26, 2022, taken from home in southern Alberta, latitude 51° N. Earthshine is visible on the dark side of the Moon. The sky exhibits the wonderful transition of colours from the orange at the horizon through the spectrum to the blues at top.
A selfie of me gazing at the sky while the camera and telescope shoot deep-sky targets with the auto-guided equatorial mount and astrographic reflector telescope. An aurora is kicking up to the left in the northeast. Orion is rising at centre in the east. I shot this Thanksgiving evening, October 13m, 2015, from the backyard at home in southern Alberta. It is part of a 730-frame time-lapse.
13897586 - A selfie of me gazing at the sky while the camera and telescope shoot deep-sky targets with the auto-guided equatorial mount and astrographic reflector telescope. An aurora is kicking up to the left in the northeast. Orion is rising at centre in the east. I shot this Thanksgiving evening, October 13m, 2015, from the backyard at home in southern Alberta. It is part of a 730-frame time-lapse.
Sunset colours over White Sands National Monument, New Mexico, December 10, 2013. Venus is at left of centre. This is an HDR (High Dynamic Range) stack of 7 exposures at 2/3 stop increments from -2 to +2 EV, processed first with ACR then with Photomatix Pro. Images taken with the 14mm Rokinon lens at f/4 and Canon 5D MkII at ISO 100. While colour vibrancy has been enhanced the colours to the eye were quite vivid. The HDR technique brings out details in the dark ground while preserving the bright sky.
13897522 - Sunset colours over White Sands National Monument, New Mexico, December 10, 2013. Venus is at left of centre. This is an HDR (High Dynamic Range) stack of 7 exposures at 2/3 stop increments from -2 to +2 EV, processed first with ACR then with Photomatix Pro. Images taken with the 14mm Rokinon lens at f/4 and Canon 5D MkII at ISO 100. While colour vibrancy has been enhanced the colours to the eye were quite vivid. The HDR technique brings out details in the dark ground while preserving the bright sky.
A lioness, Panthera leo, teaching her three-month-old cubs to eat from a wildebeest kill, under a stormy sky with a rainbow. Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya.
13836329 - A lioness, Panthera leo, teaching her three-month-old cubs to eat from a wildebeest kill, under a stormy sky with a rainbow. Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya.
Statue with View to Lombardy in Italy and Lake Lugano with Mountain and Blue Clear Sky From Morcote, Ticino, switzerland.
71428141 - Statue with View to Lombardy in Italy and Lake Lugano with Mountain and Blue Clear Sky From Morcote, Ticino, switzerland.
My favourite target for testing telescopes,the North America Nebula,NGC 7000,in Cygnus,with its companion Pelican Nebula to the right,aka IC 5070. The bright star Deneb is at upper right. An odd little red nebula is to the right of the Pelican,of unknown identity as it is not in Deep Sky Atlas,Millenium Star Atlas,TriAtlas or SkySafari.
13999562 - My favourite target for testing telescopes,the North America Nebula,NGC 7000,in Cygnus,with its companion Pelican Nebula to the right,aka IC 5070. The bright star Deneb is at upper right. An odd little red nebula is to the right of the Pelican,of unknown identity as it is not in Deep Sky Atlas,Millenium Star Atlas,TriAtlas or SkySafari.
This is a 180° panorama of the night sky over the hoodoo formations of Bryce Canyon National Park,Utah,at Sunset Point. The panorama extends from the northeast (at left) where the autumn Milky Way is rising,to the southwest (at right) where the summer Milky Way and galactic core in Sagitarius are setting. This was October 11,2023. The most notable feature is the prominent arc of green airglow bands across the eastern sky,a natural sky phenemenon. Perseus is at left in the Milky Way. At top at left is the Andromeda Galaxy,M31. Below it is the blue Triangulum Galaxy,M33. Jupiter is the bright ob
13999548 - This is a 180° panorama of the night sky over the hoodoo formations of Bryce Canyon National Park,Utah,at Sunset Point. The panorama extends from the northeast (at left) where the autumn Milky Way is rising,to the southwest (at right) where the summer Milky Way and galactic core in Sagitarius are setting. This was October 11,2023. The most notable feature is the prominent arc of green airglow bands across the eastern sky,a natural sky phenemenon. Perseus is at left in the Milky Way. At top at left is the Andromeda Galaxy,M31. Below it is the blue Triangulum Galaxy,M33. Jupiter is the bright ob
Comet Nishimura (C/2023 P1) captured at dawn on September 7,2023 with the sky brightening with morning twilight colours. The comet was set amid the stars of the Sickle asterism of Leo the Lion,just rising in the east. The comet sports a faint blue ion tail,with the comet seemingly pointed toward the sunrise point; it was moving down and closer to the Sun at this time.
13999146 - Comet Nishimura (C/2023 P1) captured at dawn on September 7,2023 with the sky brightening with morning twilight colours. The comet was set amid the stars of the Sickle asterism of Leo the Lion,just rising in the east. The comet sports a faint blue ion tail,with the comet seemingly pointed toward the sunrise point; it was moving down and closer to the Sun at this time.
On August 24,2023 the waxing gibbous Moon occulted the bright star Antares in Scorpius. This is the scene about 30 minutes after the star reappeared from behind the moving Moon,and so here is a close conjunction. I missed capturing the actual occultation reappearance,though that would have been in a much brighter sky. And the Moon was low in my sky and amid the trees,here purposefully included to capture the scene low in the south,as Antares always is in late summer from my latitude of 51° N. .
13999102 - On August 24,2023 the waxing gibbous Moon occulted the bright star Antares in Scorpius. This is the scene about 30 minutes after the star reappeared from behind the moving Moon,and so here is a close conjunction. I missed capturing the actual occultation reappearance,though that would have been in a much brighter sky. And the Moon was low in my sky and amid the trees,here purposefully included to capture the scene low in the south,as Antares always is in late summer from my latitude of 51° N. .
The aurora of March 23,2023,caught early in the evening when there was a green arc to the south as the sky darkened that exhibited a "dunes" type of structure,with horizontal banding rather than vertical rays or curtains. Above is a purple arct that has some characteristics of a STEVE arc but is likely a standard vertical curtain. At right are Venus and the crescent Moon below,above the glow of twilight. Orion is left of centre,with Sirius embedded in the dunes arc. This is looking southwest to west. The time was about 9 pm MDT.
13998267 - The aurora of March 23,2023,caught early in the evening when there was a green arc to the south as the sky darkened that exhibited a "dunes" type of structure,with horizontal banding rather than vertical rays or curtains. Above is a purple arct that has some characteristics of a STEVE arc but is likely a standard vertical curtain. At right are Venus and the crescent Moon below,above the glow of twilight. Orion is left of centre,with Sirius embedded in the dunes arc. This is looking southwest to west. The time was about 9 pm MDT.
The Big Dipper reflected in the still waters of the lake at Police Outpost Provincial Park, in southern Alberta, on September 26, 2016, with an aurora to the north at right. Only in autumn can one shoot the Dipper reflected in the water in the evening sky, as it is then riding low along the northern horizon. This is from a latitude of 49° N where the Dipper is circumpolar. It is also called the Plough in Great Britain.
13900144 - The Big Dipper reflected in the still waters of the lake at Police Outpost Provincial Park, in southern Alberta, on September 26, 2016, with an aurora to the north at right. Only in autumn can one shoot the Dipper reflected in the water in the evening sky, as it is then riding low along the northern horizon. This is from a latitude of 49° N where the Dipper is circumpolar. It is also called the Plough in Great Britain.
An overhead pass of the International Space Station in a bright moonlit sky on the night of May 31/ June 1, 2015, with the gibbous Moon in to the south, below. The view is looking south, with the ISS travelling from right (west) to left (east) over several minutes. This was the second pass of a 4-pass night, May 31/June 1, starting at 12:44 am MDT this morning.
13900092 - An overhead pass of the International Space Station in a bright moonlit sky on the night of May 31/ June 1, 2015, with the gibbous Moon in to the south, below. The view is looking south, with the ISS travelling from right (west) to left (east) over several minutes. This was the second pass of a 4-pass night, May 31/June 1, starting at 12:44 am MDT this morning.
A 360° panorama of the spring sky over the Badlands of Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta, on March 29, 2019, with the winter Milky Way and constellations setting at centre, and the spring constellations filling the sky at left and right. At centre is also the tapering pyramid-shaped glow of the Zodiacal Light, which continues to the left across the sky as the Zodiacal Band and brightening at far right above the horizon as the Gegenschein. Urban sky glows from Brooks and Calgary mar the horizon with white and yellow glows. Mars is just below the Pleiades at centre in the Zodiacal Light.
13900083 - A 360° panorama of the spring sky over the Badlands of Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta, on March 29, 2019, with the winter Milky Way and constellations setting at centre, and the spring constellations filling the sky at left and right. At centre is also the tapering pyramid-shaped glow of the Zodiacal Light, which continues to the left across the sky as the Zodiacal Band and brightening at far right above the horizon as the Gegenschein. Urban sky glows from Brooks and Calgary mar the horizon with white and yellow glows. Mars is just below the Pleiades at centre in the Zodiacal Light.
The unusual STEVE auroral arc over my house in southern Alberta, on May 6, 2018, on a partly cloudy night. A dim and inactive main aurora was to the north, but the Steve arc crossed the sky from east to west.
13900077 - The unusual STEVE auroral arc over my house in southern Alberta, on May 6, 2018, on a partly cloudy night. A dim and inactive main aurora was to the north, but the Steve arc crossed the sky from east to west.
Comet Leonard (C/2021 A1) on the morning of December 10, 2021, with a 200mm telephoto lens for a field of view of 10° x 6.8°. The tail appears to be about 3.5° long here. Taken about 6:30 am MST with the comet as high as it would be, though the sky is already beginning to brighten with the blue of dawn twilight. The distinctive cyan tint of a comet's coma is prominent.
13899261 - Comet Leonard (C/2021 A1) on the morning of December 10, 2021, with a 200mm telephoto lens for a field of view of 10° x 6.8°. The tail appears to be about 3.5° long here. Taken about 6:30 am MST with the comet as high as it would be, though the sky is already beginning to brighten with the blue of dawn twilight. The distinctive cyan tint of a comet's coma is prominent.
Mars (below) and Saturn in conjunction 1.3° apart in Sagittarus in the dawn sky on April 3, 2018. They were a little closer the previous morning but it was cloudy! The fuzzy spot to the right of Mars is the globular cluster M22.
13899132 - Mars (below) and Saturn in conjunction 1.3° apart in Sagittarus in the dawn sky on April 3, 2018. They were a little closer the previous morning but it was cloudy! The fuzzy spot to the right of Mars is the globular cluster M22.
A blend of images to show the stars of the southern sky moving from east to west (left to right) over the peaks of the Continental Divide at Herbert Lake near Lake Louise, in Banff, Alberta. The main peak at left is Mount Temple.
13899127 - A blend of images to show the stars of the southern sky moving from east to west (left to right) over the peaks of the Continental Divide at Herbert Lake near Lake Louise, in Banff, Alberta. The main peak at left is Mount Temple.
Comet NEOWISE (C/2020 F3) over the still waters this night of Crawling Lake in southern Alberta. This was early in the evening with the sky still brightly coloured with twilight. The comet was in the southern part of Ursa Major between the pairs of stars called Tania and Talitha. The clouds that were present nicely framed the scene and reflected in the water as well. The comet was too high to be visible as a reflection at this time.
13898812 - Comet NEOWISE (C/2020 F3) over the still waters this night of Crawling Lake in southern Alberta. This was early in the evening with the sky still brightly coloured with twilight. The comet was in the southern part of Ursa Major between the pairs of stars called Tania and Talitha. The clouds that were present nicely framed the scene and reflected in the water as well. The comet was too high to be visible as a reflection at this time.
An all-sky aurora from Churchill, Manitoba, on Feb 17, 2015, in a frame from a 250-frame time-lapse movie. Taken from the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, using an 8mm Sigma fish-eye lens on the Canon 6D for a 360° view of the sky, though with the camera titled about 25° to create an image suitable for projection in a tilted-dome digital planetarium. This a 15-second exposure at ISO 3200 and f/3.5. The temperature was about -30° C.
13898238 - An all-sky aurora from Churchill, Manitoba, on Feb 17, 2015, in a frame from a 250-frame time-lapse movie. Taken from the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, using an 8mm Sigma fish-eye lens on the Canon 6D for a 360° view of the sky, though with the camera titled about 25° to create an image suitable for projection in a tilted-dome digital planetarium. This a 15-second exposure at ISO 3200 and f/3.5. The temperature was about -30° C.
The late-night spring Milky Way from my rural backyard in Alberta (latitude 51° N) on a fine May night in 2020, with the waxing Moon just setting and lighting the landscape and sky. Jupiter (brightest) and Saturn to the east (left) are just rising together at left, east of the Milky Way. West of the galactic centre at right is red Antares in Scorpius. The Small Sagittarius and Scutum starclouds are prominent at centre, with their various Messier nebulas and star clusters visible.
13898150 - The late-night spring Milky Way from my rural backyard in Alberta (latitude 51° N) on a fine May night in 2020, with the waxing Moon just setting and lighting the landscape and sky. Jupiter (brightest) and Saturn to the east (left) are just rising together at left, east of the Milky Way. West of the galactic centre at right is red Antares in Scorpius. The Small Sagittarius and Scutum starclouds are prominent at centre, with their various Messier nebulas and star clusters visible.
Our group of Learning Vacations tourists enjoy the start of a fine display of Northern Lights at the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, March 6, 2016. As curtains appear to the east, another array of curtains shines to the west behind them with a strong purple tint lighting the sky and ground. The Andromeda Galaxy sits amid the curtains.
13898127 - Our group of Learning Vacations tourists enjoy the start of a fine display of Northern Lights at the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, March 6, 2016. As curtains appear to the east, another array of curtains shines to the west behind them with a strong purple tint lighting the sky and ground. The Andromeda Galaxy sits amid the curtains.
A 360° panorama of the landscape and skyscape at Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan, Canada, taken August 25, 2014. The Milky Way arches overhead from south to north at right, and the last vestiges of twilight light the western sky at left, providing a natural backdrop for the silhouette of the photographer gazing wistfully into the distance! Some green bands of airglow also light the sky, but only a few farm lights from outside the boundaries of the Park mar the landscape in this darkest of Dark Sky Preserves in Canada. I shot this from the Eagle Butte Loop Trail at the end of the 70 Mile
13897968 - A 360° panorama of the landscape and skyscape at Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan, Canada, taken August 25, 2014. The Milky Way arches overhead from south to north at right, and the last vestiges of twilight light the western sky at left, providing a natural backdrop for the silhouette of the photographer gazing wistfully into the distance! Some green bands of airglow also light the sky, but only a few farm lights from outside the boundaries of the Park mar the landscape in this darkest of Dark Sky Preserves in Canada. I shot this from the Eagle Butte Loop Trail at the end of the 70 Mile
The 4-day-old waxing crescent Moon on April 8, 2019 in a blend of short and long exposures to bring out the faint Earthshine on the dark side of the Moon and deep blue twilight sky while retaining details in the bright sunlit crescent.
13897963 - The 4-day-old waxing crescent Moon on April 8, 2019 in a blend of short and long exposures to bring out the faint Earthshine on the dark side of the Moon and deep blue twilight sky while retaining details in the bright sunlit crescent.
A composite stack of 12 images taken June 11/12, 2017 of the waning gibbous Moon tracking low across the southern sky on a June nght, from moonrise at left at 11:30 pm to when it began to leave the frame at right at 4 a.m. and when the sky was brightening with dawn. Images are at 25-minute intervals. The sky is blue here from the moonlight.
13897834 - A composite stack of 12 images taken June 11/12, 2017 of the waning gibbous Moon tracking low across the southern sky on a June nght, from moonrise at left at 11:30 pm to when it began to leave the frame at right at 4 a.m. and when the sky was brightening with dawn. Images are at 25-minute intervals. The sky is blue here from the moonlight.
The galactic centre area of the Milky Way in Sagittarius behind the grand old barn near home in southern Alberta, on June 30, 2019. Illumination of the barn is from twilight to the north, but also from light pollution skyglow from the west off frame at right. The sky is blue from the perpetual summer twilight at this time of year.
13897676 - The galactic centre area of the Milky Way in Sagittarius behind the grand old barn near home in southern Alberta, on June 30, 2019. Illumination of the barn is from twilight to the north, but also from light pollution skyglow from the west off frame at right. The sky is blue from the perpetual summer twilight at this time of year.
A selfie with me observing with the Celestron SE6 scope and using the iPad and WiFi connection to control the scope. Version 1 looking up at the sky. Taken August 18, 2019 in the light of the rising waning gibbous Moon.
13897571 - A selfie with me observing with the Celestron SE6 scope and using the iPad and WiFi connection to control the scope. Version 1 looking up at the sky. Taken August 18, 2019 in the light of the rising waning gibbous Moon.
Stone Bench with View to Lombardy in Italy and Lake Lugano with Mountain and Blue Clear Sky From Morcote, Ticino, switzerland.
71428142 - Stone Bench with View to Lombardy in Italy and Lake Lugano with Mountain and Blue Clear Sky From Morcote, Ticino, switzerland.
The passage of the SpaceX G2-9 Starlink group at about 3:30 am on May 15,2023,with the satellite chain still bright five days after its May 10 launch from Vandenburgh Air Force Base in California. This is most of the group,though a bright leader satellite did pass by a minute prior following the same path. The satellites were predicted to be magntiude 3.0 but appear as bright as first magnitude stars. This is looking northwest toward the Big Dipper at top. The glow of morning twilight brightening the sky. The satellite train is traveling from left to right here,from southwest to north. This is
13999617 - The passage of the SpaceX G2-9 Starlink group at about 3:30 am on May 15,2023,with the satellite chain still bright five days after its May 10 launch from Vandenburgh Air Force Base in California. This is most of the group,though a bright leader satellite did pass by a minute prior following the same path. The satellites were predicted to be magntiude 3.0 but appear as bright as first magnitude stars. This is looking northwest toward the Big Dipper at top. The glow of morning twilight brightening the sky. The satellite train is traveling from left to right here,from southwest to north. This is
The rising of the Full Moon just before Easter weekend,on Wednesday,April 5,2023,with Good Friday two days later on April 7. The Moon appears quite pink and in a bright blue sky,as moonrise this night was a few minutes before sunset. However,the Sun was in clouds to the northwest and not lighting the foreground.
13999483 - The rising of the Full Moon just before Easter weekend,on Wednesday,April 5,2023,with Good Friday two days later on April 7. The Moon appears quite pink and in a bright blue sky,as moonrise this night was a few minutes before sunset. However,the Sun was in clouds to the northwest and not lighting the foreground.
This is a panorama of the colourful evening twilight sky over the Badlands of the Red Deer River,Alberta,taken from the Horsethief Canyon viewpoint north of Drumheller on the Dinosaur Trail. The very thin crescent Moon is in the photo,but tough to see. It is a pale crescent very low in the orange glow to the right of the grain bins at far left.
13998841 - This is a panorama of the colourful evening twilight sky over the Badlands of the Red Deer River,Alberta,taken from the Horsethief Canyon viewpoint north of Drumheller on the Dinosaur Trail. The very thin crescent Moon is in the photo,but tough to see. It is a pale crescent very low in the orange glow to the right of the grain bins at far left.
This is Venus (brightest) and dim Mecury (low and to the left in the twilight) in the dawn sky as morning stars.
13998363 - This is Venus (brightest) and dim Mecury (low and to the left in the twilight) in the dawn sky as morning stars.
The rising Full Moon of January 6,2023 over the Badlands of Horseshoe Canyon,near Drumheller,Alberta. Here the Moon is set in the pink Belt of Venus and with dark blue crepuscular rays (or more correctly,anti-crepuscular rays) converging on the point directly opposite the Sun. The rays are shadows cast by clouds in the west,which parted enough for a few moments for the setting Sun to light the foreground,making for a colourful contrast between ground and sky.
13998361 - The rising Full Moon of January 6,2023 over the Badlands of Horseshoe Canyon,near Drumheller,Alberta. Here the Moon is set in the pink Belt of Venus and with dark blue crepuscular rays (or more correctly,anti-crepuscular rays) converging on the point directly opposite the Sun. The rays are shadows cast by clouds in the west,which parted enough for a few moments for the setting Sun to light the foreground,making for a colourful contrast between ground and sky.
The dark nebula on the Cygnus-Cepheus border nicknamed the Funnel Cloud Nebula (a name provided by Alan Whitman in a 2006 Sky and Telescope article) but that is a very prominent naked eye feature to the northern Milky Way, more obvious as a dark area than the Northern Coal Sack to the south. This is a fine object for binoculars and the telephoto lens shot here provides the field of most binoculars.
13900504 - The dark nebula on the Cygnus-Cepheus border nicknamed the Funnel Cloud Nebula (a name provided by Alan Whitman in a 2006 Sky and Telescope article) but that is a very prominent naked eye feature to the northern Milky Way, more obvious as a dark area than the Northern Coal Sack to the south. This is a fine object for binoculars and the telephoto lens shot here provides the field of most binoculars.
Harvest Moon, Sept. 27, 2004, taken from near home. With Canon Digital Rebel 300D, with 20mm lens at f/13 and 1/2 sec exposure at ISO100. Minimal processing to increase contrast but Moon image is not a fake -- the balance between sky and Moon was perfect for recording Moon detail and ground without over or underexposing either.
13900462 - Harvest Moon, Sept. 27, 2004, taken from near home. With Canon Digital Rebel 300D, with 20mm lens at f/13 and 1/2 sec exposure at ISO100. Minimal processing to increase contrast but Moon image is not a fake -- the balance between sky and Moon was perfect for recording Moon detail and ground without over or underexposing either.
The Symons-Noble log cabin from the 1940s in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, on the Saskatchewan side, at sunset on July 9, 2014. This is a stack of 6 images for a high dynamic range composite to capture the bright sky and darker foreground in one image. Taken with the Canon 60Da and 10-22mm lens.
13900384 - The Symons-Noble log cabin from the 1940s in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, on the Saskatchewan side, at sunset on July 9, 2014. This is a stack of 6 images for a high dynamic range composite to capture the bright sky and darker foreground in one image. Taken with the Canon 60Da and 10-22mm lens.
Photographer Stephen Bedingfield is setting up to shoot the Northern Lights at Prelude Lake near Yellowknife, NWT, September 9, 2019. An arc of aurora is beginning to appear even in the twilight sky.
13900100 - Photographer Stephen Bedingfield is setting up to shoot the Northern Lights at Prelude Lake near Yellowknife, NWT, September 9, 2019. An arc of aurora is beginning to appear even in the twilight sky.
Venus in the evening twilight on December 17, 2021, about 2 weeks after its point of greatest brilliancy. This was shot in hope of also catching Comet Leonard, but it showed up as only a dim smudge hard to distinguish from the background sky, and is behind thin cloud here. Shot from near home in southern Alberta. Foreground illumination is from the gibbous Moon to the northeast opposite this scene which looks southwest.
13900090 - Venus in the evening twilight on December 17, 2021, about 2 weeks after its point of greatest brilliancy. This was shot in hope of also catching Comet Leonard, but it showed up as only a dim smudge hard to distinguish from the background sky, and is behind thin cloud here. Shot from near home in southern Alberta. Foreground illumination is from the gibbous Moon to the northeast opposite this scene which looks southwest.
The Milky Way over Athabasca Glacier and the Columbia Icefields in Jasper National Park, Sept 14, 2014 on a very clear night before moonrise. The centre of the Galaxy area in Sagittarius is setting in the southwest behind the Icefields. The foreground light on the moraines is wash from lights on the Glacier View Inn and Icefields Centre. Other ground illumination on the peaks is from starlight though the tops of the peaks are just being lit by light from the rising waning Moon which is also beginning to light the sky a deep blue. Mt. Andromeda is at left. The Summer Triangle stars are at centr
13899985 - The Milky Way over Athabasca Glacier and the Columbia Icefields in Jasper National Park, Sept 14, 2014 on a very clear night before moonrise. The centre of the Galaxy area in Sagittarius is setting in the southwest behind the Icefields. The foreground light on the moraines is wash from lights on the Glacier View Inn and Icefields Centre. Other ground illumination on the peaks is from starlight though the tops of the peaks are just being lit by light from the rising waning Moon which is also beginning to light the sky a deep blue. Mt. Andromeda is at left. The Summer Triangle stars are at centr
One of a short series of images showing the development of an aurora display from a classic arc into a more complex pattern of concentric arcs and with loops and swirls. This was Feb 5, 2019 from the Churchill Northern Studies Centre. The outburst lasted only 5 minutes or so and might have been due to the Bz interplanetary field turning south briefly. After this series, the display faded and fractured into faint arcs and a diffuse glow across the sky.
13899715 - One of a short series of images showing the development of an aurora display from a classic arc into a more complex pattern of concentric arcs and with loops and swirls. This was Feb 5, 2019 from the Churchill Northern Studies Centre. The outburst lasted only 5 minutes or so and might have been due to the Bz interplanetary field turning south briefly. After this series, the display faded and fractured into faint arcs and a diffuse glow across the sky.
Horizon-to-zenith panorama of the northern winter sky, from Canis Major in the south just above the horizon to Cassiopeia past the zenith at the top of the frame. Capella is near the zenith above centre. The extra star at left is Mars, just 10 days past opposition, on Feb. 9, 2010, when it was just above the Beehive star cluster. Taken with Canon 5DMkII and Canon 15mm lens, at f/5 for stack of 3 exposures x 4.5 minutes each at ISO 800. Two exposures had frost on the lens, thus the big star haloes. Taken from southern Alberta, Canada.
13899690 - Horizon-to-zenith panorama of the northern winter sky, from Canis Major in the south just above the horizon to Cassiopeia past the zenith at the top of the frame. Capella is near the zenith above centre. The extra star at left is Mars, just 10 days past opposition, on Feb. 9, 2010, when it was just above the Beehive star cluster. Taken with Canon 5DMkII and Canon 15mm lens, at f/5 for stack of 3 exposures x 4.5 minutes each at ISO 800. Two exposures had frost on the lens, thus the big star haloes. Taken from southern Alberta, Canada.
Venus (at left) and Jupiter close together in the dawn sky, and to the east of Scorpius, here at right, with reddish Antares between the trees. This was January 26, 2019. The two planets were closer together earlier in the week but clouds got in the way! Illumination is from the waning gibbous Moon off frame at right.
13899001 - Venus (at left) and Jupiter close together in the dawn sky, and to the east of Scorpius, here at right, with reddish Antares between the trees. This was January 26, 2019. The two planets were closer together earlier in the week but clouds got in the way! Illumination is from the waning gibbous Moon off frame at right.
Circumpolar star trails on a moonlit night in the Gila National Forest in southern New Mexico, north of Pinos Altos. Polaris is at upper left, the Little Dipper hanging below it, and the stars of the Big Dipper are rising at right, with the end star of the handle still to clear the horizon. Illumination is from the waxing quarter Moon. The night had a lot of high cloud drifting through, adding the streaks and patchiness to the sky.
13898793 - Circumpolar star trails on a moonlit night in the Gila National Forest in southern New Mexico, north of Pinos Altos. Polaris is at upper left, the Little Dipper hanging below it, and the stars of the Big Dipper are rising at right, with the end star of the handle still to clear the horizon. Illumination is from the waxing quarter Moon. The night had a lot of high cloud drifting through, adding the streaks and patchiness to the sky.
A selfie observing Comet NEOWISE (C/2020 F3) with binoculars on the dark moonless night of July 14/15, 2020 from Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta. A faint aurora colours the sky green and magenta. The faint blue ion tail of the comet is visible in addition to its brighter dust tail. The ground is illuminated by starlight and aurora light only.
13898737 - A selfie observing Comet NEOWISE (C/2020 F3) with binoculars on the dark moonless night of July 14/15, 2020 from Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta. A faint aurora colours the sky green and magenta. The faint blue ion tail of the comet is visible in addition to its brighter dust tail. The ground is illuminated by starlight and aurora light only.
A Perseid meteor streaks down the Milky Way over the Saskatchewan Summer Star Party in the Cypress Hills of southwest Saskatchewan, at Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, a Dark Sky Preserve. The Milky Way shines to the south. About 350 stargazers attend the SSSP every year.
13898481 - A Perseid meteor streaks down the Milky Way over the Saskatchewan Summer Star Party in the Cypress Hills of southwest Saskatchewan, at Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, a Dark Sky Preserve. The Milky Way shines to the south. About 350 stargazers attend the SSSP every year.
A 200+ degree panorama of the arch of the winter Milky Way, from south (left) to northwest (ar right) with the Zodiacal Light to the west at centre. This was from Dinosaur Provincial Park in southern Alberta on February 28, 2017. A spell of warm weather left very little snow, so the landscape does not look like winter here. But the sky is!
13898407 - A 200+ degree panorama of the arch of the winter Milky Way, from south (left) to northwest (ar right) with the Zodiacal Light to the west at centre. This was from Dinosaur Provincial Park in southern Alberta on February 28, 2017. A spell of warm weather left very little snow, so the landscape does not look like winter here. But the sky is!
Auroral curtains converge at the zenith in the evening twilight during a Kp Index 7 night of aurora in Churchill, Manitoba. Blue twilight adds the blue tints to the sky and curtains.
13898186 - Auroral curtains converge at the zenith in the evening twilight during a Kp Index 7 night of aurora in Churchill, Manitoba. Blue twilight adds the blue tints to the sky and curtains.
A panorama of the Badlands and evening twilight sky over the curve of the Red Deer River, Alberta, from the Orkney Viewpoint on the west side of the river, overlooking the formations of the Horsethief Canyon area to the east. This was May 21, 2022.
13898063 - A panorama of the Badlands and evening twilight sky over the curve of the Red Deer River, Alberta, from the Orkney Viewpoint on the west side of the river, overlooking the formations of the Horsethief Canyon area to the east. This was May 21, 2022.
The Columbia Icefields and Athabasca Glacier in Jasper National Park, just before the waning Moon rose over the mountains to light the foreground, but as it was already lighting the peaks around the Icefields. The Milky Way is fading into the blue sky of a moonlit night. The Moon is rising just left of centre below the Pleiades cluster. The Big Dipper is at far left to the north.
13898062 - The Columbia Icefields and Athabasca Glacier in Jasper National Park, just before the waning Moon rose over the mountains to light the foreground, but as it was already lighting the peaks around the Icefields. The Milky Way is fading into the blue sky of a moonlit night. The Moon is rising just left of centre below the Pleiades cluster. The Big Dipper is at far left to the north.
A dim aurora to the north at Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan, at the Larson Ranch site and its rustic pioneer cabins. Taken August 8, 2016. This is looking northeast to Andromeda (the Andromeda Galaxy is above centre) and Perseus (the Double Cluster is left of centre). This Park is a Dark Sky Preserve. There are no lights visible. Illumination here is from starlight and the setting waxing crescent Moon to the southwest.
13897898 - A dim aurora to the north at Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan, at the Larson Ranch site and its rustic pioneer cabins. Taken August 8, 2016. This is looking northeast to Andromeda (the Andromeda Galaxy is above centre) and Perseus (the Double Cluster is left of centre). This Park is a Dark Sky Preserve. There are no lights visible. Illumination here is from starlight and the setting waxing crescent Moon to the southwest.
The low waxing crescent Moon in the evening sky, Sept 30, 2019, taken to demonstrate the low angle of the ecliptic in autumn. This was taken the evening after a weekend early season snowstorm. A single exposure taken with the 24-105mm lens at 105mm and Canon EOS R camera. Dynamic Contrast filter applied to the ground with ON1 Effects.
13897739 - The low waxing crescent Moon in the evening sky, Sept 30, 2019, taken to demonstrate the low angle of the ecliptic in autumn. This was taken the evening after a weekend early season snowstorm. A single exposure taken with the 24-105mm lens at 105mm and Canon EOS R camera. Dynamic Contrast filter applied to the ground with ON1 Effects.
A highway leads off to the horizon under a star filled sky. La Palma Island, Canary Islands, Spain.
13837357 - A highway leads off to the horizon under a star filled sky. La Palma Island, Canary Islands, Spain.
View to Lombardy in Italy and Lake Lugano with Mountain and Blue Clear Sky From Morcote, Ticino, switzerland.
71428140 - View to Lombardy in Italy and Lake Lugano with Mountain and Blue Clear Sky From Morcote, Ticino, switzerland.
This is a roughly 150° panorama of the sunset sky at Sunset Point,Bryce Canyon,Utah,taken as the last light of the Sun was illuminating the distant buttes. The sky has subtle dark rays converging to the anti-solar point,the point opposite the Sun. These are anti-crepuscular rays – shadows cast by clouds in this case,such as the one at left.
13999638 - This is a roughly 150° panorama of the sunset sky at Sunset Point,Bryce Canyon,Utah,taken as the last light of the Sun was illuminating the distant buttes. The sky has subtle dark rays converging to the anti-solar point,the point opposite the Sun. These are anti-crepuscular rays – shadows cast by clouds in this case,such as the one at left.
A framing of the converging rays of aurora overhead at the magnetic zenith,a little south of the true zenith at 90° altitude. This was the superb Kp6 to 7 display on March 23,2023,with the aurora mostly in a pulsating mode rather than forming rippling curtains. This was early on in the evening when the sky still had some twilight colours,and with sunlight illuminating the high curtains. Orion is at lower right.
13999498 - A framing of the converging rays of aurora overhead at the magnetic zenith,a little south of the true zenith at 90° altitude. This was the superb Kp6 to 7 display on March 23,2023,with the aurora mostly in a pulsating mode rather than forming rippling curtains. This was early on in the evening when the sky still had some twilight colours,and with sunlight illuminating the high curtains. Orion is at lower right.
This is a panorama along about 60° of the northern summer Milky Way from Cepheus at left,to Cygnus at centre and at right. It frames the great variety of bright and dark nebulas in this region of the sky,notably:
13998987 - This is a panorama along about 60° of the northern summer Milky Way from Cepheus at left,to Cygnus at centre and at right. It frames the great variety of bright and dark nebulas in this region of the sky,notably:
This frames the region of northern Cygnus containing the bright emission nebulas,the North America and Pelican Nebulas,at bottom,and the dark nebula called LeGentil 3 or the Funnel Cloud Nebula at top,for its tornado-like shape. The latter is one of the darkest areas of the northern Milky Way,similar to the Coal Sack in the southern sky. The bright star at bottom right is Deneb. The small patch of emission nebulosity to the right of Deneb is Sharpless 2-112. Above it is Sh2-115. The large nebula at bottom left is the Clamshell Nebula or Sharpless 2-119. The curving nebula below the Pelican Neb
13998868 - This frames the region of northern Cygnus containing the bright emission nebulas,the North America and Pelican Nebulas,at bottom,and the dark nebula called LeGentil 3 or the Funnel Cloud Nebula at top,for its tornado-like shape. The latter is one of the darkest areas of the northern Milky Way,similar to the Coal Sack in the southern sky. The bright star at bottom right is Deneb. The small patch of emission nebulosity to the right of Deneb is Sharpless 2-112. Above it is Sh2-115. The large nebula at bottom left is the Clamshell Nebula or Sharpless 2-119. The curving nebula below the Pelican Neb
The aurora borealis, the Northern Lights, on Feb 21, 2015, from tne Churchill Northern Studies Centre, Churchill, Manitoba, This is looking north with an ultrawide 15mm lens taking in about half the sky from west (left) to east (right) and with the zenith near the top. This is a 15-second exposure at f/2.8 and ISO 3200 with the Canon 6D camera. This frame is part of a 360-frame time lapse taken over 1.5 hours.
13900598 - The aurora borealis, the Northern Lights, on Feb 21, 2015, from tne Churchill Northern Studies Centre, Churchill, Manitoba, This is looking north with an ultrawide 15mm lens taking in about half the sky from west (left) to east (right) and with the zenith near the top. This is a 15-second exposure at f/2.8 and ISO 3200 with the Canon 6D camera. This frame is part of a 360-frame time lapse taken over 1.5 hours.
A panorama of the Kp5-level aurora on May 27, 2022, from home, with the aurora displaying prominent magenta rays, created by the red oxygen emission blending with illumination from blue scattered sunlight at high altitudes, common around the summer solstice when the high atmosphere is lit all night long. As a bonus, a dim STEVE arc is forming at far right, to the south of the main auroral oval where STEVE normally appears. STEVE faded, then returned to become more strong and visible across the sky from east to west as the main aurora to the north faded.
13900512 - A panorama of the Kp5-level aurora on May 27, 2022, from home, with the aurora displaying prominent magenta rays, created by the red oxygen emission blending with illumination from blue scattered sunlight at high altitudes, common around the summer solstice when the high atmosphere is lit all night long. As a bonus, a dim STEVE arc is forming at far right, to the south of the main auroral oval where STEVE normally appears. STEVE faded, then returned to become more strong and visible across the sky from east to west as the main aurora to the north faded.
A composite of the November 11, 2019 Transit of Mercury across the disk of the Sun, on a day with no sunspots on the Sun. The temperature was about -20° C to -15° C this morning but the sky was perfectly clear.
13899770 - A composite of the November 11, 2019 Transit of Mercury across the disk of the Sun, on a day with no sunspots on the Sun. The temperature was about -20° C to -15° C this morning but the sky was perfectly clear.
A composite of the Quadrantid meteor shower, on January 3, 2016, in a sequence of images shot over 2 hours from 9 to 11 pm MST from southern Alberta. This is a stack of 14 images, the best out of 600 shot that recorded meteors. The ground and sky comes from one image with the best Quad of the night, and the other images were masked and layered into that image, with no attempt to align their paths with the moving radiant point. However, over the 2 hours, the radiant point low in the north would not have moved too much, as it rose higher into the northern sky.
13899768 - A composite of the Quadrantid meteor shower, on January 3, 2016, in a sequence of images shot over 2 hours from 9 to 11 pm MST from southern Alberta. This is a stack of 14 images, the best out of 600 shot that recorded meteors. The ground and sky comes from one image with the best Quad of the night, and the other images were masked and layered into that image, with no attempt to align their paths with the moving radiant point. However, over the 2 hours, the radiant point low in the north would not have moved too much, as it rose higher into the northern sky.
A busy sky with bright red Mars rising east of the Milky Way, while a pair of Iridium satellites flare briefly as they travel in unison up along the Milky Way from south to north.
13899688 - A busy sky with bright red Mars rising east of the Milky Way, while a pair of Iridium satellites flare briefly as they travel in unison up along the Milky Way from south to north.
A vertical panorama of the summer Milky Way over the observing field at the Saskatchewan Summer Star Party, held in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park in southwest Saskatchewan, Canada, at a latitude 49° N. The Park is a Dark Sky Preserve. This was August 26, 2022 on a perfect night of stargazing under very clear skies. The Milky Way extends from Sagittarius near the horizon, to Cygnus nearly overhead at this time, so a vertical sweep of 90°. I've left the satellite trails in for this scene.
13899639 - A vertical panorama of the summer Milky Way over the observing field at the Saskatchewan Summer Star Party, held in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park in southwest Saskatchewan, Canada, at a latitude 49° N. The Park is a Dark Sky Preserve. This was August 26, 2022 on a perfect night of stargazing under very clear skies. The Milky Way extends from Sagittarius near the horizon, to Cygnus nearly overhead at this time, so a vertical sweep of 90°. I've left the satellite trails in for this scene.
Southern Milky Way from Atacama Lodge, Chile (latitude 23° S) taken March 14/15, 2010. Taken witn Canon 5D MkII (modified) and Canon 15mm lens at f/4 for stack of 4 x 6 minute exposures at ISO 800. Horizon retained from just one image to retain detail and minimize blurring from tracking. But sky is Mean stack. Taken before dawn with zodiacal light becoming promiment in east.
13899480 - Southern Milky Way from Atacama Lodge, Chile (latitude 23° S) taken March 14/15, 2010. Taken witn Canon 5D MkII (modified) and Canon 15mm lens at f/4 for stack of 4 x 6 minute exposures at ISO 800. Horizon retained from just one image to retain detail and minimize blurring from tracking. But sky is Mean stack. Taken before dawn with zodiacal light becoming promiment in east.
A superb and extensive display of noctilucent clouds at dawn on July 16, 2022, with the clouds reaching up to the zenith as the sky brightened. Capella is the star right of centre; Venus is rising at lower right. This is looking northeast to the dawn twilight.
13899467 - A superb and extensive display of noctilucent clouds at dawn on July 16, 2022, with the clouds reaching up to the zenith as the sky brightened. Capella is the star right of centre; Venus is rising at lower right. This is looking northeast to the dawn twilight.
A wide-angle view of the total eclipse of the Moon of November 8, 2022, with the red Moon at right amid the stars of the northern winter sky and Milky Way, plus with bright red Mars at top. Above and left of the Moon is the blue Pleiades star cluster, while below it and to the left is the larger Hyades cluster with reddish Aldebaran in Taurus. The stars of Orion are left of centre, including reddish Betelgeuse, while at far left are the two Dog Stars: Procyon, at top, in Canis Minor, and Sirius, at bottom, in Canis Major.
13899282 - A wide-angle view of the total eclipse of the Moon of November 8, 2022, with the red Moon at right amid the stars of the northern winter sky and Milky Way, plus with bright red Mars at top. Above and left of the Moon is the blue Pleiades star cluster, while below it and to the left is the larger Hyades cluster with reddish Aldebaran in Taurus. The stars of Orion are left of centre, including reddish Betelgeuse, while at far left are the two Dog Stars: Procyon, at top, in Canis Minor, and Sirius, at bottom, in Canis Major.
Cassiopeia and the northern stars over Red Rock Canyon in Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta, with illumination from a waxing gibbous Moon. This is a composite of three 30-second exposures for the ground to smooth noise and one 30-second exposure for the sky, all with the 24mm lens at f/3.5 and Canon 6D at ISO 1600.
13899227 - Cassiopeia and the northern stars over Red Rock Canyon in Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta, with illumination from a waxing gibbous Moon. This is a composite of three 30-second exposures for the ground to smooth noise and one 30-second exposure for the sky, all with the 24mm lens at f/3.5 and Canon 6D at ISO 1600.
A panorama of Lake Edith in Jasper National Park, Alberta, on a calm autumn night, looking north to the stars of Ursa Major, the Great Bear, and the Big Dipper in deep twilight. Arcturus is at far left setting in the northwest over Pyramid Mountain, while Capella in Auriga and the stars of Perseus are rising at right in the northeast. This was on a mid-October night when the Big Dipper rides low in the northern sky from this latitude of 53° N.
13899054 - A panorama of Lake Edith in Jasper National Park, Alberta, on a calm autumn night, looking north to the stars of Ursa Major, the Great Bear, and the Big Dipper in deep twilight. Arcturus is at far left setting in the northwest over Pyramid Mountain, while Capella in Auriga and the stars of Perseus are rising at right in the northeast. This was on a mid-October night when the Big Dipper rides low in the northern sky from this latitude of 53° N.
The northern circumpolar sky with the Big Dipper at right rising, and Deneb in Cygnus and Vega in Lyra at left settting, over the moonlit badland hills of Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta, on November 27, 2017. The Dipper points up to Polaris and the Little Dipper. The Moon was a day past first quarter. Polaris and the Little Dipper are at centre, so this is looking north to the circumpolar sky.
13898992 - The northern circumpolar sky with the Big Dipper at right rising, and Deneb in Cygnus and Vega in Lyra at left settting, over the moonlit badland hills of Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta, on November 27, 2017. The Dipper points up to Polaris and the Little Dipper. The Moon was a day past first quarter. Polaris and the Little Dipper are at centre, so this is looking north to the circumpolar sky.
Gum Nebula area of Vela and Puppis. Taken from Atacama Lodge, Chile, March 19, 2010, with modified Canon 5D MkII and Sigma 50mm lens at f/4, for stack of 10 x 6 minute exposures (Mean combined) at ISO 800 plus 2 x 6 minutes with Kenko Softon filter. High contrast boost and Selective Colour adjustments to bring out nebulocity while retaining neutral sky.
13898921 - Gum Nebula area of Vela and Puppis. Taken from Atacama Lodge, Chile, March 19, 2010, with modified Canon 5D MkII and Sigma 50mm lens at f/4, for stack of 10 x 6 minute exposures (Mean combined) at ISO 800 plus 2 x 6 minutes with Kenko Softon filter. High contrast boost and Selective Colour adjustments to bring out nebulocity while retaining neutral sky.
A panorama of an arc of noctilucent clouds over a ripening field of yellow canola, on July 14, 2022 from southern Alberta near Hussar. This was about 11:20 pm MDT with the NLCs near their peak. They reached a little higher when they first appeared a few minutes earlier in the brighter sky, but capturing them is always a balance between getting them at their maximum height vs. the darkness of the sky background to make the fainter structures stand out. The foreground is illuminated mostly by twilight, and I have brightened it to bring out the canola colours and the colour contrast between earth
13898633 - A panorama of an arc of noctilucent clouds over a ripening field of yellow canola, on July 14, 2022 from southern Alberta near Hussar. This was about 11:20 pm MDT with the NLCs near their peak. They reached a little higher when they first appeared a few minutes earlier in the brighter sky, but capturing them is always a balance between getting them at their maximum height vs. the darkness of the sky background to make the fainter structures stand out. The foreground is illuminated mostly by twilight, and I have brightened it to bring out the canola colours and the colour contrast between earth
The Full Moon at the equinox, on March 20, 2019, reaching full phase only fours hours after the moment of the vernal equinox, and here captured rising very shortly before the moment of the Full Moon. I shot this while the Moon was still rising and in a deep blue sky, and tinted yellow from atmospheric absorption. Even so, this is a blend of short (for the Moon) and long (for the sky) exposures to capture the dynamic range.
13898578 - The Full Moon at the equinox, on March 20, 2019, reaching full phase only fours hours after the moment of the vernal equinox, and here captured rising very shortly before the moment of the Full Moon. I shot this while the Moon was still rising and in a deep blue sky, and tinted yellow from atmospheric absorption. Even so, this is a blend of short (for the Moon) and long (for the sky) exposures to capture the dynamic range.
Venus above the Pleiades star cluster, M45, on April 4, 2020, in the twilight and moonlight. Light from the gibbous Moon illuminated the sky, so no long exposure would reveal much detail in and around the Pleiades. Venus passes close to the Pleiades only every 8 years. It was closer the night before, but alas, there were clouds! Some light cloud this night added the glow.
13898569 - Venus above the Pleiades star cluster, M45, on April 4, 2020, in the twilight and moonlight. Light from the gibbous Moon illuminated the sky, so no long exposure would reveal much detail in and around the Pleiades. Venus passes close to the Pleiades only every 8 years. It was closer the night before, but alas, there were clouds! Some light cloud this night added the glow.
The Full Moon rising on December 22, 2018, the day after the winter solstice, in a perfectly clear sky and over the distant horizon to the northeast over the snow-covered prairie. Some cows are grazing at left! The top edge of the Moon has a green rim and the bottom edge a red rim, from atmospheric refraction. But it made for a Christmas-coloured Moon ornament on the horizon! The dark lunar mare and even the bright rays splashing from Tycho at bottom are visible.
13898326 - The Full Moon rising on December 22, 2018, the day after the winter solstice, in a perfectly clear sky and over the distant horizon to the northeast over the snow-covered prairie. Some cows are grazing at left! The top edge of the Moon has a green rim and the bottom edge a red rim, from atmospheric refraction. But it made for a Christmas-coloured Moon ornament on the horizon! The dark lunar mare and even the bright rays splashing from Tycho at bottom are visible.
This is Comet NEOWISE (C/2020 F3) over the Horseshoe Canyon formation near Drumheller, Alberta on the night iof July 10-11, 2020, taken about 2 a.m. MDT with the comet just past lower culmination with it circumpolar at this time. Warm light from the rising waning gibbous Moon provides the illumination. The comet’s faint blue ion tail is just barely visible even in the moonlit sky and low altitude. The glow of summer perpetual twilight at latitude 51.5° N still colours the northern horizon despite this being close to the middle of the night.
13897910 - This is Comet NEOWISE (C/2020 F3) over the Horseshoe Canyon formation near Drumheller, Alberta on the night iof July 10-11, 2020, taken about 2 a.m. MDT with the comet just past lower culmination with it circumpolar at this time. Warm light from the rising waning gibbous Moon provides the illumination. The comet’s faint blue ion tail is just barely visible even in the moonlit sky and low altitude. The glow of summer perpetual twilight at latitude 51.5° N still colours the northern horizon despite this being close to the middle of the night.
Orion and the winter stars and constellations in a moonlit sky,on a chilly (-20°C) winter night on January 28,2023. Above Orion is Aldebaran and the Hyades star cluster in Taurus. Below Orion is Sirius in Canis Major. The red giant Betelgeuse and the blue giant Rigel stand out nicely above and below the Belt. Light from the first quarter Moon off frame illuminates the landscape. This serves as a good illustration of how the Belt stars in Orion point up to Aldebaran and down to Sirius.
13999688 - Orion and the winter stars and constellations in a moonlit sky,on a chilly (-20°C) winter night on January 28,2023. Above Orion is Aldebaran and the Hyades star cluster in Taurus. Below Orion is Sirius in Canis Major. The red giant Betelgeuse and the blue giant Rigel stand out nicely above and below the Belt. Light from the first quarter Moon off frame illuminates the landscape. This serves as a good illustration of how the Belt stars in Orion point up to Aldebaran and down to Sirius.
This is the Perseid meteor shower over the badlands of Dinosaur Provincial Park,in the Red Deer River valley in Alberta,with the summer sky above filled with about two dozen meteors from the annual shower on August 12,2023. The meteors all appear to be streaking away from the radiant point in Perseus at left,below the "W" of Cassiopeia. The meteor trails are shortest near the radiant point,as at that location they are coming at us head on. The Andromeda Galaxy is near centre.
13999319 - This is the Perseid meteor shower over the badlands of Dinosaur Provincial Park,in the Red Deer River valley in Alberta,with the summer sky above filled with about two dozen meteors from the annual shower on August 12,2023. The meteors all appear to be streaking away from the radiant point in Perseus at left,below the "W" of Cassiopeia. The meteor trails are shortest near the radiant point,as at that location they are coming at us head on. The Andromeda Galaxy is near centre.
A panorama of the summer Milky Way from Sagittarius up to Cepheus,over the Southern Alberta Star Party,September 13,2023. The star party is held at a church camp near Elkwater,Alberta in the Cypress Hills. The sky is very dark there! About 80 people attended this year. Most are looking after their astrophoto rigs. The camp has a number of cabins for accommodation and a main service building at centre here.
13998616 - A panorama of the summer Milky Way from Sagittarius up to Cepheus,over the Southern Alberta Star Party,September 13,2023. The star party is held at a church camp near Elkwater,Alberta in the Cypress Hills. The sky is very dark there! About 80 people attended this year. Most are looking after their astrophoto rigs. The camp has a number of cabins for accommodation and a main service building at centre here.
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