Astronomie Photos ❘ lookphotos

A framing of a field in southwestern Gemini rich in star clusters and nebulas. At top right is the rich star cluster Messier 35 and its small more distant companion cluster NGC 2158. At bottom right is the emission nebula NGC 2174 that is over the border in northern Orion. Above centre is the supernova remnant IC 443 arcing to the east of the orange star Propus or Eta Geminorum. The large diffuse nebula at left is IC 444 above the orange star Tejat Posterior or Mu Geminorum. The large,loose cluster Collinder 89 is embedded in IC 444. That region also has some blue reflection nebulosity,as does

13999418 - A framing of a field in southwestern Gemini rich in star clusters and nebulas. At top right is the rich star cluster Messier 35 and its small more distant companion cluster NGC 2158. At bottom right is the emission nebula NGC 2174 that is over the border in northern Orion. Above centre is the supernova remnant IC 443 arcing to the east of the orange star Propus or Eta Geminorum. The large diffuse nebula at left is IC 444 above the orange star Tejat Posterior or Mu Geminorum. The large,loose cluster Collinder 89 is embedded in IC 444. That region also has some blue reflection nebulosity,as does

A close passage of Venus by the Pleiades star cluster (M45) on April 9,2023. Venus was closer to the Pleiades the next night,but clouds prevented a shot on April 10. But the night before closest approach was clear enough for long enough to get this shot of the bright planet and stars set in the deep blue twilight.

13999322 - A close passage of Venus by the Pleiades star cluster (M45) on April 9,2023. Venus was closer to the Pleiades the next night,but clouds prevented a shot on April 10. But the night before closest approach was clear enough for long enough to get this shot of the bright planet and stars set in the deep blue twilight.

This is a portrait of the complex of nebulosity in northern Cygnus,with many wreaths and arcs of hydrogen gas interspersed with patches and tendrils of dark dust of varying densities. The main nebula is the North America (NGC 7000) at upper left,with the smaller Pelican Nebula (IC 5067) beside it in the "Atlantic Ocean." At bottom right is the Gamma Cygni complex,aka the Butterfly Nebula or IC 1318,while at the bottom right edge is the small arc of the Crescent Nebula (NGC 6888). The field is filled with other fainter nebulas catalogued in the Sharpless and DWB catalogues. Above Gamma Cygni ri

13999246 - This is a portrait of the complex of nebulosity in northern Cygnus,with many wreaths and arcs of hydrogen gas interspersed with patches and tendrils of dark dust of varying densities. The main nebula is the North America (NGC 7000) at upper left,with the smaller Pelican Nebula (IC 5067) beside it in the "Atlantic Ocean." At bottom right is the Gamma Cygni complex,aka the Butterfly Nebula or IC 1318,while at the bottom right edge is the small arc of the Crescent Nebula (NGC 6888). The field is filled with other fainter nebulas catalogued in the Sharpless and DWB catalogues. Above Gamma Cygni ri

The rising of the August 1,2023 "supermoon" Full Moon,over the Bow River and valley,on the Siksika Nation lands,the heart of the Blackfoot Confederacy lands in southern Alberta,Canada.

13999193 - The rising of the August 1,2023 "supermoon" Full Moon,over the Bow River and valley,on the Siksika Nation lands,the heart of the Blackfoot Confederacy lands in southern Alberta,Canada.

This is the complex of nebulosity around the star Gamma Cygni,aka Sadr,in central Cygnus,and labeled IC1318 or the Butterfly Nebula. The star cluster NGC 6910 is at top centre. The dark dust lane cutting through the nebula is catalogued as Lynds Dark Nebula 889.

13999028 - This is the complex of nebulosity around the star Gamma Cygni,aka Sadr,in central Cygnus,and labeled IC1318 or the Butterfly Nebula. The star cluster NGC 6910 is at top centre. The dark dust lane cutting through the nebula is catalogued as Lynds Dark Nebula 889.

This is the rich area of nebulosity in central Cygnus that includes the Crescent Nebula (aka NGC 6888) at left,and the Tulip Nebula (aka Sharpless 2-101) at right near the star Eta Cygni.

13999012 - This is the rich area of nebulosity in central Cygnus that includes the Crescent Nebula (aka NGC 6888) at left,and the Tulip Nebula (aka Sharpless 2-101) at right near the star Eta Cygni.

Auroral curtains in the evening twilight on March 23,2023 during the great equinox show that night. This is looking west toward the sunset glow and with the Moon and Venus above the clouds lit yellow by light pollution from Calgary to the west from my location.

13998989 - Auroral curtains in the evening twilight on March 23,2023 during the great equinox show that night. This is looking west toward the sunset glow and with the Moon and Venus above the clouds lit yellow by light pollution from Calgary to the west from my location.

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:

13998908 - The Local Group spiral galaxy Messier 33 in Triangulum. The galaxy contains a number of cyan-coloured OIII regions of nebulosity.

A particularly colourful display of aurora on March 23,2023 during the great equinox show that night. This is looking northwest toward the Big Dipper and over my house in southern Alberta.

13998877 - A particularly colourful display of aurora on March 23,2023 during the great equinox show that night. This is looking northwest toward the Big Dipper and over my house in southern Alberta.

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

13998805 - Aurora photographers at the Churchill Northern Studies Centre,February 26,2023,under a magenta curtain of Northern Lights.

The conjunction of the waxing crescent Moon with Venus on June 21,2023,summer solstice evening,with the worlds in clouds in the deep blue twilight sky.

13998784 - The conjunction of the waxing crescent Moon with Venus on June 21,2023,summer solstice evening,with the worlds in clouds in the deep blue twilight sky.

Orion and Sirius over the moonlit badlands of Dinosaur Provincial Park,Alberta on Feb. 4,2023 with the waxing gibbous Moon providing the illumination on this very clear and mild night.

13998770 - Orion and Sirius over the moonlit badlands of Dinosaur Provincial Park,Alberta on Feb. 4,2023 with the waxing gibbous Moon providing the illumination on this very clear and mild night.

This is a framing of the starfield in the Milky Way from Sagitta the Arrow,at bottom,to the planetary nebula Messier 27 or the Dumbbell Nebula in Vulpecula at top. The globular star cluster M71 is at lower left in Sagitta. The sparse open cluster NGC 6830 is at top right. Interstellar dust dims and yellows the starfield.

13998744 - This is a framing of the starfield in the Milky Way from Sagitta the Arrow,at bottom,to the planetary nebula Messier 27 or the Dumbbell Nebula in Vulpecula at top. The globular star cluster M71 is at lower left in Sagitta. The sparse open cluster NGC 6830 is at top right. Interstellar dust dims and yellows the starfield.

A 180° panorama of the aurora curtains across the northern sky,on February 22,2023,from the grounds northeast of the Churchill Northern Studies Centre,in Churchill,Manitoba. This was a Kp5 level aurora this night,active from twilight on and peaking here at about 9:30 pm. Polaris is at top just left of centre. Cassiopeia is at left,the Big Dipper at right.

13998717 - A 180° panorama of the aurora curtains across the northern sky,on February 22,2023,from the grounds northeast of the Churchill Northern Studies Centre,in Churchill,Manitoba. This was a Kp5 level aurora this night,active from twilight on and peaking here at about 9:30 pm. Polaris is at top just left of centre. Cassiopeia is at left,the Big Dipper at right.

This is a framing of the Scutum Starcloud in the Milky Way,with the bright and rich Wild Duck Cluster,aka Messier 11,embedded in the Starcloud at upper left. The smaller open star cluster M26 is at bottom centre; while the globular cluster NGC 6712 is at lower left,with the small green planetary nebula IC 1295 visible beside it to the left. The area is a study in contrasts between the rich starclouds of the Milky Way and the dark lanes of interstellar dust. The most prominent and densest of those is at upper right,Barnard 103. At top is B110. The general regime of interstellar dust in the regi

13998706 - This is a framing of the Scutum Starcloud in the Milky Way,with the bright and rich Wild Duck Cluster,aka Messier 11,embedded in the Starcloud at upper left. The smaller open star cluster M26 is at bottom centre; while the globular cluster NGC 6712 is at lower left,with the small green planetary nebula IC 1295 visible beside it to the left. The area is a study in contrasts between the rich starclouds of the Milky Way and the dark lanes of interstellar dust. The most prominent and densest of those is at upper right,Barnard 103. At top is B110. The general regime of interstellar dust in the regi

This is the northern hemisphere summer Milky Way from Sagittarius (at bottom) to Cygnus (at top) setting into the southwest over the hoodoo formations of Bryce Canyon National Park Utah.

13998674 - This is the northern hemisphere summer Milky Way from Sagittarius (at bottom) to Cygnus (at top) setting into the southwest over the hoodoo formations of Bryce Canyon National Park Utah.

The October 14,2023 annular solar eclipse,in a single image captured at mid-eclipse,at 10:29 am MDT at the site I used. This site was the Ruby's Inn Overlook on the rim of Bryce Canyon,Utah,a site well south of the centreline,with 3m03s of annularity. Being south of the centreline moved the Moon to the north side of the Sun,so the Moon is offset from the centre of the Sun's disk.

13998567 - The October 14,2023 annular solar eclipse,in a single image captured at mid-eclipse,at 10:29 am MDT at the site I used. This site was the Ruby's Inn Overlook on the rim of Bryce Canyon,Utah,a site well south of the centreline,with 3m03s of annularity. Being south of the centreline moved the Moon to the north side of the Sun,so the Moon is offset from the centre of the Sun's disk.

The waxing 3-day-old crescent Moon above the crescent Venus on July 20,2023 amid the colours of a late evening summer sunset. The Moon was 8° above Venus this night,so not a close conjunction.

13998558 - The waxing 3-day-old crescent Moon above the crescent Venus on July 20,2023 amid the colours of a late evening summer sunset. The Moon was 8° above Venus this night,so not a close conjunction.

An aurora selfie under the arc of the Northern Lights on February 22,2023 on the trail outside the Churchill Northern Studies Centre in Churchill,Manitoba. This was a Kp5 display this night peaking between 8:30 and 9:30 pm.

13998522 - An aurora selfie under the arc of the Northern Lights on February 22,2023 on the trail outside the Churchill Northern Studies Centre in Churchill,Manitoba. This was a Kp5 display this night peaking between 8:30 and 9:30 pm.

This is the pair of mismatched globular star clusters,Messier 53 (on the right) and NGC 5053 in Coma Berenices. M53 is a rich cluster while NGC 5053 is fainter and rather poorly populated. The difference is intrinsic as both clusters lie about the same distance away,some 53,000 light years. The brightest star at lower right is Diadem,or Alpha Comae Barenices. A number of faint and tiny IC,PGC and UGC galaxies dot the field.

13998507 - This is the pair of mismatched globular star clusters,Messier 53 (on the right) and NGC 5053 in Coma Berenices. M53 is a rich cluster while NGC 5053 is fainter and rather poorly populated. The difference is intrinsic as both clusters lie about the same distance away,some 53,000 light years. The brightest star at lower right is Diadem,or Alpha Comae Barenices. A number of faint and tiny IC,PGC and UGC galaxies dot the field.

The "Super Blue Moon" of August 30,2023 rising over a yet-to-be-harvested wheatfield in southern Alberta,on the night of August 30,2023. This was the second Full Moon of the month (making it a "blue Moon" by popular definition) and it was the closest Full Moon of 2023 (making it also a "super Moon" by another popular definition).

13998498 - The "Super Blue Moon" of August 30,2023 rising over a yet-to-be-harvested wheatfield in southern Alberta,on the night of August 30,2023. This was the second Full Moon of the month (making it a "blue Moon" by popular definition) and it was the closest Full Moon of 2023 (making it also a "super Moon" by another popular definition).

A portrait of the constellation of Lyra the Harp from May 2023,with a 135mm telephoto lens to frame this small pattern. Vega is the bright star and the double star to the left of Vega is Epsilon Lyrae. The colourful small group below it is the sparse star cluster Stephenson 1 surrounding the stars Delta1 and Delta2 Lyrae. The globular cluster M56 is just in the lower left corner.

13998473 - A portrait of the constellation of Lyra the Harp from May 2023,with a 135mm telephoto lens to frame this small pattern. Vega is the bright star and the double star to the left of Vega is Epsilon Lyrae. The colourful small group below it is the sparse star cluster Stephenson 1 surrounding the stars Delta1 and Delta2 Lyrae. The globular cluster M56 is just in the lower left corner.

A framing of the core of the great Coma-Virgo Galaxy Cluster,with the bright pair of elliptical Messier-catalogue galaxies M84 (right) and M86 (on the left) at upper right anchoring the arc of galaxies called Markarian's Chain. At centre is the giant elliptical M87,famous for its monster black hole. M89,a smaller elliptical,is to the left,and M90,a spiral galaxy,is above it. M58 is at lower left,and the pair of interacting galaxies called the Siamese Twins,NGC 4568,are at bottom left. Dozens of other NGC,IC and PGC galaxies down to 15th magnitude dot the field.

13998451 - A framing of the core of the great Coma-Virgo Galaxy Cluster,with the bright pair of elliptical Messier-catalogue galaxies M84 (right) and M86 (on the left) at upper right anchoring the arc of galaxies called Markarian's Chain. At centre is the giant elliptical M87,famous for its monster black hole. M89,a smaller elliptical,is to the left,and M90,a spiral galaxy,is above it. M58 is at lower left,and the pair of interacting galaxies called the Siamese Twins,NGC 4568,are at bottom left. Dozens of other NGC,IC and PGC galaxies down to 15th magnitude dot the field.

A CPR freight train eastbound through the Canadian Rockies,in the evening twilight with bright Venus in the western sky over the peaks of the Continental Divide.

13998407 - A CPR freight train eastbound through the Canadian Rockies,in the evening twilight with bright Venus in the western sky over the peaks of the Continental Divide.

This is a panorama of the Milky Way from Vulpecula and Sagitta (at left) to Serpens and Sagittarius (at right). The Coathanger asterism of stars,aka CR399,is at upper left. At centre is the constellation of Aquila with the bright star Altair at bottom. The Scutum Starcloud with Messier 11 is right of centre. The pink Eagle and Swan Nebulas,(M16 and M17) are at far right,as is the Small Sagittarius Starcloud,Messier 24. Flanking M24 are the two large star clusters,M25 (below) and M23 (above),amid the trees. The globular cluster M22 is at bottom right,also just clearing the trees. The large diff

13998401 - This is a panorama of the Milky Way from Vulpecula and Sagitta (at left) to Serpens and Sagittarius (at right). The Coathanger asterism of stars,aka CR399,is at upper left. At centre is the constellation of Aquila with the bright star Altair at bottom. The Scutum Starcloud with Messier 11 is right of centre. The pink Eagle and Swan Nebulas,(M16 and M17) are at far right,as is the Small Sagittarius Starcloud,Messier 24. Flanking M24 are the two large star clusters,M25 (below) and M23 (above),amid the trees. The globular cluster M22 is at bottom right,also just clearing the trees. The large diff

A green,red and magenta auroral curtain over the old Churchill Rocket Range,in the light of the waxing quarter Moon,February 26,2023. The Moon is in Taurus between the Pleiades and Hyades star clusters. At far right are Jupiter and Venus setting in the west. This is looking south and southwest.

13998328 - A green,red and magenta auroral curtain over the old Churchill Rocket Range,in the light of the waxing quarter Moon,February 26,2023. The Moon is in Taurus between the Pleiades and Hyades star clusters. At far right are Jupiter and Venus setting in the west. This is looking south and southwest.

Auroral curtains in the west,with the waxing crescent Moon setting at centre,plus Cassiopeia at top right. This was February 25,2023 from the parking lot at the Churchill Northern Studies Centre,Churchill,Manitoba. The old Rocket Range headquarters building is at right.

13998312 - Auroral curtains in the west,with the waxing crescent Moon setting at centre,plus Cassiopeia at top right. This was February 25,2023 from the parking lot at the Churchill Northern Studies Centre,Churchill,Manitoba. The old Rocket Range headquarters building is at right.

This is the odd sight of an arc of light across the sky created by the high-altitude fuel dump from an orbiting rocket. It looks like a huge comet or an odd auroral arc.

13998276 - This is the odd sight of an arc of light across the sky created by the high-altitude fuel dump from an orbiting rocket. It looks like a huge comet or an odd auroral arc.

13989300 - Yaquina Head Light illuminated and a full moon at night,Yaquina Bay State Park,Oregon,United States of America

Rugged rock formations along the shoreline with a bright sun glowing in the sky at sunrise and reflecting on the wet sand at Bandon State Natural Area on the Oregon coast,Bandon,Oregon,United States of America

13988924 - Rugged rock formations along the shoreline with a bright sun glowing in the sky at sunrise and reflecting on the wet sand at Bandon State Natural Area on the Oregon coast,Bandon,Oregon,United States of America

13988922 - Rugged rock formations along the shoreline with a bright sun glowing in the sky at sunrise and reflecting on the wet sand at Bandon State Natural Area on the Oregon coast,Bandon,Oregon,United States of America

13987442 - Washington Monument taken from Lincoln Monument at dusk with moon shining brightly,Washington D.C.,United States of America

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.

$A close-up of the rising Sun on April 5, 2019, from home, and shot through the 66mm refractor and 1.4x Extender for 650mm focal length.$

13900557 - A close-up of the rising Sun on April 5, 2019, from home, and shot through the 66mm refractor and 1.4x Extender for 650mm focal length.

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.

$M8 Lagoon Nebula and M20 Trifid Nebula, with Astro-Physics Traveler 4-inch apo refractor at f/6 with Canon 5D camera, for 7 minutes each at ISO800. Stack of four exposures. Taken from Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia, July 2006. Slight trailing and soft focus.$

13900508 - M8 Lagoon Nebula and M20 Trifid Nebula, with Astro-Physics Traveler 4-inch apo refractor at f/6 with Canon 5D camera, for 7 minutes each at ISO800. Stack of four exposures. Taken from Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia, July 2006. Slight trailing and soft focus.

13900493 - A lightning bolt comes out of a retreating thunderstorm, in the darkening twilight.

Full sweep of Southern Milky Way. Taken with 15mm Canon full-frame fish-eye lens at f/4 and Hutech-modified Canon 5D for stack of 3 x 6 minute exposures at ISO 400. Ground is blurred because of stacking of 18 minutes worth of exposures nd sky is rotating around pole which is near centre of image. Taken from Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia, April 19, 2007.

13900471 - Full sweep of Southern Milky Way. Taken with 15mm Canon full-frame fish-eye lens at f/4 and Hutech-modified Canon 5D for stack of 3 x 6 minute exposures at ISO 400. Ground is blurred because of stacking of 18 minutes worth of exposures nd sky is rotating around pole which is near centre of image. Taken from Coonabarabran, NSW, Australia, April 19, 2007.

The Northern Lights over the village of Skjervøy on the northern coast of Norway north of Tromsø. Taken from the deck of the Hurtigruten ship the ms Trollfjord while in port, March 2, 2019. Looking west with Cassiopeia at right and the Pleiades at left.

13900436 - The Northern Lights over the village of Skjervøy on the northern coast of Norway north of Tromsø. Taken from the deck of the Hurtigruten ship the ms Trollfjord while in port, March 2, 2019. Looking west with Cassiopeia at right and the Pleiades at left.

The waxing gibbous Moon above the blue shadow of the Earth and pink Belt of Venus band, with dark blue crepuscular rays converging on the anti-solar point in the east, at sunset, from the badlands of Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta. Part of a 450-frame time-lapse sequence, taken with the Canon 5D MkII and 24mm lens on the Radian motion controller.

13900366 - The waxing gibbous Moon above the blue shadow of the Earth and pink Belt of Venus band, with dark blue crepuscular rays converging on the anti-solar point in the east, at sunset, from the badlands of Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta. Part of a 450-frame time-lapse sequence, taken with the Canon 5D MkII and 24mm lens on the Radian motion controller.

The winter Milky Way and Zodiacal Light in a 180° panorama taken at the Painted Pony Resort in southwestern New Mexico, March 11, 2013. The panorama is a composite of 4 segments, each a two layer stack, and each exposure 3 minutes at f/2.8 with the 14mm Samyang lens and Canon 5D MkII at ISO 1600, and each exposure tracked on the iOptron SkyTracker. The ground is from one exposure per segment. Jupiter is the bright object near the centre.

13900327 - The winter Milky Way and Zodiacal Light in a 180° panorama taken at the Painted Pony Resort in southwestern New Mexico, March 11, 2013. The panorama is a composite of 4 segments, each a two layer stack, and each exposure 3 minutes at f/2.8 with the 14mm Samyang lens and Canon 5D MkII at ISO 1600, and each exposure tracked on the iOptron SkyTracker. The ground is from one exposure per segment. Jupiter is the bright object near the centre.

Circumpolar Star Trails -- Pentax 6x7 camera with 35mm full-frame fish-eye lens at f/5.6. Fujichrome 100F slide film and 2 hour exposure. Taken from home in July 2004. Aurora adds sky color.

13900319 - Circumpolar Star Trails -- Pentax 6x7 camera with 35mm full-frame fish-eye lens at f/5.6. Fujichrome 100F slide film and 2 hour exposure. Taken from home in July 2004. Aurora adds sky color.

$Taken with 90mm Stowaway AP Refractor, with Borg .85x compressor/flattener for f/5.6. With Canon 20Da camera at ISO 400 for 13 second exposure. on Skywatcher HEQ5 mount tracking at Lunar rate. Exposure kept long to bring out star background. original = #2081$

13900304 - Taken with 90mm Stowaway AP Refractor, with Borg .85x compressor/flattener for f/5.6. With Canon 20Da camera at ISO 400 for 13 second exposure. on Skywatcher HEQ5 mount tracking at Lunar rate. Exposure kept long to bring out star background. original = #2081

A mosaic of the rich region in Sagittarius and southern Serpens, from the Small Sagittarius Starcloud (Messier 24) at bottom to Messier 16, the Eagle Nebula, at top, with a fainter nebula above it around the cluster NGC 6604. At centre is the Swan or Omega Nebula, Messier 17. The dark nebula below centre is Barnard 92.

13900277 - A mosaic of the rich region in Sagittarius and southern Serpens, from the Small Sagittarius Starcloud (Messier 24) at bottom to Messier 16, the Eagle Nebula, at top, with a fainter nebula above it around the cluster NGC 6604. At centre is the Swan or Omega Nebula, Messier 17. The dark nebula below centre is Barnard 92.

The stars of the Big Dipper over the iconic peak of Pyramid Mountain from Pyramid Island, a popular location in Jasper National Park, Alberta, for nightscape and aurora photography. This was on a very clear night in mid-October, 2022, with many aspen stands still in full autumn colour. The images for this scene were shot at moonrise, with the waning gibbous Moon off frame at right lighting the sky blue and landscape with warm alpenglow moonlight. As bonus, a short bright meteor and its orange "smoke" trail appeared on the sky exposures. I shot this during the first weekend of the 2022 Jasper D

13900261 - The stars of the Big Dipper over the iconic peak of Pyramid Mountain from Pyramid Island, a popular location in Jasper National Park, Alberta, for nightscape and aurora photography. This was on a very clear night in mid-October, 2022, with many aspen stands still in full autumn colour. The images for this scene were shot at moonrise, with the waning gibbous Moon off frame at right lighting the sky blue and landscape with warm alpenglow moonlight. As bonus, a short bright meteor and its orange "smoke" trail appeared on the sky exposures. I shot this during the first weekend of the 2022 Jasper D

The Full Moon rise of August 11, 2022 over the old grain elevator on Highway 10 at Dorothy, Alberta, in the Badlands of the Red Deer River valley. This was dubbed a "supermoon" and the "Sturgeon Moon" in the popular media. It just happened to rise at a location that placed it right down the south-east facing highway in the valley.

13900225 - The Full Moon rise of August 11, 2022 over the old grain elevator on Highway 10 at Dorothy, Alberta, in the Badlands of the Red Deer River valley. This was dubbed a "supermoon" and the "Sturgeon Moon" in the popular media. It just happened to rise at a location that placed it right down the south-east facing highway in the valley.

A particularly colourful sunset at the Red Rock Coulee Natural Area in southeast Alberta, with a lone figure silhouetted against the sky.

13900220 - A particularly colourful sunset at the Red Rock Coulee Natural Area in southeast Alberta, with a lone figure silhouetted against the sky.

A wide-angle view of the Northern Hemisphere autumn Milky, from Aquila at bottom right in thw south, to Cassiopeia and Perseus at upper left in the northeast. Cygnus is at centre overhead on a late October evening. The Summer Triangle stars are at centre and right; the Andromeda Galaxy and Triangulum galaxies are at bottom left. The dark nebula Le Gentil 3, aka the Funnel Nebula, is at centre.

13900189 - A wide-angle view of the Northern Hemisphere autumn Milky, from Aquila at bottom right in thw south, to Cassiopeia and Perseus at upper left in the northeast. Cygnus is at centre overhead on a late October evening. The Summer Triangle stars are at centre and right; the Andromeda Galaxy and Triangulum galaxies are at bottom left. The dark nebula Le Gentil 3, aka the Funnel Nebula, is at centre.

Reflections of the Northern Lights in the calm and misty waters of Madeline Lake on the Ingraham Trail near Yellowknife, NWT on Sept 7, 2019. This is one of a series of “reflection” images. The Big Dipper is at left. Capella is at right.

13900160 - Reflections of the Northern Lights in the calm and misty waters of Madeline Lake on the Ingraham Trail near Yellowknife, NWT on Sept 7, 2019. This is one of a series of “reflection” images. The Big Dipper is at left. Capella is at right.

Me posing in the night at Reesor Lake, Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, Alberta, with the Milky Way over the misty lake. A single 30-second untracked exposure (not a composite) with the 24mm lens at f/2 and Canon 5D MkII at ISO 3200.

13900149 - Me posing in the night at Reesor Lake, Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, Alberta, with the Milky Way over the misty lake. A single 30-second untracked exposure (not a composite) with the 24mm lens at f/2 and Canon 5D MkII at ISO 3200.

The summer Milky Way in Cygnus, with the Summer Triangle stars rising over the Hoodoos formations on Highway 10 near Drumheller, Alberta. A low-level aurora display tints the sky magenta and blue at left, making for an unusually colourful sky. The bright stars are: Vega is at top, Deneb at centre and Altair at bottom right.

13900142 - The summer Milky Way in Cygnus, with the Summer Triangle stars rising over the Hoodoos formations on Highway 10 near Drumheller, Alberta. A low-level aurora display tints the sky magenta and blue at left, making for an unusually colourful sky. The bright stars are: Vega is at top, Deneb at centre and Altair at bottom right.

$The partial solar eclipse as seen from Calgary, Alberta, on May 20, 2012, but seen as an annular eclipse from the SW United States. This was taken at maximum eclipse at 7:14 pm MDT, with 62% of the Sun covered. Taken from the TELUS Spark science centre at a public event there, and taken with an 80mm A&M apo refractor at f/6 (480mm focal length) and Canon 60Da camera at ISO 100 and 1/250 second exposure through a Baader solar filter. The Sun was in high cloud and not in a clear blue sky.$

13900115 - The partial solar eclipse as seen from Calgary, Alberta, on May 20, 2012, but seen as an annular eclipse from the SW United States. This was taken at maximum eclipse at 7:14 pm MDT, with 62% of the Sun covered. Taken from the TELUS Spark science centre at a public event there, and taken with an 80mm A&M apo refractor at f/6 (480mm focal length) and Canon 60Da camera at ISO 100 and 1/250 second exposure through a Baader solar filter. The Sun was in high cloud and not in a clear blue sky.

Sunset at Ebor Falls on the Waterfall Way between Armidale and Dorrigo, NSW, Australia. These are the New England Tablelands, but very different from the forests of New England, USA. These are primeval euclalypts, beeches and ferns – a temperate rainforest on the coastal Dividing Range of New South Wales. In this direction we are looking into Guy Fawkes River National Park.

13900101 - Sunset at Ebor Falls on the Waterfall Way between Armidale and Dorrigo, NSW, Australia. These are the New England Tablelands, but very different from the forests of New England, USA. These are primeval euclalypts, beeches and ferns – a temperate rainforest on the coastal Dividing Range of New South Wales. In this direction we are looking into Guy Fawkes River National Park.

13900094 - Stars setting in trails over the Athabasca Glacier and Columbia Icefields, Sept 14, 2014. The Milky Way is trailed at right.

What started out the night as a dim aurora brightened later and here appears over the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, in Churchill, Manitoba on February 26, 2022. This aurora was at Kp2 level (very low) at best.

13900067 - What started out the night as a dim aurora brightened later and here appears over the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, in Churchill, Manitoba on February 26, 2022. This aurora was at Kp2 level (very low) at best.

The stars and Mars trailing over Mt. Rundle and Two Jack Lake in Banff National Park, Alberta, on June 3, 2016. Mars is the brightest streak and object in the sky. Note the glitter path of Mars in the water. Satellites streak across the star trails.

13900022 - The stars and Mars trailing over Mt. Rundle and Two Jack Lake in Banff National Park, Alberta, on June 3, 2016. Mars is the brightest streak and object in the sky. Note the glitter path of Mars in the water. Satellites streak across the star trails.

$Transit of Venus, June 8, 2004, from Luxor, Egypt. A single image taekn during immersion just at 3rd contact showing brief blackdrop effect. Taken with a Sony DSC-V1 digital camera shooting afocally through a 40mm eyepiece and on a 90mm apochromatic refractor, equatorially mounted and driven. Shot thru a Baader solar filter, which gives a white Sun. Yellow coloration added in Photoshop.$

13900009 - Transit of Venus, June 8, 2004, from Luxor, Egypt. A single image taekn during immersion just at 3rd contact showing brief blackdrop effect. Taken with a Sony DSC-V1 digital camera shooting afocally through a 40mm eyepiece and on a 90mm apochromatic refractor, equatorially mounted and driven. Shot thru a Baader solar filter, which gives a white Sun. Yellow coloration added in Photoshop.

A bright double rainbow over a ripening canola field, from home in Alberta. This shows the reversal of colours in the outer fainter bow, and rhe Dark Band between the bows, and bright sky inside the inner bow.

13900007 - A bright double rainbow over a ripening canola field, from home in Alberta. This shows the reversal of colours in the outer fainter bow, and rhe Dark Band between the bows, and bright sky inside the inner bow.

A flower-filled meadow at the Hay Barn Road at Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta, with the summer Milky Way and Mars to the south over Waterton Valley and Vimy Peak at left.

13899978 - A flower-filled meadow at the Hay Barn Road at Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta, with the summer Milky Way and Mars to the south over Waterton Valley and Vimy Peak at left.

Passengers observing and shooting the Northern Lights from the upper Deck 9 of the ms Trollfjord on the northbound voyage, Oct 16, 2019, north of Tromsø. Illumination is from the waning gibbous Moon in frame at right.

13899967 - Passengers observing and shooting the Northern Lights from the upper Deck 9 of the ms Trollfjord on the northbound voyage, Oct 16, 2019, north of Tromsø. Illumination is from the waning gibbous Moon in frame at right.

The rising Hunter’s Full Moon on October 27, 2015, at the old barn near home in southern Alberta. This is one frame from a time-lapse sequence, with a 3-second exposure at f/5.6 and ISO 3200 with the Nikon D750 and Sigma 24mm.

13899955 - The rising Hunter’s Full Moon on October 27, 2015, at the old barn near home in southern Alberta. This is one frame from a time-lapse sequence, with a 3-second exposure at f/5.6 and ISO 3200 with the Nikon D750 and Sigma 24mm.

The Northern Lights begin to appear in the evening twlights, on a fine September Saturday night at Madeline Lake on the Ingraham Trail near Yellowknife. This is looking northeast toward Perseus, with the Pleiades rising.

13899885 - The Northern Lights begin to appear in the evening twlights, on a fine September Saturday night at Madeline Lake on the Ingraham Trail near Yellowknife. This is looking northeast toward Perseus, with the Pleiades rising.

Scorpius and Sagittarius, taken from Atacama Lodge in Chile (23° S), March 19/20, 2010, using modified Canon 5D MkII camera, and Sigma 50mm lens at f/4 for stack of 4 x 6 minute exposures, Mean combined, plus stack of 2 x 6 minutes with Kenko Softon filter for star glows.

13899869 - Scorpius and Sagittarius, taken from Atacama Lodge in Chile (23° S), March 19/20, 2010, using modified Canon 5D MkII camera, and Sigma 50mm lens at f/4 for stack of 4 x 6 minute exposures, Mean combined, plus stack of 2 x 6 minutes with Kenko Softon filter for star glows.

A telescopic closeup of Comet Lovejoy (C/2014 Q2) on January 17, 2015, showing structure in the ion gas tail, in the form of streamers and discontinuities in the tail.

13899867 - A telescopic closeup of Comet Lovejoy (C/2014 Q2) on January 17, 2015, showing structure in the ion gas tail, in the form of streamers and discontinuities in the tail.

Comet NEOWISE (C/2020 F3) over a ripening canola field near home in southern Alberta, on the night of July 15-16, 2020. Light pollution from a nearby gas plant reflecting off low clouds adds the yellow at right.

13899854 - Comet NEOWISE (C/2020 F3) over a ripening canola field near home in southern Alberta, on the night of July 15-16, 2020. Light pollution from a nearby gas plant reflecting off low clouds adds the yellow at right.

13899826 - A scene at the Nova East Star Party near Windsor, Nova Scotia, in August 2015, showing laser pointer in use under a clear starry sky.

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.

The Moon in total eclipse, on January 20, 2019, in a multiple exposure composite showing the Moon moving from right to left (west to east) through the Earth’s umbral shadow.

13899765 - The Moon in total eclipse, on January 20, 2019, in a multiple exposure composite showing the Moon moving from right to left (west to east) through the Earth’s umbral shadow.

The region in Serpens and Ophiuchus containing the Serpens-Ophiuchus (S-O) Double Cluster, here at top left, and the large binocular cluster IC 4655 above the cyan-tinted star Cebalrai, here at right. The S-O pair is made of IC 4756 (left) and NGC 6633 (right).

13899697 - The region in Serpens and Ophiuchus containing the Serpens-Ophiuchus (S-O) Double Cluster, here at top left, and the large binocular cluster IC 4655 above the cyan-tinted star Cebalrai, here at right. The S-O pair is made of IC 4756 (left) and NGC 6633 (right).

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.

$Lukas and Stephen shooting the Moon through Stephen’s 140mm TEC refractor, at the Saskatchewan Summer Star Party, August 26, 2017.$

13899680 - Lukas and Stephen shooting the Moon through Stephen’s 140mm TEC refractor, at the Saskatchewan Summer Star Party, August 26, 2017.

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.

The line-up of three evening planets in the southwest twilight sky, on December 17, 2021 — with Jupiter at top left, Venus at bottom right, and dimmer Saturn in the middle, all defining the line of the ecliptic in the cold winter sky this night. The stars of Capricornus are at centre.

13899600 - The line-up of three evening planets in the southwest twilight sky, on December 17, 2021 — with Jupiter at top left, Venus at bottom right, and dimmer Saturn in the middle, all defining the line of the ecliptic in the cold winter sky this night. The stars of Capricornus are at centre.

The aurora of February 3-4, 2014 seen from Churchill, Manitoba at the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, with an observer taking in the sight of the auroral curtains twisting through Orion (at left), Taurus (at right) and Auriga (top). This is a 6-second exposure at f/1.8 with the 24mm lens and ISO 2000 wth the Canon 5D MkII.

13899592 - The aurora of February 3-4, 2014 seen from Churchill, Manitoba at the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, with an observer taking in the sight of the auroral curtains twisting through Orion (at left), Taurus (at right) and Auriga (top). This is a 6-second exposure at f/1.8 with the 24mm lens and ISO 2000 wth the Canon 5D MkII.

The Full Moon rises in partial eclipse over the sandstone formations of Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park in southern Alberta, on the evening of September 27, 2015. This was the night of a total lunar eclipse, which was in progress in its initial partial phase as the Moon rose this night. The blue band on the horizon containing the Moon is the shadow of Earth on our atmosphere, while the dark bite taken out of the lunar disk is the shadow of Earth on the Moon. The pink band above is the Belt of Venus.

13899581 - The Full Moon rises in partial eclipse over the sandstone formations of Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park in southern Alberta, on the evening of September 27, 2015. This was the night of a total lunar eclipse, which was in progress in its initial partial phase as the Moon rose this night. The blue band on the horizon containing the Moon is the shadow of Earth on our atmosphere, while the dark bite taken out of the lunar disk is the shadow of Earth on the Moon. The pink band above is the Belt of Venus.

The Big Dipper in a long exposure, trailing over Peyto Lake, Banff, Alberta in a film shot from the 1990s. A single long exposure about 20 minutes on slow Fuji Velvia film.

13899580 - The Big Dipper in a long exposure, trailing over Peyto Lake, Banff, Alberta in a film shot from the 1990s. A single long exposure about 20 minutes on slow Fuji Velvia film.

The Northern Lights on Feb 16, 2015, as seen from the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, in Churchill, Manitoba at 58° latitude, and under the auroral oval. The aurora appeared as skies cleared somewhat during a blizzard with high winds and blowing snow conditions. I shot these from the second floor deck of the Centre, out of the wind and off the ground. Jupiter is at right, the Big Dipper at left.

13899572 - The Northern Lights on Feb 16, 2015, as seen from the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, in Churchill, Manitoba at 58° latitude, and under the auroral oval. The aurora appeared as skies cleared somewhat during a blizzard with high winds and blowing snow conditions. I shot these from the second floor deck of the Centre, out of the wind and off the ground. Jupiter is at right, the Big Dipper at left.

The rising gibbous Moon 2 nights before the total lunar eclipse at pre-dawn Oct 8, 2014. This was off the back deck as the setting Sun lit the clouds.

13899561 - The rising gibbous Moon 2 nights before the total lunar eclipse at pre-dawn Oct 8, 2014. This was off the back deck as the setting Sun lit the clouds.

Observing Venus in the evening twilight, at the Old Man on His Back Prairie and Heritage Conservation Area in southwest Saskatchewan, May 2015. Jupiter shines above at left. This is a single 30 second exposure at f/4.5 with the 24mm lens and Canon 6D at ISO 2500.

13899524 - Observing Venus in the evening twilight, at the Old Man on His Back Prairie and Heritage Conservation Area in southwest Saskatchewan, May 2015. Jupiter shines above at left. This is a single 30 second exposure at f/4.5 with the 24mm lens and Canon 6D at ISO 2500.

This is a stack of images demonstrating the number of satellites passing through the field of a wide-field telescope over a little more an hour. The field frames the Coma Berenices star cluster. This is from my home at 51° North, a latitude more prone to seeing satellites lit by the Sun well into the evening, if not all night closer to summer solstice. Most trails are north-south so they are likely NOT Starlink satellites but polar orbiting satellites. Interesting that the trails have different colours, likely from their solar panels or other structures reflecting blue and gold tints.

13899519 - This is a stack of images demonstrating the number of satellites passing through the field of a wide-field telescope over a little more an hour. The field frames the Coma Berenices star cluster. This is from my home at 51° North, a latitude more prone to seeing satellites lit by the Sun well into the evening, if not all night closer to summer solstice. Most trails are north-south so they are likely NOT Starlink satellites but polar orbiting satellites. Interesting that the trails have different colours, likely from their solar panels or other structures reflecting blue and gold tints.

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.

The well-known Andromeda Galaxy, Messier 31, with its companion galaxies. M32, below it and seemingly embedded in M31's outer arms, and M110 above M31. Many yellow giant stars litter the field, as foreground stars in our Milky Way Galaxy. North is up in this framing.

13899475 - The well-known Andromeda Galaxy, Messier 31, with its companion galaxies. M32, below it and seemingly embedded in M31's outer arms, and M110 above M31. Many yellow giant stars litter the field, as foreground stars in our Milky Way Galaxy. North is up in this framing.

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.

The constellation of Scorpius with bright reddish Antares at top, with even brighter reddish Mars above it, and whie Saturn to the left of Antares. This shows all of Scorpius with Corona Australis and Ara below.

13899448 - The constellation of Scorpius with bright reddish Antares at top, with even brighter reddish Mars above it, and whie Saturn to the left of Antares. This shows all of Scorpius with Corona Australis and Ara below.

Orion and the winter stars and constellations rising in the light of a first quarter Moon on December 2, 2019. This was from home in Alberta. Orion is above the trees with Aldebaran in Taurus and the Pleiades above him. At top left is the star Capella and the constellation of Auriga. At left of centre are Castor and Pollux in Gemini. Just rising amid the trees is Procyon in Canis Minor. Sirius and Canis Major had not yet risen. The timing nicely captures 4 of the sky’s best star clusters in a row across the sky, with the Beehive just rising at lower left, the Hyades at upper right, and the Ple

13899432 - Orion and the winter stars and constellations rising in the light of a first quarter Moon on December 2, 2019. This was from home in Alberta. Orion is above the trees with Aldebaran in Taurus and the Pleiades above him. At top left is the star Capella and the constellation of Auriga. At left of centre are Castor and Pollux in Gemini. Just rising amid the trees is Procyon in Canis Minor. Sirius and Canis Major had not yet risen. The timing nicely captures 4 of the sky’s best star clusters in a row across the sky, with the Beehive just rising at lower left, the Hyades at upper right, and the Ple

Star trails over Patricia Lake and Pyramid Mountain in Jasper National Park. Moonlight provides the illumination and a faint aurora is at lower right in the northeast. The Big Dipper is the main pattern right of centre.

13899422 - Star trails over Patricia Lake and Pyramid Mountain in Jasper National Park. Moonlight provides the illumination and a faint aurora is at lower right in the northeast. The Big Dipper is the main pattern right of centre.

Mars (at top) and Saturn (at left) in Scorpius (or thereabouts - Saturn is technically in Ophiuchus) above Antares and the dark and reflection nebulas around Antares. The globular M4 is visible to the right of Antares.

13899381 - Mars (at top) and Saturn (at left) in Scorpius (or thereabouts - Saturn is technically in Ophiuchus) above Antares and the dark and reflection nebulas around Antares. The globular M4 is visible to the right of Antares.

The waxing 2-day-old crescent Moon setting over the front range of the Rocky Mountains in southern Alberta, as seen from the Rothney Astrophysical Observatory, April 6, 2019. Earthshine is visible on the night side of the Moon.

13899378 - The waxing 2-day-old crescent Moon setting over the front range of the Rocky Mountains in southern Alberta, as seen from the Rothney Astrophysical Observatory, April 6, 2019. Earthshine is visible on the night side of the Moon.

The waxing crescent Moon over the skyline of Calgary on January 18, 2018. I shot this from Tom Campbell Park area looking southwest to the sunset twilight.

13899373 - The waxing crescent Moon over the skyline of Calgary on January 18, 2018. I shot this from Tom Campbell Park area looking southwest to the sunset twilight.

The rising of the Full Moon on Easter eve, Saturday, March 31, 2018, on a very cold night with lots of snow still on the ground in Alberta. So this is more a winter Moon than a spring one. This is the “paschal” Moon – the one that defines the date of Easter, being the first Full Moon after the vernal equinox. The first Sunday after that Full Moon, in this case the next day, is Easter Sunday.

13899296 - The rising of the Full Moon on Easter eve, Saturday, March 31, 2018, on a very cold night with lots of snow still on the ground in Alberta. So this is more a winter Moon than a spring one. This is the “paschal” Moon – the one that defines the date of Easter, being the first Full Moon after the vernal equinox. The first Sunday after that Full Moon, in this case the next day, is Easter Sunday.

A portrait of the infamous STEVE arc of hot flowing gas associated with an active aurora, here showing his distinctive pink colour and the fleeting appearance of the green picket fence fingers that often show up hanging down from the main arc. On this night the green fingers lasted no more than two minutes. STEVE = Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement, and is a river of hot gas flowing east to west equatorward of the main aurora band.

13899294 - A portrait of the infamous STEVE arc of hot flowing gas associated with an active aurora, here showing his distinctive pink colour and the fleeting appearance of the green picket fence fingers that often show up hanging down from the main arc. On this night the green fingers lasted no more than two minutes. STEVE = Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement, and is a river of hot gas flowing east to west equatorward of the main aurora band.

Particularly large groups of sunspots on the Sun on September 4, 2017. The group at bottom is AR 2673, the group at top is 2674. The small spot at left on the emerging limb is AR 2677, while the groups disappearing at right are AR 2675 (top) and AR 2776.

13899289 - Particularly large groups of sunspots on the Sun on September 4, 2017. The group at bottom is AR 2673, the group at top is 2674. The small spot at left on the emerging limb is AR 2677, while the groups disappearing at right are AR 2675 (top) and AR 2776.

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.

A group of aurora tourists take their aurora selfies at Prosperous Lake, near Yellowknife, NWT, a popular spot on the Ingraham Trail for aurora watching. This is looking west during a bright outbreak in the display this night, which previously had been just a dull wash over the sky. This was about 1:15 a.m. MDT.

13899276 - A group of aurora tourists take their aurora selfies at Prosperous Lake, near Yellowknife, NWT, a popular spot on the Ingraham Trail for aurora watching. This is looking west during a bright outbreak in the display this night, which previously had been just a dull wash over the sky. This was about 1:15 a.m. MDT.

The constellation of Andromeda, with Cassiopeia at upper left, and Pegasus at right, 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. The faint (in the moonlit sky) fuzzy patch of the Andromeda Galaxy, Messier 31, is visible at centre.

13899237 - The constellation of Andromeda, with Cassiopeia at upper left, and Pegasus at right, 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. The faint (in the moonlit sky) fuzzy patch of the Andromeda Galaxy, Messier 31, is visible at centre.

ull Moon setting over Rocky Mountains, taken from Rothney Astrophysical Observatory on August 28, 2007, night of total eclipse of the Moon. Umbral eclipse was over by moonset though the Moon was still in penumbral eclipse. Taken with Canon 20Da camera and 135mm lens at ISO800 and f/4.5 for 1/160 sec. Moon in blue of Earth's shadow on atmosphere.

13899230 - ull Moon setting over Rocky Mountains, taken from Rothney Astrophysical Observatory on August 28, 2007, night of total eclipse of the Moon. Umbral eclipse was over by moonset though the Moon was still in penumbral eclipse. Taken with Canon 20Da camera and 135mm lens at ISO800 and f/4.5 for 1/160 sec. Moon in blue of Earth's shadow on atmosphere.