Tag: astrophotography

Early October

The Northern Lights have really been dancing these past few nights. The solar storms are coming fast and furious while our sun goes through a very active cycle.

Last night they came out early enough for Lisa and I to go for a drive and take a few photos in the valley bottom. We sometimes disagree on what pictures to take. I have to admit Lisa is usually correct at picking locations.

The top photo is taken at the Dutch Creek Hoodoos. Although the camera is pointed north there is only a few wisp’s of aurora showing. They were much more active in other parts of the sky. Still I was very pleased with this photo.

The mushrooms below were taken a few days previous up above the creek on the mountain near cedar trees and Oregon Grape. We found plenty of edible mushrooms of different varieties. These are called Chicken Fried Mushrooms named for their cooked chicken smell and taste (no kidding).

Lisa’s eye is much better than mine, it seems, at finding mushrooms. It used to be me to find the mushrooms, orchids and spot the good fishing holes and coveted songbirds. Not so much anymore. However, I like to think I taught her everything she knows.

Harvest Moon

Partial eclipse.

The full moon came up tonight with a piece missing from the top.

The bite is caused by a partial lunar eclipse as the moon just touches the shadow of earth.

It is hard not to be mesmerized watching a full moon rise over the mountains. To see one peek over the mountains in eclipse can’t help fill one with wonder. A special Harvest Moon indeed.

Reflection

Spent the night along the Palliser River. Plenty of fires had burned the area. I crept along looking at the fire, where it started and how it progressed. At night I woke up at regular intervals to document the movement of stars. Jupiter and Mars in Taurus. Orion following behind, a signal of cold to come. The northern lights made an appearance, but didn’t last long. The smell of fire permeated the cool night, the stars kept track as they always have and the sound of the river lulled me back and forth from this world and one of peaceful dreams.

Stars

An array of colours along the path of The Milky Way. This is ten photos stitched together in Adobe Lightroom. It spans from North to South looking East.

Tried again, this morning, to spot Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks. This comet could be beyond Willow’s and my ability to track down. It is very close to the horizon beside the Andromeda Galaxy. By the time it rises above the mountains the sky is losing darkness. Also, we haven’t had super clear skies and the thickest haze is always closest to the horizon. That haze is in fact pollution. That’s why many cities have beautiful sunsets.

The moon as it appeared just after dark.

It is funny in a ridiculous way, our summers are filled with smoke from forest fires, now the spring and fall also has it’s share of smoke, as the provincial government and logging companies burn slash piles. Slash piles are all of the waste wood left over from clear cut logging. There is a lot of waste; branches, rotting wood, stumps, small trees, basically any mess the companies leave behind is pushed into piles and set ablaze.

The core of The Milky Way returns signalling spring and the coming summer. The green haze is a combination of haze, light pollution and maybe even some stardust. Lake Windermere still has its layer of winter ice.

It would be interesting to know if these C0 emissions are counted as industry emissions or if they get tabled under forest fire emissions. The latter not counted towards Canada’s yearly emission targets. Regardless, it is another case of the government saying one thing and doing another. The entire valley could drive around in Diesel Ford F350s for years and not emit the pollution that one of these massive slash piles produce.

I don’t think there is any big conspiracy involved, I just think government is incompetent in this regard.

This is how a panorama looks when I am stitching it together. This is ten individual photos taken left to right with overlap. This image is five frames wide and two frames high. The lens used was 20mm, which is wide, so a lot of the sky is captured. I did not do a very good job of keeping the bottom of the photo even. It can be difficult as it is dark and I can not see through the viewfinder, so it is done by feel. The bright lights in the distance is Invermere.

Comet Hunting

Perched above the Kootenay River. The clouds catching the coming dawn. Cassiopeia can be clearly seen above the clouds. A satellite streaks out of the frame on the left. But no comet.

Up early to try to find Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks. The skies were sufficiently dark. Unfortunately there was a thin layer of cloud at the horizon extending into the area that would contain The Andromeda Galaxy and the comet.

As I had to go to work right after looking for the comet, Willow had to stay home. Now, if I am going to work she doesn’t make a peep. Somehow she knew I was going out in the bush and she was pissed off that I left without her. So much so that she awoke Lisa to complain of my impertinent gall to leave her behind.

Willow, minutes ago, barring the door, making sure she will not be forgotten again.

Clear

Looking down from the banks of Lake Windermere at an ice road heading to the lights of Invermere.

Finally a clear night in what has been a mild, overcast winter. Willow and I took a quick trip behind Swansea, stopping to see Mom and Dad before returning home.

The clouds start rolling in.

It was good to look up at the winter stars. I was surprised to see how far they have drifted west since the last time Willow and I were under them. Spring is inching forward.

Away from light pollution. A keen eye can spot Orion, Gemini, The Beehive and Pleiades.

Conjunction

The moon and Venus looked great today next to each other in the morning sky. I have read the moon occulted Venus in the Southern Hemisphere. That would have been something to see. I was off to work before it got lighter which may have made for a better photo. Regardless, the clouds rolled in as dawn advanced.

Lisa popped out this morning when she saw a few Bohemian Waxwings feasting on the frozen berries. These birds will gather in large flocks and strip the trees of berries in no time, even getting drunk on the fermented fruit. It’s something to see!

Old Places

Places you feel good in. I’m a guy who doesn’t own anything. There is nothing I can call my own. The sky can be out or not. Up there the creek is always clear. Long ago I said to my father, ‘this is my creek’. He knew I didn’t mean it belonged to me, but I felt peace there. There were places he felt the same.

Lisa and I, along with Willow, spent the night up at the top of the creek, we went high where the water runs out at this time of year. We starred skyward and felt the spirits fly through our chests. Lisa counted the piles of bear shit, noted if they were fresh, she carried bear spray and a knife with a quick release. She pointed out cedar boughs in the darkness and asked if I could cut her a few.

A mountain Martin stood stiff, eyes glowing, curious at our intrusion. A large bull elk climbed a rock slide to stay clear of us. There is still enough of my self to quicken my heart and want to go after him. When young it is simple to kill. A pellet to a birds breast. Killing is easy, now older, I even have trouble pulling the trigger on plants in fall. My edge now is not killing.

This place can punch your heart and make you cry.

Falling Star, Jupiter, Pleiades.

A Perseid just misses Jupiter. Pleiades rises first, soon to be following are the winter stars. Orion comes up in dawn, before long it will rule the early dark skies. They will bring calm and quiet that seems sorely missing right now.

Perseids

A Perseid streaks above the trees to the left of the falls.

After an evening nap Willow and I headed for the bush. We got out walked here and there, getting our bearings. It’s been awhile since we have been out at night looking skyward.

We were lucky to see several Perseid Meteors. Lucky as well to get a few pics.

Perseus, The Andromeda Galaxy and Cassiopea. The meteors didn’t cooperate for this photo. If I had’ve slipped into that creek Willow would have ran through bush and thicket down the mountain, following me to the Columbia River.

It was clear and the moon, waning into a thin crescent, stayed down until mid morning.

Hounds Tooth, The Milky Way and a bright Perseid.

We saw deer, an owl, porcupine and rabbits. Luckily Willow didn’t see the porcupines.

The second picture of the night captured a long Perseid Meteor.

I can’t see in the dark like I used to. If I was younger I’d give tonight another go. I don’t think last night was the peak.

We were out of the mountains and at work on time at 5:30 am. Willow slept in the truck.

A very fine night.