Equinox Aurora in Twilight Panorama #3 Spherical (March 23, 2023)

A 360° fish-eye panorama of the great equinox aurora of March 23, 2023, with the aurora already bright as the sky darkened at twilight. The Kp values peaked at Kp7 this night. A purple arc stretches high across the sky, looking a little like a STEVE arc (but it isn't), with a green band below it to the south. The green arc has some of the features of a "dunes" aurora in that it shows horizontal streaks. This is looking east (at left) to south (at bottom), to west (at right toward the sunset twilight) and north (at top). The zenith is at centre where the rays of the puple arc converge. The crescent Moon and Venus shine above the bright twilight arch. Orion and the winter stars are below centre. Leo and the spring stars are rising over my house at left. The Big Dipper is at top left. Shot from the field across the road from home, in southern Alberta. This is a stitch of 16 segments each 10 seconds with the Venus Optics 15mm lens at f/4 on the Canon R6 at ISO 800. The camera was turned portrait for vertically oriented segments. Stitched with PTGui with spherical projection.

Equinox Aurora in Twilight Panorama #3 (March 23, 2023)

A 360° panorama of the great equinox aurora of March 23, 2023, with the aurora already bright as the sky darkened at twilight. The Kp values peaked at Kp7 this night. A purple arc stretches high across the sky, looking a little like a STEVE arc (but it isn't STEVE), with a green band below it. The green arc has some of the features of a "dunes" aurora in that it shows horizontal streaks. This is looking east (at left) to south (at centre), to west (right of centre toward the sunset twilight) and north (at either end). The zenith is at top where the rays of the puple arc converge. The crescent Moon and Venus shine above the bright twilight arch. Orion and the winter stars are at centre. Leo and the spring stars are rising over my house at left. The Big Dipper is at far left, distorted by the panorama projection. Shot from the field across the road from home, in southern Alberta. This is a stitch of 16 segments each 10 seconds with the Venus Optics 15mm lens at f/4 on the Canon R6 at ISO 800. The camera was turned portrait for vertically oriented segments. Stitched with PTGui with equirectangular projection.

Equinox Aurora in Twilight Panorama #2 Spherical (March 23, 2023)

A 360° fish-eye panorama of the great equinox aurora of March 23, 2023, with the aurora already bright as the sky darkened at twilight. The Kp values peaked at Kp7 this night. A purple arc stretches high across the sky, looking a little like a STEVE arc, with a green band below it to the south. The green arc has some of the features of a "dunes" aurora in that it shows horizontal streaks. This is looking east (at left) to south (at bottom), to west (at right toward the sunset twilight) and north (at top). The zenith is at centre where the rays of the puple arc converge. The crescent Moon and Venus shine above the bright twilight arch. Orion and the winter stars are below centre. Leo and the spring stars are rising over my house at left. The Big Dipper is at top left beside an odd isolated ray of aurora. Shot from the field across the road from home, in southern Alberta. This is a stitch of 16 segments each 10 seconds with the Venus Optics 15mm lens at f/4 on the Canon R6 at ISO 800. The camera was turned portrait for vertically oriented segments. Stitched with PTGui with spherical projection.

Equinox Aurora in Twilight Panorama #2 (March 23, 2023)

A 360° panorama of the great equinox aurora of March 23, 2023, with the aurora already bright as the sky darkened at twilight. The Kp values peaked at Kp7 this night. A purple arc stretches high across the sky, looking a little like a STEVE arc, with a green band below it. The green arc has some of the features of a "dunes" aurora in that it shows horizontal streaks. This is looking east (at left) to south (at centre) to west (right of centre toward the sunset twilight) and north (at far right). The zenith is at top where the rays of the puple arc converge. The crescent Moon and Venus shine above the bright twilight arch. Orion and the winter stars are at centre. Leo and the spring stars are rising over my house at left. The Big Dipper is at far right beside an odd isolated ray of aurora. Shot from the field across the road from home, in southern Alberta. This is a stitch of 16 segments each 10 seconds with the Venus Optics 15mm lens at f/4 on the Canon R6 at ISO 800. The camera was turned portrait for vertically oriented segments. Stitched with PTGui with equirectangular projection.

Thin Moon and Jupiter Setting (March 22, 2023)

The thin one-day-old crescent Moon just above Jupiter as both set on the evening of March 22, 2023. The Earthshine glow is obvious on the dark side of the Moon. The age of the Moon was about 31.5 hours this night at this time and longitude. This is a single 1.6-second untracked shot with the Canon RF100-400mm lens at 270mm and f/8 (wide open at this focal length), on the Canon Ra at ISO 3200 to keep the exposure time short and with the Ra's red sensitivity enhancing the twilight colours. Topaz DeNoise AI applied to smooth the high ISO noise. A mild Orton glow added with Luminar Neo.

Clusters and Nebulas in Gemini (March 2023)

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 Colliner 89 is embedded in IC 444. That region also has some blue reflection nebulosity, as does NGC 2174. This is a combination of exposures taken without a nebula filter blended with exposures taken through an IDAS NB1 dual narrowband filter: 17 x 4 minutes unfiltered at ISO 800 blended with 10 x 6 minutes at ISO 3200 with the filter, all with filter-modified Canon EOS R, on the SharpStar 61mm EDPH at f/4.5, on the Sky-Watcher EQM35 mount autoguided with the ASIAir Mini computer. The Mini performed dithering moves between each exposure to reduce thermal noise hot pixels. The Images were shot over two nights: filtered on March 19 and unfiltered on March 21, as this area of sky was in the southwest and not high enough for more than 1 to 2 hours of shooting. Plus some ice fog and frost intervened. Taken as part of testing this combination of gear as an entry-level setup. Stacking, aligning and processing in Photoshop, using luminosty masks, a starless layer and the nebula filter action in Photokemi actions to bring out the faint nebulosity.

Equinox Sunset in Fog v2

The setting Sun descending into a fog bank on a rural highway looking due west, on the evening of the vernal equinox, March 20, 2023. So the Sun is setting due west. The fog dims and reddens the Sun, illustrating atmospheric absorption. This was on Highway 561 in southern Alberta. This is a single exposure with the RF100-400mm lens at 165mm on the Canon R5. Autofocused on the Sun.

The Sun Setting in Fog

The setting Sun descending into a fog bank looking due west, on the evening of the vernal equinox, March 20, 2023. The fog dims and reddens the Sun, illustrating atmospheric absorption, and refraction as the solar disk is quite flattened. A couple of sunspots are just visible. The colour gradient is natural and comes from the blend of fog below and clearer twilight sky above. This is a single exposure with the RF100-400mm lens at 400mm on the Canon R5. Autofocused on the Sun.

Gemini the Twins (March 2023)

A framing of the northern winter sky constellation of Gemini. the Twins The Messier star cluster M35 is at right,, along with the emission nebulas IC 443 and NGC 2174. The twin stars of Castor (top) and Pollux are at left, but showing their colour difference here. The Milky Way runs down the right side of the frame making this area much brighter and richer than the sky at left. This is a stack of 16 x 2-minute exposures with the Canon RF28-70mm lens at 61mm and f/2.8 and on the filter-modified Canon Ra camera at ISO 800, on the Star Adventurer tracker. Star glows added by layering in a separate 2-minute exposure taken through a Kase/Alyn Wallace StarGlow filter. Taken from home March 17, 2023.

Auriga and Perseus (March 2023)

A framing of the northern winter sky constellations of Auriga (left) and Perseus (upper right). The Messier star clusters M36, M37 and M38 in Auriga show up well at lower left, along with the Flaming Star, IC 405, and other IC nebulas in Auriga. The large nebula at bottom right is NGC 1499, the California Nebula. The grouping of blue stars at upper right is the Perseus OB Association, aka Melotte 20. Mars is at lower left in Taurus, where it was on March 17, 2023. This is a stack of 15 x 2-minute exposures with the Canon RF28-70mm lens at 43mm and f/2.8 and on the filter-modified Canon Ra camera at ISO 800, on the Star Adventurer tracker. Star glows added by layering in a separate 2-minute exposure taken through a Kase/Alyn Wallace StarGlow filter. Taken from home March 17, 2023 with this area of sky in the southwest and plagued by some gradients, reduced with masks in Adobe Camera Raw and with Gradient XTerminator.

Gemini, Auriga and Taurus with Mars (March 2023)

A framing of the northern winter sky constellations of Gemini (left), Auriga (top) and Taurus (bottom right). The Messier star clusters M35 in Gemini, and the trio of M36, M37 and M38 in Auriga show up well. The large nebula at upper right is NGC 1499, the California Nebula in Perseus. The Flaming Star, IC 405, and other IC nebulas in Auriga are right of centre. The small round nebula at bottom is IC 2174 in northern Orion. The dark lanes of the Taurus Dark Molecular Clouds are right of centre. Mars is just below centre in Taurus, adding an extra star to this already rich area of sky and matching Aldebaran for brightness and tint. This is a stack of 12 x 2-minute exposures with the Canon RF28-70mm lens at 35mm and f/3.5 and on the filter-modified (by AstroGear) Canon R camera at ISO 800, on the Star Adventurer tracker. Taken from home March 16, 2023 with this area of sky in the southwest and plagued by some gradients, reduced with masks in Adobe Camera Raw and with Gradient XTerminator. Star glows added in post with Luminar Neo Magic Light extension.

Venus and Jupiter Conjunction Between Trees

Venus (at top) and Jupiter in a close conjunction on the evening of March 2, 2023, the day after their closest approach. They were one degree apart this night but were 1/2° apart the night before. I've framed the scene between some lone trees on a prairie hill near home in southern Alberta. This is a single 1-second exposure with the Canon RF28-70mm lens at 32mm and f/4 on the Canon R5 at ISO 200. A mild Orton glow added with Luminar Neo and star spikes added with AstronomyTools actions.

Colourful Aurora Panorama #3 Over Rocket Range (Feb 26, 2023)

A 360° panorama of a colourful aurora on a Kp6 night on February 26, 2023, from the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, Churchill, Manitoba, at 58° N. This is looking south at centre over the old Rocket Range, with the waxing Moon prominent at right in the west in Taurus near the Pleiades and above Orion. Moonlight illuminates the foreground. North is to the left here. Leo is at left in the east; Orion is at right of centre buried in the aurora. The Studies Centre appears on either side of the 360° panorama. This is a panorama of 13 segments, each 4-second exposures at f/2 with the Venus Optics 15mm lens and Canon R6 at ISO 1600, and in landscape orientation. Stitched with Adobe Camera Raw.

Colourful Aurora Panorama #2 Over Rocket Range (Feb 26, 2023)

A 220° panorama of a colourful aurora on a Kp6 night on February 26, 2023, from the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, Churchill, Manitoba, at 58° N. This is mostly looking south over the old Rocket Range, with the waxing Moon prominent at right in Taurus near the Pleiades and above Orion. Moonlight illuminates the foreground. This night auroras were seen as far south as the northern U.S. Leo is at left ; Orion is at right of centre buried in the aurora. This is a panorama of 9 segments, each 4-second exposures at f/2 with the Venus Optics 15mm lens and Canon R6 at ISO 1600, and in landscape orientation. Stitched with Adobe Camera Raw.

Aurora Curtains with Fine Structures (Feb 26, 2023)

Colourful auroral curtains exhibiting very fine vertical structures and rays, and a mix of red and magenta tones as well as the usual oxygen greens. This is looking southeast over the Churchill Rocket Range on a Kp6 night February 26, 2023. This is a single 4-second exposure with the Venus Optics 15mm lens at f/2 and Canon R6 at ISO 1600.

Colourful Aurora Panorama #1 Over Rocket Range (Feb 26, 2023)

A 220° panorama of a colourful aurora on a Kp6 night on February 26, 2023, from the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, Churchill, Manitoba, at 58° N. This is mostly looking south over the old Rocket Range, with the waxing Moon prominent at right in Taurus near the Pleiades and above Orion. Moonlight illuminates the foreground. This night auroras were seen as far south as the northern U.S. Leo is at left; Orion is at right of centre. At far right is the old headquarters of the Rocket Range, now an auxiliary building for use by the Northern Studies Centre. This is a panorama of 8 segments, each 6-second exposures at f/2 with the Venus Optics 15mm lens and Canon R6 at ISO 1600, and in landscape orientation. Stitched with Adobe Camera Raw.

Red and Magenta Aurora Panorama over Rocket Range (Feb 26, 2023)

A 220° panorama of a dimmer but colourful aurora on a Kp6 night on February 26, 2023, from the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, Churchill, Manitoba, at 58° N. This is mostly looking south over the old Rocket Range, with the waxing Moon prominent at centre in Taurus near the Pleiades and above Orion. This night auroras were seen as far south as the northern U.S. Leo is at far left ; Orion is at left of centre; Venus and Jupiter are close together and setting at right. At far right is the old headquarters of the Rocket Range, now an auxiliary building for use by the Northern Studies Centre. This is a panorama of 8 segments, each 6-second exposures at f/2 with the Venus Optics 15mm lens and Canon R6 at ISO 1600, and in landscape orientation. Stitched with Adobe Camera Raw.

Colourful Aurora in Twilight (Feb 26, 2023)

A colourful aurora in the deep blue of twilight on Febrary 26, 2023 on a Kp6 storm night. From the Churchill Northern Studies Centre. The Big Dipper and Ursa Major are at upper centre. Leo is rising at right. The landscape is lit by the waxing quarter Moon. This is a single 8-second exposure with the Venus Optics 15mm lens at f/2 and Canon R6 at ISO 800. A mild Orton glow added with Luminar Neo.

Aurora in Twilight Panorama #3 (Feb 26, 2023)

A 220° panorama of the aurora appearing in deep twilight on a Kp6 night on February 26, 2023, from the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, Churchill, Manitoba, at 58° N. This night auroras were seen as far south as the northern U.S. Here they appear across the northern and eastern sky still lit by evening twilight and by moonlight from the waxing crescent Moon. The mixing of twilight blue and auroral colours produces more subtle shades of red and magentas, as well as variations in the greens. The Big Dipper is at centre; Leo is at right of centre; Orion is at far right. At left is the Northern Studies Centre, with several of the Road Scholar tour group on the upper deck watching the lights. This is a panorama of 6 segments, each 8-second exposures at f/2 with the Venus Optics 15mm lens and Canon R6 at ISO 800, and in landscape orientation. Stitched with Adobe Camera Raw.

Aurora in Twilight Panorama #2 (Feb 26, 2023)

A 270° panorama of the aurora appearing in deep twilight on a Kp6 night on February 26, 2023 from the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, Churchill, Manitoba, at 58° N. This night auroras were seen as far south as the northern U.S. Here they appear across the eastern and southern sky still lit by evening twilight and by moonlight from the waxing crescent Moon. The Big Dipper is at left; Leo is at centre; Gemini is at top to the right of centre; Orion is at right; the Moon is at top right in Taurus by the Pleiades and Hyades. This is a panorama of 8 segments, each 8-second exposures at f/2 with the Venus Optics 15mm lens (camera in portrait orientation) and Canon R6 at ISO 400. Stitched with PTGui

Aurora in Twilight Panorama #1 (Feb 26, 2023)

A 150° panorama of the aurora appearing in deep twilight on a Kp6 night on February 26, 2023 from the second floor observing deck at the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, Churchill, Manitoba, at 58° N. This night auroras were seen as far south as the northern U.S. Here they appear across the eastern and southern sky still lit by evening twilight and by moonlight from the waxing crescent Moon. The Big Dipper is at centre; Leo is at right. This is a panorama of 7 segments, each 8-second exposures at f/2 with the Venus Optics 15mm lens and Canon R6 at ISO 800, and in portrait orientation. Stitched with PTGui

Aurora Curtains in Twilight (Feb 26, 2023)

Colourful auroral curtains appearing in deep twilight on a Kp6 night on February 26, 2023 from the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, Churchill, Manitoba, at 58° N. The blue twilight colours blend with the aurora colours to produce a multi-coloured display, with rich magentas, not deep red. The green also appears in different shades. This night auroras were seen as far south as the northern U.S. Here they appear to the northeast in a sky still lit by evening twilight and by moonlight from the waxing crescent Moon also lighting the foreground. The Big Dipper is at left; Leo is below centre. This is a single 8-second exposure at f/2 with the Venus Optics 15mm lens and Canon R6 at ISO 800.

Aurora in the North Over CNSC (Feb 25, 2023)

Auroral curtains in the north over the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, with a lone photographer setting up. This was February 25, 2023 from the parking lot. This is a single 6-second exposure with the Venus Optics 15mm lens at f/2 and Canon R6 at ISO 800.

Aurora in the West with Moon (Feb 25, 2023)

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 a single 6-second exposure with the Venus Optics 15mm lens at f/2 and Canon R6 at ISO 800.