The constellation of Canis Major, including the bright star Sirius, and below it, the open cluster M41. At bottom is the loose cluster/asterism CR 140. This is a stack of 6 x 4 minute exposures at f/2.8 with the Sigma 50mm lens and Canon 60Da at ISO 800. I shot this from Coonabarabran, Australia with the constellation straight overhead. I used the iOptron Sky Tracker. High cloud added the natural glows around stars - no filter was employed here.
Sundogs and a solar halo around the Sun, December 19, 2013, shot from home with the Canon 60Da and 10-22mm lens. The halo is caused by ice crystals in the air, in this case very nearby as they can be seen as "stars" sparkling in the sunlight in the sky and in the foreground. This is an HDR stack of three exposures at 2/3rds stop intervals, processed thru Photomatix Pro.
Sunset twilight colours and the waxing gibbous Moon over the Chiricahua Mountains in southeast Arizona, south of Willcox. Taken December 15, 2013 on Highway 186. Taken with the 24mm lens and Canon 5D MkII. Some dark crepuscular rays are visible converging to the anti-solar point.
