Four Planets in Twilight on New Year's Eve (with Labels)

The array of four planets in the evening twilight on New Year's Eve, Dec. 31, 2021, and on a very chilly night with the temperature at -25° C. Thus the steam from the distant power plant. Mercury was climbing higher toward its January 7, 2022 greatest elongation, while Venus was descending lower toward its January 9 inferior conjunction with the Sun. They passed each other this night and so were at almost the same altitude low in the southwest. Jupiter (upper left) and Saturn (centre) were also dropping lower each night to also disappear close to the Sun in early 2022, Saturn in early February and Jupiter in early March for their respective solar conjunctions. This is a single 1/4-second exposure with the Canon RF 28-70mm lens at 38mm on the Canon Ra at ISO 100. Taken from Highway 1 and Sec 561 intersection in southern Alberta. This version has labels and line; a version without is available.

Four Planets in Twilight on New Year's Eve

The array of four planets in the evening twilight on New Year's Eve, Dec. 31, 2021, and on a very chilly night with the temperature at -25° C. Thus the steam from the distant power plant. Mercury was climbing higher toward its January 7, 2022 greatest elongation, while Venus was descending lower toward its January 9 inferior conjunction with the Sun. They passed each other this night and so were at almost the same altitude low in the southwest. Jupiter (upper left) and Saturn (centre) were also dropping lower each night to also disappear close to the Sun in early 2022, Saturn in early February and Jupiter in early March for their respective solar conjunctions. This is a single 1/4-second exposure with the Canon RF 28-70mm lens at 38mm on the Canon Ra at ISO 100. Taken from Highway 1 and Sec 561 intersection in southern Alberta. A version with labels and the ecliptic line is available.

Mercury and Venus on New Year's Eve 2021

Mercury (at left) and Venus (at right) at the same altitude low in the evening twilight on New Year's Eve, Dec. 31, 2021, and on a very chilly night with the temperature at -25° C. Thus the steam from the distant power plant. Mercury was climbing higher toward its January 7 greatest elongation, while Venus was descending lower toward its January 9 inferior conjunction with the Sun. They passed each other this night. This is a single 0.4-second exposure with the Canon RF 24-105mm lens at 96mm on the Canon R6 at ISO 100. Taken from Highway 1 and Sec 561 intersection in southern Alberta.

Four Planets at Dusk with Labels (December 27, 2021)

Four planets across the evening sky on December 27, 2021, with Mercury very low and just entering the evening sky at this time, so appears just above the horizon. Venus is bright above it, as was exiting the evening sky at the end of 2021. Saturn is at centre, with Jupiter at upper left. Taken from home in southern Alberta. The temperature was a frosty -35° C this night. This is a single 0.4-sec exposure with the Canon RF28-70mm lens at f/2.8 and Canon Ra at ISO 100. I've added the labels and the ecliptic line. A version without labels and lines is available.

Four Planets at Dusk (December 27, 2021)

Four planets across the evening sky on December 27, 2021, with Mercury very low and just entering the evening sky at this time, so appears just above the horizon. Venus is bright above it, as was exiting the evening sky at the end of 2021. Saturn is at centre, with Jupiter at upper left. Taken from home in southern Alberta. The temperature was a frosty -35° C this night. This is a single 0.4-sec exposure with the Canon RF28-70mm lens at f/2.8 and Canon Ra at ISO 100. A version with labels is available.

Venus in Twilight Panorama (December 20, 2021)

Venus as an "evening star" in the deepening twilight of solstice eve on December 20, 2021. This is a 2-section panorama to show off the sweep of the horizon colours. Diffraction spikes added for artistic effect with AstronomyTools actions.

Venus in Twilight (December 20, 2021)

Venus as an "evening star" in the deepening twilight of solstice eve on December 20, 2021. This is a single image with the Canon 28-70mm RF lens and Canon Ra. Diffraction spikes added for photogenic effect with AstronomyTools actions.

The Rising Cold Winter Moon

The rising nearly Full Moon of December 19, 2021, above a snowy prairie scene with a lone tree, and with the cold blue twilight lighting the snow, contrasting with the pink of the Belt of Venus above. This is a two-exposure blend: a 0.5-second image for all, except for a 1/8-second exposure for the Moon itself to preserve the colour of the lunar disk. Blended with BlendIf in Photoshop. Exposures taken moments apart with the 24-105mm RF lens at 105mm and f/8 and Canon Ra at ISO 100.

Cold Winter Moonrise and Lone Tree

The rising nearly Full Moon of December 19, 2021, above a snowy prairie scene with a lone tree, and the cold blue twilight lighting the snow, contrasting with the pink of the Belt of Venus above. The Moon is partly in a narrow band of cloud and is exhibiting a slight green flash phenomenon on its distorted upper edge, and red limb on its lower edge from atmospheric dispersion. This is a single 0.3-second exposure with the 24-105mm RF lens at 105mm and f/8 and red-sensitive Canon Ra at ISO 100.

Venus in Twilight (December 17, 2021)

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. A single 4s shot with the 135mm Canon telephoto at f/2.8 on the Canon R6 at ISO 400, and with the air at -20° C with a bitter wind! Diffraction spikes added with AstronomyTools actions.

Three-Planet Line-Up in Evening Twilight v2 (Dec 17, 2021)

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 foreground is lit by moonlight from the waxing gibbous Moon in the northeast, opposite this scene which looks southwest. A single 8s exposure with the Canon RF 28-70mm lens at 39mm, and Canon Ra at ISO 200. Shot in hope of also catching Comet Leonard below Venus but no luck! It was too faint and lost in the wispy clouds. V1 of this image was shot 10 minutes earlier with brighter twilight colors but fewer stars and a darker foreground. Diffraction spikes added with AstronomyTools actions.

Three-Planet Line-Up in Evening Twilight v1 (Dec 17, 2021)

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. A single 6s exposure with the Canon RF 28-70mm lens at 39mm, and Canon Ra at ISO 100. V2 of this image was shot 10 minutes later with less intense twilight colors but more stars in a darker sky and with a brighter moonlit foreground.

The Moon and Three Planets Over Bow River with Lines and Labels

This is the line-up of planets across the southwestern sky on December 6, 2021, consisting of (L to R): Jupiter, Saturn and Venus, with the 2.5-day-old waxing crescent Moon in conjunction below Venus. The Moon had eclipsed the Sun two days before on December 4, when it was on the ecliptic. Two days later it was below the ecliptic line. Jupiter and Saturn are in Capricornus, with its stars all visible here in the evening twilight. The three planets are nicely equally spaced. Such an array makes the ecliptic line visible. The location is overlooking the Bow River, on the Buffalo Rock Road on the Siksika Nation near Blackfoot Crossing, Alberta. This is a blend of 4 exposures: 8s, 4s, 2s and 1s to retain details and colours in the brightest part of the twilight sky at right and on the Moon's disk lit with Earthshine. All were at f/2.8 and ISO 400 with the Canon RF 28-70mm lens at 33mm and red-sensitive Canon EOS Ra. Taken in "blue hour." I added a mild Orton glow with Luminar AI. The 4 images were masked initially with ADP Pro but I then painted the masked manually to eliminate most of the sky from the shorter exposures leaving just the brightest part of the sunset glow without stars, so avoid multiple star images from the untracked camera. This is the version with lines and labels added in to mark the ecliptic and constellation pattern. There is a version without the overlays.

The Moon and Three Planets Over Bow River

This is the line-up of planets across the southwestern sky on December 6, 2021, consisting of (L to R): Jupiter, Saturn and Venus, with the 2.5-day-old waxing crescent Moon in conjunction below Venus. The Moon had eclipsed the Sun two days before on December 4, when it was on the ecliptic. Two days later it was below the ecliptic line. Jupiter and Saturn are in Capricornus, with its stars all visible here in the evening twilight. The three planets are nicely equally spaced. Such an array makes the ecliptic line visible. The location is overlooking the Bow River, on the Buffalo Rock Road on the Siksika Nation near Blackfoot Crossing, Alberta. This is a blend of 4 exposures: 8s, 4s, 2s and 1s to retain details and colours in the brightest part of the twilight sky at right and on the Moon's disk lit with Earthshine. All were at f/2.8 and ISO 400 with the Canon RF 28-70mm lens at 33mm and red-sensitive Canon EOS Ra. Taken in "blue hour." I added a mild Orton glow with Luminar AI. The 4 images were masked initially with ADP Pro but I then painted the masked manually to eliminate most of the sky from the shorter exposures leaving just the brightest part of the sunset glow without stars, so avoid multiple star images from the untracked camera. There is a version with lines and labels added in to mark the ecliptic and constellation pattern.

Three-Planet Line-Up in Evening Twilight (with Lines & Labels)

A line-up across the southwestern sky on December 5, 2021, consisting of (L to R): Jupiter, Saturn and Venus (brightest), with Jupiter and Saturn in Capricornus, with its stars all visible here though dim in the twilight. The three planets are nicely equally spaced here. Such an array makes the ecliptic line visible. This is a blend of 3 exposures: 20s, 13s, and 8s to retain details and colours in the brightest part of the twilight sky at right, all at f/5.6 and ISO 400 with the Canon RF 28-70mm lens at 31mm and Canon EOS Ra. Taken in "blue hour." A mild Orton glow added with Luminar AI. The 3 images were masked initially with ADP Pro but I then painted the masked manually to eliminate most of the sky from the shorter exposures leaving just the brightest part of the sunset glow without stars, so avoid multiple star images from the untracked camera. This is the version with lines and labels added in to mark the ecliptic and constellation pattern. A version is available without overlays.

Three-Planet Line-Up in Evening Twilight

A line-up across the southwestern sky on December 5, 2021, consisting of (L to R): Jupiter, Saturn and Venus (brightest), with Jupiter and Saturn in Capricornus, with its stars all visible here though dim in the twilight. The three planets are nicely equally spaced here. Such an array makes the ecliptic line visible. This is a blend of 3 exposures: 20s, 13s, and 8s to retain details and colours in the brightest part of the twilight sky at right, all at f/5.6 and ISO 400 with the Canon RF 28-70mm lens at 31mm and Canon EOS Ra. Taken in "blue hour." A mild Orton glow added with Luminar AI. The 3 images were masked initially with ADP Pro but I then painted the masked manually to eliminate most of the sky from the shorter exposures leaving just the brightest part of the sunset glow without stars, so avoid multiple star images from the untracked camera. A version of this is available with lines and labels added in to mark the ecliptic and constellation pattern.

Conjunction of Venus and Antares (Oct 16, 2021)

The conjunction of bright Venus (then approaching its greatest elongation from the Sun two weeks later) above dimmer redder Antares in Scorpius on the evening of October 16, 2021. The two objects were 1.5° apart this evening, but from my latitude of 51° N were low in the southwest embedded in the bright twilight. This is a single 1.3-second exposure with the 24-105mm lens and the Canon Ra in 1.6x cropped-frame mode for an effective focal length of 170mm. Shot from home in Alberta. Diffraction spikes added for artistic effect with Astronomy Tools actions.

Harvest Moonrise at Dinosaur Park

A telescopic close-up of the full Harvest Moon rising over the Badlands of Dinosaur Provincial Park on September 20, 2021. This is a single 0.8-second exposure taken as part of a time-lapse sequence, shot through a 76mm f/4.4 refractor telescope for an effective focal length of 335mm using the Canon R6 at ISO 100. Luminosity masks created with TKActions v8 applied to enhance the contrast of the foreground. A mild Orton glow added with Luminar AI.

Planets Rising in Badlands Twilight

Jupiter (brightest) and Saturn (at right) rising in the southeast in Capricornus, amid the deepening evening twilight over the Badlands of Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta, on August 29, 2021. This was from the Trail of the Fossil Hunters site. This is a blend of a stack of 4 x 25-second exposures, untracked, for the ground, and a single 25-second untracked exposure for the sky, all at f/6.3 and ISO 800 with the Canon EF 24mm lens and Canon R6 camera. A mild Orton glow added with Luminar AI. LENR used on all exposures.

Smoky Sunset over the Bow Valley

Blue hour twilight with a waxing crescent Moon, over the Bow Valley, Banff, Alberta, on an evening with the air filled with smoke from B.C. forest fires to the west, muting the colours and clarity. This is from the Hoodoos Viewpoint trail on Tunnel Mountain Drive, looking back toward Banff. The lights of the Banff Springs Hotel are in the distance at left. The Bow River winds below. Tunnel Mountain is at centre with Sulphur Mountain to the left and at far left a portion of Mt. Rundle. Cascade Mountain is at far right. This is a panorama from 7 segments with the Canon EOS Ra and 15-35mm RF lens.

Smoky Moon over the Bow Valley

Blue hour twilight with a waxing crescent Moon, over the Bow Valley, Banff, Alberta, on an evening with the air filled with smoke from B.C. forest fires to the west, muting the colours and clarity. This is from the Hoodoos Viewpoint trail on Tunnel Mountain Drive, looking back toward Banff. The lights of the Banff Springs Hotel are in the distance at left. The Bow River winds below. Tunnel Mountain is at centre with Sulphur Mountain to the left. The Hoodoos are at the bottom of the frame. This is a single image with the Canon EOS Ra and 15-35mm RF lens at 20mm.

Smoky Sunset Panorama over the Bow Valley

A 180° panorama taken in blue hour twilight with a waxing crescent Moon, over the Bow Valley, Banff, Alberta. This evening the air was filled with smoke from B.C. forest fires to the west, muting the colours and clarity. This is from the Hoodoos Viewpoint trail on Tunnel Mountain Drive, looking back toward Banff. The lights of the Banff Springs Hotel are in the distance at left. The Bow River winds below. Tunnel Mountain is at centre with Sulphur Mountain to the left and at far left is Mt. Rundle. Cascade Mountain is at far right. This is a panorama from 6 segments with the Canon EOS Ra and 15-35mm RF lens at 22mm.

Smoky Sunset at Vermilion Lakes

Sunset at Vermilion Lakes, Banff, Alberta, over Mt. Rundle reflected in the still waters, on an evening with a smoke-filled sky from B.C. forest fires. This is a single shot with the Canon EOS Ra and 15-35mm RF lens.

Venus, Mars and the Moon (July 11, 2021)

The conjunction of bright Venus with much dimmer Mars (to the left of Venus), with the waxing crescent Moon nearby, above the mountains of the Continental Divide at Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta, on July 11, 2021. Mars was very dim and showed up on camera but was not visible to the naked eye or even readily in binoculars. This is a single shot with the 200mm Canon lens on the Canon EOS Ra, a red-sensitive camera that picks up more of the sunset reds in such twilight scenes.