Atmospheric - Twilights
Lunar Eclipse Panorama at Reesor Lake
A panorama of the eclipsed Full Moon rising over Reesor Lake in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, Alberta, on May 15, 2022. This was the much-publicized "Super Flower Blood Moon" eclipse. From my location and longitude, the Moon rose in the late stages of the initial partial eclipse shown here, but with the portion of the Moon's disk in the umbra glowing a dim red and just visible in the blue twilight sky. Shortly after this, as totality began with the Moon entirely in the umbra, the Moon had moved up into the increasing clouds at top that were moving eastward, and obscured the Moon for the rest of totality. But for a while at moonrise the band of sky with the Moon low in the southeast was clear. It was a narrow band of photo opportunity, but at the right time for foreground lighting in the still bright twilight. This was from the west end of Reesor Lake near the Saskatchewan border. The lake is home in spring and summer to lots of white American pelicans seen dotting the lake here. It is named for the Reesor family who now in their fifth generation still ranch just up the road from here north of the Park. This is a stitch of three segments with the Canon RF70-200mm lens at 86mm and f/5 and 0.8 seconds at ISO 100 with the red-sensitive Canon Ra camera. Stitched with Adobe Camera Raw with most processing in ACR with sky and ground masks. Location planning done with the aid of The Photographer's Ephemeris and TPE3D. However, this was a favourite spot that I had shot from several times before, but never a lunar eclipse! I chased here to avoid the worst of the clouds incoming from the west. Cloud cover matched predictions precisely this night.
Waxing Moon and Mercury with Labels (May 2, 2022)
The two-day-old waxing crescent Moon with Earthshine, above Mercury at right, then 4 days past its greatest elongation from the Sun, in the evening sky of May 2, 2022. The star Aldebaran is at left, and below Mercury to the right is the Pleiades, just visible in the twilight and thin clouds. This is a single 1.6-second exposure with the Canon RF28-70mm lens at 70mm and f/2.8 and Canon Ra at ISO 100. Taken from home in Alberta at 51° North latitude. A mild Orton glow effect added with Luminar Neo.
Waxing Moon and Mercury (May 2, 2022)
The two-day-old waxing crescent Moon with Earthshine, above Mercury at right, then 4 days past its greatest elongation from the Sun, in the evening sky of May 2, 2022. The star Aldebaran is at left, and below Mercury to the right is the Pleiades, just visible in the twilight and thin clouds. This is a single 1.6-second exposure with the Canon RF28-70mm lens at 70mm and f/2.8 and Canon Ra at ISO 100. Taken from home in Alberta at 51° North latitude. A mild Orton glow effect added with Luminar Neo.
Venus & Jupiter in Close Conjunction at Dawn (70mm)
Venus (brightest) and Jupiter in close conjunction low at dawn on April 30, 2022, as shot from home in Alberta at 51° North latitude. The two planets were under 30 arc minutes apart this morning, about the diameter of the Moon. This is a single 2-second exposure with the RF70-200mm lens at 70mm and f/4 and the red-sensitive Canon EOS Ra camera at ISO 100.
Venus & Jupiter in Close Conjunction at Dawn (200mm)
Venus (brightest) and Jupiter in close conjunction low at dawn on April 30, 2022, as shot from home in Alberta at 51° North latitude. The two planets were under 30 arc minutes apart this morning, about the diameter of the Moon. This is a single 2-second exposure with the RF70-200mm lens at 200mm and f/4 and the red-sensitive Canon EOS Ra camera at ISO 200.
Mercury in the Spring Evening Sky
Mercury (at right, below the Pleiades star cluster) in the spring evening sky during its best appearance for the year in the evening twilight. This was April 24, 2022, four days before its greatest eastern elongation (meaning it is east of the Sun, but in the western sky). The Hyades star cluster and the star Aldebaran are at upper left. Though the stars of Taurus are prominent, Mercury itself was over the constellation border in Aries this night. It was at magnitude -0.2, and was easily visible to the naked eye. This is a single 5-second exposure with the Canon RF28-70mm lens at 64mm, and f/2.8 and Canon EOS Ra at ISO 400. Taken from home in Alberta at latitude 51° N.
Four-Planet Array and the Moon (April 24, 2022)
This is the much publicized "planet parade" or "planet alignment" of April 2022, with four planets across the dawn sky this day, April 24. But from my latitude of 51° N the dawn sky was getting very bright by the time the lowest planet, Jupiter, rose. Only Venus was easily visible to the eye, but the camera picked up the other three. Even so I had to emphasize their appearance with a soft glow around each planet to make them stand out. This is a single 0.8-second exposure with the Canon Ra at ISO 100 and Canon RF 28-70mm lens at f/4 and 35mm focal length. Taken from home in southern Alberta.
Four-Planet Array and the Moon (April 24, 2022) with Labels
This is the much publicized "planet parade" or "planet alignment" of April 2022, with four planets across the dawn sky this day, April 24. But from my latitude of 51° N the dawn sky was getting very bright by the time the lowest planet, Jupiter, rose. Only Venus was easily visible to the eye, but the camera picked up the other three. Even so I had to emphasize their appearance with a soft glow around each planet to make them stand out. This is a single 0.8-second exposure with the Canon Ra at ISO 100 and Canon RF 28-70mm lens at f/4 and 35mm focal length. Taken from home in southern Alberta.
Four Planet Array with Labels (April 16, 2022)
This is the much publicized "planet parade" or "planet alignment" of April 2022, with four planets almost equally spaced this day (April 16) across the morning sky. But from my latitude of 51° N the dawn sky was getting very bright by the time the lowest planet, Jupiter, rose. Only Venus was visible to the eye, but the camera picked up the other three. Even so I had to emphasize their appearance with a soft glow around each planet to make them stand out. This is a single 1/5-second exposure with the Canon Ra at ISO 100 and Canon RF 28-70mm lens at f/4 and 43mm focal length. Taken from home in southern Alberta.
Four Planet Array (April 16, 2022)
This is the much publicized "planet parade" or "planet alignment" of April 2022, with four planets almost equally spaced this day (April 16) across the morning sky. But from my latitude of 51° N the dawn sky was getting very bright by the time the lowest planet, Jupiter, rose. Only Venus was visible to the eye, but the camera picked up the other three. Even so I had to emphasize their appearance with a soft glow around each planet to make them stand out. This is a single 1/5-second exposure with the Canon Ra at ISO 100 and Canon RF 28-70mm lens at f/4 and 43mm focal length. Taken from home in southern Alberta.
Moon and Three Planets at Dawn (with Labels) (March 27, 2022)
The rising waning crescent Moon west of the trio of dawn planets: Venus (brightest), Mars (to the right) and Saturn (to the lower left) clustered together low in the southeast on March 27, 2022. They were all grouped in Capricornus at this time. This was from home in Alberta at my latitude of 51° N. The Moon was unusually low as it was near its maximum of 5° below the ecliptic at this time. By coincidence, the band of darker clouds more or less marks the line of the ecliptic. This is a single shot with the RF70-200mm lens at 80mm and f/4 and the Canon EOS Ra at ISO 400 for 3.2 seconds. This version has labels and lines.
Moon and Three Planets at Dawn (March 27, 2022)
The rising waning crescent Moon west of the trio of dawn planets: Venus (brightest), Mars (to the right) and Saturn (to the lower left) clustered together low in the southeast on March 27, 2022. They were all grouped in Capricornus at this time. This was from home in Alberta at my latitude of 51° N. The Moon was unusually low as it was near its maximum of 5° below the ecliptic at this time. By coincidence, the band of darker clouds more or less marks the line of the ecliptic. This is a single shot with the RF70-200mm lens at 80mm and f/4 and the Canon EOS Ra at ISO 400 for 3.2 seconds.
Planet Trio at Dawn (March 23, 2022)
The grouping of Venus (brightest at upper centre), flanked by Saturn (lower left and embedded in the bright twilight) and Mars (lower right), all very low in the southeast dawn sky on March 23, 2022. Venus was then near its greatest elongation west of the Sun. This is a single image (1 second at f/4) with the 70-200mm RF zoom lens at 74mm and Canon EOS Ra at ISO 200, taken from home in southern Alberta. A more tightly framed version shot at a longer focal length is also available.
Planet Trio at Dawn Close-Up (March 23, 2022)
A close-up framing of the grouping of Venus (brightest at upper centre), flanked by Saturn (lower left and embedded in the bright twilight) and Mars (lower right), all very low in the southeast dawn sky on March 23, 2022. Venus was then near its greatest elongation west of the Sun. This is a single image (1 second at f/4) with the 70-200mm RF zoom lens at 126mm and Canon EOS Ra at ISO 200, taken from home in southern Alberta. A more widely framed context version shot at a shorter focal length is also available.
Rising Moon at Equinox (March 18, 2022)
The nearly Full Moon rising on March 18 near the date of the March equinox (March 20 this year) , so it rose nearly due east this night. This March Moon is also popularly called the Worm Moon. The Moon was a day past Full this night, and clouds hid the Moon at moonrise. By the time it appeared from behind the cloud bank it was a little south of due east and the east-west prairie road. This is a 7-exposure blend to retain detail in the lunar disk while bringing out the ground. Exposures ranged from 1/10 second to 25 seconds, all with the RF70-200mm lens at f/8 and Canon Ra at ISO 400. Blended with ADP Pro luminosity masking panel. Taken from near home in southern Alberta.
Conjunction of the Crescent Moon and Jupiter
This is the wide conjunction of the 1.5-day-old crescent Moon below Jupiter in the southwest evening sky of February 2, 2022. The two worlds appeared 4.5° apart at this time. Earthshine is visible on the "dark side of the Moon." Taken from home in southern Alberta on an evening with the temperature at -20° C and a brisk wind! This is a single 1.6-second exposure with the Canon 70-200mm f/4 RF lens at f/4 and 84mm focal length, and with the Canon Ra camera at ISO 100. Diffraction spikes on Jupiter added with Astronomy Tools actions.
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 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.