Nightscapes - Milky Way
Zodiacal Light with Venus and Mars
The Zodiacal Light before dawn on September 21, 2020 with Venus bright in the Zodiacal Light at left of centre, and Mars bright at far right. Orion and the winter stars are at centre. The Big Dipper is at far left/ This is a panorama of 6 segments, each untracked for 25 seconds at f/2 with the 14mm Sigma Art lens on the Nikon D750 at ISO 1600, and stitched with Adobe Camera Raw.
Milky Way over Mount Andromeda at Moonset
The Milky Way and galactic core area over Mount Andromeda (centre), Mount Athabasca (left) and the Athabasca Glacier (right) at the Columbia Icefields, on a very clear night July 27, 2020. I shot this as the waxing quarter Moon was still up but behind Snow Dome at far right, and about to set. Warm low-angle moonlight illuminates the peaks at left with “bronze hour” lunar alpen glow, and brightens the sky at right, plus adds the blue tint to the sky. But in the clear mountain air, the Milky Way and its starclouds still show up very well. The constellations of Aquila and Scutum are at centre. This is an exposure blend of 4 x 1.5-minutes, untracked at f/2 at ISO 1600 for the ground, followed immediately by 3 x 1.5-minutes at f/2.8 and ISO 3200 for the sky, with the sky exposures tracked on the iOptron SkyGuider Pro tracker. All with the 20mm Sigma Art lens and Canon EOS Ra, with the lens adapted to the camera with a Metabones adapter.
Comet over the Columbia Icefields at Moonset
Comet NEOWISE (C/2020 F3) on July 27, 2020, at right, over the Columbia Icefields with the Moon still lighting the peaks in a warm “bronze hour” light for a lunar alpenglow. The Moon is behind Snowdome Peak at centre and is also still lighting the sky a deep blue. The Milky Way is at left over Mount Andromeda. Arcturus is the bright star at top centre. This was more or less my parting shot of the comet, as it was fading rapidly at this time receding from Earth, though it was still naked eye. Plus the waxing Moon was going to be lighting the sky much more in the following week. So this was the night! Shooting a week earlier when the comet was brighter and larger would have been nice, but clouds would have got in the way. This was shot during a run of unusually clear nights at the Icefields, the first good clear nights according to the locals. I shot this during the brief “bronze hour” interval immediately after the Moon had disappeared behind Snowdome but was still lighting the peaks. So to be clear — the peaks are lit by the setting Moon, not by the Sun. This is not a composite of day and night shots; it is a well-timed and planned panorama shot as quickly as possible over a few minutes before the lighting changed. Lingering twilight lights the horizon down the Sunwapta Valley at right. The famous Athabasca Glacier is just left of centre; Snowdome Glacier is right of centre, with the glacial Sunwapta Lake in the foreground. Mount Athabasca is at far left with its glacier. This is a 17-segment (!) panorama with the 35mm Canon lens at f/2.5 and Canon EOS Ra camera at ISO 1600, for 20 seconds each, untracked. The overlap was more than is normally needed but the segments stitched perfectly with Adobe Camera Raw, which is not always the case with such scenes. LENR employed on all segments when shooting on this warm night. Dodging and burning applied to accentuate highlights and shadows. Topaz Sharpen AI applied. The original is over 27,000 pixels wide.
The summer Milky Way with the Summer Triangle stars through pine trees, shot from the Howse Pass Viewpoint at Saskatchewan River Crossing, Banff National Park, Alberta. Jupiter is the bright object at the bottom. This is an exposure blend of a stack of 4 x 2-minute untracked exposures at ISO 6400 for the ground and 2 x 1-minute tracked exposures at ISO 6400 for the sky, with the Canon 15mm full-frame fish-eye lens at f/2.8 and Canon EOS Ra camera. The camera was on the iOptron SkyGuider Pro tracker. An Orton soft glow filter added with Luminar Flex. Lights from the Saskatchewan Crosssing Resort lights the treetops.
Planets and Milky Way Over Saskatchewan River Crossing
Jupiter (brightest), Saturn (to the left), and the Milky Way over the Saskatchewan River and the area of Howse Pass, on July 26, 2020. Mount Cephren is at left; the scene is framed to include Cephren. The nebulas and star clouds of the galactic centre area at right show up well on this very clear night. The bright Small Sagittarius Starcloud, aka M24, is most obvious, flanked by the star clusters M23 and M25 to the side, and the nebulas M17 and M16 above, and M8 and M20 below. The fuzzy globular cluster M22 is to the left of the large Lagoon Nebula, M8. Green airglow tints the sky. This is an exposure blend of a stack of 4 x 2-minute untracked exposures for the ground at ISO 1600 (exposed long to bring out ground details), with 2 x 1-minute tracked and stacked exposures at ISO 3200 for the sky. Shot from the Howse Pass Viewpoint area off the Icefields Parkway at Saskatchewan River Crossing. The camera was on the iOptron SkyGuider Pro tracker. For the ground shots I simply turned the tracker motor off. All with the 35mm Canon lens at f/2.8 and Canon EOS Ra, a filter-modified camera. Topaz Sharpen AI applied to the ground; Topaz DeNoise AI applied to the sky. In camera LENR employed on all shots on this warm night. An Orton soft glow effect added to the sky with Luminar Flex plug-in.
Milky Way and Planets over Waterton Lakes (July 2020)
The galactic core area of the Milky Way over Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta with the pairing of giant planets from summer 2020. Jupiter is the bright object at centre, with Saturn dimmer to the left (east) of Jupiter. In 2020 the two planets were close together in the summer sky. Sagittarius is at right. The Prince of Wales Hotel is the bright light source. This was July 13-14, 2020. This is a stack of 10 exposures for the ground, mean combined to smooth noise in the dark foreground, with the sky from one exposure, all untracked for 25 seconds at f/2 with the Sigma 20mm lens on the Canon EOS Ra camera at ISO 3200. A single short exposure is blended in for just the hotel lights to prevent them from being too overexposed. Stacked, masked and blended in Photoshop.
Milky Way over Maskinonge Pond
The galactic core area of the Milky Way over Maskinonge Pond in Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta. Jupiter is the bright object at left, with Saturn dimmer to the left (east) of Jupiter. In the summer of 2020 the two planets were close together in the summer sky. Jupiter provides the glitter path on the water. Antares and Scorpius are to the right. Sagittarius is at centre. This was July 13-14, 2020. As is typical of Waterton, it was windy enough tonight that there was no sharp reflection of the stars and Milky Way in the water. This is a stack of 12 exposures for the ground, mean combined to smooth noise in the dark foreground, with the sky from one exposure, all untracked for 30 seconds at f/2 with the Sigma 20mm lens on the Canon EOS Ra camera at ISO 3200. Stacked and blended in Photoshop.
Backyard Milky Way with Jupiter and Saturn Rising
The late-night spring Milky Way from my rural backyard in Alberta (latitude 51° N) on a fine May night in 2020, with the waxing Moon just setting and lighting the landscape and sky. Jupiter (brightest) and Saturn to the east (left) are just rising together at left, east of the Milky Way. West of the galactic centre at right is red Antares in Scorpius. The Small Sagittarius and Scutum starclouds are prominent at centre, with their various Messier nebulas and star clusters visible. This is a stack of 4 x 2-minute tracked exposures for the untrailed sky blended with a stack of 4 x 2-minute untracked exposures for the sharp ground, with the 20mm Nikon F-mount Sigma Art lens on the Canon EOS Ra camera using the Metabones Nikon F to EOS R lens adapter. I shot this as a test of the lens adapter. Taken May 27/28, 2020. The camera was on the iOptron SkyGuider Pro tracker.
Selfie at Grasslands National Park
A selfie of me shooting time-lapses and tracked Milky Way images at the 76 Ranch Corral site at Grasslands National Park, August 27, 2019. Taken for use as a book cover. High cloud and a dark aircraft contrail drifting through added the star glows and the dark streak. Jupiter, at right, and Saturn, at left, flank the Milky Way. Altair is the bright star at top. This is a stack of 10 x 30-second exposures for the ground to smooth noise and one exposure for the sky and for me, to minimize trailing and movement. All with the Sony a7III at ISO 6400 and Venus Optics 15mm lens at f/2. LENR on. Orton Glow effect added with Luminar Flex.
The Galactic Centre at Grasslands (with Labels)
The core of the Milky Way in Sagittarius low in the south over the Frenchman River valley at Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan. This is from the 76 Ranch Corral site. Grasslands is a Dark Sky Preserve. The frame takes in the openj star clusters M6 and M7 just above the horizon in Scorpius, on up through the Sagittarius Starcloud and galactic core, then up past the red nebulas M8 and M20, the Small Sagittarius Starcloud M24 flanked by the clusters M23 and M25, then the nebulas M17 and M16 at top in Serpens. The globular cluster M55 is visible at far left. Jupiter is bright at right above reddish Antares, Saturn is dimmer at left, to the left of the globular cluster M22. I shot this August 27, 2019. This is a stack of 5 x 3-minute tracked exposures for the sky (to avoid star trails) blended with a stack of 5 x 3-minute untracked exposures for the ground, all with the 35mm Canon lens at f/2.8 and filter-modified Canon 5D MkII camera at ISO 1600. The tracker was the Star Adventurer.
The Galactic Centre at Grasslands
The core of the Milky Way in Sagittarius low in the south over the Frenchman River valley at Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan. This is from the 76 Ranch Corral site. Grasslands is a Dark Sky Preserve. The frame takes in the openj star clusters M6 and M7 just above the horizon in Scorpius, on up through the Sagittarius Starcloud and galactic core, then up past the red nebulas M8 and M20, the Small Sagittarius Starcloud M24 flanked by the clusters M23 and M25, then the nebulas M17 and M16 at top in Serpens. The globular cluster M55 is visible at far left. Jupiter is bright at right above reddish Antares, Saturn is dimmer at left, to the left of the globular cluster M22. I shot this August 27, 2019. This is a stack of 5 x 3-minute tracked exposures for the sky (to avoid star trails) blended with a stack of 5 x 3-minute untracked exposures for the ground, all with the 35mm Canon lens at f/2.8 and filter-modified Canon 5D MkII camera at ISO 1600. The tracker was the Star Adventurer.
The galactic centre area of the Milky Way in Sagittarius behind the grand old barn near home in southern Alberta, on June 30, 2019. Illumination of the barn is from twilight to the north, but also from light pollution skyglow from the west off frame at right. The sky is blue from the perpetual summer twilight at this time of year. Jupiter is at centre. The nebulas and starclouds of the Milky Way show up well here. The southerly Messier clusters, M6 and M7, in Scorpius just skim the horizon at left. The very red star in the “eye” of the Dark Horse is TW Ophiuchi. This is from my latitude of 51° N. This is a blend of tracked (for the sky) and untracked (for the ground) exposures, with a stack of 3 for the ground and 5 for the sky, stacked to smooth noise. All at ISO 1250 and one minute each, but with the sky exposures at f/2 and ground exposures at f/2.5, with the Sigma 24mm Art lens and stock (not modified) Nikon D750. The sky exposures were through a NiSI Natural Night light pollution filter. The sky exposures are at f/2 to make up for the light loss from shooting thru the filter while keeping exposures short for ease of blending later. The tracker was the Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer. I added a mild Orton effect glow layer to the image using Luminar Flex.
Winter Sky Setting at Dinosaur Park Panorama
A wide panorama of Orion and the winter stars setting on a spring evening at Dinosaur Provincial Park, with the Zodiacal Light rising out of the twilight and distant yellow sky glow to the west at centre. Sirius is at left to the southwest, with Orion setting behind the badlands hill, while the Pleiades is in the Zodiacal Light band at centre, with Mars just below the Pleiades. Perseus, Cassiopeia, and the Andromeda Galaxy are setting at right in the northwest. High haze and aircraft contrails (one at centre) add the natural star glows. The lingering twilight adds the sky colour. This is a 240° panorama stitched from 17 segments, all with the 24mm Sigma Art lens and Nikon D750 in portrait orientation, each segment 20 seconds at f/1.4 and ISO 3200. Stitched with Adobe Camera Raw. A mild Orton glow effect was added to the landscape with Luminar 3 plugin.
Perseid Meteor and Observers at Star Party
A Perseid meteor streaks down the Milky Way over the Saskatchewan Summer Star Party in the Cypress Hills of southwest Saskatchewan, at Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, a Dark Sky Preserve. The Milky Way shines to the south. About 350 stargazers attend the SSSP every year. Observers enjoy their views of the sky at left while an astrophotographer attends to his camera control computer at right. This is a single exposure, 25 seconds, with the Laowa 15mm lens at f/2 and Sony a7III camera at ISO 3200.
Stargazer Under the Milky Way at Star Party
An observer gazes skyward with his Dobsonian reflector telescope at the Saskatchewan Summer Star Party on August 9, 2018, in the Cypress Hills of southwest Saskatchewan, at the Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, a Dark Sky Preserve. The Milky Way shines to the south. Smoke in the sky obscures the horizon somewhat. About 350 stargazers attend the SSSP every year. This is a single 25-second exposure with the Loawa 15mm lens at f/2 and Sony a7III at ISO 3200.
Gazing at the Milky Way in Grasslands National Park (Portait)
A Park interpreter poses for a scene in Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan, of stargazing with binoculars under the Milky Way on a dark moonless night. Grasslands is perfect for stargazing as it is a Dark Sky Preserve and the horizon is vast and unobstructed. Mars is bright to the left and the galactic centre is to the south at right. The view is overlooking the Frenchman River Valley. This is a stack of 4 exposures for the ground and one untracked exposure for the sky, all 30 seconds at f/2.8 with the 20mm Sigma lens and Nikon D750 at ISO 6400. LENR was on.
Gazing at the Milky Way in Grasslands National Park
A Park interpreter poses for a scene in Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan, of stargazing with binoculars under the Milky Way on a dark moonless night. Grasslands is perfect for stargazing as it is a Dark Sky Preserve and the horizon is vast and unobstructed. Mars is bright to the left and the galactic centre is to the south at right. The view is overlooking the Frenchman River Valley. This is a stack of 4 exposures for the ground and one untracked exposure for the sky, all 30 seconds at f/2.8 with the 20mm Sigma lens and Nikon D750 at ISO 6400. LENR was on.
Mars and Milky Way over Tipis at Grasslands
Mars and the Milky Way over the tipis at Two Trees area in Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan on August 6, 2018. Some light cloud added the haze and glows to the planets and stars. Illumination is by starlight. No light painting was employed here. This is a stack of 8 exposures for the ground, mean combined to smooth noise, and a single untracked exposure for the sky, all 30 seconds at f/2.8 with the Sigma 20mm lens, and Nikon D750 at ISO 6400 with LENR on.
Mars and Milky Way over Tipi at Grasslands
Mars (at left) and the Milky Way (at right) over a single tipi (with another under construction at back) at the Two Trees site at Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan, August 6, 2018. I placed a low-level warm LED light inside the tipi for the illumination. This is a stack of 6 exposures, mean combined to smooth noise, for the ground, and one untracked exposure for the sky, all 30 seconds at f/2.2 with the 20mm Sigma lens and Nikon D750 at ISO 3200.
Stellar Reflections at Herbert Lake
The view looking south at Herbert Lake, Banff National Park, Alberta, with the Milky Way over Mount Temple and the peaks of the Continental Divide. Mars (left in clouds) and Jupiter (right) flank the Milky Way, while Saturn sits within the Milky Way. A couple of satellites and possibly a meteor (it could be a flaring satellite) punctuate the sky as well. The sky is blue with the last vestiges of twilight and from moonlight from the setting waxing Moon off frame at right. This is a four exposures for the ground mean combined to smooth noise, and one exposure for the sky and reflections, all 30 seconds with the Laowa 15mm lens at f/2 and Sony a7III at ISO 3200.
The galactic centre region of the Milky Way in Sagittarius setting behind Bow Glacier at the end of Bow Lake, in Banff National Park, Alberta. This was in the deep blue of the start of morning twilight, despite this being at 3 am. This was before dawn on July 17, 2018 on a very clear night. Saturn is just above the glacier and is the main reflection in the water. This is a stack of five exposures for the ground and water, mean combined to smooth noise, and one exposure for the sky and reflected stars, all 30 seconds at f/2.5 with the Sigma 20mm Art lens and Nikon D750 at ISO 6400. All with LENR on. An ON1 Photo RAW Glow effect added to the sky and reflection. Zone System Express unsharp masking /sharpening and vignetting applied.
Bright planets Mars (reddish at left) and Jupiter (right, over Bow Glacier) over Bow Lake, in Banff, Alberta, and reflecting in the water in glitter paths on the lake. A third planet, Saturn, is also present as a modestly bright star just (!) above the ridge of Bow Peak in a notch left of centre, below the satellite. Moments later it disappeared behind the mountain. This was in deep twilight as the Milky Way was beginning to appear. I began a time-lapse shortly after this. This is a stack of 8 x 10-second exposures for the ground, mean combined to smooth noise, and one 10-second exposure for the sky, all with the Laowa 15mm lens at f/2.8 and Sony a7III at ISO 3200. This was July 16, 2018 on a perfect night at Bow Lake.
The Milky Way and Mars over Storm Mountain
The Milky Way and Galactic Centre (right) and Mars (at left, near its brightest for 2018), over the Bow River and Bow Valley, looking south and west to Storm Mountain and the Vermilion Pass area of the Continental Divide in Banff National Park, Alberta. Saturn is amid the Milky Way at right. This was July 15, 2018. The lights at left are from the Castle Mountain interchange at Highway 1 and 93. This is a stack of 8 exposures, mean combined to smooth noise, for the ground and one exposure, untracked, for the sky. All 30 seconds at f/2.8 with the 24mm Sigma lens, and Nikon D750 at ISO 6400. The frames were taken as part of a time-lapse sequence. Dynamic Contrast filter from ON1 applied to the ground, and Soft and Airy filter from Luminar applied to the sky for a soft Orton effect.
The Milky Way over Maskinonge Lake
A 300° panorama of the Milky Way and Mars to the south over Maskinonge Lake at Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta. Mars is the bright object at left over Vimy Peak and Sofa Mountain. To the north at far left and far right the sky is already brightening with morning twilight as this was at 3 am. Some green bands of airglow tint the sky. The lights at far right are from the Park Entrance Gate and are far too bright for the purpose. They are out of place in a Dark Sky Preserve. Maskinonge is a sacred site to the Blackfoot First Nations...This is a 10-segment panorama with each segment 30 seconds at f/2 with the Sigma 24mm Art lens and Nikon D750 at ISO 6400. Stitched with Adobe Camera Raw. Taken July 13, 2018 on a perfect night in Waterton.