Blakiston Valley by Moonlight

The Blakiston Valley in Waterton Lakes National Park, in Alberta, Canada, in a panorama captured by moonlight, May 29, 2023. Illumination is from the waxing gibbous Moon just off frame at top. The Blakiston Creek is below; the main peak at centre is Mt. Crandell. Scorpius is rising over Vimy Peak at left. Venus is bright and setting down the valley beside Mt. Galway at right. Dimmer Mars is to the left of Venus, The bright light in the distance at left is the Prince of Wales Hotel. The valley was ravaged by a forest fire in September 2017. This is a crop from 9 segments, each 20 seconds at f/2.8 with the Canon RF15-35mm lens at 24mm and Canon R5 at ISO 800. All untracked. The original is 20,000 pixels wide. Stitched with Adobe Camera Raw.

Venus over Lundbreck Falls

Venus in the evening twilight over Lundbreck Falls on the Crowsnest River, near Pincher Creek, Alberta on May 28, 2023. This is a two-section horizontal panorama, with different exposures for the sky and ground, so four images in total for the exposure-blended pano. With the Canon RF15-35mm lens at 19mm and f/4 and 3.2 seconds for the ground and 1.6 seconds for the sky, and at ISO 100 with the Canon R5. Blended in Adobe Camera Raw.

Cepheus to Cygnus Milky Way Panorama

This is a panorama along about 60° of the northern summer Milky Way from Cepheus at left, to Cygnus at centre and at right. It frames the great variety of bright and dark nebulas in this region of the sky, notably: - the circular IC 1396 nebula at left in Cepheus with the orange Garnet Star, - the North America Nebula (NGC 7000) just left of centre, - and the IC 1318 complex around Gamma Cygni just right of centre. The dark Funnel Cloud Nebula, aka Le Gentil 3, is at left between IC 1396 and NGC 7000, while the dark region to the right (south) of NGC 7000 is the Northern Coal Sack, though to the eye, as here, that area does not appear as dark as the Funnel Cloud area. The bright Cygnus Starcloud is right of centre, where we are looking down the Milky Way's spiral arm we live in. It is bordered below by the Cygnus Rift of dark lanes in the Milky Way which continue south into Aquila. The small (on this scale) Wizard Nebula (NGC 7380) and Lion Nebula (Sh2-132) are at far left in Cepheus. The small round red Cocoon Nebula, IC 5146, is at the end of a thin lane of dark dust, B168, or the Dark Cigar, at bottom left, while the tiny green Dumbbell Nebula, M27 in Vulpecula, is just visible at bottom right. This is a stitch using Photoshop's Photomerge function of 10 segments, each segment a stack of 8 to 10 exposures of 1-minute each with the Canon RF135mm lens at f/2 on the red-sensitive Canon Ra camera at ISO 800. All on the Star Adventurer tracker. The camera was turned to portrait orientation to align the long dimension of the frame across the width of the Milky Way for greater east-west coverage. This required moving the camera by only 5° from segment to segment to ensure enough overlap. I used a ball head with an additional panorama azimuth motion with degree gradations on it to faciliate panning along the Milky Way following the galactic equator using just one simple motion. The lens had an 82mm URTH Night broadband light pollution reduction filter on it to help increase contrast and bring out the nebulas. No narrowband filters were used here. Even so, most of the contrast enhancement was in processing with the application of a Nik Collection 6 Pro Contrast filter, plus curves with luminosity masks, and a Nebula Filter action in PhotoKemi Startools actions. Taken from home on a fine though not fully transparent night on May 14/15, 2023 when the time for shooting this area was limited due to the short spring night. Two more segments shot to the right farther down the Milky Way were too blue and struck by dawn twilight to be usable.

Cygnus Nebulosity Panorama (Landscape)

This is a panorama along the Milky Way framing the nebulosity and star clouds in Cygnus the Swan, taking in about 40° along the northern Milky Way. At centre is the complex of nebulosity around the star Gamma Cygni, aka Sadr, catalogued as IC 1318. At left and below bright blue Deneb is the North America Nebula (NGC 7000) and its companion Pelican Nebula (IC 5070). At far left at top is the dark nebula known as the Funnel Cloud, or Le Gentil 3. The dark Northern Coal Sack region is between Deneb and Sadr. The small Crescent Nebula, NGC 6888, is right of centre, while the Tulip Nebula, Sharpless 2-101, is the small patch of red to the right of it. The distinct dark nebula just above the line between the Crescent and Tulip is Barnard 145. The bright Cygnus Starcloud along the neck of the Swan is at right, with dark nebulas and interstellar dust yellowing its tint. The Milky Way and the dark sky background exhibits subtle colour variations due to absorbing dust, and the dark nebulas show differing levels of density and darkness. This is a panorama of 4 segments, each a stack of 10 x 1-minute exposures with the Canon RF135mm lens at f/2 (stopped down just 1/3 of a stop from wide open) on the Canon Ra factory-modified H-alpha sensitive camera at ISO 800. The camera was in landscape orientation along the Milky Way. The lens had a front 82mm broadband light pollution reduction filter on it, the URTH Night filter, to help emphasize the nebulosity and improve contrast. But no narrowband filters were employed here. Star reduction was with RC-Astro StarShrink. Nebulosity contrast was enhanced with luminosity masks created with Lumenzia extension panel, and with Nebula filter action in the Photokemi Actions set. High Pass sharpen filgter and ON1 Dynamic Contrast filter helped boost fine contrast structures. Taken from home in southern Alberta at latitude 51° N on May 12/13, 2023, during the brief hours of darkness this spring night. Even so the sky was not fully dark 6 weeks before summer solstice. The camera was on the Star Adventurer 2i tracker, unguided. All segments stacked, aligned and merged into a panorama with Photoshop, using its Photomerge function.

Moonrise over Red Deer River Panorama

The rising Full Moon of May 5, 2023, coming up over the Red Deer River near East Coulee, Alberta. This is a panorama of the Badlands scene, with the site planned with The Photographer's Ephemeris app. This is a 5-section panorama, with each segment a 3.2-second exposure at f/5.6 with the Canon RF70-200mm lens at 94mm, and Canon R5 at ISO 100. A short 0.3-second exposure of the Moon taken moments after the last pan segment was blended in to preserve details in the lunar disk. The pan segments were stitched with Adobe Camera Raw.

Panorama of the Great Aurora of April 23, 2023

A 330° panorama of the great April aurora show on April 23, 2023, taken from home in southern Alberta. One other camera is in the scene, taking a time-lapse. North is left of centre; east right of centre; south is at right; . The crescent Moon and Venus are setting in the west at far left in clouds. This is a stitch of 14 segments, each with the 15mm Venus Optics lens at f/2, and the Canon R5 at ISO 800 for 5 seconds each. The camera was in landscape orientation. Stitched with Adobe Camera Raw in 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.

Aurora with Dunes Structures (March 23, 2023)

The aurora of March 23, 2023, caught early in the evening when there was a green arc to the south as the sky darkened that exhibited a "dunes" type of structure, with horizontal banding rather than vertical rays or curtains. Above is a purple arct that has some characteristics of a STEVE arc but is likely a standard vertical curtain. At right are Venus and the crescent Moon below, above the glow of twilight. Orion is left of centre, with Sirius embedded in the dunes arc. This is looking southwest to west. The time was about 9 pm MDT. This is a panorama made of a stitch of 6 segments, each 10 seconds at ISO 800 with the Venus Optics 15mm lens at f/4 and Canon R6, turned to portrait orientation. Stitched with PTGui.

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.

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.

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.

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

Northern Aurora Panorama (Feb 22, 2023)

A 180° panorama of the aurora curtains across the northern sky, on February 22, 2023, from the grounds northeast of the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, in Churchill, Manitoba. This was a Kp5 level aurora this night, active from twilight on and peaking here at about 9:30 pm. Polaris is at top just left of centre. Cassiopeia is at left, the Big Dipper at right. This is a 5-section panorama, each 8 seconds with the Venus Optics 15mm lens at f/2 and Canon R6 at ISO 800. Stitched with Adobe Camera Raw.

Aurora Swirls Panorama Over Rocket Range (Feb 22, 2023)

A 270° panorama of the Northern Lights and aurora curtains across the southern sky, on February 22, 2023, from the grounds of the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, in Churchill, Manitoba. This was a Kp5 level aurora this night, active from twilight on and prominent here in the south at about 8:30 pm. Orion and the winter stars are embedded in the aurora at right of centre, above the old launch structures of the Churchill Rocket Range. The Moon and Jupiter in close conjunction this night are low in the southwest at far right. This is a 6-section panorama, each 13 seconds with the Venus Optics 15mm lens at f/2 and Canon R6 at ISO 1250. Stitched in Adobe Camera Raw. A mild Orton Glow added with Luminar Neo.

Southern Aurora Panorama (Feb 22, 2023)

A 270° panorama of the Northern Lights and aurora curtains across the southern sky, on February 22, 2023, from the grounds of the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, in Churchill, Manitoba. This was a Kp5 level aurora this night, active from twilight on and prominent here in the south at about 8:30 pm. Orion and the winter stars are embedded in the aurora at left of centre, above the old launch structures of the Churchill Rocket Range. The new Centre and the old Rocket Range headquarters building are at right. Members of the Natural Habitat tour group visiting this night are out on the observing deck at right enjoying the show. The Moon and Jupiter in close conjunction this night are low in the southwest at centre near the glow of the town lights. This is a 9-section panorama, each 25 seconds with the Venus Optics 15mm lens at f/2 and Canon R6 at ISO 1600. Stitched in Adobe Camera Raw.

The Winter Milky Way over Badlands (with Labels)

A labelled panorama of the Milky Way on a February winter night over the Badlands of Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta. The panorama extends from Canis Major low on the horizon to Perseus at top near the zenith. Orion is at right of centre, with Gemini to the left and Taurus and Auriga above Orion. Mars is the bright reddish object in Taurus aboce similarly coloured but dimmer Aldebaran, itself amid the Hyades star cluster. The blue Pleiades is at upper right. Sirius is the bright star at bottom. The image takes in the complete Winter Hexagon (aka the Winter Circle) of bright stars. The Milky Way is peppered with red nebulas, notably the large curving arc of Barnard's Loop, a suspected supernova remnant in Orion. The lowest stretches of the Loop get lost in the bright red airglow. The bright Orion Nebula shines in Orion's Sword, while east (left) of Orion is the round Rosette Nebula in Monoceros. At top is the finger-like California Nebula in Perseus. Several Messier star clusters also show up along the Milky Way. The cyan-tinted Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) is above centre amid the Taurus Dark Clouds. Bands of red and yellow-green airglow tint the sky toward the horizon, as well as the glows from distant towns, notably Medicine Hat at centre. Some light haze added natural star glows — I did not use a starglow diffusion filter this night. But I did shoot the sky segments though an URTH broadband light pollution reduction filter, to help make the nebulas pop out more. This is a stitch of 6 segments (using Adobe Camera Raw) for the sky with segments taken at 15° intervals, each 1 minute with the tracker motor on and at ISO 1600. The resulting sky panorama is blended with a stack of 4 untracked images for the ground, each 2 minutes at ISO 800, taken about 40 minutes after the sky segments, when the waning gibbous Moon was rising to light the landscape with a warm side lighting. So this is a time blend. But the camera was not moved between image sets. All were with the Canon RF28-70mm lens at f/2.8 and 28mm, on the filter-modified Canon R camera from AstroGear. This was on the Star Adventurer tracker with an Alyn Wallace V-plate to keep the camera level and aid framing the panorama. Orton glow effects added to the ground with Luminar Neo, and to the sky with Radiant Photo and f/64 Diffusion actions. Star spikes added with AstronomyTools actions. A clean unlabelled version is available.

The Winter Milky Way over Badlands

A panorama of the Milky Way on a February winter night over the Badlands of Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta. The panorama extends from Canis Major low on the horizon to Perseus at top near the zenith. Orion is at right of centre, with Gemini to the left and Taurus and Auriga above Orion. Mars is the bright reddish object in Taurus aboce similarly coloured but dimmer Aldebaran, itself amid the Hyades star cluster. The blue Pleiades is at upper right. Sirius is the bright star at bottom. The image takes in the complete Winter Hexagon (aka the Winter Circle) of bright stars. The Milky Way is peppered with red nebulas, notably the large curving arc of Barnard's Loop, a suspected supernova remnant in Orion. The lowest stretches of the Loop get lost in the bright red airglow. The bright Orion Nebula shines in Orion's Sword, while east (left) of Orion is the round Rosette Nebula in Monoceros. At top is the finger-like California Nebula in Perseus. Several Messier star clusters also show up along the Milky Way. The cyan-tinted Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) is above centre amid the Taurus Dark Clouds. Bands of red and yellow-green airglow tint the sky toward the horizon, as well as the glows from distant towns, notably Medicine Hat at centre. Some light haze added natural star glows — I did not use a starglow diffusion filter this night. But I did shoot the sky segments though an URTH broadband light pollution reduction filter, to help make the nebulas pop out more. This is a stitch of 6 segments (using Adobe Camera Raw) for the sky with segments taken at 15° intervals, each 1 minute with the tracker motor on and at ISO 1600. The resulting sky panorama is blended with a stack of 4 untracked images for the ground, each 2 minutes at ISO 800, taken about 40 minutes after the sky segments, when the waning gibbous Moon was rising to light the landscape with a warm side lighting. So this is a time blend. But the camera was not moved between image sets. All were with the Canon RF28-70mm lens at f/2.8 and 28mm, on the filter-modified Canon R camera from AstroGear. This was on the Star Adventurer tracker with an Alyn Wallace V-plate to keep the camera level and aid framing the panorama. Orton glow effects added to the ground with Luminar Neo, and to the sky with Radiant Photo and f/64 Diffusion actions. Star spikes added with AstronomyTools actions.

The Winter Sky over the Badlands (with Labels)

The sparkling winter stars and constellations over the moonlit badlands of Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta on Feb. 4, 2023. The waxing gibbous Moon is off frame at left providing the illumination on this very clear and mild night. Captured here in a vertical panorama from below the horizon to past the zenith. Orion is below centre, with his Belt pointing down to Sirius and up to Aldebaran. Above reddish Aldebaran is Mars, as it was on Feb 4, 2023. Above Mars is the blue Pleiades cluster. At top left is the bright star Capella in Auriga. Just above Capella is the tiny cyan-coloured fuzzy spot that is Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF), again where it was this night as it was heading southward into Auriga and Taurus, after its closest approach to Earth 3 days earlier. It was nearly overhead this night and an easy sighting in binoculars. I could not frame Castor and Pollux in Gemini as the Moon was too close to that area. A better night for Moon position and lighting geometry would have been a week later with the rising waning Moon, but the clouds did not allow that. I took this night and made the best of it! This is a blend of seven 30-second exposures: one untracked for the ground and a stitch of 6 tracked for the sky, all with the RF28-70mm lens at f/4 and Canon R5 at ISO 200, on the Star Adventurer tracker. The camera was oriented in landscape format and moved upward in increments of 15° per segment. The panorama segments had to be stitched with PTGui, but even then with difficulty as it required adding a lot of manual alignment points for it to successfully stitch all segments. I used the Transverse Cylindrical projection to retain the straight horizon and rectangular image format. A mild Orton glow added with Luminar Neo and star diffraction spikes added with AstronomyTools actions for a "sparkling" effect. It was a perfect winter night, with the temperature only at 0° C and no wind. It was just me there that night, me and the howling coyotes echoing across the valley. This version has labels. A clean version is also available.

The Winter Sky over the Badlands

The sparkling winter stars and constellations over the moonlit badlands of Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta on Feb. 4, 2023. The waxing gibbous Moon is off frame at left providing the illumination on this very clear and mild night. Captured here in a vertical panorama from below the horizon to past the zenith. Orion is below centre, with his Belt pointing down to Sirius and up to Aldebaran. Above reddish Aldebaran is Mars, as it was on Feb 4, 2023. Above Mars is the blue Pleiades cluster. At top left is the bright star Capella in Auriga. Just above Capella is the tiny cyan-coloured fuzzy spot that is Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF), again where it was this night as it was heading southward into Auriga and Taurus, after its closest approach to Earth 3 days earlier. It was nearly overhead this night and an easy sighting in binoculars. I could not frame Castor and Pollux in Gemini as the Moon was too close to that area. A better night for Moon position and lighting geometry would have been a week later with the rising waning Moon, but the clouds did not allow that. I took this night and made the best of it! This is a blend of seven 30-second exposures: one untracked for the ground and a stitch of 6 tracked for the sky, all with the RF28-70mm lens at f/4 and Canon R5 at ISO 200, on the Star Adventurer tracker. The camera was oriented in landscape format and moved upward in increments of 15° per segment. The panorama segments had to be stitched with PTGui, but even then with difficulty as it required adding a lot of manual alignment points for it to successfully stitch all segments. I used the Transverse Cylindrical projection to retain the straight horizon and rectangular image format. A mild Orton glow added with Luminar Neo and star diffraction spikes added with AstronomyTools actions for a "sparkling" effect. It was a perfect winter night, with the temperature only at 0° C and no wind. It was just me there that night, me and the howling coyotes echoing across the valley.

Auroral Arc Between the Milky Ways

This is a 270° panorama of the auroral arc seen across the northern sky on January 14, 2023. It is framed between the setting summer Milky Way (at left in the northwest) and the rising winter Milky Way (at right in the southeast). To the west (right) of the winter Milky Way is Orion, with Sirius below, while above is Aldebaran, the Hyades, reddish Mars, and the blue Pleiades at upper right. The Big Dipper and Ursa Major are above the main arc of aurora to the north at centre. Polaris is at top, left of centre. Cygnus (with the star Deneb) and Lyra (with the star Vega) are setting at left above my house. The auroral arc shows the characteristic yellow-green colour but also upper altitude reds, both from oxygen atoms. The Kp index was about 4 this night, though peaking to Kp5 at times. Clouds rolling in later prevented me from catching more of the show later when it apparently got more active. Taken from home in southern Alberta (latitude 51° N) on January 14, 2023, in a 7-section panorama, each section with the Venus Optics 15mm lens at f/2 on the AstroGear filter-modified Canon R at ISO 800, for 20 seconds each. Stitched with Adobe Camera Raw. I was testing the Canon R camera this night.