Jupiter Rising Down the Road

Jupiter rising due east down a rural road on a moonlit July night. This was July 11-12, 2022, after midnight. Illumination is from the waxing gibbous Moon low in the south. This is a blend of a single 4-second untracked exposure for the sky with a stack of 5 x 4-second exposures for the ground, all with the Canon RF28-70mm lens at 70mm and f/2.8 and Canon R5 at ISO 1250. The moons of Jupiter are resolved! ON1 NoNoise AI applied to the sky.

Dawn Twilight Panorama with Planets (June 26, 2022)

A panorama of the morning twilight on June 26, 2022, with the waning crescent Moon in conjunction with Venus low in the north-east and with Mars and Jupiter above. This shows the transition of colours across the spectrum in the dawn twilight. There is a faint wisp of noctilucent cloud at top above the star Capella. This illustrates the line of the ecliptic. And the "big sky" of a prairie dawn. This is a panorama cropped from 8 segments, each 0.8-seconds with the RF28-70mm lens at f/2.8, and Canon R5 at ISO 100. Stitched with Photoshop as Camera Raw oddly refused to stitch all the segments.

Conjunction of the Moon and Venus at Dawn with NLCs (June 26, 2022)

A wide-angle view of the conjunction of the waning crescent Moon with Venus low in the northeast dawn sky on June 26, 2022, taken from home in southern Alberta, latitude 51° N. Earthshine is visible on the dark side of the Moon. And above are some wispy noctilucent clouds, with the star Capella at left. The sky exhibits the wonderful transition of colours from the orange at the horizon through the spectrum to the blues at top. This is a single 0.8-second exposure with the RF28-70mm lens at 28mm and f/2.8 on the Canon R5 at ISO 100.

Conjunction of the Moon and Venus at Dawn (June 26, 2022)

The conjunction of the waning crescent Moon with Venus low in the northeast dawn sky on June 26, 2022, taken from home in southern Alberta, latitude 51° N. Earthshine is visible on the dark side of the Moon. The sky exhibits the wonderful transition of colours from the orange at the horizon through the spectrum to the blues at top. This is a single 0.8-second exposure with the RF28-70mm lens at 70mm and f/2.8 on the Canon R5 at ISO 100.

The Planet Array at Dawn with Labels (June 26, 2022)

A 180° panorama of the array of the planets in the dawn twiliight on June 26, 2022, with the thin waning crescent Moon just above Venus low in the northeast at centre. At left is a display of wispy noctilucent clouds. The planets from left to right in their correct order out from the Sun are: Venus (low), Mars & Jupiter, and Saturn (at far right). The Pleiades is faintly visible in the twilight above the Venus-Moon pairing. The previous two mornings, when the Moon was between Venus and Mars in the correct order out from he Sun, was alas cloudy. This is a panorama of 11 segments, each 4 seconds at f/2.8 with the RF28-70mm lens at 37mm, and Canon R5 at ISO 100. Stitched with Adobe Camera Raw.

Conjunction of the Moon and Venus Rising at Dawn (June 26, 2022)

The conjunction of the waning crescent Moon with Venus as they were rising low in the northeast dawn sky on June 26, 2022, taken from home in southern Alberta, latitude 51° N. Earthshine is visible on the dark side of the Moon. The sky exhibits the wonderful transition of colours from the orange at the horizon through the spectrum to the blues at top. This is a single 1-second exposure with the RF70-200mm lens at 200mm and f/4 on the Canon R5 at ISO 400.

Conjunction of Moon, Venus and Pleiades (June 26, 2022)

A conjunction of the thin waning crescent Moon rising together with Venus low in the dawn sky, and below the Pleiades star cluster at top. Earthshine is just visible on the dark side of the Moon. This is a single 1.3-second exposure with the RF70-200mm lens at 108mm and f/4, and Canon R5 at ISO 400. Taken from home in southern Alberta at latitude 51° N.

The Array of Planets at Dawn on Summer Solstice (with Labels)

The array of four naked-eye planets at dawn on summer solstice morning, June 21, 2022, with Venus at centre low in the twilight; Mars and Jupiter at right of centre; and Saturn at far right, plus the waning last quarter Moon below Jupiter. Unusually, the planets appear from east to west across the sky in the same order as they are in distance out from the Sun. As a bonus, a fading display of noctilucent clouds appears at left in the northern sky. This was from home at latitude 51° North, where the bright sky and low altitude of the planets made it tough to capture them more distinctly. However, they were all easily visible to the naked eye. While Mercury was just rising at this time to the left and below of Venus, it does not appear here as it was too low and lost in the bright twilight. It was not visible in binoculars. This is a panorama of 10 segments, each 0.6-seconds, with the Canon RF 28-70mm lens at 35mm and f/2.8, with the Canon R5 at ISO 100. Stitched with Camera Raw. The original image is 29,400 pixels wide.

The Array of Planets at Dawn on Summer Solstice

The array of four naked-eye planets at dawn on summer solstice morning, June 21, 2022, with Venus at centre low in the twilight; Mars and Jupiter at right of centre; and Saturn at far right, plus the waning last quarter Moon below Jupiter. Unusually, the planets appear from east to west across the sky in the same order as they are in distance out from the Sun. As a bonus, a fading display of noctilucent clouds appears at left in the northern sky. This was from home at latitude 51° North, where the bright sky and low altitude of the planets made it tough to capture them more distinctly. However, they were all easily visible to the naked eye. While Mercury was just rising at this time to the left and below of Venus, it does not appear here as it was too low and lost in the bright twilight. It was not visible in binoculars. This is a panorama of 10 segments, each 0.6-seconds, with the Canon RF 28-70mm lens at 35mm and f/2.8, with the Canon R5 at ISO 100. Stitched with Camera Raw. The original image is 29,400 pixels wide.

Noctilucent Clouds and Planet Array at Summer Solstice Dawn (with Labels)

A stunning dawn sky on the day of summer solstice. This is the array of four naked-eye planets at dawn on solstice morning, June 21, 2022, with Venus just right of centre low in the twilight; Mars and Jupiter at right; and Saturn at far right, plus the waning last quarter Moon below Jupiter. Unusually, the planets appear from east to west across the sky in the same order as they are in distance out from the Sun. As a bonus, an extensive display of noctilucent clouds appears at left in the northern sky over my house. The dawn twilight colours the sky at centre in the northeast. This was from home at latitude 51° North, where the bright sky and low altitude of the planets made it tough to capture them more distinctly. However, they were all easily visible to the naked eye. While Mercury was just rising at this time to the left and below of Venus, it does not appear here as it was too low and lost in the bright twilight. It was not visible in binoculars. This is a panorama of 13 segments, each 1-second exposures, with the Canon RF 28-70mm lens at 28mm and f/2.8, with the Canon R5 at ISO 100. Stitched with Camera Raw. The original image is 35,200 pixels wide.

Noctilucent Clouds and Planet Array at Summer Solstice Dawn

A stunning dawn sky on the day of summer solstice. This is the array of four naked-eye planets at dawn on solstice morning, June 21, 2022, with Venus just right of centre low in the twilight; Mars and Jupiter at right; and Saturn at far right, plus the waning last quarter Moon below Jupiter. Unusually, the planets appear from east to west across the sky in the same order as they are in distance out from the Sun. As a bonus, an extensive display of noctilucent clouds appears at left in the northern sky over my house. The dawn twilight colours the sky at centre in the northeast. This was from home at latitude 51° North, where the bright sky and low altitude of the planets made it tough to capture them more distinctly. However, they were all easily visible to the naked eye. While Mercury was just rising at this time to the left and below of Venus, it does not appear here as it was too low and lost in the bright twilight. It was not visible in binoculars. This is a panorama of 13 segments, each 1-second exposures, with the Canon RF 28-70mm lens at 28mm and f/2.8, with the Canon R5 at ISO 100. Stitched with Camera Raw. The original image is 35,200 pixels wide.

The Array of Planets at Dawn with Labels (June 16, 2022)

The array of four naked-eye planets at dawn on June 16, 2022, from Venus at left low in the twilight; to Mars and Jupiter at left of centre; and Saturn at right of centre, plus the waning gibbous Moon at right. Unusually, the planets appear from east to west across the sky in the same order as they are in distance out from the Sun. This was from home at latitude 51° North, where the bright sky and low altitude of the planets made it tough to capture them more distinctly. However, they were all easily visible to the naked eye. While Mercury was just rising at this time to the left of Venus, it does not appear here as it was too low and lost in the horizon clouds. The old house is the original homestead house built by the CPR (the Canadian Pacific rail and steamship company) for the immigrant farmers the company was bringing over from Europe to settle the tracts of land the CPR was granted as part of the deal for building the first trans-Canada national railway. It has seen better days! This is a panorama of 12 segments, each 1-second, with the Canon RF 28-70mm lens at 34mm and f/2.8, with the Canon R5 at ISO 200. Stitched with Camera Raw. The original image is 30,200 pixels wide.

The Array of Planets at Dawn (June 16, 2022)

The array of four naked-eye planets at dawn on June 16, 2022, from Venus at left low in the twilight; to Mars and Jupiter at left of centre; and Saturn at right of centre, plus the waning gibbous Moon at right. Unusually, the planets appear from east to west across the sky in the same order as they are in distance out from the Sun. This was from home at latitude 51° North, where the bright sky and low altitude of the planets made it tough to capture them more distinctly. However, they were all easily visible to the naked eye. While Mercury was just rising at this time to the left of Venus, it does not appear here as it was too low and lost in the horizon clouds. The old house is the original homestead house built by the CPR (the Canadian Pacific rail and steamship company) for the immigrant farmers the company was bringing over from Europe to settle the tracts of land the CPR was granted as part of the deal for building the first trans-Canada national railway. It has seen better days! This is a panorama of 12 segments, each 1-second, with the Canon RF 28-70mm lens at 34mm and f/2.8, with the Canon R5 at ISO 200. Stitched with Camera Raw. The original image is 30,200 pixels wide.

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.