Venus and Mars over the Bow River

The planets Venus (brightest at centre) and Mars (upper left of Venus) in the late evening twilight over the Rocky Mountains and Bow River in Banff National Park. This was June 6, 2023, from the Storm Mountain viewpoint on the Bow Valley Parkway north of Castle Junction. The stars Castor and Pollux in Gemini are at right. Mars is just to the left of the Beehive star cluster, M44,, just showing up here. The tracks are the Canadian Pacific Raliway line, heading off toward Kicking Horse Pass over the Continental Divide. This is a blend of 5 exposures, from 30 seconds at ISO 400 for the dark ground to 5 seconds at ISO 200 for the bright sky, taken in quick succession, all with the Canon RF15-35mm lens at f/4 and Canon R5. Blended with Select Sky and manually painted masks. Location and timing planned with The Photographer's Ephemeris and TPE3D apps.

Mars in the Beehive Star Cluster (June 2, 2023)

Mars amid the Beehive star cluster, Messier 44, in Cancer, on June 2, 2023. The stars Asellus Borealis and Asesllus Australis are above and below Mars. The sky was still blue with summer twilight at my northern latitude, while light cloud covered much of the sky, adding the gradients and banding. This is a single 20-second exposure with the RF70-200mm lens at 200mm and f/4 on the Canon R5 at ISO 400, with the image cropped slightly from the original. On the Star Adventurer tracker. Diffraction spikes added for artistic effect with AstronomyTools actions.

Evening Planets and Stars over Prairie Lake (with Labels)

A scene of the crescent Moon with Earthshine, planets and the last of the winter stars in the evening twilight, with a thunderstorm and lightning bolts added for a bonus, over the prairie lake near home, the Crawling Valley Reservoir. This was May 22, 2023. Venus is bright above the waxing crescent Moon, while dimmer Mars is at upper left, to the left of the pair of stars, Pollux and Castor in Gemini. At lower left above the storm clouds and lightning is Procyon in Canis Minor, while at far right is Capella in Auriga. They are all winter stars putting in their last appearance for the season, though from my latitude of 51°N Capella remains circumpolar through the summer. Glitter paths of reflected light from the Moon and lightning flash are in the water, but the high wind this night kept the water choppy. This is mostly a single 7-second exposure with the Canon RF28-70mm lens at 28mm and f/2.8 on the Canon R5 at ISO 200. I blended in a part of another exposure taken immediately afterward, that had the upward aiming fork of lighting. A mild Orton glow added with Luminar Neo.

Evening Planets and Stars over Prairie Lake

A scene of the crescent Moon with Earthshine, planets and the last of the winter stars in the evening twilight, with a thunderstorm and lightning bolts added for a bonus, over the prairie lake near home, the Crawling Valley Reservoir. This was May 22, 2023. Venus is bright above the waxing crescent Moon, while dimmer Mars is at upper left, to the left of the pair of stars, Pollux and Castor in Gemini. At lower left above the storm clouds and lightning is Procyon in Canis Minor, while at far right is Capella in Auriga. They are all winter stars putting in their last appearance for the season, though from my latitude of 51°N Capella remains circumpolar through the summer. Glitter paths of reflected light from the Moon and lightning flash are in the water, but the high wind this night kept the water choppy. This is mostly a single 7-second exposure with the Canon RF28-70mm lens at 28mm and f/2.8 on the Canon R5 at ISO 200. I blended in a part of another exposure taken immediately afterward, that had the upward aiming fork of lighting. A mild Orton glow added with Luminar Neo.

Space Station Passage Past Planets

The International Space Station (ISS) in a passage past the waxing crescent Moon, Venus (between the ISS and Moon) and Mars (at upper left). Above the Moon and Venus are the stars Castor and Pollux in Gemini. At lower left above the thunderstorm clouds is Procyon in Canis Minor, while at far right in Capella in Auriga. This is overlooking the prairie lake, the Crawling Valley Reservoir in southern Alberta, on May 22, 2023. The ISS is rising out of the west and climbing up the sky. At this time the private Axiom Ax-2 mission from SpaceX was docked with the ISS, so there were 10 astronauts on board. This is a single base image of a 4-second exposure with the Canon RF 28-70mm lens at f/4.5 and Canon R5 at ISO 100. A layered stack of 40 images taken before and after the base image as part of a time-lapse sequence was blended in to add the ISS satellite trail to show its motion. It is streaked due to the 4-second exposures. The gaps between the streaks are from the one second intervals between exposures.

Moon, Venus and Hyades (April 22, 2023)

This is the gathering on the evening of April 22, 2023 of the waxing crescent Moon below Venus and near the Hyades star cluster in Taurus. The dim Earthshine is visible on the dark side of the Moon. High cloud added the natural glows on the Moon and Venus. This is a stack of 7 exposures, from 1/80 to 0.8 seconds, at one stop intervals for an "HDR" blend, all with the Canon RF135mm lens at f/2 on the Canon R5 at ISO 400, untracked. Exposures blended with luminosity masks not HDR software.

Moon, Venus and Hyades in Trees (April 22, 2023)

This is the gathering on the evening of April 22, 2023 of the waxing crescent Moon below Venus and near the Hyades star cluster in Taurus, here set amid some silhouetted tree branches. The dim Earthshine is visible on the dark side of the Moon. High cloud added the natural glows on the Moon and Venus. This is a single 1.6-second exposure with the Canon RF135mm lens at f/2 on the Canon R5 at ISO 100, untracked.

Red Planet by Red Star

This is Mars (at right) near the orange giant star Mebsuta, aka Epsilon Geminorum, on April 12, 2023. Mars was 50 arc minutes from the star this night. It was closer the following two nights, about 20 and 16 arc minutes from the star. Mars was magnitude +1.1 while Mebsuta is +3. This is a stack of 8 x 2-minute exposures with the Astro-Tech 90CFT apo refractor with the 0.8x Reducer for f/4.8, with the filter-modified Canon R at ISO 1600. All on the Sky-Watcher EQM35 mount autoguided with the Lacerta MGEN3. The field was getting lower in the western sky, but the sky was quite clear this frosty spring night.

Venus and the Pleiades (April 9, 2023)

A close passage of Venus by the Pleiades star cluster (M45) on April 9, 2023. Venus was closer to the Pleiades the next night, but clouds prevented a shot on April 10. But the night before closest approach was clear enough for long enough to get this shot of the bright planet and stars set in the deep blue twilight. This is a single 1-minute exposure with the RF70-200mm f/4 lens stopped down to f/5, yielding the diffraction spikes on Venus. On the Canon R5 at ISO 400, and on the Star Adventurer tracker. I reduced but did not eliminate the twilight sky gradient.

Venus and Mercury (April 9, 2023)

Mercury below centre, and brighter Venus above, near the Pleiades, on April 9, 2023. This was two days before Mercury's greatest evening elongation and best appearance in the evening sky for 2023 for northern hemisphere observers. Mercury was about magnitude -0.2 this night and was obvious to the naked eye. Venus was magnitude -4.1, and was still two months away from its greatest elongation east of the Sun. The star at upper right from Mercury is Hamal, in Aries, at magnitude +2. This is a single 1.3-second exposure with the RF28-70mm lens at 35mm and f/2.8 on the Canon Ra at ISO 100. Taken from home in southern Alberta.

Venus and Mercury (April 9, 2023) with Labels

Mercury below centre, and brighter Venus above, near the Pleiades, on April 9, 2023. This was two days before Mercury's greatest evening elongation and best appearance in the evening sky for 2023 for northern hemisphere observers. Mercury was about magnitude -0.2 this night and was obvious to the naked eye. Venus was magnitude -4.1, and was still two months away from its greatest elongation east of the Sun. The star at upper right from Mercury is Hamal, in Aries, at magnitude +2. This is a single 1.3-second exposure with the RF28-70mm lens at 35mm and f/2.8 on the Canon Ra at ISO 100. Taken from home in southern Alberta.

Mercury Near Greatest Elongation (April 9, 2023)

Mercury at centre, on April 9, 2023, two days before its greatest evening elongation and best appearance in the evening sky for 2023 for northern hemisphere observers. Mercury was about magnitude -0.2 this night and was obvious to the naked eye. The star at upper right is Hamal, in Aries, at magnitude +2. This is a single 0.8-second exposure with the RF28-70mm lens at 70mm and f/2.8 on the Canon Ra at ISO 100. Taken from home in southern Alberta.

Mercury and Jupiter in Conjunction (March 27, 2023)

Mercury (on the right) and Jupiter in a close conjunction just 1.3° apart but very low in the west in the evening twilight, on March 27, 2023. Taken from home in southern Alberta. Mercury was ascending higher each night, beginning its best evening apparition for the year, while Jupiter was dropping out of sight ending its months-long appearance. Jupiter was magnitude -2 this night, while Mercury was -1.4. This is a single 0.3-second exposure with the Canon RF70-200mm lens at 200mm and f/5.6 on the Canon R5 at ISO 100, untracked. A mild Soft Focus effect added with Nik Collection Color EFX.

The Moon and Pleiades in Haze

The conjunction of the waxing 4-day-old crescent Moon below the Pleiades, and set in a slightly hazy sky on March 25, 2023. The haze adds the colourful "lunar corona" halo around the bright crescent of the Moon from diffraction effects in the high icy clouds. Shot before the sky got dark, the remaining twilight adds the blue to the background sky. Earthshine is visible on the dark side of the Moon. This is a blend of 9 exposures, from 1/160 second to 6 seconds, to retain the bright crescent while recording the faint stars and Earthshine. All at ISO 400 with the Canon R5 and through the SharpStar 76mm EDPH refractor at f/4.5 for a focal length of 340mm. The field of view is similar to 10x binoculars. Exposures were blended not with HDR or luminosity masks but with Blend If settings applied with the Blake Rudis f64 Blend-If extension panel in Photoshop, which makes it easier to apply and adjust the blend points and feathering of the blends. Diffraction spikes added for artistic effect to make the stars "sparkle" using the Astronomy Tools actions. A mild Orton Glow added with Luminar Neo to make the overall scene "pop."

Thin Moon and Jupiter Setting (March 22, 2023)

The thin one-day-old crescent Moon just above Jupiter as both set on the evening of March 22, 2023. The Earthshine glow is obvious on the dark side of the Moon. The age of the Moon was about 31.5 hours this night at this time and longitude. This is a single 1.6-second untracked shot with the Canon RF100-400mm lens at 270mm and f/8 (wide open at this focal length), on the Canon Ra at ISO 3200 to keep the exposure time short and with the Ra's red sensitivity enhancing the twilight colours. Topaz DeNoise AI applied to smooth the high ISO noise. A mild Orton glow added with Luminar Neo.

Venus and Jupiter Conjunction Between Trees

Venus (at top) and Jupiter in a close conjunction on the evening of March 2, 2023, the day after their closest approach. They were one degree apart this night but were 1/2° apart the night before. I've framed the scene between some lone trees on a prairie hill near home in southern Alberta. This is a single 1-second exposure with the Canon RF28-70mm lens at 32mm and f/4 on the Canon R5 at ISO 200. A mild Orton glow added with Luminar Neo and star spikes added with AstronomyTools actions.

Venus and Jupiter Conjunction with Single Tree

Venus (at top) and Jupiter in a close conjunction on the evening of March 2, 2023, the day after their closest approach. They were one degree apart this night but were 1/2° apart the night before. I shot this on a hill near home in southern Alberta. This is a single 1-second exposure with the Canon RF28-70mm lens at 45mm and f/4 on the Canon R5 at ISO 100. A mild Orton glow added with Luminar Neo and star spikes added with AstronomyTools actions.

Comet ZTF Near Hyades (Feb 14, 2023)

A portrait of green Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) in Taurus beside Aldebaran and the Hyades on February 14, 2023. The star cluster NGC 1647 is at upper left. This is a stack of 8 x 2-minute exposures with the Canon RF 70-200mm lens at f/5 on the Canon R5 at ISO 1600. Star glows with MagicLight extension in Luminar Neo.

Green Comet and Red Planet (Feb 11, 2023)

The infamous "Green" Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) passing by reddish Mars with both in the constellation of Taurus on the night of Feb 11, 2023. The comet was 2° south of Mars this night. Mars was embedded in some of the dark obscuring dust clouds in Taurus, creating the dark patchy appearance to the background sky. The comet's coma glows cyan due to emission from diatomic carbon molecules, a common trait of comets. The dust tail and faint ion tail are just visible. This is a stack of 4 x 2-minute exposures at ISO 1600 with filter-modified Canon R and with the SharpStar 94mm EDPH refractor at f/4.5. On the AP Mach1 mount, and autoguided with the ASIAir Mini and 30mm ZWO guidecope. In the 8 minutes of exposure the comet didn't move enough to significantly blur its image at this scale (420mm focal length). Taken from home as part of testing the Mini. A mild diffusion effect added with Radiant Photo plug-in. The comet tails brought out with luminosity masked curves from Lumenzia and with a Lighten DSO action from AstronomyTools.

Comet ZTF and Taurus Clusters (Feb 10, 2023)

Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) in the constellation of Taurus on the night of Feb 10, 2023. The comet is the cyan-coloured glow above bright orange Mars at upper left. The framing takes in the major star clusters in Taurus: At upper right is the Pleiades star cluster, while the Hyades star cluster with reddish Aldebaran is at bottom. Other NGC catalogue star clusters are in this framing: NGC 1647 to the left of the Hyades and NGC 1746 to the left of the comet and Mars. Mars appears to be at the tip of a dark lane of interstellar dust in the Taurus Dark Clouds. This is a stack of 10 x 2-minute exposures at ISO 1600 with Canon R5 and with the RF70-200mm lens at f/4 and 89mm. Tracked but unguided on the AP Mach1 mount, and taken from home. A mild diffusion effect added with Radiant Photo plug-in. Faint nebulosity brought out with luminosity masked curves from Lumenzia.

Comet ZTF and Mars (Feb 10, 2023)

Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) passing Mars in the constellation of Taurus on the night of Feb 10, 2023. Mars appears to be at the tip of a dark lane of interstellar dust in the Taurus Dark Clouds. The comet is showing its whitish dust tail and blue ion tail, as well as its cyan coma from diatomic carbon emission. The star cluster at left is NGC 1746. This is a stack of 6 x 2-minute exposures at ISO 1600 with Canon R5 and with the RF70-200mm lens at f/4 and 179mm. Tracked but unguided on the AP Mach1 mount, and taken from home. A mild diffusion effect added with Radiant Photo plug-in. Faint nebulosity brought out with luminosity masked curves from Lumenzia.

Comet ZTF in Taurus (Feb 10, 2023)

Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) in the constellation of Taurus on the night of Feb 10, 2023. The comet is the cyan-coloured glow above bright orange Mars. At right is the Pleiades star cluster, while the Hyades star cluster with reddish Aldebaran is below. Other NGC catalogue star clusters are in this framing: NGC 1647 below centre, NGC 1746 below right of the comet and Mars, and NGC 1817 at lower left. Mars appears to be at the tip of a dark lane of interstellar dust in the Taurus Dark Clouds. This is a stack of 8 x 2-minute exposures at ISO 800 with Canon R5 and with the RF28-70mm lens at f/2.8 and 65mm. The lens was stopped down from f/2 so the iris blades added the diffraction spikes. Tracked but unguided on the AP Mach1 mount, and taken from home. A mild diffusion effect added with Radiant Photo plug-in.

Lunar Haloes in the Winter Sky

An ice crystal halo around the waxing gibbous Moon set in the winter stars of a January night. The 22° halo is most obvious and with a reddish and sharply defined inner rim and a bluish and more diffuse outer edge. But a faint 8° halo is also visible, a rare halo sometimes called the Van Buijsen Halo (according to Lynch and Livingston in their book Color and Light in Nature; Minnaert also mentions it in his seminal book The Nature of Color and Light in the Open Air). It is not a lens flare as shots taken with the Moon well off to one side of the frame still show the inner halo centred on the Moon. Nor is it an artifact of the exposure blending as it is present on the raw single long-exposure image. The Moon was in Taurus this night and very close to Mars, shining here just above the Moon. An occultation occured for locatons in the southern U.S. and Mexico this night, but for me in Alberta it was a very close conjunction. Orion is at lower left; Gemini at upper left; Auriga above the Moon; and Perseus is at upper right. To retain the disk of the Moon and better capture the scene as the eye saw it, this is a blend of 7 untracked exposures, from 20 seconds to 1/200 second with the RF15-35mm lens at 15mm and f/4 and Canon R5 at ISO 400. Blended with luminosity masks.

Lunar Haloes (22° and 8°)

An ice crystal halo around the waxing gibbous Moon set in the winter stars of a January night. The 22° halo is most obvious and with a reddish and sharper inner rim., and a bluish and more diffuse outer edge. But a faint inner 8° halo is also visible, a rare halo sometimes called the Van Buijsen Halo (according to Lynch and Livingston in their book Color and Light in Nature; Minnaert also mentions it in his seminal book The Nature of Color and Light in the Open Air). It is not a lens flare as shots taken with the Moon well off to one side of the frame still show the inner halo centred on the Moon. Nor is it an artifact of the exposure blending as it is present on the raw single long-exposure image. The Moon was in Taurus this night and very close to Mars, shining here as the red point of light just above the Moon. An occultation occured for locatons in the southern U.S. and Mexico this night, but for me in Alberta it was a very close conjunction. Orion is at lower left; Auriga is above the Moon; and Perseus is at upper right. To retain the disk of the Moon and better capture the scene as the eye saw it, this is a blend of 8 untracked exposures, from 30 seconds to 1/250 second with the RF15-35mm lens at 22mm and f/4 and Canon R5 at ISO 400. Being untracked exposures, the stars are trailed somewhat. Frames manually aligned then blended with luminosity masks created with Lumenzia. A mild glow effect was added with Radiant Photo plug-in.