Sky Photos – License unique photos ❘ Image Professionals

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.

13899645 - 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.

The line-up of three evening planets in the southwest twilight sky, on December 17, 2021 — with Jupiter at top left, Venus at bottom right, and dimmer Saturn in the middle, all defining the line of the ecliptic in the cold winter sky this night. The stars of Capricornus are at centre.

13899600 - The line-up of three evening planets in the southwest twilight sky, on December 17, 2021 — with Jupiter at top left, Venus at bottom right, and dimmer Saturn in the middle, all defining the line of the ecliptic in the cold winter sky this night. The stars of Capricornus are at centre.

A composite of about 280 images, taken with the Canon 60Da and 10-22mm lens at 17mm, at Bow Lake in Banff, Alberta showing star trails across the sky looking west. Illumination is from the waning gibbous Moon over frame to the left Moon. Each image was 45 seconds, taken at 1s intervals at ISO 1250 and at f/4.5. Stacked in Photoshop using Chris Schur's Photoshop Action.

13899299 - A composite of about 280 images, taken with the Canon 60Da and 10-22mm lens at 17mm, at Bow Lake in Banff, Alberta showing star trails across the sky looking west. Illumination is from the waning gibbous Moon over frame to the left Moon. Each image was 45 seconds, taken at 1s intervals at ISO 1250 and at f/4.5. Stacked in Photoshop using Chris Schur's Photoshop Action.

Mount Cephren at Lower Waterfowl Lake, in the light of the low waning Moon lighting the peaks but not the foreground. This is from the lakeside viewpoint on the Icefields Parkway in Banff National Park, Alberta. I shot this on a very clear night October 13, 2022. There was enough wind to ripple the water and blur any stellar reflections. The Milky Way is to the left of Cephren, but is being lost in the brightening moonlit sky.

13898858 - Mount Cephren at Lower Waterfowl Lake, in the light of the low waning Moon lighting the peaks but not the foreground. This is from the lakeside viewpoint on the Icefields Parkway in Banff National Park, Alberta. I shot this on a very clear night October 13, 2022. There was enough wind to ripple the water and blur any stellar reflections. The Milky Way is to the left of Cephren, but is being lost in the brightening moonlit sky.

The North America Nebula (NGC 7000) and Pelican Nebula (IC 5070) area near Deneb in Cygnus. Taken from home July 24, 2012 with Canon 5D MkII camera at ISO 800 and Canon 200mm L-series lens at f/3.5 for stack of 2 x 5 minutes exposures, mean combined, plus 2 x 5 minute exposures with haze in sky which added the star glows.

13898268 - The North America Nebula (NGC 7000) and Pelican Nebula (IC 5070) area near Deneb in Cygnus. Taken from home July 24, 2012 with Canon 5D MkII camera at ISO 800 and Canon 200mm L-series lens at f/3.5 for stack of 2 x 5 minutes exposures, mean combined, plus 2 x 5 minute exposures with haze in sky which added the star glows.

A composite showing me (on the right lit in green) and fellow Calgary RASC astronomy club members pointing at Polaris with green laser pointers at a public star party July 27, 2019 at the Rothney Astrophysical Observatory. About 600 people attended this night. I was presenting a laser-guided tour of the night sky.

13897928 - A composite showing me (on the right lit in green) and fellow Calgary RASC astronomy club members pointing at Polaris with green laser pointers at a public star party July 27, 2019 at the Rothney Astrophysical Observatory. About 600 people attended this night. I was presenting a laser-guided tour of the night sky.

The wonders of the southern hemisphere sky rising over the Tasman Sea at Cape Conran, on the Gippsland Coast of Victoria. Australia, on March 31, 2017.

13897839 - The wonders of the southern hemisphere sky rising over the Tasman Sea at Cape Conran, on the Gippsland Coast of Victoria. Australia, on March 31, 2017.

This is Messier 3, the globular cluster in Canes Venatici, one of the brightest globulars in the northern sky. It was discovered by Charles Messier in 1764, but not resolved into stars until 1784 by William Herschel. The little galaxy above the orange star is 14th magnitude NGC 5263.

13897399 - This is Messier 3, the globular cluster in Canes Venatici, one of the brightest globulars in the northern sky. It was discovered by Charles Messier in 1764, but not resolved into stars until 1784 by William Herschel. The little galaxy above the orange star is 14th magnitude NGC 5263.

Orion and the winter stars and constellations in a moonlit sky,on a chilly (-20°C) winter night on January 28,2023. Above Orion is Aldebaran and the Hyades star cluster in Taurus. Below Orion is Sirius in Canis Major. The red giant Betelgeuse and the blue giant Rigel stand out nicely above and below the Belt. Light from the first quarter Moon off frame illuminates the landscape. This serves as a good illustration of how the Belt stars in Orion point up to Aldebaran and down to Sirius.

13999688 - Orion and the winter stars and constellations in a moonlit sky,on a chilly (-20°C) winter night on January 28,2023. Above Orion is Aldebaran and the Hyades star cluster in Taurus. Below Orion is Sirius in Canis Major. The red giant Betelgeuse and the blue giant Rigel stand out nicely above and below the Belt. Light from the first quarter Moon off frame illuminates the landscape. This serves as a good illustration of how the Belt stars in Orion point up to Aldebaran and down to Sirius.

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:

13998987 - 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:

13998524 - The globular star cluster Messier 3 in Canes Venatici in the northern spring sky.

The conjunction of the waxing crescent Moon with Venus (bright and below) and Mars (dim and to the left) on June 21,2023,summer solstice evening,with the worlds in clouds in the colourful twilight sky. Earthshine is just visible on the dark side of the Moon,despite the obscuring clouds.

13998286 - The conjunction of the waxing crescent Moon with Venus (bright and below) and Mars (dim and to the left) on June 21,2023,summer solstice evening,with the worlds in clouds in the colourful twilight sky. Earthshine is just visible on the dark side of the Moon,despite the obscuring clouds.

The rising autumn stars and constellations over and reflected in the lake at Police Outpost Provincial Park, in southern Alberta, on September 26, 2016. The stars of Auriga and Taurus are rising, including the Pleiades at upper right. Capella is the bright star above right centre; Aldebaran is below right in the sky. Both are reflected in the still water, along with the Hyades and Pleiades star clusters. A mild aurora is at left.

13900025 - The rising autumn stars and constellations over and reflected in the lake at Police Outpost Provincial Park, in southern Alberta, on September 26, 2016. The stars of Auriga and Taurus are rising, including the Pleiades at upper right. Capella is the bright star above right centre; Aldebaran is below right in the sky. Both are reflected in the still water, along with the Hyades and Pleiades star clusters. A mild aurora is at left.

Circumpolar star trails at dawn over the historic Butala homestead at the Old Man on His Back Prairie and Heritage Conservation Area in southwest Saskatchewan, taken May 2015. This is a stack of 70 frames from a larger time-lapse sequence, from the start of the sequence in the dusk twilight, with some aurora active and adding green and magenta to the sky. Cassiopeia is at left over the house.

13899777 - Circumpolar star trails at dawn over the historic Butala homestead at the Old Man on His Back Prairie and Heritage Conservation Area in southwest Saskatchewan, taken May 2015. This is a stack of 70 frames from a larger time-lapse sequence, from the start of the sequence in the dusk twilight, with some aurora active and adding green and magenta to the sky. Cassiopeia is at left over the house.

Observers on the main field at the Saskatchewan Summer Star Party in the dark sky preserve of Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park in late August 2019 in the deep twilight.

13899687 - Observers on the main field at the Saskatchewan Summer Star Party in the dark sky preserve of Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park in late August 2019 in the deep twilight.

13899450 - The waxing 4-day-old crescent Moon in the twilight sky at Red Rock Coulee, Alberta. A lovely contrast of sky and earth tones.

A group of aurora tourists take their aurora selfies at Prosperous Lake, near Yellowknife, NWT, a popular spot on the Ingraham Trail for aurora watching. This is looking west during a bright outbreak in the display this night, which previously had been just a dull wash over the sky. This was about 1:15 a.m. MDT.

13899276 - A group of aurora tourists take their aurora selfies at Prosperous Lake, near Yellowknife, NWT, a popular spot on the Ingraham Trail for aurora watching. This is looking west during a bright outbreak in the display this night, which previously had been just a dull wash over the sky. This was about 1:15 a.m. MDT.

A selfie observing Comet NEOWISE (C/2020 F3) with binoculars on the dark moonless night of July 14/15, 2020 from Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta. A faint aurora colours the sky green and magenta. The faint blue ion tail of the comet is visible in addition to its brighter dust tail. The ground is illuminated by starlight and aurora light only.

13898737 - A selfie observing Comet NEOWISE (C/2020 F3) with binoculars on the dark moonless night of July 14/15, 2020 from Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta. A faint aurora colours the sky green and magenta. The faint blue ion tail of the comet is visible in addition to its brighter dust tail. The ground is illuminated by starlight and aurora light only.

The 5-day-old waxing crescent Moon near the Beehive star cluster, Messier 44, in Cancer on the evening of May 10, 2019, set in the deep blue twilight sky, and with Earthshine still visible on the dark side of the Moon.

13897424 - The 5-day-old waxing crescent Moon near the Beehive star cluster, Messier 44, in Cancer on the evening of May 10, 2019, set in the deep blue twilight sky, and with Earthshine still visible on the dark side of the Moon.

13837361 - Roque de los Muchachos at night under a starry sky. La Palma Island, Canary Islands, Spain.

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.

13998971 - 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.

The Andromeda Galaxy (aka Messier 31) and the stars of Andromeda rising over moonlit formations at Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta. Illumination is from the waxing gibbous Moon, low in the southwest so it is providing a warm light. This is an example of a "deepscape" - a nightcape with a telephoto lens to also record a deep-sky object in the frame above the horizon. However, moonlight prevents the galaxy from showing up as well as it would in a dark sky.

13900215 - The Andromeda Galaxy (aka Messier 31) and the stars of Andromeda rising over moonlit formations at Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta. Illumination is from the waxing gibbous Moon, low in the southwest so it is providing a warm light. This is an example of a "deepscape" - a nightcape with a telephoto lens to also record a deep-sky object in the frame above the horizon. However, moonlight prevents the galaxy from showing up as well as it would in a dark sky.

13899406 - A stunning dawn sky on the day of summer solstice.

The eroding formations of Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta, lit by the rising gibbous Moon, off camera at left, on April 21/22, 2019. This is looking west, with the stars of the winter sky setting. Procyon is at right. Aphard in Hydra is above the hill.

13899154 - The eroding formations of Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta, lit by the rising gibbous Moon, off camera at left, on April 21/22, 2019. This is looking west, with the stars of the winter sky setting. Procyon is at right. Aphard in Hydra is above the hill.

A selfie looking at the waxing crescent Moon near Venus on Feb 27, 2020, standing beside the Celestron SkyMaster 15x70 Pro binoculars on the Sky-Watcher AZ5 mount.

13898658 - A selfie looking at the waxing crescent Moon near Venus on Feb 27, 2020, standing beside the Celestron SkyMaster 15x70 Pro binoculars on the Sky-Watcher AZ5 mount.

This captures a panorama of the northern sky over the foreground landscape of Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta, with the waning Moon rising, and an arc of Northern Lights above the northern horizon. A Kp6 show was forecast for this night but nothing spectacular materialized -- we had just a quiescent arc across the north.

13898163 - This captures a panorama of the northern sky over the foreground landscape of Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta, with the waning Moon rising, and an arc of Northern Lights above the northern horizon. A Kp6 show was forecast for this night but nothing spectacular materialized -- we had just a quiescent arc across the north.

A 360° panorama of the landscape and skyscape at Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan, Canada, taken August 25, 2014. The Milky Way arches overhead from south to north at right, and the last vestiges of twilight light the western sky at left, providing a natural backdrop for the silhouette of the photographer gazing wistfully into the distance! Some green bands of airglow also light the sky, but only a few farm lights from outside the boundaries of the Park mar the landscape in this darkest of Dark Sky Preserves in Canada. I shot this from the Eagle Butte Loop Trail at the end of the 70 Mile

13897968 - A 360° panorama of the landscape and skyscape at Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan, Canada, taken August 25, 2014. The Milky Way arches overhead from south to north at right, and the last vestiges of twilight light the western sky at left, providing a natural backdrop for the silhouette of the photographer gazing wistfully into the distance! Some green bands of airglow also light the sky, but only a few farm lights from outside the boundaries of the Park mar the landscape in this darkest of Dark Sky Preserves in Canada. I shot this from the Eagle Butte Loop Trail at the end of the 70 Mile

13835662 - Great frigate birds, Fregata minor ridgwayi, flying against a blue sky. South Plaza Island, Galapagos, Ecuador

71416705 - Bell tower of the Cathedral reflected in a glass building, under clouded sky Bolzano, South Tyrol, Italy

71416695 - Cathedral bell tower under clouded sky, Bolzano, South Tyrol, Italy

14073788 - Cloudy sky

Comet Nishimura (C/2023 P1),at left,captured at dawn on September 7,2023 with the sky beginning to brighten with morning twilight colours. Plus the last quarter Moon was lighting the sky and landscape with moonlight. The comet appears with Venus,at right,beginning its morning sky appearance for 2023/24. In addition,the star cluster Messier 44,the Beehive,is at top right. The smaller Messier 67 star cluster is just above Venus.

13999315 - Comet Nishimura (C/2023 P1),at left,captured at dawn on September 7,2023 with the sky beginning to brighten with morning twilight colours. Plus the last quarter Moon was lighting the sky and landscape with moonlight. The comet appears with Venus,at right,beginning its morning sky appearance for 2023/24. In addition,the star cluster Messier 44,the Beehive,is at top right. The smaller Messier 67 star cluster is just above Venus.

Comet Nishimura (C/2023 P1) captured about 25 minutes after rising in the pre-dawn sky on September 10,2023 with the sky bright with morning twilight colours. The comet was only about 4º above the horizon at this time. This was about 5:25 am MDT.

13998840 - Comet Nishimura (C/2023 P1) captured about 25 minutes after rising in the pre-dawn sky on September 10,2023 with the sky bright with morning twilight colours. The comet was only about 4º above the horizon at this time. This was about 5:25 am MDT.

A panorama of the extensive aurora of Oct 20/21,2023,from home in southern Alberta. The aurora coloured much of the sky,but was most prominent as a larrge diffuse arc across the north,with a more active structured arc low in the north. This was at local midnight,MDT.

13998456 - A panorama of the extensive aurora of Oct 20/21,2023,from home in southern Alberta. The aurora coloured much of the sky,but was most prominent as a larrge diffuse arc across the north,with a more active structured arc low in the north. This was at local midnight,MDT.

Venus in the evening twilight on December 17, 2021, about 2 weeks after its point of greatest brilliancy. This was shot in hope of also catching Comet Leonard, but it showed up as only a dim smudge hard to distinguish from the background sky, and is behind thin cloud here. Shot from near home in southern Alberta. Foreground illumination is from the gibbous Moon to the northeast opposite this scene which looks southwest.

13900090 - Venus in the evening twilight on December 17, 2021, about 2 weeks after its point of greatest brilliancy. This was shot in hope of also catching Comet Leonard, but it showed up as only a dim smudge hard to distinguish from the background sky, and is behind thin cloud here. Shot from near home in southern Alberta. Foreground illumination is from the gibbous Moon to the northeast opposite this scene which looks southwest.

A colourful sunrise scene on August 12, 2022, taken from home on the Alberta prairie taken just as the Sun came up. This might be an image useful for sky replacement or a background image.

13899590 - A colourful sunrise scene on August 12, 2022, taken from home on the Alberta prairie taken just as the Sun came up. This might be an image useful for sky replacement or a background image.

A 360° "all-sky" panorama of the northern spring sky, taken when the North Galactic Pole was almost due south high in the sky, so we are looking up out of the plane of our galaxy. The Milky Way is visible but only as an arc low across the north, and on this night (April 27, 2022) an arc of a dim green and magenta aurora nicely coincided with the location of the Milky Way. The North Galactic Pole is located just left of the Coma Berenices star cluster below centre.

13899446 - A 360° "all-sky" panorama of the northern spring sky, taken when the North Galactic Pole was almost due south high in the sky, so we are looking up out of the plane of our galaxy. The Milky Way is visible but only as an arc low across the north, and on this night (April 27, 2022) an arc of a dim green and magenta aurora nicely coincided with the location of the Milky Way. The North Galactic Pole is located just left of the Coma Berenices star cluster below centre.

The Milky Way over Maskinonge Lake at Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta, Canada, on June 17/18, 2018. This was an unusually calm night, allowing the reflections of the stars in the lake waters. Jupiter is in Libra at far right. Saturn is Sagittarius in the Milky Way at left of centre. Scorpius is in between. The sky is deep blue from solstice twilight.

13899169 - The Milky Way over Maskinonge Lake at Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta, Canada, on June 17/18, 2018. This was an unusually calm night, allowing the reflections of the stars in the lake waters. Jupiter is in Libra at far right. Saturn is Sagittarius in the Milky Way at left of centre. Scorpius is in between. The sky is deep blue from solstice twilight.

13898470 - A 5-section panorama taken August 9, 2018 at the Saskatchewan Summer Star Party. The sky is reddened with forest fire smoke.

13836350 - A herd of wildebeests, Connochaetes taurinus, grazing under a stormy sky. Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya.

13836123 - Two topis, Damaliscus lunatus, sparring under a stormy sky. Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya.

13812081 - Sky full of stars in the forest in Glacier National Park, Montana, USA

71443340 - Fingers of rock against a blue sky in Monument Valley, Utah.

71437965 - High moor, dark water and overcast sky, Baiersbronn, Black Forest National Park, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

71416680 - The houses of the Old Town under blue sky, Bozen, South Tyrol, Italy

71394855 - Walkway with Column on Lake Lugano with Mountain Peak and Palm Tree in a Sunny Day with Clear Sky in Lugano, Ticino, Switzerland.

71387171 - Church Santa Maria del Sasso Against Blue Clear Sky on Mountain in a Sunny Day in Morcote, Ticino in Switzerland.

71387153 - Mountain Range on the Border to Italy on Lake Lugano with Cloudscape and Sunlight on a Clear Sky in Caslano, Ticino in Switzerland.

71387125 - Snow-capped Mountain Peak Monte Rosa and Alpine Lake Maggiore in a Sunny Day with Clear Sky in Ticino, Switzerland.

71387099 - Palm Tree and Lake Lugano with Blue Sky and Mountain in a Sunny Day in Morcote, Ticino in Switzerland.

A framing of the converging rays of aurora overhead at the magnetic zenith,a little south of the true zenith at 90° altitude. This was the superb Kp6 to 7 display on March 23,2023,with the aurora mostly in a pulsating mode rather than forming rippling curtains. This was early on in the evening when the sky still had some twilight colours,and with sunlight illuminating the high curtains. Orion is at lower right.

13999498 - A framing of the converging rays of aurora overhead at the magnetic zenith,a little south of the true zenith at 90° altitude. This was the superb Kp6 to 7 display on March 23,2023,with the aurora mostly in a pulsating mode rather than forming rippling curtains. This was early on in the evening when the sky still had some twilight colours,and with sunlight illuminating the high curtains. Orion is at lower right.

Comet Nishimura (C/2023 P1),at left,captured just after rising in the pre-dawn sky on September 10,2023 with the sky beginning to brighten with morning twilight colours. The comet was only about 2º above the horizon at this time.

13998517 - Comet Nishimura (C/2023 P1),at left,captured just after rising in the pre-dawn sky on September 10,2023 with the sky beginning to brighten with morning twilight colours. The comet was only about 2º above the horizon at this time.

The dark nebula on the Cygnus-Cepheus border nicknamed the Funnel Cloud Nebula (a name provided by Alan Whitman in a 2006 Sky and Telescope article) but that is a very prominent naked eye feature to the northern Milky Way, more obvious as a dark area than the Northern Coal Sack to the south. This is a fine object for binoculars and the telephoto lens shot here provides the field of most binoculars.

13900504 - The dark nebula on the Cygnus-Cepheus border nicknamed the Funnel Cloud Nebula (a name provided by Alan Whitman in a 2006 Sky and Telescope article) but that is a very prominent naked eye feature to the northern Milky Way, more obvious as a dark area than the Northern Coal Sack to the south. This is a fine object for binoculars and the telephoto lens shot here provides the field of most binoculars.

An arc of modest aurora borealis (Northern Lights) across the northern horizon, above a prairie meadow in the light of a bright waxing gibbous Moon, a day before Full. This was just after midnight on July 11/12, 2022 when the sky was also still lit by summer twilight colours, and with a weak display of noctilucent clouds also visible low in the northwest at left. The auroral curtains exhibit the usual green band and rays, but also upper altitude reds and purples and a faint blue tint at the very tops where the aurora is lit by the Sun. The aurora was never bright this night (Kp Index was 3 or

13900496 - An arc of modest aurora borealis (Northern Lights) across the northern horizon, above a prairie meadow in the light of a bright waxing gibbous Moon, a day before Full. This was just after midnight on July 11/12, 2022 when the sky was also still lit by summer twilight colours, and with a weak display of noctilucent clouds also visible low in the northwest at left. The auroral curtains exhibit the usual green band and rays, but also upper altitude reds and purples and a faint blue tint at the very tops where the aurora is lit by the Sun. The aurora was never bright this night (Kp Index was 3 or

The waxing crescent Moon two days after New low in a smoky sky setting over the Badlands of Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta, Canada. This was June 30, 2022. Despite the hazy skies, the twilight colours show up well in the sky. The glow of Earthshine shows up slightly on the night side of the Moon.

13900484 - The waxing crescent Moon two days after New low in a smoky sky setting over the Badlands of Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta, Canada. This was June 30, 2022. Despite the hazy skies, the twilight colours show up well in the sky. The glow of Earthshine shows up slightly on the night side of the Moon.

A composite of 233 images, taken with the Canon 5D MkII and 16-35mm lens, at Bow Lake in Banff, showing circumpolar star trails across the sky looking north over Num-Ti-Jah Lodge. Each image was 50 seconds, taken at 1s intervals at ISO 1250 and at f/4. Stacked in Photoshop using Chris Schur's Photoshop Action.

13900346 - A composite of 233 images, taken with the Canon 5D MkII and 16-35mm lens, at Bow Lake in Banff, showing circumpolar star trails across the sky looking north over Num-Ti-Jah Lodge. Each image was 50 seconds, taken at 1s intervals at ISO 1250 and at f/4. Stacked in Photoshop using Chris Schur's Photoshop Action.

Comet NEOWISE (C/2020 F3) on July 27, 2020 from the Columbia Icefields (Jasper National Park, Alberta) from the Toe of the Glacier parking lot, looking north over Sunwapta Lake, formed by the summer meltwater of Athabasca Glacier. So this is a portrait of ice in the sky and icy water on Earth.

13900300 - Comet NEOWISE (C/2020 F3) on July 27, 2020 from the Columbia Icefields (Jasper National Park, Alberta) from the Toe of the Glacier parking lot, looking north over Sunwapta Lake, formed by the summer meltwater of Athabasca Glacier. So this is a portrait of ice in the sky and icy water on Earth.

A subtle and pastel aurora borealis (Northern Lights) in the northeast, above a prairie meadow at "Lone Tree Hill". The foreground and sky are lit by a bright waxing gibbous Moon, a day before Full, shining in the south. This was just after midnight on July 11/12, 2022. The auroral curtains exhibit the usual green band and rays, though with shades of green visible, perhaps from hydrogen-beta proton emission as well as oxygen electron emission, but also upper altitude reds and purples and a faint blue tint at the very tops where the aurora is lit by the Sun. The aurora was never bright this nig

13900221 - A subtle and pastel aurora borealis (Northern Lights) in the northeast, above a prairie meadow at "Lone Tree Hill". The foreground and sky are lit by a bright waxing gibbous Moon, a day before Full, shining in the south. This was just after midnight on July 11/12, 2022. The auroral curtains exhibit the usual green band and rays, though with shades of green visible, perhaps from hydrogen-beta proton emission as well as oxygen electron emission, but also upper altitude reds and purples and a faint blue tint at the very tops where the aurora is lit by the Sun. The aurora was never bright this nig

A composite of several exposures to stack images of five Geminid meteors into a wide view of the winter sky with Comet Wirtanen at upper right in Taurus, taken on December 12, 2018. The meteors are shooting away from the radiant point in Gemini near the bluish-white star Castor at left. The Milky Way runs vertically through the frame from Auriga at top to past Orion at bottom.

13899263 - A composite of several exposures to stack images of five Geminid meteors into a wide view of the winter sky with Comet Wirtanen at upper right in Taurus, taken on December 12, 2018. The meteors are shooting away from the radiant point in Gemini near the bluish-white star Castor at left. The Milky Way runs vertically through the frame from Auriga at top to past Orion at bottom.

The Milky Way arching over Emerald Lake and Emerald Lake Lodge in Yoho National Park, BC. This was on June 6, 2016 and despite it being about 1:30 am, the sky, especially to the north at left, is still lit by blue twilight from the short solstice night.

13898833 - The Milky Way arching over Emerald Lake and Emerald Lake Lodge in Yoho National Park, BC. This was on June 6, 2016 and despite it being about 1:30 am, the sky, especially to the north at left, is still lit by blue twilight from the short solstice night.

A panorama of an arc of noctilucent clouds over a ripening field of yellow canola, on July 14, 2022 from southern Alberta near Hussar. This was about 11:20 pm MDT with the NLCs near their peak. They reached a little higher when they first appeared a few minutes earlier in the brighter sky, but capturing them is always a balance between getting them at their maximum height vs. the darkness of the sky background to make the fainter structures stand out. The foreground is illuminated mostly by twilight, and I have brightened it to bring out the canola colours and the colour contrast between earth

13898633 - A panorama of an arc of noctilucent clouds over a ripening field of yellow canola, on July 14, 2022 from southern Alberta near Hussar. This was about 11:20 pm MDT with the NLCs near their peak. They reached a little higher when they first appeared a few minutes earlier in the brighter sky, but capturing them is always a balance between getting them at their maximum height vs. the darkness of the sky background to make the fainter structures stand out. The foreground is illuminated mostly by twilight, and I have brightened it to bring out the canola colours and the colour contrast between earth

Venus above the Pleiades star cluster, M45, on April 4, 2020, in the twilight and moonlight. Light from the gibbous Moon illuminated the sky, so no long exposure would reveal much detail in and around the Pleiades. Venus passes close to the Pleiades only every 8 years. It was closer the night before, but alas, there were clouds! Some light cloud this night added the glow.

13898569 - Venus above the Pleiades star cluster, M45, on April 4, 2020, in the twilight and moonlight. Light from the gibbous Moon illuminated the sky, so no long exposure would reveal much detail in and around the Pleiades. Venus passes close to the Pleiades only every 8 years. It was closer the night before, but alas, there were clouds! Some light cloud this night added the glow.

The rising of the Full "Hunter's Moon" of October 9, 2022, with the Moon reflected in the calm waters this night at Crawling Lake Reservoir in southern Alberta. The Moon appeared very pink as it rose into the clear sky near the horizon.

13898425 - The rising of the Full "Hunter's Moon" of October 9, 2022, with the Moon reflected in the calm waters this night at Crawling Lake Reservoir in southern Alberta. The Moon appeared very pink as it rose into the clear sky near the horizon.

13835663 - Great frigate birds, Fregata minor ridgwayi, flying against a blue sky. South Plaza Island, Galapagos, Ecuador

13826026 - Red Sky Restaurant Rooftop. Bangkok. Thailand. On the top floor of the Centara Grand skyscraper in the city centre

13826024 - Red Sky Restaurant Rooftop. Bangkok. Thailand. On the top floor of the Centara Grand skyscraper in the city centre

A row of lonely fisherman's huts stand on the stone beach. Menacing clouds in the sky. Black, white. Helgumannen fiskelage. Faroe, Gotland County, Sweden.

71417321 - A row of lonely fisherman's huts stand on the stone beach. Menacing clouds in the sky. Black, white. Helgumannen fiskelage. Faroe, Gotland County, Sweden.

71416745 - Panorama of Bassano del Grappa with the Brenta river under a cloudy sky, Veneto, Italy

71416687 - Bell tower of the Cathedral reflected in a glass building, under clouded sky Bolzano, South Tyrol, Italy

71416683 - The houses of the Old Town under blue sky, Bozen, South Tyrol, Italy

71387145 - Mountain Peak San Salvatore Above Cloudscape with Sunlight and Clear Sky in Lugano, Ticino in Switzerland.

71387126 - Snow-capped Mountain Peak Monte Rosa in a Sunny Day with Clear Sky in Ticino, Switzerland.

The stars of the northern sky over Castle Mountain in Banff National Park,Alberta. This was June 6,2023 on a very clear night,but bright with blue summer twilight at this latitude of 51° N in June. The W of Cassiopeia and the Milky Way are at right. Polaris is at top.

13999530 - The stars of the northern sky over Castle Mountain in Banff National Park,Alberta. This was June 6,2023 on a very clear night,but bright with blue summer twilight at this latitude of 51° N in June. The W of Cassiopeia and the Milky Way are at right. Polaris is at top.

A fine showing of auroral curtains in the northeastern sky,with the Big Dipper and Ursa Major at upper left,with the sky and ground also illumimnated by the light of the waxing crescent Moon. This was February 25,2023 from the observing deck at the Churchill Northern Studies Centre,Churchill,Manitoba.

13999227 - A fine showing of auroral curtains in the northeastern sky,with the Big Dipper and Ursa Major at upper left,with the sky and ground also illumimnated by the light of the waxing crescent Moon. This was February 25,2023 from the observing deck at the Churchill Northern Studies Centre,Churchill,Manitoba.

The Sun setting in a smoky and cloudy sky over the just-harvested grain field,near home in southern Alberta. In fact,the harvester machines were working the field as I shot this. This was September 3,2023.

13998336 - The Sun setting in a smoky and cloudy sky over the just-harvested grain field,near home in southern Alberta. In fact,the harvester machines were working the field as I shot this. This was September 3,2023.

A panorama of the Kp5-level aurora on May 27, 2022, from home, with the aurora displaying prominent magenta rays, created by the red oxygen emission blending with illumination from blue scattered sunlight at high altitudes, common around the summer solstice when the high atmosphere is lit all night long. As a bonus, a dim STEVE arc is forming at far right, to the south of the main auroral oval where STEVE normally appears. STEVE faded, then returned to become more strong and visible across the sky from east to west as the main aurora to the north faded.

13900512 - A panorama of the Kp5-level aurora on May 27, 2022, from home, with the aurora displaying prominent magenta rays, created by the red oxygen emission blending with illumination from blue scattered sunlight at high altitudes, common around the summer solstice when the high atmosphere is lit all night long. As a bonus, a dim STEVE arc is forming at far right, to the south of the main auroral oval where STEVE normally appears. STEVE faded, then returned to become more strong and visible across the sky from east to west as the main aurora to the north faded.

Sunset clouds and colours on December 3, 2013 from Massai Point, Chiricahua National Monument, Arizona. This is a 7-frame HDR High Dynamic Range stack to compress the high contrast from the bright sky and dark foreground into one image. Combined with Photomatix Pro. Taken with the Canon 5D MkIi and Canon 24mm lens at f/8. From images _MG_6996_6997_6998_6999_7000_7001_7002 taken at 2/3rd stop increments.

13900310 - Sunset clouds and colours on December 3, 2013 from Massai Point, Chiricahua National Monument, Arizona. This is a 7-frame HDR High Dynamic Range stack to compress the high contrast from the bright sky and dark foreground into one image. Combined with Photomatix Pro. Taken with the Canon 5D MkIi and Canon 24mm lens at f/8. From images _MG_6996_6997_6998_6999_7000_7001_7002 taken at 2/3rd stop increments.

$Mark gazing at a target, M22, in the Milky Way with his TeleVue 127 refractor at the annual Rothney Observatory Milky Way Nights for July 25, 2019. Several satellite trails mark the sky. Jupiter (brightest at right) and Saturn (at left) flank the Milky Way.$

13899336 - Mark gazing at a target, M22, in the Milky Way with his TeleVue 127 refractor at the annual Rothney Observatory Milky Way Nights for July 25, 2019. Several satellite trails mark the sky. Jupiter (brightest at right) and Saturn (at left) flank the Milky Way.

Comet Leonard (C/2021 A1) on the morning of December 10, 2021, with a 200mm telephoto lens for a field of view of 10° x 6.8°. The tail appears to be about 3.5° long here. Taken about 6:30 am MST with the comet as high as it would be, though the sky is already beginning to brighten with the blue of dawn twilight. The distinctive cyan tint of a comet's coma is prominent.

13899261 - Comet Leonard (C/2021 A1) on the morning of December 10, 2021, with a 200mm telephoto lens for a field of view of 10° x 6.8°. The tail appears to be about 3.5° long here. Taken about 6:30 am MST with the comet as high as it would be, though the sky is already beginning to brighten with the blue of dawn twilight. The distinctive cyan tint of a comet's coma is prominent.

The morning sky of January 11, 2018, with the waning crescent Moon shining above the pairing of Mars (left) and Jupiter (right). The Moon and planets are in Libra just east (left) of the star Zubenelgenubi, or Alpha Librae. Left of centre, Antares and the stars of Scorpius are just rising in the dawn twilight.

13898520 - The morning sky of January 11, 2018, with the waning crescent Moon shining above the pairing of Mars (left) and Jupiter (right). The Moon and planets are in Libra just east (left) of the star Zubenelgenubi, or Alpha Librae. Left of centre, Antares and the stars of Scorpius are just rising in the dawn twilight.

$The Full Moon rising on December 22, 2018, the day after the winter solstice, in a perfectly clear sky and over the distant horizon to the northeast over the snow-covered prairie. Some cows are grazing at left! The top edge of the Moon has a green rim and the bottom edge a red rim, from atmospheric refraction. But it made for a Christmas-coloured Moon ornament on the horizon! The dark lunar mare and even the bright rays splashing from Tycho at bottom are visible.$

13898326 - The Full Moon rising on December 22, 2018, the day after the winter solstice, in a perfectly clear sky and over the distant horizon to the northeast over the snow-covered prairie. Some cows are grazing at left! The top edge of the Moon has a green rim and the bottom edge a red rim, from atmospheric refraction. But it made for a Christmas-coloured Moon ornament on the horizon! The dark lunar mare and even the bright rays splashing from Tycho at bottom are visible.

An aurora display on the night of June 7/8, 2015 from southern Alberta, with an old rustic farm truck as the foreground. This is a frame from a 450-frame time-lapse with the Nikon D750 at ISO 1600 and the Sigma 24mm lens at f/2.8, for 8 seconds each. The foreground is from a stack of 8 images adjacent in time to the sky image stacked in Mean mode for smoothing of noise.

13898003 - An aurora display on the night of June 7/8, 2015 from southern Alberta, with an old rustic farm truck as the foreground. This is a frame from a 450-frame time-lapse with the Nikon D750 at ISO 1600 and the Sigma 24mm lens at f/2.8, for 8 seconds each. The foreground is from a stack of 8 images adjacent in time to the sky image stacked in Mean mode for smoothing of noise.

The constellation of Canis Major, including the bright star Sirius, and below it, the open cluster M41. At bottom is the loose cluster/asterism CR 140. This is a stack of 6 x 4 minute exposures at f/2.8 with the Sigma 50mm lens and Canon 60Da at ISO 800. I shot this from Coonabarabran, Australia with the constellation straight overhead. I used the iOptron Sky Tracker. High cloud added the natural glows around stars - no filter was employed here.

13897592 - The constellation of Canis Major, including the bright star Sirius, and below it, the open cluster M41. At bottom is the loose cluster/asterism CR 140. This is a stack of 6 x 4 minute exposures at f/2.8 with the Sigma 50mm lens and Canon 60Da at ISO 800. I shot this from Coonabarabran, Australia with the constellation straight overhead. I used the iOptron Sky Tracker. High cloud added the natural glows around stars - no filter was employed here.

13847535 - Ocean water, sky and white puffy clouds; Tanapag Lagoon, Saipan, Northern Marianas Islands.

13837358 - The night sky above red tinted plants. La Palma Island, Canary Islands, Spain.

13836325 - A herd of wildebeests, Connochaetes taurinus, grazing under a stormy sky with a rainbow. Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya.

13826020 - Red Sky Restaurant Rooftop. Bangkok. Thailand. On the top floor of the Centara Grand skyscraper in the city centre

The Marksburg near Braubach, headquarters of the German Castle Association, in front of a gloomy sky, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

71445885 - The Marksburg near Braubach, headquarters of the German Castle Association, in front of a gloomy sky, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany

71432598 - Double exposure of a orange residential building against a clear blue sky in Tartu, Estonia.

71388846 - Ruins of Solomon's Chapel, Allinge, Bornholm, Denmark. Wide sky.

71387982 - Lonely tree at the end of dirt road. Langeland, Denmark. Wide sky.

Bench and Cypress Tree and Lake Lugano and City with Mountain and Blue Sky in Park San Michele in Castagnola in Lugano, Ticino in Switzerland.

71387165 - Bench and Cypress Tree and Lake Lugano and City with Mountain and Blue Sky in Park San Michele in Castagnola in Lugano, Ticino in Switzerland.

71387143 - Tree with Sunbeam and Clear Sky in Ascona, switzerland.

A framing of the northern winter sky constellations of Auriga (left) and Perseus (upper right). The Messier star clusters M36,M37 and M38 in Auriga show up well at lower left,along with the Flaming Star,IC 405,and other IC nebulas in Auriga. The large nebula at bottom right is NGC 1499,the California Nebula. The grouping of blue stars at upper right is the Perseus OB Association,aka Melotte 20. Mars is at lower left in Taurus,where it was on March 17,2023.

13999351 - A framing of the northern winter sky constellations of Auriga (left) and Perseus (upper right). The Messier star clusters M36,M37 and M38 in Auriga show up well at lower left,along with the Flaming Star,IC 405,and other IC nebulas in Auriga. The large nebula at bottom right is NGC 1499,the California Nebula. The grouping of blue stars at upper right is the Perseus OB Association,aka Melotte 20. Mars is at lower left in Taurus,where it was on March 17,2023.

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).

13999116 - 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).

On August 24,2023 the waxing gibbous Moon occulted the bright star Antares in Scorpius. This is the scene about 30 minutes after the star reappeared from behind the moving Moon,and so here is a close conjunction. I missed capturing the actual occultation reappearance,though that would have been in a much brighter sky. And the Moon was low in my sky and amid the trees,here purposefully included to capture the scene low in the south,as Antares always is in late summer from my latitude of 51° N. .

13999102 - On August 24,2023 the waxing gibbous Moon occulted the bright star Antares in Scorpius. This is the scene about 30 minutes after the star reappeared from behind the moving Moon,and so here is a close conjunction. I missed capturing the actual occultation reappearance,though that would have been in a much brighter sky. And the Moon was low in my sky and amid the trees,here purposefully included to capture the scene low in the south,as Antares always is in late summer from my latitude of 51° N. .

This is a panorama of the colourful evening twilight sky over the Badlands of the Red Deer River,Alberta,taken from the Horsethief Canyon viewpoint north of Drumheller on the Dinosaur Trail. The very thin crescent Moon is in the photo,but tough to see. It is a pale crescent very low in the orange glow to the right of the grain bins at far left.

13998841 - This is a panorama of the colourful evening twilight sky over the Badlands of the Red Deer River,Alberta,taken from the Horsethief Canyon viewpoint north of Drumheller on the Dinosaur Trail. The very thin crescent Moon is in the photo,but tough to see. It is a pale crescent very low in the orange glow to the right of the grain bins at far left.

A CPR freight train eastbound through the Canadian Rockies,in the evening twilight with bright Venus in the western sky over the peaks of the Continental Divide.

13998407 - A CPR freight train eastbound through the Canadian Rockies,in the evening twilight with bright Venus in the western sky over the peaks of the Continental Divide.

This is a 300° panorama of the Northern Lights over Yellowknife, NWT on the night of Sept 6-7, 2019, during a sub-storm outbreak at 12:45 a.m. when the sky went wild with aurora. There were curtains and rays everywhere. The display soon subsided into a general wash over the sky.

13900250 - This is a 300° panorama of the Northern Lights over Yellowknife, NWT on the night of Sept 6-7, 2019, during a sub-storm outbreak at 12:45 a.m. when the sky went wild with aurora. There were curtains and rays everywhere. The display soon subsided into a general wash over the sky.