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A composite of the Quadrantid meteor shower, on January 3, 2016, in a sequence of images shot over 2 hours from 9 to 11 pm MST from southern Alberta. This is a stack of 14 images, the best out of 600 shot that recorded meteors. The ground and sky comes from one image with the best Quad of the night, and the other images were masked and layered into that image, with no attempt to align their paths with the moving radiant point. However, over the 2 hours, the radiant point low in the north would not have moved too much, as it rose higher into the northern sky.

13899768 - A composite of the Quadrantid meteor shower, on January 3, 2016, in a sequence of images shot over 2 hours from 9 to 11 pm MST from southern Alberta. This is a stack of 14 images, the best out of 600 shot that recorded meteors. The ground and sky comes from one image with the best Quad of the night, and the other images were masked and layered into that image, with no attempt to align their paths with the moving radiant point. However, over the 2 hours, the radiant point low in the north would not have moved too much, as it rose higher into the northern sky.

$The conjunction of the waxing 4-day-old crescent Moon below the Pleiades,and set in a slightly hazy sky on March 25,2023. The haze adds the colourful "lunar corona" halo around the bright crescent of the Moon from diffraction effects in the high icy clouds. Shot before the sky got dark,the remaining twilight adds the blue to the background sky. Earthshine is visible on the dark side of the Moon.$

13998604 - 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.

A framing of the northern winter sky constellations of Gemini (left),Auriga (top) and Taurus (bottom right). The Messier star clusters M35 in Gemini,and the trio of M36,M37 and M38 in Auriga show up well. The large nebula at upper right is NGC 1499,the California Nebula in Perseus. The Flaming Star,IC 405,and other IC nebulas in Auriga are right of centre. The small round nebula at bottom is IC 2174 in northern Orion. The dark lanes of the Taurus Dark Molecular Clouds are right of centre. Mars is just below centre in Taurus,adding an extra star to this already rich area of sky and matching Ald

13998490 - A framing of the northern winter sky constellations of Gemini (left),Auriga (top) and Taurus (bottom right). The Messier star clusters M35 in Gemini,and the trio of M36,M37 and M38 in Auriga show up well. The large nebula at upper right is NGC 1499,the California Nebula in Perseus. The Flaming Star,IC 405,and other IC nebulas in Auriga are right of centre. The small round nebula at bottom is IC 2174 in northern Orion. The dark lanes of the Taurus Dark Molecular Clouds are right of centre. Mars is just below centre in Taurus,adding an extra star to this already rich area of sky and matching Ald

The galactic centre area in Sagittarius (at left) and Scorpius (at right) low in the south on a summer night at Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta. This was June 30/July 1, 2022. Being just 10 days after summer solstice and at latitude +50° North, the sky even to the south still has a blue tint from all-night twilight. I made no attempt to neutralize the sky colouration. In addition, some haze from smoke discoloured the sky and reduced transparency and contrast low in the sky.

13900618 - The galactic centre area in Sagittarius (at left) and Scorpius (at right) low in the south on a summer night at Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta. This was June 30/July 1, 2022. Being just 10 days after summer solstice and at latitude +50° North, the sky even to the south still has a blue tint from all-night twilight. I made no attempt to neutralize the sky colouration. In addition, some haze from smoke discoloured the sky and reduced transparency and contrast low in the sky.

A panorama of Lake Edith in Jasper National Park, Alberta, on a calm autumn night, looking north to the stars of Ursa Major, the Great Bear, and the Big Dipper in deep twilight. Arcturus is at far left setting in the northwest over Pyramid Mountain, while Capella in Auriga and the stars of Perseus are rising at right in the northeast. This was on a mid-October night when the Big Dipper rides low in the northern sky from this latitude of 53° N.

13899054 - A panorama of Lake Edith in Jasper National Park, Alberta, on a calm autumn night, looking north to the stars of Ursa Major, the Great Bear, and the Big Dipper in deep twilight. Arcturus is at far left setting in the northwest over Pyramid Mountain, while Capella in Auriga and the stars of Perseus are rising at right in the northeast. This was on a mid-October night when the Big Dipper rides low in the northern sky from this latitude of 53° N.

The Full Moon at the equinox, on March 20, 2019, reaching full phase only fours hours after the moment of the vernal equinox, and here captured rising very shortly before the moment of the Full Moon. I shot this while the Moon was still rising and in a deep blue sky, and tinted yellow from atmospheric absorption. Even so, this is a blend of short (for the Moon) and long (for the sky) exposures to capture the dynamic range.

13898578 - The Full Moon at the equinox, on March 20, 2019, reaching full phase only fours hours after the moment of the vernal equinox, and here captured rising very shortly before the moment of the Full Moon. I shot this while the Moon was still rising and in a deep blue sky, and tinted yellow from atmospheric absorption. Even so, this is a blend of short (for the Moon) and long (for the sky) exposures to capture the dynamic range.

The rising "supermoon" of July 12, 2022 embedded in the blue arc of Earth's shadow, rimmed by the pink Belt of Venus band of twilight colours, all over the badlands formations of Dinosaur Provincial Park on the Red Deer River in Alberta, Canada. The blue arc is the shadow of the Earth cast onto the atmosphere opposite the sunset point. The pink Belt of Venus is from red sunlight still illuminating the upper atmosphere, an effect that lasts only a few minutes at sunset or sunrise, and requires a very clear sky to show up, as it was this night.

13898526 - The rising "supermoon" of July 12, 2022 embedded in the blue arc of Earth's shadow, rimmed by the pink Belt of Venus band of twilight colours, all over the badlands formations of Dinosaur Provincial Park on the Red Deer River in Alberta, Canada. The blue arc is the shadow of the Earth cast onto the atmosphere opposite the sunset point. The pink Belt of Venus is from red sunlight still illuminating the upper atmosphere, an effect that lasts only a few minutes at sunset or sunrise, and requires a very clear sky to show up, as it was this night.

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.

13998267 - 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.

The aurora borealis, the Northern Lights, on Feb 21, 2015, from tne Churchill Northern Studies Centre, Churchill, Manitoba, This is looking north with an ultrawide 15mm lens taking in about half the sky from west (left) to east (right) and with the zenith near the top. This is a 15-second exposure at f/2.8 and ISO 3200 with the Canon 6D camera. This frame is part of a 360-frame time lapse taken over 1.5 hours.

13900598 - The aurora borealis, the Northern Lights, on Feb 21, 2015, from tne Churchill Northern Studies Centre, Churchill, Manitoba, This is looking north with an ultrawide 15mm lens taking in about half the sky from west (left) to east (right) and with the zenith near the top. This is a 15-second exposure at f/2.8 and ISO 3200 with the Canon 6D camera. This frame is part of a 360-frame time lapse taken over 1.5 hours.

The Columbia Icefields and Athabasca Glacier in Jasper National Park, just before the waning Moon rose over the mountains to light the foreground, but as it was already lighting the peaks around the Icefields. The Milky Way is fading into the blue sky of a moonlit night. The Moon is rising just left of centre below the Pleiades cluster. The Big Dipper is at far left to the north.

13898062 - The Columbia Icefields and Athabasca Glacier in Jasper National Park, just before the waning Moon rose over the mountains to light the foreground, but as it was already lighting the peaks around the Icefields. The Milky Way is fading into the blue sky of a moonlit night. The Moon is rising just left of centre below the Pleiades cluster. The Big Dipper is at far left to the north.

The International Space Station (ISS) flying away to the east over the moonlit badlands formations at Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta, on July 12, 2022, just before local midnight. The image frames the stars of Cassiopeia (upper left), Perseus (at left), Andromeda (centre) and Pegasus (at right). A couple of other fainter satellites are also in the image. Light from the almost Full Moon illuminates the sky blue and foreground a warm colour.

13898054 - The International Space Station (ISS) flying away to the east over the moonlit badlands formations at Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta, on July 12, 2022, just before local midnight. The image frames the stars of Cassiopeia (upper left), Perseus (at left), Andromeda (centre) and Pegasus (at right). A couple of other fainter satellites are also in the image. Light from the almost Full Moon illuminates the sky blue and foreground a warm colour.

Two lone Lyrid meteors on the peak of the meteor shower night,April 22,2023. Two captured out of 342 frames taken over 2 hours. The sky and ground come from the exposure with the bright meteor on it,when a dim aurora was also on the northeast horizon. The bright meteor shows the classic green to pink gradient of colours. Vega and Lyra are rising at lower centre. Deneb and Cygnus are at left. Arcturus is at upper right.

13999274 - Two lone Lyrid meteors on the peak of the meteor shower night,April 22,2023. Two captured out of 342 frames taken over 2 hours. The sky and ground come from the exposure with the bright meteor on it,when a dim aurora was also on the northeast horizon. The bright meteor shows the classic green to pink gradient of colours. Vega and Lyra are rising at lower centre. Deneb and Cygnus are at left. Arcturus is at upper right.

A 360° panorama of the winter sky over Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta, on February 28, 2017. The Milky Way arches across the sky from south (left) to northeast (right). The Zodiacal Light stretches up from the western horizon at centre. The Gegenschein is faintly visible above the horizon at far left in Leo.

13900448 - A 360° panorama of the winter sky over Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta, on February 28, 2017. The Milky Way arches across the sky from south (left) to northeast (right). The Zodiacal Light stretches up from the western horizon at centre. The Gegenschein is faintly visible above the horizon at far left in Leo.

Auroral curtains converge at the zenith in the evening twilight during a Kp Index 7 night of aurora in Churchill, Manitoba. Blue twilight adds the blue tints to the sky and curtains.

13898186 - Auroral curtains converge at the zenith in the evening twilight during a Kp Index 7 night of aurora in Churchill, Manitoba. Blue twilight adds the blue tints to the sky and curtains.

A composite stack of 12 images taken June 11/12, 2017 of the waning gibbous Moon tracking low across the southern sky on a June nght, from moonrise at left at 11:30 pm to when it began to leave the frame at right at 4 a.m. and when the sky was brightening with dawn. Images are at 25-minute intervals. The sky is blue here from the moonlight.

13897834 - A composite stack of 12 images taken June 11/12, 2017 of the waning gibbous Moon tracking low across the southern sky on a June nght, from moonrise at left at 11:30 pm to when it began to leave the frame at right at 4 a.m. and when the sky was brightening with dawn. Images are at 25-minute intervals. The sky is blue here from the moonlight.

A 360° panorama of the Saskatchewan Summer Star Party, August 4, 2016, at the Meadows Campground in Cypress Hills Inter-Provincial Park, south of Maple Creek, Saskatchewan. The Park is a Dark Sky Preserve and is home to the annual star party that attracts about 300 people and telescopes each summer.

13900603 - A 360° panorama of the Saskatchewan Summer Star Party, August 4, 2016, at the Meadows Campground in Cypress Hills Inter-Provincial Park, south of Maple Creek, Saskatchewan. The Park is a Dark Sky Preserve and is home to the annual star party that attracts about 300 people and telescopes each summer.

An observer gazes skyward with his Dobsonian reflector telescope at the Saskatchewan Summer Star Party on August 9, 2018, in the Cypress Hills of southwest Saskatchewan, at the Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, a Dark Sky Preserve. The Milky Way shines to the south. Smoke in the sky obscures the horizon somewhat.

13898570 - An observer gazes skyward with his Dobsonian reflector telescope at the Saskatchewan Summer Star Party on August 9, 2018, in the Cypress Hills of southwest Saskatchewan, at the Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, a Dark Sky Preserve. The Milky Way shines to the south. Smoke in the sky obscures the horizon somewhat.

Auroral curtains in twilight on March 14, 2018 from at sea north of Tromsø, Norway, on the Hurtigruten ship the m/s Nordnorge, with the curtains showing a purple tinge to the background sky, likely from scattered blue sunlight mixing with the red oxygen colours.

13897902 - Auroral curtains in twilight on March 14, 2018 from at sea north of Tromsø, Norway, on the Hurtigruten ship the m/s Nordnorge, with the curtains showing a purple tinge to the background sky, likely from scattered blue sunlight mixing with the red oxygen colours.

This captures the vertical sweep of the summer Milky Way over the foreground landscape of Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta. The image serves as a good illustration of the richness of objects, dark dust lanes and bright starfields along the Milky Way, from Sagittarius low in the south at bottom, to Cygnus at top. In between are Aquila and Scutum, with part of Ophiuchus at right. This was from latitude 50.5° North, where Sagittarius and the galactic centre are low in sky. The Summer Triangle stars of Deneb, Vega and Altair are at top.

13897654 - This captures the vertical sweep of the summer Milky Way over the foreground landscape of Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta. The image serves as a good illustration of the richness of objects, dark dust lanes and bright starfields along the Milky Way, from Sagittarius low in the south at bottom, to Cygnus at top. In between are Aquila and Scutum, with part of Ophiuchus at right. This was from latitude 50.5° North, where Sagittarius and the galactic centre are low in sky. The Summer Triangle stars of Deneb, Vega and Altair are at top.

$A selfie of me observing Saturn – the object to the left of the telescope - on August 28,2023,with Saturn near opposition this night,and with the almost Full Moon lighting the sky and ground,but here hidden behind the telescope. I am observing with the 30-year-old (but still superb) Astro-Physics 130EDT refractor on the AP Mach1 mount.$

13999098 - A selfie of me observing Saturn – the object to the left of the telescope - on August 28,2023,with Saturn near opposition this night,and with the almost Full Moon lighting the sky and ground,but here hidden behind the telescope. I am observing with the 30-year-old (but still superb) Astro-Physics 130EDT refractor on the AP Mach1 mount.

The unusual STEVE auroral arc over my house in southern Alberta, on May 6, 2018, on a partly cloudy night. A dim and inactive main aurora was to the north, but the Steve arc crossed the sky from east to west.

13900077 - The unusual STEVE auroral arc over my house in southern Alberta, on May 6, 2018, on a partly cloudy night. A dim and inactive main aurora was to the north, but the Steve arc crossed the sky from east to west.

$One of a short series of images showing the development of an aurora display from a classic arc into a more complex pattern of concentric arcs and with loops and swirls. This was Feb 5, 2019 from the Churchill Northern Studies Centre. The outburst lasted only 5 minutes or so and might have been due to the Bz interplanetary field turning south briefly. After this series, the display faded and fractured into faint arcs and a diffuse glow across the sky.$

13899715 - One of a short series of images showing the development of an aurora display from a classic arc into a more complex pattern of concentric arcs and with loops and swirls. This was Feb 5, 2019 from the Churchill Northern Studies Centre. The outburst lasted only 5 minutes or so and might have been due to the Bz interplanetary field turning south briefly. After this series, the display faded and fractured into faint arcs and a diffuse glow across the sky.

A vertical panorama of the summer Milky Way over the observing field at the Saskatchewan Summer Star Party, held in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park in southwest Saskatchewan, Canada, at a latitude 49° N. The Park is a Dark Sky Preserve. This was August 26, 2022 on a perfect night of stargazing under very clear skies. The Milky Way extends from Sagittarius near the horizon, to Cygnus nearly overhead at this time, so a vertical sweep of 90°. I've left the satellite trails in for this scene.

13899639 - A vertical panorama of the summer Milky Way over the observing field at the Saskatchewan Summer Star Party, held in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park in southwest Saskatchewan, Canada, at a latitude 49° N. The Park is a Dark Sky Preserve. This was August 26, 2022 on a perfect night of stargazing under very clear skies. The Milky Way extends from Sagittarius near the horizon, to Cygnus nearly overhead at this time, so a vertical sweep of 90°. I've left the satellite trails in for this scene.

A fish-eye lens / all-sky view of the STEVE aurora arc across the sky and in clouds on May 6, 2018, from home in southern Alberta, with a diffuse aurora to the north casting streaks of purple up the sky, and a green glow along the horizon. This night the aurora was very active to the north and east with a terrific display in Churchill, Manitoba about an hour before this, matching the usual STEVE characteristic of him appearing as a major storm subsides.

13898158 - A fish-eye lens / all-sky view of the STEVE aurora arc across the sky and in clouds on May 6, 2018, from home in southern Alberta, with a diffuse aurora to the north casting streaks of purple up the sky, and a green glow along the horizon. This night the aurora was very active to the north and east with a terrific display in Churchill, Manitoba about an hour before this, matching the usual STEVE characteristic of him appearing as a major storm subsides.

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.

13897774 - 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.

Sunset colours over White Sands National Monument, New Mexico, December 10, 2013. Venus is at left of centre. This is an HDR (High Dynamic Range) stack of 7 exposures at 2/3 stop increments from -2 to +2 EV, processed first with ACR then with Photomatix Pro. Images taken with the 14mm Rokinon lens at f/4 and Canon 5D MkII at ISO 100. While colour vibrancy has been enhanced the colours to the eye were quite vivid. The HDR technique brings out details in the dark ground while preserving the bright sky.

13897522 - Sunset colours over White Sands National Monument, New Mexico, December 10, 2013. Venus is at left of centre. This is an HDR (High Dynamic Range) stack of 7 exposures at 2/3 stop increments from -2 to +2 EV, processed first with ACR then with Photomatix Pro. Images taken with the 14mm Rokinon lens at f/4 and Canon 5D MkII at ISO 100. While colour vibrancy has been enhanced the colours to the eye were quite vivid. The HDR technique brings out details in the dark ground while preserving the bright sky.

The passage of the SpaceX G2-9 Starlink group at about 3:30 am on May 15,2023,with the satellite chain still bright five days after its May 10 launch from Vandenburgh Air Force Base in California. This is most of the group,though a bright leader satellite did pass by a minute prior following the same path. The satellites were predicted to be magntiude 3.0 but appear as bright as first magnitude stars. This is looking northwest toward the Big Dipper at top. The glow of morning twilight brightening the sky. The satellite train is traveling from left to right here,from southwest to north. This is

13999617 - The passage of the SpaceX G2-9 Starlink group at about 3:30 am on May 15,2023,with the satellite chain still bright five days after its May 10 launch from Vandenburgh Air Force Base in California. This is most of the group,though a bright leader satellite did pass by a minute prior following the same path. The satellites were predicted to be magntiude 3.0 but appear as bright as first magnitude stars. This is looking northwest toward the Big Dipper at top. The glow of morning twilight brightening the sky. The satellite train is traveling from left to right here,from southwest to north. This is

The rising Full Moon of January 6,2023 over the Badlands of Horseshoe Canyon,near Drumheller,Alberta. Here the Moon is set a dark blue crepuscular ray (or more correctly,anti-crepuscular ray) converging on the point directly opposite the Sun. The ray was a shadow cast by clouds in the west,which parted enough for a few moments for the setting Sun to light the foreground,making for a colourful contrast between ground and sky.

13998445 - The rising Full Moon of January 6,2023 over the Badlands of Horseshoe Canyon,near Drumheller,Alberta. Here the Moon is set a dark blue crepuscular ray (or more correctly,anti-crepuscular ray) converging on the point directly opposite the Sun. The ray was a shadow cast by clouds in the west,which parted enough for a few moments for the setting Sun to light the foreground,making for a colourful contrast between ground and sky.

The rising Full Moon of January 6,2023 over the Badlands of Horseshoe Canyon,near Drumheller,Alberta. Here the Moon is set in the pink Belt of Venus and with dark blue crepuscular rays (or more correctly,anti-crepuscular rays) converging on the point directly opposite the Sun. The rays are shadows cast by clouds in the west,which parted enough for a few moments for the setting Sun to light the foreground,making for a colourful contrast between ground and sky.

13998361 - The rising Full Moon of January 6,2023 over the Badlands of Horseshoe Canyon,near Drumheller,Alberta. Here the Moon is set in the pink Belt of Venus and with dark blue crepuscular rays (or more correctly,anti-crepuscular rays) converging on the point directly opposite the Sun. The rays are shadows cast by clouds in the west,which parted enough for a few moments for the setting Sun to light the foreground,making for a colourful contrast between ground and sky.

Orion setting in deep twilight sky with stars in abundance but the sky still deep blue, from Australia with Orion “upside down.” The Saucepan asterism popular in Australia is visible here, made of the Belt stars, and stars in the Sword and the star to the left of the bottom star in the Belt here.

13900401 - Orion setting in deep twilight sky with stars in abundance but the sky still deep blue, from Australia with Orion “upside down.” The Saucepan asterism popular in Australia is visible here, made of the Belt stars, and stars in the Sword and the star to the left of the bottom star in the Belt here.

The northern circumpolar sky with the Big Dipper at right rising, and Deneb in Cygnus and Vega in Lyra at left settting, over the moonlit badland hills of Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta, on November 27, 2017. The Dipper points up to Polaris and the Little Dipper. The Moon was a day past first quarter. Polaris and the Little Dipper are at centre, so this is looking north to the circumpolar sky.

13898992 - The northern circumpolar sky with the Big Dipper at right rising, and Deneb in Cygnus and Vega in Lyra at left settting, over the moonlit badland hills of Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta, on November 27, 2017. The Dipper points up to Polaris and the Little Dipper. The Moon was a day past first quarter. Polaris and the Little Dipper are at centre, so this is looking north to the circumpolar sky.

Orion at right, rising into the dawn sky on an August morning at Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan, August 26, 2019. The waning crescent Moon is bright in the clouds at left. Castor and Pollux in Gemini are at left of the tree,; Procyon is rising to the right of the tree. Taken from the Two Trees Road — this is one of the trees!

13898354 - Orion at right, rising into the dawn sky on an August morning at Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan, August 26, 2019. The waning crescent Moon is bright in the clouds at left. Castor and Pollux in Gemini are at left of the tree,; Procyon is rising to the right of the tree. Taken from the Two Trees Road — this is one of the trees!

This is a 180° panorama of the night sky over the hoodoo formations of Bryce Canyon National Park,Utah,at Sunset Point. The panorama extends from the northeast (at left) where the autumn Milky Way is rising,to the southwest (at right) where the summer Milky Way and galactic core in Sagitarius are setting. This was October 11,2023. The most notable feature is the prominent arc of green airglow bands across the eastern sky,a natural sky phenemenon. Perseus is at left in the Milky Way. At top at left is the Andromeda Galaxy,M31. Below it is the blue Triangulum Galaxy,M33. Jupiter is the bright ob

13999548 - This is a 180° panorama of the night sky over the hoodoo formations of Bryce Canyon National Park,Utah,at Sunset Point. The panorama extends from the northeast (at left) where the autumn Milky Way is rising,to the southwest (at right) where the summer Milky Way and galactic core in Sagitarius are setting. This was October 11,2023. The most notable feature is the prominent arc of green airglow bands across the eastern sky,a natural sky phenemenon. Perseus is at left in the Milky Way. At top at left is the Andromeda Galaxy,M31. Below it is the blue Triangulum Galaxy,M33. Jupiter is the bright ob

The rising of the Full Moon just before Easter weekend,on Wednesday,April 5,2023,with Good Friday two days later on April 7. The Moon appears quite pink and in a bright blue sky,as moonrise this night was a few minutes before sunset. However,the Sun was in clouds to the northwest and not lighting the foreground.

13999483 - The rising of the Full Moon just before Easter weekend,on Wednesday,April 5,2023,with Good Friday two days later on April 7. The Moon appears quite pink and in a bright blue sky,as moonrise this night was a few minutes before sunset. However,the Sun was in clouds to the northwest and not lighting the foreground.

The Coma Berenices star cluster, aka Mel 111, with star glows added from haze in the sky to accentuate the star colours. The edge-on galaxy NGC 4565 (the Needle Galaxy) is at lower left; the spiral galaxy NGC 4559 is at upper left. Several other smaller NGC galaxies are in the field, which is similar to the field of view of binoculars.

13900479 - The Coma Berenices star cluster, aka Mel 111, with star glows added from haze in the sky to accentuate the star colours. The edge-on galaxy NGC 4565 (the Needle Galaxy) is at lower left; the spiral galaxy NGC 4559 is at upper left. Several other smaller NGC galaxies are in the field, which is similar to the field of view of binoculars.

A panorama of the glacier-fed Athabasca River and peaks around Mount Fryatt in Jasper National Park, as the Milky Way is setting and the waning gibbous Moon rising, lighting the peaks of the Continental DIvide with lunar alpenglow. Mount Fryatt is at centre, while to the right is Mount Geraldine, and to the left are Brussels Peak and Mount Christie. Jasper is one of the world's largest Dark Sky Preserves.

13899099 - A panorama of the glacier-fed Athabasca River and peaks around Mount Fryatt in Jasper National Park, as the Milky Way is setting and the waning gibbous Moon rising, lighting the peaks of the Continental DIvide with lunar alpenglow. Mount Fryatt is at centre, while to the right is Mount Geraldine, and to the left are Brussels Peak and Mount Christie. Jasper is one of the world's largest Dark Sky Preserves.

An all-sky aurora from Churchill, Manitoba, on Feb 17, 2015, in a frame from a 250-frame time-lapse movie. Taken from the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, using an 8mm Sigma fish-eye lens on the Canon 6D for a 360° view of the sky, though with the camera titled about 25° to create an image suitable for projection in a tilted-dome digital planetarium. This a 15-second exposure at ISO 3200 and f/3.5. The temperature was about -30° C.

13898238 - An all-sky aurora from Churchill, Manitoba, on Feb 17, 2015, in a frame from a 250-frame time-lapse movie. Taken from the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, using an 8mm Sigma fish-eye lens on the Canon 6D for a 360° view of the sky, though with the camera titled about 25° to create an image suitable for projection in a tilted-dome digital planetarium. This a 15-second exposure at ISO 3200 and f/3.5. The temperature was about -30° C.

The late-night spring Milky Way from my rural backyard in Alberta (latitude 51° N) on a fine May night in 2020, with the waxing Moon just setting and lighting the landscape and sky. Jupiter (brightest) and Saturn to the east (left) are just rising together at left, east of the Milky Way. West of the galactic centre at right is red Antares in Scorpius. The Small Sagittarius and Scutum starclouds are prominent at centre, with their various Messier nebulas and star clusters visible.

13898150 - The late-night spring Milky Way from my rural backyard in Alberta (latitude 51° N) on a fine May night in 2020, with the waxing Moon just setting and lighting the landscape and sky. Jupiter (brightest) and Saturn to the east (left) are just rising together at left, east of the Milky Way. West of the galactic centre at right is red Antares in Scorpius. The Small Sagittarius and Scutum starclouds are prominent at centre, with their various Messier nebulas and star clusters visible.

The 2016 Perseid meteor shower, in a view looking north to the Big Dipper and with the radiant point in Perseus at upper right, the point where the meteors appear to be streaking from. I shot this on the peak night of the shower, August 11/12 after moonset so the sky was dark and in fact filled with bright airglow, appearing here as bands of green and yellow, mixed with a low-level aurora to the north as well. While it looks like the sky has artificial light pollution, the glows here are natural, from aurora and airglow.

13897964 - The 2016 Perseid meteor shower, in a view looking north to the Big Dipper and with the radiant point in Perseus at upper right, the point where the meteors appear to be streaking from. I shot this on the peak night of the shower, August 11/12 after moonset so the sky was dark and in fact filled with bright airglow, appearing here as bands of green and yellow, mixed with a low-level aurora to the north as well. While it looks like the sky has artificial light pollution, the glows here are natural, from aurora and airglow.

The planets Venus (brightest at centre) and Mars (upper left of Venus) in the moonlit and twilight sky over the front ranges of the Rocky Mountains. The stars Castor and Pollux in Gemini are above Venus. The star cluster Messier 44,the Beehive,in Cancer is to the left of Mars. This was May 27,2023,from the Sierra Cabins West property near Lundbreck,Alberta,shot during a workshop as part of the program for the Lightchasers Conference held in Pincher Creek,Alberta. Illumination is by moonlight and by a low-level lighting warm LED panel. The sky is blue with light from the waxing quarter Moon off

13998603 - The planets Venus (brightest at centre) and Mars (upper left of Venus) in the moonlit and twilight sky over the front ranges of the Rocky Mountains. The stars Castor and Pollux in Gemini are above Venus. The star cluster Messier 44,the Beehive,in Cancer is to the left of Mars. This was May 27,2023,from the Sierra Cabins West property near Lundbreck,Alberta,shot during a workshop as part of the program for the Lightchasers Conference held in Pincher Creek,Alberta. Illumination is by moonlight and by a low-level lighting warm LED panel. The sky is blue with light from the waxing quarter Moon off

A composite of the November 11, 2019 Transit of Mercury across the disk of the Sun, on a day with no sunspots on the Sun. The temperature was about -20° C to -15° C this morning but the sky was perfectly clear.

13899770 - A composite of the November 11, 2019 Transit of Mercury across the disk of the Sun, on a day with no sunspots on the Sun. The temperature was about -20° C to -15° C this morning but the sky was perfectly clear.

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.

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.

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:

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.

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.

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 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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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 360° panorama of the spring sky over the Badlands of Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta, on March 29, 2019, with the winter Milky Way and constellations setting at centre, and the spring constellations filling the sky at left and right. At centre is also the tapering pyramid-shaped glow of the Zodiacal Light, which continues to the left across the sky as the Zodiacal Band and brightening at far right above the horizon as the Gegenschein. Urban sky glows from Brooks and Calgary mar the horizon with white and yellow glows. Mars is just below the Pleiades at centre in the Zodiacal Light.

13900083 - A 360° panorama of the spring sky over the Badlands of Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta, on March 29, 2019, with the winter Milky Way and constellations setting at centre, and the spring constellations filling the sky at left and right. At centre is also the tapering pyramid-shaped glow of the Zodiacal Light, which continues to the left across the sky as the Zodiacal Band and brightening at far right above the horizon as the Gegenschein. Urban sky glows from Brooks and Calgary mar the horizon with white and yellow glows. Mars is just below the Pleiades at centre in the Zodiacal Light.

The summer Milky Way over and reflected in the relatively calm water of Pyramid Lake in Jasper National Park, on a mid-October night. The Jasper Sky Tram adds the lights on Whistler Peak. Bands of airglow tint the sky with red. Lights from the Jasper townsite, still mostly unshielded sodium vapour lights as of 2022, add the skyglow at left. Altair is the bright star at top. The red Lagoon Nebula is just setting behind the mountain skyline. The slight wind rippled the water enough to prevent a perfect reflection.

13898290 - The summer Milky Way over and reflected in the relatively calm water of Pyramid Lake in Jasper National Park, on a mid-October night. The Jasper Sky Tram adds the lights on Whistler Peak. Bands of airglow tint the sky with red. Lights from the Jasper townsite, still mostly unshielded sodium vapour lights as of 2022, add the skyglow at left. Altair is the bright star at top. The red Lagoon Nebula is just setting behind the mountain skyline. The slight wind rippled the water enough to prevent a perfect reflection.

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.

13998596 - 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.

An overhead pass of the International Space Station in a bright moonlit sky on the night of May 31/ June 1, 2015, with the gibbous Moon in to the south, below. The view is looking south, with the ISS travelling from right (west) to left (east) over several minutes. This was the second pass of a 4-pass night, May 31/June 1, starting at 12:44 am MDT this morning.

13900092 - An overhead pass of the International Space Station in a bright moonlit sky on the night of May 31/ June 1, 2015, with the gibbous Moon in to the south, below. The view is looking south, with the ISS travelling from right (west) to left (east) over several minutes. This was the second pass of a 4-pass night, May 31/June 1, starting at 12:44 am MDT this morning.

Horizon-to-zenith panorama of the northern winter sky, from Canis Major in the south just above the horizon to Cassiopeia past the zenith at the top of the frame. Capella is near the zenith above centre. The extra star at left is Mars, just 10 days past opposition, on Feb. 9, 2010, when it was just above the Beehive star cluster. Taken with Canon 5DMkII and Canon 15mm lens, at f/5 for stack of 3 exposures x 4.5 minutes each at ISO 800. Two exposures had frost on the lens, thus the big star haloes. Taken from southern Alberta, Canada.

13899690 - Horizon-to-zenith panorama of the northern winter sky, from Canis Major in the south just above the horizon to Cassiopeia past the zenith at the top of the frame. Capella is near the zenith above centre. The extra star at left is Mars, just 10 days past opposition, on Feb. 9, 2010, when it was just above the Beehive star cluster. Taken with Canon 5DMkII and Canon 15mm lens, at f/5 for stack of 3 exposures x 4.5 minutes each at ISO 800. Two exposures had frost on the lens, thus the big star haloes. Taken from southern Alberta, Canada.

A wide-angle view of the total eclipse of the Moon of November 8, 2022, with the red Moon at right amid the stars of the northern winter sky and Milky Way, plus with bright red Mars at top. Above and left of the Moon is the blue Pleiades star cluster, while below it and to the left is the larger Hyades cluster with reddish Aldebaran in Taurus. The stars of Orion are left of centre, including reddish Betelgeuse, while at far left are the two Dog Stars: Procyon, at top, in Canis Minor, and Sirius, at bottom, in Canis Major.

13899282 - A wide-angle view of the total eclipse of the Moon of November 8, 2022, with the red Moon at right amid the stars of the northern winter sky and Milky Way, plus with bright red Mars at top. Above and left of the Moon is the blue Pleiades star cluster, while below it and to the left is the larger Hyades cluster with reddish Aldebaran in Taurus. The stars of Orion are left of centre, including reddish Betelgeuse, while at far left are the two Dog Stars: Procyon, at top, in Canis Minor, and Sirius, at bottom, in Canis Major.

The Hyades star cluster with the red giant star Aldebaran (looking yellow here) in Taurus the bull in the winter sky. The field is similar to what a pair of large binoculars would show. I shot this from home Nov. 25, 2019.

13899011 - The Hyades star cluster with the red giant star Aldebaran (looking yellow here) in Taurus the bull in the winter sky. The field is similar to what a pair of large binoculars would show. I shot this from home Nov. 25, 2019.

The Milky Way over the old corral at the site of the 76 Ranch in the Frenchman Valley in Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan. I shot this Aug 26 on a perfect night, with aurora beginning to kick up but still low in brightness when I shot this so the sky was dark. The foreground is lit by starlight, by the aurora brightening in the north, and by the occasional flashes of spotlights from naturalists down the valley spotting for nocturnal ferrets. The green bands in the sky are from natural airglow.

13898902 - The Milky Way over the old corral at the site of the 76 Ranch in the Frenchman Valley in Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan. I shot this Aug 26 on a perfect night, with aurora beginning to kick up but still low in brightness when I shot this so the sky was dark. The foreground is lit by starlight, by the aurora brightening in the north, and by the occasional flashes of spotlights from naturalists down the valley spotting for nocturnal ferrets. The green bands in the sky are from natural airglow.

Comet NEOWISE (C/2020 F3) over the still waters this night of Crawling Lake in southern Alberta. This was early in the evening with the sky still brightly coloured with twilight. The comet was in the southern part of Ursa Major between the pairs of stars called Tania and Talitha. The clouds that were present nicely framed the scene and reflected in the water as well. The comet was too high to be visible as a reflection at this time.

13898812 - Comet NEOWISE (C/2020 F3) over the still waters this night of Crawling Lake in southern Alberta. This was early in the evening with the sky still brightly coloured with twilight. The comet was in the southern part of Ursa Major between the pairs of stars called Tania and Talitha. The clouds that were present nicely framed the scene and reflected in the water as well. The comet was too high to be visible as a reflection at this time.

Circumpolar star trails on a moonlit night in the Gila National Forest in southern New Mexico, north of Pinos Altos. Polaris is at upper left, the Little Dipper hanging below it, and the stars of the Big Dipper are rising at right, with the end star of the handle still to clear the horizon. Illumination is from the waxing quarter Moon. The night had a lot of high cloud drifting through, adding the streaks and patchiness to the sky.

13898793 - Circumpolar star trails on a moonlit night in the Gila National Forest in southern New Mexico, north of Pinos Altos. Polaris is at upper left, the Little Dipper hanging below it, and the stars of the Big Dipper are rising at right, with the end star of the handle still to clear the horizon. Illumination is from the waxing quarter Moon. The night had a lot of high cloud drifting through, adding the streaks and patchiness to the sky.

71387156 - Mountain Range on the Border to Italy on Lake Lugano with Snow and Sunlight on a Clear Sky in Caslano, Ticino in Switzerland.

The Orion Nebula complex consisting of M42, M43 and the reflection nebula area known as the Running Man Nebula, NGC 1973-5-7. NGC 1981 is the blue star cluster at top north edge. North is up, though in the sky from Australia where this was shot the object appeared upside down compared to this northern-centric view.

13899999 - The Orion Nebula complex consisting of M42, M43 and the reflection nebula area known as the Running Man Nebula, NGC 1973-5-7. NGC 1981 is the blue star cluster at top north edge. North is up, though in the sky from Australia where this was shot the object appeared upside down compared to this northern-centric view.

13899177 - A composite of the November 11, 2019 Transit of Mercury across the disk of the Sun, on a day with no sunspots on the Sun. The temperature was about -20° C to -15° C this morning but the sky was perfectly clear.

This is the line-up of planets across the southwestern sky on December 6, 2021, consisting of (L to R): Jupiter, Saturn and Venus, with the 2.5-day-old waxing crescent Moon in conjunction below Venus. The Moon had eclipsed the Sun two days before on December 4, when it was on the ecliptic. Two days later it was below the ecliptic line. Jupiter and Saturn are in Capricornus, with its stars all visible here in the evening twilight. The three planets are nicely equally spaced. Such an array makes the ecliptic line visible.

13897791 - This is the line-up of planets across the southwestern sky on December 6, 2021, consisting of (L to R): Jupiter, Saturn and Venus, with the 2.5-day-old waxing crescent Moon in conjunction below Venus. The Moon had eclipsed the Sun two days before on December 4, when it was on the ecliptic. Two days later it was below the ecliptic line. Jupiter and Saturn are in Capricornus, with its stars all visible here in the evening twilight. The three planets are nicely equally spaced. Such an array makes the ecliptic line visible.

The Zodiacal Light in the the late autumn evening sky from Arizona, overlooking the Chiricahua Mountains near Portal, AZ. The Zodiacal Light exends up from the horizon to the angled following the ecliptic. The summer Milky Way setting into the southwest extends up from the horizon to the right, running through the middle of the Summer Triangle stars. A satellite streaks across the Zodiacal Light, in a flaring path. I shot this from the field at Quailway Cottage.

13897563 - The Zodiacal Light in the the late autumn evening sky from Arizona, overlooking the Chiricahua Mountains near Portal, AZ. The Zodiacal Light exends up from the horizon to the angled following the ecliptic. The summer Milky Way setting into the southwest extends up from the horizon to the right, running through the middle of the Summer Triangle stars. A satellite streaks across the Zodiacal Light, in a flaring path. I shot this from the field at Quailway Cottage.

71428142 - Stone Bench with View to Lombardy in Italy and Lake Lugano with Mountain and Blue Clear Sky From Morcote, Ticino, switzerland.

A display of aurora borealis in a curving arc of parallel curtains and swirls in the northeastern sky on a Kp5 night,February 22,2023. The curtains display a yellowing tint toward the horizon. This was from the snowmobile trail down to the frozen ponds on the north side of the Churchill Northern Studies Centre in Churchill,Manitoba.

13998697 - A display of aurora borealis in a curving arc of parallel curtains and swirls in the northeastern sky on a Kp5 night,February 22,2023. The curtains display a yellowing tint toward the horizon. This was from the snowmobile trail down to the frozen ponds on the north side of the Churchill Northern Studies Centre in Churchill,Manitoba.

Our group of Learning Vacations tourists enjoy the start of a fine display of Northern Lights at the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, March 6, 2016. As curtains appear to the east, another array of curtains shines to the west behind them with a strong purple tint lighting the sky and ground. The Andromeda Galaxy sits amid the curtains.

13898127 - Our group of Learning Vacations tourists enjoy the start of a fine display of Northern Lights at the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, March 6, 2016. As curtains appear to the east, another array of curtains shines to the west behind them with a strong purple tint lighting the sky and ground. The Andromeda Galaxy sits amid the curtains.

A line-up across the southwestern sky on December 5, 2021, consisting of (L to R): Jupiter, Saturn and Venus (brightest), with Jupiter and Saturn in Capricornus, with its stars all visible here though dim in the twilight. The three planets are nicely equally spaced here. Such an array makes the ecliptic line visible.

13897703 - A line-up across the southwestern sky on December 5, 2021, consisting of (L to R): Jupiter, Saturn and Venus (brightest), with Jupiter and Saturn in Capricornus, with its stars all visible here though dim in the twilight. The three planets are nicely equally spaced here. Such an array makes the ecliptic line visible.

The Milky Way over Athabasca Glacier and the Columbia Icefields in Jasper National Park, Sept 14, 2014 on a very clear night before moonrise. The centre of the Galaxy area in Sagittarius is setting in the southwest behind the Icefields. The foreground light on the moraines is wash from lights on the Glacier View Inn and Icefields Centre. Other ground illumination on the peaks is from starlight though the tops of the peaks are just being lit by light from the rising waning Moon which is also beginning to light the sky a deep blue. Mt. Andromeda is at left. The Summer Triangle stars are at centr

13899985 - The Milky Way over Athabasca Glacier and the Columbia Icefields in Jasper National Park, Sept 14, 2014 on a very clear night before moonrise. The centre of the Galaxy area in Sagittarius is setting in the southwest behind the Icefields. The foreground light on the moraines is wash from lights on the Glacier View Inn and Icefields Centre. Other ground illumination on the peaks is from starlight though the tops of the peaks are just being lit by light from the rising waning Moon which is also beginning to light the sky a deep blue. Mt. Andromeda is at left. The Summer Triangle stars are at centr

The curtains of an early evening aurora starting to dance in the twilight and with the western sky lit by moonlight from the waxing gibbous Moon low in the sky and off-frame to the right. Its low altitude projected a warm illumination across the autumn coloured scene. This is from the Cameron River viewpoint off the Ramparts falls trail on the Ingraham trail near Yellowknife.

13899902 - The curtains of an early evening aurora starting to dance in the twilight and with the western sky lit by moonlight from the waxing gibbous Moon low in the sky and off-frame to the right. Its low altitude projected a warm illumination across the autumn coloured scene. This is from the Cameron River viewpoint off the Ramparts falls trail on the Ingraham trail near Yellowknife.

The galactic core area of the Milky Way over Maskinonge Pond in Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta. Jupiter is the bright object at left, with Saturn dimmer to the left (east) of Jupiter. In the summer of 2020 the two planets were close together in the summer sky. Jupiter provides the glitter path on the water. Antares and Scorpius are to the right. Sagittarius is at centre. This was July 13-14, 2020.

13899576 - The galactic core area of the Milky Way over Maskinonge Pond in Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta. Jupiter is the bright object at left, with Saturn dimmer to the left (east) of Jupiter. In the summer of 2020 the two planets were close together in the summer sky. Jupiter provides the glitter path on the water. Antares and Scorpius are to the right. Sagittarius is at centre. This was July 13-14, 2020.

A blend of images to show the stars of the southern sky moving from east to west (left to right) over the peaks of the Continental Divide at Herbert Lake near Lake Louise, in Banff, Alberta. The main peak at left is Mount Temple.

13899127 - A blend of images to show the stars of the southern sky moving from east to west (left to right) over the peaks of the Continental Divide at Herbert Lake near Lake Louise, in Banff, Alberta. The main peak at left is Mount Temple.

71428140 - View to Lombardy in Italy and Lake Lugano with Mountain and Blue Clear Sky From Morcote, Ticino, switzerland.

Cassiopeia and the northern stars over Red Rock Canyon in Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta, with illumination from a waxing gibbous Moon. This is a composite of three 30-second exposures for the ground to smooth noise and one 30-second exposure for the sky, all with the 24mm lens at f/3.5 and Canon 6D at ISO 1600.

13899227 - Cassiopeia and the northern stars over Red Rock Canyon in Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta, with illumination from a waxing gibbous Moon. This is a composite of three 30-second exposures for the ground to smooth noise and one 30-second exposure for the sky, all with the 24mm lens at f/3.5 and Canon 6D at ISO 1600.

A panorama of the Badlands and evening twilight sky over the curve of the Red Deer River, Alberta, from the Orkney Viewpoint on the west side of the river, overlooking the formations of the Horsethief Canyon area to the east. This was May 21, 2022.

13898063 - A panorama of the Badlands and evening twilight sky over the curve of the Red Deer River, Alberta, from the Orkney Viewpoint on the west side of the river, overlooking the formations of the Horsethief Canyon area to the east. This was May 21, 2022.

13998363 - This is Venus (brightest) and dim Mecury (low and to the left in the twilight) in the dawn sky as morning stars.

The Big Dipper reflected in the still waters of the lake at Police Outpost Provincial Park, in southern Alberta, on September 26, 2016, with an aurora to the north at right. Only in autumn can one shoot the Dipper reflected in the water in the evening sky, as it is then riding low along the northern horizon. This is from a latitude of 49° N where the Dipper is circumpolar. It is also called the Plough in Great Britain.

13900144 - The Big Dipper reflected in the still waters of the lake at Police Outpost Provincial Park, in southern Alberta, on September 26, 2016, with an aurora to the north at right. Only in autumn can one shoot the Dipper reflected in the water in the evening sky, as it is then riding low along the northern horizon. This is from a latitude of 49° N where the Dipper is circumpolar. It is also called the Plough in Great Britain.

The Milky Way over the side pond at Emerald Lake, Yoho National Park, BC., from the bridge to the Lodge. Lights from the Lodge illuminate the trees. Perpetual twilight near solstice (I shot this JUne 6, 2016) lights the sky deep blue. Saturn is the bright object in haze shining through the trees at right.

13900043 - The Milky Way over the side pond at Emerald Lake, Yoho National Park, BC., from the bridge to the Lodge. Lights from the Lodge illuminate the trees. Perpetual twilight near solstice (I shot this JUne 6, 2016) lights the sky deep blue. Saturn is the bright object in haze shining through the trees at right.

The close conjunction of the waxing crescent Moon near Venus in the evening sky, from the Storm Mountain viewpoint on the Bow Valley Parkway in Banff National Park, Alberta, on July 15, 2018. The mountains to the west define the Continental Divide. The Bow River and the CPR tracks wind off into the distance.

13899836 - The close conjunction of the waxing crescent Moon near Venus in the evening sky, from the Storm Mountain viewpoint on the Bow Valley Parkway in Banff National Park, Alberta, on July 15, 2018. The mountains to the west define the Continental Divide. The Bow River and the CPR tracks wind off into the distance.

Venus (at left) and Jupiter close together in the dawn sky, and to the east of Scorpius, here at right, with reddish Antares between the trees. This was January 26, 2019. The two planets were closer together earlier in the week but clouds got in the way! Illumination is from the waning gibbous Moon off frame at right.

13899001 - Venus (at left) and Jupiter close together in the dawn sky, and to the east of Scorpius, here at right, with reddish Antares between the trees. This was January 26, 2019. The two planets were closer together earlier in the week but clouds got in the way! Illumination is from the waning gibbous Moon off frame at right.