Lunar Eclipse 05/15/2022

Sunday we were treated to a full moon, mostly clear sky, and Earth's shadow.

not too much on the horizon as temperatures warm up but maybe hoping for one more chase this year.

Eclipse 2017

There really isn't much to say about the Great American Eclipse.  I started the morning looking at weather reports and expected cloud cover and made the decision to head to central Nebraska.

Our original target of Atchinson ended up getting heavy rain, although they did spot totality.  We ended up at Alexandria State Recreation Area which was a beautiful site, but the weather did not cooperate.  We had some large thunderstorms build and brought in a lot of clouds.

For the first time in my chase career, we ran away from clouds.  Luckily, the sun peaked out and I was able to capture quite a few shots before ending up in Bruning, Nebraska.

I'm still going through more pictures and will post more soon.

Eclipse 2027 Part Deux

Continuation . . .

Lake Afton Photo Program

Lake Afton is a public observatory that closed last year.  A group of dedicated and passionate astronomers ended up securing and reopening the observatory.  I took part in a Jupiter session several years ago where I captured the bands and Galilean moons.

This was a simple, come out and photograph the moon.  With some of their suggestions, I captured this.

Blood Moon April 15, 2014

Pics from the blood moon.

 

The moon, Spica, and Mars

More Eclipse Info

. . . and the Moon Will Turn Blood Red

Eclipses usually foretold disaster.  The Norse believed the wolf Hati devoured the moon and we were seeing her blood.  The blood moon will begin tonight and last for several hours in different phases across the US.  This blood moon also coordinates with Passover and the exodus of Egypt and the plagues that hit Egypt.  Now we understand that the shadow of the Earth passes between the Sun and Moon, casting it into shadow.  The work of the atmosphere does the rest.  Luckily, I have a better camera to get this one, barring a cloudy night sky, we will see.  After temps a couple days ago in the 80's, tonight will be a balmy 27 degrees.

Drought and A Little Relief

Last month we received 0.22" of rain.  Cracks are staring to form in the soil where the grass has given up the ghost.  July tied for the 4th hottest in our history.  2011 was the 2nd hottest.  So as we are waiting for dustbowls and locusts a small cold front fired through last night.

Corn or what's left of it

At least something is growing

I thought I heard something and went outside to look, a bolt of lightning hit less than a mile from the house.  I miss lightning but in conditions like this, CG (cloud to ground) strikes can cause bad fires.

Starlight, moonlight, city lights

Moon breaking through

Welcome to the Dry Season

Not too much going on weather wise. Dry, hot, and fire season. The moon looked awesome 4th of July eve. I saw it rising red as we left the fireworks stand, ran home and got the camera.

Super Moon 05042012 & 05052012

Late Lament by Graeme Edge

Almost full just a slight hint of shadow on the left

Breathe deep the gathering gloom

Watch lights fade from every room

Bed sitter people look back and lament

Another day's useless energy is spent

Impassioned lovers wrestle as one

Lonely man cries for love and has none

New mother picks up and suckles her son

Senior citizens wish they were young

Cold-hearted orb that rules the night

Removes the colors from our sight

Red is grey and yellow white

But we decide which is right

And which is an illusion

Long exposure of faint jet contrail overhead

Being artistic, wife and I, standing on the deck lit by moon and a distant porchlight

Venus through the trees.

Supermoon