Space

Took a little vacation and tried an experiment.

International Space Station

On December 28th, the International Space Station passed almost directly overhead.  Lights on the clouds were from nearby light pollution.  Cassiopeia is to the right.

Dark Matter?

Some days, I thought about changing the blog's name to Head in the Clouds, Mind's out in Space.  Storms will be here soon, my friends.



Source SPACE.com: All about our solar system, outer space and exploration

The End of the World as We Know It.

It's been a slow weather season around Oz but rain and a little thunder is expected this weekend.  Until then, something in the night sky that used to bring the downfall of kings and nations . . .



Source SPACE.com: All about our solar system, outer space and exploration

Our Previously Unknown Neighbor

Source SPACE.com: All about our solar system, outer space and exploration

But You Will Never Know the Wonders I've Seen

I was a huge fan of Farscape when it was on, now with the magic of Netflix I've been catching up on past episodes.  Really one of the best sci-fi shows on TV.

There are clouds on the horizon and a cold front on the way, but we've only received 0.11" of rain this month and everything is parched.  There is only a 30% chance of rain. Hope for the best.

Instead of pictures of scorched earth and dying corn stalks, something a little different.

Space Stuff per Space.com.




Source Space.com: All about our solar system, outer space and exploration

New Camera

New camera is in my hands and a handy dandy lightning detector arrived as well.

Last night with after a week of nearly continuous rain, we had clear sky.  Just after sundown I went out and shot this off the deck.  I'm still a little too close to the city, but this gave me an idea what I can do.

There are several issues I realized.  I need a shutter release or timed release, I'm too close to city lights, out of focus but as stated, these are some of my first shots.  More to come on clear nights and when storms hit the area.

The bright spot on the picture is Venus, below in the tree is Jupiter.  Looking due west at 9:00pm.

First . . . a sign

Per Spaceweather.com: A NIGHT TO REMEMBER: A coronal mass ejection (CME) hit Earth's magnetic field around noon Universal Time on Sept. 26th. The impact set the stage for a night to remember. As soon as darkness fell over Scandinavia, auroras filled the sky with such intensity that they were visible through rain clouds. Fredrik Broms photographed the scene from Kvaløya, Norway:

Maybe if you squint hard enough, the violent space weather will be visible in the upper Midwest.