Snow 12/30/2014

The flakes were so big this afternoon, you could see their structure looking out the window.

Santa on Norad

Merry Christmas, Ruminators. See you on our next adventure!

Tornadoes in December?

It's been an atypical December in Wichita. This last week had warmer temps than normal, high humidity (with mostly drizzle for the last several days), and the big California storm inbound. Today was thick with overcast and rain, then around 6:31pm, the local National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for Reno County. A touchdown was reported 2 miles NE of Harper.  I ran out just for the chance to see lightning before the long winter set in.  By the time I was in place the storm was too far out and had lost rotation.

Black Holes

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

Solar Eclipse 10/23/2014

I tried getting some eclipse photos last Thursday but ultimately the 920nm infrared filter didn't do the trick.  This is the Keeper of the Plains at the junction of the Little and Big Arkansas Rivers.

This was taken with the infrared filter.  I'm not sure why I'm getting the line to the left of center.

Finally, a little friend that's near the Keeper of the Plain.  The Troll that lives on the Arkansas River.

Eclipse 10/08/2014

From Space.com: http://www.space.com/27338-total-lunar-eclipse-rare-sunrise-selenelion.html#

It's Been a While, Night Storm 092014

It's been another dry season.  We will take the rain when we can get it.  One previous band moved through with a lot of lightning and while heading home from an event, saw this storm building to the NW and stealing a lot of power from the previous line.  A small cold front moved though the area triggering the rain.

The storm started with a lot of lightning then suddenly died off.  These were located out between Hutchinson and Lindsborg around 10:30PM and were non-severe storms.

Ribbon of light cause by cars passing on Oliver.

Central storm.  Another developed along side it.

First nighttime pano.  30 second exposure, lights are from Valley Center.

Lots of cloud to cloud lightning, this was one of the few cloud to ground (CG) strikes.

Another CG strike

I wish I had this light trail with the previous CG strike.  I could Photoshop but have always been against Photoshoping unless it's basic adjusting.