Chasing the Aurora

Looking across Buzzards Bay

There was a notification that solar flare would hit the earth on November 2nd and 3rd with levels that should make it visible as far south as Pennsylvania.  We spent the portion of both nights looking for the Aurora.  The first night was at Gooseberry and the second night was half at the stone barn and half at Gooseberry.

Orion and Pleiades at the Stone Barn

On the first night, although it was supposed to be clear clouds moved in which in themselves gave interesting patents in the sky.  We observed Orion rising and chasing the Pleiades.

Orion and Pleiades

Along with a number of bright meteors probably due to the southern Taurids and possibly the Orionids.  When trying to photograph meteors.  The hardest part is to determine where in the sky that they will appear.  The maps show the radiant point, where the meteor showers originate from.  However, they can be anywhere in the sky.  Knowing the radiant point, you try to be 45° off the radiant point and hopefully capture a meteor in your photo.  In fact, tonight November 4, the South Taurids peak and they are known to produce exceptionally bright meteors known as fireballs.  Over the two days, we saw a good number of very bright meteors.  However, I only captured one meteor in the two nights of shooting.

One Meteor above Orion

At Gooseberry, looking north, I photographed a couple of 15-minute-star trails both nights.  The first night. The lower portion of the photograph was burnt out because of light pollution.

Star Trails

Star Trails

The waning Crescent moon appears over the Western horizon, illuminating a portion of the sky and the ocean waters with an orange glow.  On the second night photographing the rising of the moon and adjusting the pictures in Lightroom and Photoshop, we could see the Aurora that the camera captured even though we could not see it with our naked eyes.

Rising Waning Crescent Moon with Clouds in the Sky

Aurora

Aurora

The temperature range from the high 40s to the low 50s and there was practically no wind, and it was comfortable being out photographing.

Down East Maine Workshop Reminder

Atlantic Puffins

I want to remind everyone about the Down East Maine Coast Photo Tour and Workshop that John Slonina and myself will be leading at the end of July.  The cost of this trip is $1295 includes Hotel (3 nights stay), puffin boat ride ($120 value) and a Whale and Lighthouse boat ride. Weather permitting

Please see the original blog http://photobee1.blogspot.com/2014/02/down-east-maine-coast-instructional.html

We will do some night sky photography and there are overlapping two meteor showers Delta Aquarids are flying and the Perseid shower is building.

Night Sky with Meteor

If you are interested, please sign up soon.  Since this trip is filling and I would hate for you to miss this adventure to an unspoiled portion of the country

Down East Maine Coast Photo Tours and Workshops (Puffins, Night, Whales)

Puffins, Seals, Lighthouses, Whales

July 25-28, 2014

Instructional Photo Tours and Workshops

Join us as we travel to the remote Downeast Maine Coast. We will photograph some incredible landscapes including Quoddy Head Light which is the eastern most point in the US. We also will be taking multiple boat rides to see Puffins, Seals, Whales, Eagles, Lighthouses, and other coastal landscapes. We will also visit Campobello Island in Canada.
Click here to find out more and sign up.
http://slonina-photography.squarespace.com/photo-tours-workshops/down-east-maine-coast-instructional-photo-tour

Forest

Lighthouse at Cutler

West Quoddy Light

Mushrooms

Harris Checkerspot

Canadian Swallowtail

Quoddy Head

Using the coupon code mborn you will receive a 15% discount on any or all of the Topaz plug-ins.



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Let's Go Meteor Watching

It is meteor time again!  The Perseid meteor shower has started and will peak around August 10th through the 13th.  In fact, people up posting pictures of meteors from the Perseid presently.  I will be at the Stone Barn of the Allens Pond Audubon Sanctuary in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, starting at 10:30 PM, August 11-12 until the wee hours of the morning, August 12-13.  The predictions are for a large number of fireballs.  Everyone is welcome, but please sign up on the Allens Pond site https://www.massaudubon.org/catalog/listing.php?program_code=AP28330.  Noticed I changed the dates to the Sunday night through Tuesday night.  The event is free, there will be hot drinks and snacks.  Dress comfortably, bring a chair and bug spray.

For those people who want to photograph the meteor showers, they will need to bring a camera with a wide-angle lens, fully charged battery, and a spare, cable release or intervolometer, a sturdy tripod and prepared to have fun.

The radiant point for the Perseids is in the Northeast in between the constellations of Perseus and Cassiopeia.  However, the meteors will appear all over a dark sky.  Earlier in the evening after dusk in the West, the waxing crescent moon, and Venus plus satin will be in the sky.  The meteors will pick up a number after Saturn sets in the late evening.

Also, for the next few days, August 5-7, if you look toward the East and overhead and are in a dark area, the Milky Way is visible.  You also may see meteors from the Delta Aquarid meteor shower, and the Perseids.