Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Lunar Halo, Conjunction and Family Images



Having a great time here in Kelowna, been mostly cloudy so far but I was still able to do some astronomy, the image above was taken when we had a break in the clouds, what is quite remarkable about it is the sky only cleared for about half an hour, and that when it did clear there was a Lunar halo, a nice touch to my Saturn, Regulus Lunar conjunction. the two white dots just above and to the right of the top of the Moon are Saturn,the top dot, and Regulus the bottom dot.

Lunar, Saturn, Regulus Conjunction, May 12, 2008.


The above image is an image of the conjunction I took just before the sky cleared, the image below was the gathering of the heavenly bodies the night before, May 11, 2008.


Lunar, Saturn, Regulus Conjunction May 11, 2008.


Been taking lots of images with the camera of the mountains, family and various statues, yes people I am officially a tourist. Got my camera bag around my shoulder, my camera in my hand, ready to go. Never really used the camera for taking regular type images, makes sense though, usually have the camera on the tripod , put it in the car, get to point b, take celestial picture, head home. Below are some of my vacation images and an animated gif of my New favorite image, my Lunar Halo.

Cathy, Amanda, Dave



Cathy and Grandogs


Plane flying over Wood Lake


City Park

Ogopogo



28 comments:

Swubird said...

Bob:

Great shots. You always amaze with the ease with which you recognize the stars and planets. I look up and I see a bunch of bright pin points. Sometimes I tell my wife, Oh...that's Saturn., and she says Really? An armchair astronomer like me really has to know how to bluff and keep a straight face.

Great vacation shots too. I especially like the lonely airplane. Fabulous image.

Happy stargazing.

MYM said...

Ogopogo! I forgot about him :) Looks like you're having a fantastic time. The images are great!

Anonymous said...

Nice shots! It looks a bit like Oregon does. And, that is one BIG sheep dog!

I was disappointed that there are no shots of bears.

Brian said...

Bob you never miss the moment even your travel with others..Great post Bob

RW said...

Hey Bob looks like your having a great time man! Live it up buddie!!

Ruth said...

I'm glad the clouds cleared for you, and I'm glad they were there, because they really make the lunar halo pop! Gorgeous!

It's great to get away, and I'm glad you're enjoying yourself!

Bob Johnson said...

Thanks swubird, knowing where everything is just takes time under the stars with some charts, anyone can learn, I did,lol. \m/\m/

Bob Johnson said...

Thanks drowseymonkey, I totally forgot about him too till I got here, I bought a little metal Ogopogo,lol

Bob Johnson said...

Lol, thanks Will, I'm still working on the Bear part.\m/\m/

Bob Johnson said...

Thanks Franx, I'm always under the stars when I can be, especially on holidays, might as well post about it.:D :-D

Bob Johnson said...

Thanks Roger, having a great time, off to the observatory today.:D :-D \m/

Bob Johnson said...

Thanks Ruth, very happy with the way things unfolded for the Halo, and we now have clear skies.:D :-D \m/\m/

Oswegan said...

Great images and info. I am glad you are having a nice time.

Nature Nut /JJ Loch said...

Bob, it looks like you're having a great time with the family. WOOT!!! Super photos!!!

I have my new Canon Rebel XTi. :D

Hugs, JJ

kml said...

Love the animation, Bob - it is indeed my favorite too!

Michael J. Kannengieser said...

Hi Bob,
Lovely photos of your vacation. I've been lucky enough to see a few lunar halos in my life and they are awe inspiring. One of the reasons I visit your blog is becuase you have an incredible knack for finding all of these celestial events for us to enjoy here. Thanks Bob.

Peter said...

Hi! We all seem to be out visiting family and why not! Not that you can see them but I believe those earthly creatures have halos brighter than the lunar halos.

Take Care,
Peter

Bob Johnson said...

Thanks oswegan, having a great time.

:D :-D \m/\m/

Bob Johnson said...

Thanks JJ, hey you got a nice camera, it's highly rated, have lots of fun with it!:D :-D \m/\m/

Bob Johnson said...

Thanks Kathy, mine too.:D :-D
\m/\m/

Bob Johnson said...

Thanks Mike, glad you like the images as much as I like getting them.:greenalien: \m/

Bob Johnson said...

Hey Peter, thanks for the nice comment, you really have a unique way of looking at things.:D :-D \m/

Anonymous said...

Bob, it sounds like you are having a great time. you got some great shots there. The first one looks as though you are looking through a globe.

Livingsword said...

Hi Bob…

It was 31 degrees here in Vancouver today hopefully you have enjoyed some of the sun in Kelowna….

You know I have always sort of thought of Saturn and Regulus as “white dots” and now I find out how technically correct I have been! LOL (just teasing my friend)

Very cool images, Bob you should come out with your own calendar!!!

Tourist Bob!!! LOL

I love the tourist shots a lot like a mini vacation…

Bob you have a photo of Amanda!!! Do you have any idea how many people come to my blog looking for pictures of Amanda? :)

The gif didn’t wok in IE so I have switched to Firefox, your blog always works best under Firefox… Very cool image…is that the Ogopogo I see swimming in the gif??? (yes the gif lol)

Bob….just think I have on occasions too numerous to count have posed right there with the big lake monster, I have stood exactly where you took that photo and taken photos of others, I have personally repeatedly placed my hands nay my arm and head in the head of that monster…LOL It is probably the closest we will come to meeting on this planet!!! LOL (The Ogopogo always makes me a little sentimental with all the childhood memories LOL)

Bob Johnson said...

Thanks Rose, good description of my halo image.\m/\m/

Bob Johnson said...

Lol, thanks livingsword, like the calendar, I am a freelance photographer you know(my next post).

Actually I am using firefox now, it seems to work better then IE, may start using it more.

Too cool about your recollections of the Ogopogo, my wife found a stick that looks like the Ogopogo down by wood lake, I said it was a petrified baby Ogopogo, she said it was a wood carving done by an Ogopogo, as a warning, to stay away.lol \m/\m/

Livingsword said...

Hi Freelance Bob…

It is interesting how different browsers interact with various blogs/web pages. Firefox generally seems to navigate some challenges a bit better but the vast majority of people use IE. Incidentally You Tube videos play much better on Firefox and Safari.

Sounds like you guys found a pogoite….created by boat manufacturers to lure you into buying a money pit I mean boat…

:glasses:

Bob Johnson said...

Lol, livinsword, pogoite, I knew it.
Firefox seems to work better for everything, especially with web widgets.