The image above is the view from the restaurant we were at last night. The scenery in and around the Kelowna area is simply breathtaking. Notice the clouds, supposed to be like this for a few days, didn't stop us from driving around though to check out future spots for my dark sky horizon shots. I thought I'd found the perfect spot, a dark country road with tall trees on either side, my thinking, when the Milky Way is directly over head, take the pic, it would be a cool shot, the Milk Way framed by a set of evergreens, that's when the Bear word came up, yes people my new enemy is the Bear, not punk kids in cars, the Bear, stay tuned.
Two Weeks from today the Phoenix Mars Lander starts it's descent to the Martian surface, there are a lot of people watching, less then 50 percent of all previous lander missions have made it safely to the surface.
Phoenix will be the first mission to gather water ice from Mars' north polar region, it will then perform experiments on the sample with it's complex on board laboratory to see if it had ever been favorable to microbial life.
I will be out and around the Kelowna, Penticton area this coming week to take tons of images to post at a later date, hopefully the Bears won't be out to bother me too much, leave you now with a Kelowna scenery shot as an animated gif.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Phoenix Mars Lander
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44 comments:
Nice Bob!
Hi Bob, lovely first picture :)
I gotta say, that first photo doesn't even look real! And I mean that in a good way. It's like something from a science fiction blog...where they create a fictionalized world. It's fantastic!
The colours are so rich! I just love it!
Okay...I just came back and stole the photo for my desktop...I hope that's okay! :) I love it!
Hey Aura, thanks a lot.\m/\m/
Thanks priyank, took a lot more today, some pretty cool ones.\m/\m/
Thanks drowsey, I know right after I took it, we were all looking at it, all agreed it was pretty cool, partly to do with that fisheye lense, and my experimenting with the focus and flash settings.\m/\m/
Forgot to mention drowsey, no problem using for your desktop, I am as well.
That first photo would make an AWESOME painting, Bob!!!
Are you missing your clear skies? I can't WAIT to see more vacation photos.
You have a bear story!!! WOOT!!! Those who blog together, have bear stories together. :D
Have a super time with your beautiful family!!!
I'm still waiting for my new camera. It's walking here.
Hugs, JJ
Thank JJ, yes no clear skies here yet, got some great Mountain shots, hopefully have clear skies starting Weds, No Bear story yet, but there are Bears where I'm going. Hope you get your camera soon.\m/\m/
Bob:
Breathtaking shot from the restaurant window. And the Phoenix - I can't wait. If they find something cool I hope they don't keep it a secret. That would be nasty of them.
The water reflections are looking pretty good. It's amazing how those blue - silver colors really shine in the reflection.
Take care.
That is a stunning photo, Bob.
Bears should be very afraid of you, Bob, so I would not worry about it too much. Unless you are in Grizzly country. You're not are you? LOL! If you do have an encounter, at least get us a couple of good shots so when they find your camera.......
Don't let them bears get ya Bob!
Thanks swubird, the phoenix lander if successful will be quite the accomplishment.:D :-D \m/\m/
Lol Will, I'll see what I can do.
:D :-D \m/\m/
Hey Roger, if they do I'll try to ensure I get some good action shots.
:D :-D \m/\m/
I agree, the first photo is great, what a nice composition.
I hope the only bears you see will be in the night sky!
Lol, thanks Ruth.:D :-D
Hello Bob! Anything to Mars is exciting to me. I hope it makes it there alright.
Now if we can get people to land there one day!
Hey Bob,
I was going to ask how your weekend was; but from what you are saying I realised that you had a fine weekend :D!
It must be a gorgeous restaurant (judging by its surroundings): what a magnificent photo!
What is this bear story all about? I hope you will let us know :D!!
I wish Phoenix mission all the luck in the world, and I am counting on you to keep me posted on this *bowing*!
Kelowna is indeed beautiful, Bob!
"hopefully the Bears won't be out to bother me too much" LOL well, I hope not! But if you need help, holla at me and I'll come flying lol ;D!
Have a nice staying at Kelowna :D!
Cheers
Hi Mike, it's all about Mars right now, trying to learn as much as we can so maybe one day we can colonize Mars, exciting times.:D :-D \m/
Thanks max, having a great time here in Kelowna, just hoping for some clear skies later in the week. No Bear story yet, but I will be going out into Bear country later this week at night, oh my.:-( :(
Hi! Bob. I totally agree with JJ. It would make a AWESOME painting. As for the the Phoenix, I believe it will discover past favourable conditions. The question is, if they discover and capture living microbial life, what will they do with it?
Take Care,
Peter
I am sure the dinning experience was fantastic. Seafood I imagine. Nice picture too. Question: Would it be okay for me to add you as one of my favorite blogs on a side widget I have recently added onto my blog - right now you will be a part of an elite four website - which will grow eventually
...If you do have an encounter, at least get us a couple of good shots so when they find your camera.......HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!.
Jeesh Bob,bears?.Criminey,and I thought I had it bad with the little old ladies in hoveraround chairs that call the police because,they think I am a terrorist with a bazooka!.Becareful!!!
My uncle is cleaning his Illudium PU-36 Space Modulator, waiting for the Phoenix lander to show up... ;-)
Hope you have a shotgun with you, with slugs... I have known people who actually take .44 Mag or .500 S&W revolvers with them, thinking they'll do some good against bears, when really it will just annoy them enough to eat you. 12-gauge slugs, though, usually get a bear's attention. Though a Remington 7mm Mag or .338 Winchester does better. Or .416 Rigby, or .375 Holland&Holland... all of which are sissies next to the .50 Browning Machine Gun, but who's hauling a BMG out into the wilderness? Not me, not without a jeep to mount it on. ;-)
Thanks Peter, love the shot as well, well I'm hoping they will tell the public first and then figure out how it survived and apply what they learn to future colonization of Mars.:D :-D
The dining experience was fantastic, food was excellent and the service was second to none, I believe someone did have an excellent seafood dish of some sort.
Add away , thanks for thinking of adding me to your favorites, I will add you to mine.:D :-D \m/\m/
Lol Andrew, being around little old ladies at the mall all day long, I'd rather deal with the bear when it comes to a few of them.:D :-D
Lol marvin, PU 36 modulator, love the PU part, hey go easy on this one,lol.
Thanks for all the advice with the guns, and you were a mercenary where again,lol, how bout my daughter's boyfiend leaves his car running and door open while I take the pics. :D :-D
really nice photo bob johnson
glad you are having a good time and still in one piece
no bears will get you
as long as you take a moment every now and again to look at the ground instead of the sky :)
Nice images Bob.
Lol Paula, I'll try to remember to look down once in a while,:D :-D
Thanks oswegan,:D :-D, \m/\m/
Wow, Bob, you are in such a beautiful place and have shared it with us!
Now I'm inspired to try more night photography.
I know what you mean about "The Bear." Must be the same one, cuz he's MY enemy too! I'm on the lookout all the time when we go to Maine, and one year I'll be lucky enough to find me some bear spray!
Enjoy the rest of your trip!
Well done Bob on the scene outside the resteraunt. Beautiful shot. It looks like it was taken early evening. The flood light gives it an ethereal look...almost haunting. Did you do any color compensating?
Bob, it's apparent you've been enjoying yourself! I'm surprised you still have time to update your blog :-)Just remember, bears do climb up trees. You're best bet is keep the car close and run like hell to get back to it :-)
Enjoy yourself my friend.
~JD
Thanks Lynda, good idea about the bear spray,lol,\m/\m/
Thanks JD, yes it was taken early evening, I used the flash as well on this one, no color compensation at all, just resized the image in photoshop. I will leave the door closed, or should I say we, don't want the Bear eating the boyfriend,lol.\m/
What a great place to have dinner! Sounds like you are having a great visit -enjoy!!
Hey Bob!
Great lake shot! Kelowna is very nice, just don’t tell everybody or BC will become even more crowded! LOL
A few years ago Chocolate Girl and I were up in the hills between Kelowna and Penticton walking thru a heritage area when she stepped on a rattle snake (no it didn’t bite her as she then panicked and did an Olympic style jump)!! So bears, snakes, cougars, no problem! LOL
We are heading to Yellowstone in a week so we will see lots of bears (hopefully)! A local bear expert just published a book on what to do when encountering a bear…bear spray or a gun were his recommendations. We believe in the buddy system, I only need to outrun my buddy (which isn’t an option if it is my wife!!!).
If the Lander lands within a few feet of a Martian municipality it should have no problem finding life, it will be able to “reach out and touch somebody”, but alas as it is a wall flower and cannot dance the Martians may have to come to it….
I am curious as to if one of the tests on the ice may be with Crown Royal… LOL
Ahhh the gif made me want to go waterskiing there like last summer….
Very cool Bob as always…
Hi Bob…
I forgot to mention that you are part of “Surrender” episode 2 at Life on the Blade!
Awesome pictures....Many thanks for sharing....
Website Design Company
Greetings,
This is a inquiry for the webmaster/admin here at blackholesandastrostuff.blogspot.com.
Can I use part of the information from this post above if I provide a link back to your website?
Thanks,
Jules
Hello there,
Thanks for sharing the link - but unfortunately it seems to be down? Does anybody here at blackholesandastrostuff.blogspot.com have a mirror or another source?
Thanks,
Peter
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