Category Archives: Northern Lights

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May 25, 2025

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Aurora Borealis, eclipse, hiking, Inspiration, Nature, Northern Lights, Photography, Thoughts, Travel

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Photographic Thoughts — 05/18/2025 to 05/24/2025

“Every one of us is, in the cosmic perspective, precious. If a human disagrees with you, let him live. In a hundred billion galaxies, you will not find another.”
― Carl Sagan, Cosmos

Thank you for all the new views and likes from last week, it helps keep me inspired.

I had a medical procedure done this week, so I did not have any quality time to put together the post I wanted. What I am posting this week is what I wanted to post during the summer when I was exploring our country.

These are some astrological events that I have photographed over the years.

For reference, most of the time when there is a cosmic event in our area, there seems to be cloud cover, and I miss the event. These are events that I was able to capture.

Sunday, 05/18/2025: Posted photo — Baily’s Beads.

Date: April 8, 2024

Location: Houlton ME

This was the second total solar eclipse that I have seen and photographed. I learned from the first eclipse and feel this is a better photo than the first time. I will be posting a photo of the first total solar eclipse in the bonus section of this post.

This was the first astrological event of this year.

Monday, 05/19/2025: Posted photo — Aurora Borealis.

Date: October 10, 2024

Location: Westminster MA

This is the second astrological event of this year.

The Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, normally do not appear in my area. This was the second time this year that they appeared. The first time I just took out my cell phone and took photos so that I could practice settings. The next few nights, it was cloudy.

I was glad that they returned, and I obtained better photos. This is not as spectacular as some that I have seen since we have hills in the area.

Tuesday, 05/20/2025: Posted photo — Comet Tsuchinshan.

Date: October 14, 2024

Location: Princeton MA

This was the third event of the year. I took my camera to the summit of Wachusett Mountain to get this shot. The comet was moving away from us and was very faint. I am happy with this photograph.

This was the second comet that I have photographed and did not have the opportunity to so a lot of pre-planning for this shot since the idea of taking this photo was spontaneous.

Wednesday, 05/21/2025: Posted photo — Total Lunar Eclipse.

Date: January 24, 2019

Location: Westminster MA

I arose early one cold January night to take this series of photos. I wanted to capture the entire event. There is a location near our house that was open and sheltered, so I just set up camp there and took this series of photos.

If you look at the big crater, The South Pole-Aitken basin, you can see it swing from right to left.

Thursday, 05/22/2025: Posted photo — First Milky Way.

Date: July 11, 2019

Location: Canyonlands National Park, Needles Section

We were in a dark sky Nation Park, and I wanted to take a photo of the Milky Way for the first time. I had to wait until 2 am to take this photo. The moon set about 1:45 am and I wanted to attempt this photo with no moonlight.

Not bad for the first time.

Friday, 05/23/2025: Post photo — Two Lunar Eclipses.

Date: January 24, 2019, and March 14, 2025

Location: Westminster MA

I was not happy with the photos I took of the total lunar eclipse this year because of cloud cover. I wanted to put together another collage but decided to put the two eclipses side by side.

If you look closely, you can see the direction of the shadow in totality. The south pole in the first eclipse is bright and the north pole in this year’s eclipse is bright. This year’s eclipse came from the third quadrant to the first quadrant.

Saturday, 05/24/2025: Post photo — Comet NEOWISE.

Date: July 19, 2020

Location: Templeton MA

This was the first photo I took of a comet. I am very happy with the lighting and composition of this photo.

That is all for now. Until next week, be safe.

Bonus Photos

B1 — Total Solar Eclipse Houlton ME.

Date: April 8, 2024

Location: Houlton ME

Much improvement from the eclipse back in 2017.

If you want to know, I have a solar filter for my camera so that I do not burn out the sensors when taking photos of the sun when it is not in totality.

B2 — Total Solar Eclipse.

Date: August 8, 2017

Location: Maryville TN

This is the first total solar eclipse that I witnessed. I had my settings incorrect in this photo, so I was very happy to be able to see my second total eclipse and learn from my mistakes.

B3 — Bright Sky Milky Way.

Date: July 19, 2020

Location: Templeton MA

Just fooling around while taking photos of the Comet NEOWISE.

“Sumens imagines consolatur et inspirat me.”

“Quod scripsi, scripsi.”

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October 13, 2024

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Aurora Borealis, hiking, Inspiration, Nature, Northern Lights, Thoughts

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Photographic Thoughts — 10/06/2024 to 10/12/2024

“Photograph: a picture painted by the sun without instruction in art.” — Ambrose Bierce

Thank you for all the new views and likes from last week, it helps keep me inspired.

Sunday, 10/06/2024: Posted photo — Foliage.

Foliage time of year. The leaves are not at peak yet in this area.

A color palette needs pigments, and there are three types that are involved in autumn color:

  • Carotenoids: Produces yellow, orange, and brown colors in such things as corn, carrots, and daffodils, as well as rutabagas, buttercups, and bananas.
  • Anthocyanin: Gives color to such familiar things as cranberries, red apples, concord grapes, blueberries, cherries, strawberries, and plums. They are water soluble and appear in the watery liquid of leaf cells.
  • Chlorophyll: Gives leaves a basic green color. It is necessary for photosynthesis, the chemical reaction that enables plants to use sunlight to manufacture sugars for food.

Monday, 10/07/2024: Posted photo — Mums.

Mums symbolize joy, life, friendship, luck, and rebirth. Part of its beauty is its resilience in the face of a sudden drop in temperatures.

Tuesday, 10/08/2024: Posted photo — Blue Sky.

I took this photo to show the contrast between the blue sky and the leaves starting to change.

Wednesday, 10/09/2024: Posted photo — More Foliage.

Some of the trees in the area are at peak colors. The light off the red caught my eyes, so I took this photo.

Thursday, 10/10/2024: Posted photo — Northern Lights Heart.

There was a surprise tonight when I went out to my car to get something – the Northern Lights. This is a composite photo of the lights. It looks like a heart to me.

This is a photo of what the Northern Lights looked like from my yard. I have many trees on my property so I did not get the full light show until I went up the road a little.

Friday, 10/11/2024: Post photo —Northern Lights Colors.

Second day of the Lights. At the beginning of this year, I have never seen them. So far I have seen them three times.

The Northern Light and a full solar eclipse in one year!

Saturday, 10/12/2024: Post photo — Sunrise near Boston.

I did a sunrise hike this morning. I wanted to do this last week, but I was too tired to do so.

That is all for now. Until next week, be safe.

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May 12, 2024

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Aurora Borealis, hiking, Histoy, Inspiration, memorial, Nature, Northern Lights, Photography, Thoughts

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Photographic Thoughts — 05/05/2024 to 05/11/2024

“Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever… It remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything.” — Aaron Siskind

Photo for the week. Comments welcome.

Sunday, 05/04/2024: Posted photo — USS Constitution.

Built in Boston and launched in 1797, USS CONSTITUTION is the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world today. During the War of 1812 the ship gained fame and its name “Old Ironsides.” The USS Constitution remains both a training and ceremonial ship for the Navy, as well as an educational experience for visitors.

Here are some facts: The USS Constitution was launched on October 21, 1797 at Edmund Hartt’s Shipyard in Boston, Massachusetts and first sailed July 22, 1798 from Boston Harbor. As I was walking away for the ship, after taking these photos, I heard the canons go off and Reveille being played. Then the sailors came off the ship to do their exercises. What a great experience.

Monday, 05/06/2024: Posted photo — Onions.

I cancelled my hike tonight since I had some people sign up and then drop out. I was in Boston all weekend taking my wilderness first aid re-certification class, so I took the opportunity to switch my hiking day until tomorrow. I told myself that I would hike with the Tuesday night group once a month and it has been three months since I hiked with them.

While shopping, I saw these colorful onions. Onions are not high on my food intake list, but I did like the colors. These are yellow onions, white onions, red onions, and vidalia onions.

Tuesday, 05/07/2024: Posted photo — Hiking.

Today I hiked with the Tuesday night group for the first time in a while. This is an invitation only group of experienced hikers. We did a four mile loop around the mountain. I had an opportunity to verify bearing at a few trail junctions. I needed to verify these bearings for my map and compass navigation class I will be teaching in a few weeks.

It is always great to get out and hike with different people. This group knows me as the person who broke his ankle. At the summit, I met more of my friends in the hiking community. One of those people finished his trace of Wachusett Mountain in his kilts. Sorry, no photos of him.

Wednesday, 05/08/2024: Posted photo — Path of Freedom (Freedom Trail).

Boston’s iconic 2.5 mile-Freedom Trail connects 16 nationally significant historic sites, each one an authentic treasure. The sites are the Boston Common (Established in 1634, Boston Common is America’s oldest public park), Massachusetts State House, Park Street Church, Granary Burying Ground, King’s Chapel & King’s Chapel Burying Ground, Boston Latin School Site/Benjamin Franklin Statue, Old Corner Bookstore, Old South Meeting House, Old State House, Boston Massacre Site, Faneuil Hall, Paul Revere House, Old North Church, Copp’s Hill Burying Ground, USS Constitution and the Bunker Hill Monument.

I have visited most of these sites in my life. One day I will take the short 2.5 mile hike to these historic sites in one journey.

Thursday, 05/09/2024: Posted photo — Sugar Maple.

Earlier this year I posted a photo of the sugar maple starting to bud. Here is some progress.

The leaves are starting to bud after some rain and warmer weather.

Friday, 05/10/2024: Post photo — Bluet.

Also called Quaker Ladies, their sweet petite blossoms attract Little Carpenter bees, Green Metallic bees, small butterflies, and the Meadow Fritillary Butterfly.

These wildflowers are in my lawn. If the weather is good tomorrow, I will cut my lawn for the first time this year.

Saturday, 05/11/2024: Post photo — Northern Lights.

The Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, have been on my photo bucket list. I always thought that I would have to travel to see them. If they are in this area, they are close to the horizon, not very bright, and not high in the sky.

 Last night I had the opportunity to see them and photograph them. I was unprepared to photograph them since I normally do research on camera setting. I had my camera and cellphone with me and no tripod or monopod, these photos are either handheld or with my cellphone. I heard talk about the northern lights happening soon but did not realize it was last night until a friend of mine posted photos from his house.

My cell phone has a night setting, so I had to test it out. I am happy about these photos but not overwhelmed by these photos. Next time I will be more prepared. It is amazing that I saw a total solar eclipse and the northern light just about a month apart. Normally there is cloud cover when events like this happen.

That is all for now. Until next week, be safe.