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Tag: astrophotography

  • Two Newly Discovered Comets Will Streak Across the Skies This Month. Here’s How to See Them

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    Skywatchers, rejoice. This month, not one but two comets are set to soar into our night skies for your viewing pleasure.

    The two comets, C/2025 R2 (SWAN) and C/2025 A6 (Lemmon), were both discovered in 2025. The celestial visitors are gearing up for a close flyby of Earth in October, becoming more visible as they approach our planet. SWAN will be closest to Earth on October 19, while Lemmon is set for its own close approach on October 21. Both icy comets may even be visible to the naked eye around that time.

    Cosmic pair

    Astronomers spotted Lemmon in January using the Mt. Lemmon SkyCenter observatory in Arizona’s Santa Catalina Mountains. The comet was speeding toward the inner solar system at speeds up to 130,000 miles per hour (209,000 kilometers per hour).

    Later in September, amateur astronomer Vladimir Bezugly discovered comet SWAN in images from the SWAN instrument on NASA’s SOHO satellite. The comet became significantly brighter as it emerged from the Sun’s direction.

    At its closest approach, SWAN will be at a distance of approximately 24 million miles (39 million kilometers) from our planet, or about a quarter of the distance between the Sun and Earth. SWAN is now at a brightness magnitude of around 5.9, according to EarthSky. The unexpectedly bright comet is currently in the southern skies, but it is slowly moving north, according to NASA.

    Following SWAN’s closest approach, comet Lemmon will be right behind. The comet will be about half the distance between the Sun and Earth before rounding the Sun on November 8. From there, it will begin its next journey around the star. Lemmon will continue to brighten as it approaches the Sun, but it will likely stay visible, and possibly become even brighter, around October 31 to November 1, according to EarthSky.

    How to see SWAN and Lemmon

    SWAN is best viewed in the Southern Hemisphere. The comet crossed into the Libra constellation on September 28, and will make its way across Scorpius on October 10. Around October 9-10, it will appear near Beta Librae, the brightest star in the Libra constellation, EarthSky reports.

    It may, however, be a bit tricky to spot because its position in the skies will be close to the setting Sun. Sky watchers hoping to catch a glimpse of SWAN need up toward the west after sunset.

    Conditions are more favorable for Lemmon. The comet is best viewed in the Northern Hemisphere, where it will be positioned near the Big Dipper for most of October. Sky watchers should look to the eastern skies just before sunrise to spot the comet.

    By mid-October, the comet may be easier to view. On October 16, Lemmon will pass near Cor Caroli, a binary star system in the northern constellation of Canes Venatici, according to EarthSky. Around that time, the comet could be visible to the naked eye.

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    Passant Rabie

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  • Dwarf 3 Astrophotography Camera Upgrades Its Star Shooting Capabilities

    Dwarf 3 Astrophotography Camera Upgrades Its Star Shooting Capabilities

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    Like the Dwarf II, this automated astrophotography camera tracks and follows celestial objects and stacks photos for incredible detail. The new model has an upgraded Sony sensor, wider lenses that capture more of the sky, improved filters, and a longer-lasting battery. It can also shoot the sun and moon, huge panoramas, and even identify birds it photographs.

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    Paul Strauss

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  • Nature’s Kaleidoscope | Show Me Nature Photography

    Nature’s Kaleidoscope | Show Me Nature Photography

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    Today’s post features a few images I captured over the weekend, when Missouri experienced the rare Northern Lights (aka, Aurora Borealis).

    I unexpectedly was able to remove one item from my “Bucket List” this weekend. I was able to view and photograph the amazing Northern Lights!

    Here are a few of my favorite images:

    My very first view of the beautiful lights:

    Northern Lights in MIssouri

    The above image was captured upon my arrival at my shooting location … West Lake Christian Church, in Laurie, MO. After capturing this image, I unloaded my camera and tripod, set up my rig, and began shooting:

    Northern Lights in MIssouriNorthern Lights in MIssouri

    Northern Lights in MIssouriNorthern Lights in MIssouri

    Northern Lights in MIssouriNorthern Lights in MIssouri

    I was so glad that I had taken that initial “grab shot” with my phone … it didn’t take long for the colors to change from a myriad of colors, to a predominantly red color. Not that red is bad, but I really loved the rainbow of colors when I first arrived! And by the way, I decided not to remove this item from my “Bucket List”. Instead, I’m using it as “warmup” for the really big show I’m planning in the true Northland!

    Photographic Equipment Used:

    • The first image was captured “automatically”, via my cell phone; all others shot via DSLR
    • Canon 5D Mark 3 camera body
    • Canon 28-135mm IS lens
    • Bogen 3021 tripod, with ballhead
    • ISO 800
    • Aperture f/5.6
    • Shutter 11 sec. to 14 sec.

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    James Braswell

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  • From Diamonds to Beads … | Show Me Nature Photography

    From Diamonds to Beads … | Show Me Nature Photography

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    … and Back to Diamonds!

    Today’s post features the early phenomena experienced during totality of the Great American Total Solar Eclipse of 2024 … the formation of the brilliant “Diamond Ring”, followed closely by the “breakdown” of the diamond ring into “Baily’s Beads”. I also have included some images of coming out of totality … the Baily’s Beads are once again seen (on the opposite side of the sun-moon surface), followed by the second Diamond Ring, as the sun begins emerging from darkness!

    One of the most breathtaking features of a total solar eclipse is the “Diamond Ring effect”. This phenomenon occurs twice … just before, and just after totality. It is caused by the last tiny bit of sun peeking out from behind the sun, creating a bright point of light, resembling a sparkling Diamond, while the sun’s corona (the shell of thin gas that extends out some distance from the sun’s surface, normally visible only during totality) resembles the band of the diamond ring. This stage of the eclipse lasts only a few seconds, as the moon races to totally cover (or uncover) the sun!

    The Diamond Ring immediately transitions into “Baily’s Beads”, going into totality (when coming out of totality, the Baily’s Beads happen first and the Diamond Ring immediately follows). Baily’s Beads occur whenever only a very small amount of light are visible at the edge of the moon. Named after scientist Francis Baily who first explained this phenomenon, the small amount of light appears as small beadlets of light … actually, they are seen as “beads” because the light passes through valleys on the moon’s surface, with each bead separated from the others by the moon’s mountainous landscape. Again, this phenomenon lasts only a few, brief seconds.

    Here are some of the images I captured that show the Diamond Ring:

    Diamond Ring at C-2 contact

    Diamond Ring at C-2 contactDiamond Ring at C-2 contact

    Diamond Ring at C-2 contactDiamond Ring at C-2 contact

    Diamond Ring at C-2 contactDiamond Ring at C-2 contact

    The Diamond Ring quickly transitions to Baily’s Beads:

    Baily's Beads at C-2 contactBaily's Beads at C-2 contact

    Baily's Beads at C-2 contactBaily's Beads at C-2 contact

    Baily's Beads at C-2 contact (enlarged)Baily's Beads at C-2 contact (enlarged)

    Black Totality SlideBlack Totality Slide

    After 4 minutes and 38 seconds of totality, the reverse stages are seen as the moon begins to uncover the sun (note that the Beads are not as well-defined on this side of the moon … likely due to less mountains/valleys on this portion of the moon surface):

    Baily's Beads at C-3 contactBaily's Beads at C-3 contact

    Baily's Beads at C-3 contactBaily's Beads at C-3 contact

    Diamond Ring at C-3 contactDiamond Ring at C-3 contact

    Coming up … in the next post, I will highlight the sun’s chromosphere and solar prominences (some can be seen in the above images, but will be discussed in the next post).

    Photographic Equipment Used:

    • Canon 5D Mark 3 camera body
    • Canon 500mm, f/4 IS lens, equipped with approved solar filter
    • Bogen 3021 tripod and Wemberly gimbal head
    • ISO varied
    • Aperture f/8
    • Shutter varied sec.

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    James Braswell

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