Category: Astronomy

Views of the sun, moon, and stars

Seven-Years Ago (31-August-2009) — Alaska

Gone to See North America Road Trip. Day 10: Alaska Marine Highway on the MV Columbia. Haines, Alaska.

After arriving at Haines, Alaska we disembarked from the MV Columbia. I could have slept in the RV, but decided to splurge and spend the night at the Halsingland Hotel (B&B). They even put benchmarks in the ground to mark the location of hotels in Haines — 118 feet above mean sea level. I set a camera up looking out my window to capture night sky star trails. I also managed to capture Northern Lights which I was not expecting.

Hotel Halsingland Bench Mark -- 118 Feet Above Mean Sea Level. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 18-300 mm lens (ISO 200, 200 mm, f/5.6, 1/160 sec) (David J Mathre)
Hotel Halsingland Bench Mark — 118 Feet Above Mean Sea Level. Image taken with a Nikon D300 camera and 18-300 mm lens (ISO 200, 200 mm, f/5.6, 1/160 sec) (David J Mathre)


Click on the above image to access the individual images in the slideshow.


Four-Years Ago (30-October-2012) — North Atlantic Ocean

Gone to see Europe. Semester at Sea. Fall 2012 Semester Voyage on the MV Explorer. Day 08: At Sea, North Atlantic Ocean.

Sunrise on the North Atlantic Ocean from the Deck of MV Explorer. The contrails mean we must be getting close to Europe. Image taken with a Nikon 1V1 camera and 30 mm lens (ISO 100, 30 mm, f/11, 1/125 sec)

Sunrise over the North Atlantic Ocean from the Deck of MV Explorer. Image taken with a Nikon 1V1 camera and 30 mm lens (ISO 100, 30 mm, f/11, 1/125 sec) (David J Mathre)
Sunrise over the North Atlantic Ocean from the Deck of MV Explorer. Image taken with a Nikon 1V1 camera and 30 mm lens (ISO 100, 30 mm, f/11, 1/125 sec) (David J Mathre)

Four-Years Ago (29-August-2012) — North Atlantic Ocean

Gone to see Europe. Semester at Sea. Fall 2012 Semester Voyage on the MV Explorer. Day 07: At Sea, North Atlantic Ocean.

Just After Sunrise from the Deck of the MV Explorer. Images taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera and 30-110 VR lens.

While on Semester at Sea voyages I always tried to get images at sunrise and sunset. This meant I was out on the deck at least an hour before and hour after, and sometimes longer if the lens is going to fog up due to the difference between my cabin temperature and the conditions outside.

Just After Sunrise from the Deck of the MV Explorer. Images taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera and 30-110 VR lens (ISO 100, 38.5 mm, f/16, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)
Just After Sunrise from the Deck of the MV Explorer. Images taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera and 30-110 VR lens (ISO 100, 38.5 mm, f/16, 1/125 sec). (David J Mathre)
Just After Sunrise from the Deck of the MV Explorer. Images taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera and 30-110 VR lens (ISO 100, 110 mm, f/16, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre)
Just After Sunrise from the Deck of the MV Explorer. Images taken with a Nikon 1 V1 camera and 30-110 VR lens (ISO 100, 110 mm, f/16, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre)

Sunday (28-August-2016) — New Jersey

Backyard Summertime Night Sky Over New Jersey.

Star Trails and Clouds Looking South. By early morning condensation on the lens made the center of the images blurry. Each image is a composite of 50 images taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 14 mm, f/4, 120 sec). Raw images processed with Capture One Pro and the composite created using Photoshop CC (statistics, maximum).

I have had this problem with condensation (and in the winter frost) with this lens in the past. I am looking into getting a flexible electric heater strap, just to heat the lens slightly to prevent the condensation. Other recommendations to solve this problem?

Star Trails and Clouds Looking South. Each image is a composite of 50 images taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 14 mm, f/4, 120 sec). (David J Mathre)
Star Trails and Clouds Looking South. Each image is a composite of 50 images taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 14 mm, f/4, 120 sec). (David J Mathre)
Star Trails and Clouds Looking South. Each image is a composite of 50 images taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 14 mm, f/4, 120 sec). (David J Mathre)
Star Trails and Clouds Looking South. Each image is a composite of 50 images taken with a Nikon D810a camera and 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 14 mm, f/4, 120 sec). (David J Mathre)

Four-Years Ago (28-August-2012) — North Atlantic Ocean

Gone to see Europe. Semester at Sea. Fall 2012 Semester Voyage on the MV Explorer. Day 06: At Sea, North Atlantic Ocean.

Two Students on Deck 8 of the MV Explorer and the Gibbous Moon While Crossing the North Atlantic Ocean. Image taken with a Nikon D800 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 1600, 300 mm, f/11, 1/200 sec).

Two Students on Deck 8 of the MV Explorer and the Gibbous Moon While Crossing the North Atlantic Ocean. Image taken with a Nikon D800 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 1600, 300 mm, f/11, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre)
Two Students on Deck 8 of the MV Explorer and the Gibbous Moon While Crossing the North Atlantic Ocean. Image taken with a Nikon D800 camera and 70-300 mm VR lens (ISO 1600, 300 mm, f/11, 1/200 sec). (David J Mathre)