Friday (15-February-2008) — New Jersey

Backyard Winter Night Sky in New Jersey. Moon Ring and Orion.

The 22° Halo around the moon is caused by refraction of ice crystal high in the atmosphere.

Winter Night Sky over New Jersey. Moon, moon ring, Orion. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 17-35 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 17 mm, f/2.8, 30 sec). (David J Mathre)
Winter Night Sky over New Jersey. Moon, moon ring, Orion. Image taken with a Nikon D3 camera and 17-35 mm f/2.8 lens (ISO 200, 17 mm, f/2.8, 30 sec).

Sunday (10-February-2008) — New Jersey

Backyard Winter Nature in New Jersey: Fresh Snow.

Afternoon walkabout with a macro lens. Fresh snow on red holly berries and fall leaves.

Red Holly Berries with Fresh Snow. Winter in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 200 mm f/4 macro lens (ISO 200, f/8, 1/60 sec) (David J Mathre)
Red Holly Berries with Fresh Snow. Winter in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 200 mm f/4 macro lens (ISO 200, f/8, 1/60 sec) (David J Mathre)
Fresh Snow on Leaf. Winter in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 200 mm f/4 macro lens (ISO 200, f/5.6, 1/60 sec) (David J Mathre)
Fresh Snow on Leaf. Winter in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D3 and 200 mm f/4 macro lens (ISO 200, f/5.6, 1/60 sec) (David J Mathre)

Saturday (19-January-2008) — New Jersey

Winter Nature in New Jersey.

Great Blue Heron and a pair of Mallard Ducks in the pond at the nearby Sourland Mountain Preserve. I guess they decided to spend the winter here rather than in Florida.  Some years this pond freezes over.

Great Blue Heron and Mallards. Sourland Mountain Preserve. Image taken with a Nikon D300 and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 800, 400 mm, f/8, 1/250 sec) (David J Mathre)
Great Blue Heron and Mallards. Sourland Mountain Preserve. Image taken with a Nikon D300 and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 800, 400 mm, f/8, 1/250 sec)