Astrogeo

The near first quarter moon looked stunning tonight. Photo taken with an 800mm telephoto lens from my driveway in south Calgary on July 31.

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YouTube video by astrogeol BOLE DM-1

Yesterday, on the CBC EyeOpener with guest host Judy Aldous, we heard an audio clip from Northrop Grumman’s static test firing of the most powerful segmented solid rocket booster designed for human spaceflight. Here is a link to see my video of this first test firing.

youtu.be/sax-uyvzhnA?...

On June 26, Northrop Grumman tested the world’s largest and most powerful segmented solid rocket booster built for human spaceflight. This was the first test of the next generation booster. When certified, it will allow the SLS moon rocket to carry 5 metric tons of additional payload to lunar orbit.

Students from the University of Calgary are building their 1st CubeSat called FrontierSat.The goal of this small solar powered satellite is to gather more information on the Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement event. Launch is expected to occur in the fall of 2025. The PI is Dr J. Burchill.

On June 20, at 20:42 MDT, the Sun will reach its most northerly point above the celestial equator marking the Summer Solstice in the northern hemisphere and the Winter Solstice in the southern hemisphere. For us in YYC, this is the longest day of the year. Data from the RASC 2025 Observer’s Handbook

Today, June 19, 2025, the Parker Solar Probe (PSP) will be completing its 24th close pass of our Sun. Launched on August 12, 2018, on a ULA Delta IV Heavy rocket, PSP is the first probe to travel through the Sun’s Corona. It is also the fastest probe ever launched travelling at 690,000 km/hr.

I always enjoy visiting family in rural Manitoba and sharing precious memories. I also appreciate the opportunity to observe the night sky away from big city lights.
In the early morning hours of June 4 the Noctilucent Clouds and the Aurora Borealis were visible in the smoky Manitoba sky.

In the early morning hours of May 29, the Aurora Borealis was photographed over Calgary, Canada. Even with heavy light pollution, the Aurora was clearly observed dancing over the bright city lights. Photos were taken from south Calgary looking north.

Early this morning SpaceX launched another 28 Starlink v2 satellites into low Earth orbit. Launch occurred at 2:28 am EDT on May 10.
This was the 55th Falcon 9 launch in 2025 and it’s only May!
This was the 11 flight for booster B1083.
Photos were taken from Cape Canaveral, FL.

Yesterday on the CBC Calgary EyeOpener with host Loren McGinnis, we talked about a large sunspot group currently visible on the Earth facing side of the Sun. This sunspot group is 140,000 km across (more than 10 Earth diameters). Use a safe certified solar filter to view this large active region.

This morning a thin waning crescent joined Venus, Saturn and Mercury.
A very pretty sight in the eastern sky just before sunrise. Photo is from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

At 8:48 pm EDT on April 21, SpaceX successfully launched a Falcon 9 rocket carrying several satellites into a mid inclination orbital plane. All payloads were deployed successfully. This was the third ride share launch (called Bandwagon-3) into this orbital plane.

On April 5, at 23:07 EDT, a SpaceX Falcon 9 carried 28 second generation Starlink satellites into low Earth orbit.
Booster B1078 successfully completed its 19th launch and landing.
All photos were taken from Cape Canaveral beach.

I did not think my second week in Norway would deliver even better aurora borealis displays than week one, but it did!
We have observed Aurora on 6 of the last 10 nights! Incredible!
Plus the daytime scenery is also very enjoyable.
Ready to start week 3.

Week three in Norway to observe the Northern Lights has now ended. The Moon has reached Full Moon phase so I naturally expected to see less Aurora. Was I ever wrong. Even under bright moonlight and twilight, the Aurora has been glorious up here in northern Norway. Some photos attached.

I did not think my second week in Norway would deliver even better aurora borealis displays than week one, but it did!
We have observed Aurora on 6 of the last 10 nights! Incredible!
Plus the daytime scenery is also very enjoyable.
Ready to start week 3.

My first week in Norway has been amazing! Although clouds have blocked some good aurora displays I have still been able to observe and photograph these beautiful lights in the sky when the skies are clear. I have attached a sample of photos from the last three nights.

Last week it was so cold on the prairies that the atmosphere produced amazing sun haloes and perihelic arc or circles. Photos taken near and around Calgary, Canada on February 17, 2025.
Here is a link to explain this atmospheric phenomenon:

www.atoptics.org.uk/halo/unusual...

Attached are two photos acquired from my front yard in Calgary, Canada on Feb 1, 2025.
One telephoto image captures the Moon with earthshine near brilliant Venus.
I also used a 100mm lens to record Venus, the crescent Moon and Saturn below.
The Moon will pass Jupiter on Feb 6 and Mars on Feb 8 & 9.

What a night! Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket achieved orbit on its first attempt! Outstanding success! Congratulations to the entire Blue Origin team. Can’t wait to see the next launch. Image Credit: Blue Origin livestream.

If you had clear skies on the evening of January 13, you might have seen the Moon pass over Mars. Here are a series of 4 images, 2 are captured using a telephoto lens and two were at prime focus using a Celestron 8 telescope (2000 mm focal length).

Every six months (at a Solstice) I set up a pop can with photographic paper inside.
I punch a pin hole near the top of the can and point it south.
After six months I take the can down and scan the photographic paper. This is the latest result from June-December 2024.

Please support the CBC Calgary Food Bank by bidding on the many great gift ideas listed on the website below. I have another astronomy gift basket up for auction with 3 meteorite fragments including pieces of the Moon and Mars. Bidding closes 11:59 pm on Dec 19.

can.givergy.com/CBCMaketheSe...

Here are a few photos of the Starship heavy booster (Flight 6) falling through the sky and using only 13 of its 33 engines to guide it to a soft landing at a precise location in the Gulf of Mexico before it is destroyed.
The fireball is the explosive end of this super heavy booster. #Starship

What a day! Witnessing the launch of the most powerful rocket ever built (so far) by humankind, was an event I will never forget!
Here is a small sample of the photos I was able to record yesterday. The sound was incredible! It is hard to comprehend the scale and power of this rocket.

Less than 2 hours before the 30 minute launch window opens for the 6th test flight of SpaceX’s Starship.
Window opens at 4:00 pm CST.

Recently returned from Norway and enjoyed several opportunities to view the Northern Lights also known as the Aurora Borealis (Latin for Dawn in the North). Here are a selection of photos from the Norwegian Sea onboard the MS Nordkapp.