Comments on: Who says clouds screw up observing?

By: Sprinky

Sprinky — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 04:18:02 +0000

Beautiful picture!

The weather in Boulder typically changes fast. This past week, it’s been chillier than it usually is at this time of year. And, as I’m sure you’ve noticed by now, we get plenty of thunderstorms.

By: Brendan

Brendan — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 23:33:42 +0000

I had wondered about the photograh’s validity. Mostly from the clarity of the clouds. I suppose that could easily be the fact that they get almost no light, and the only time they’re lit is when the lightning goes off. The lack of tree movement is easily handled by it being a windless night. At any rate, it’s very pretty.

@Mark Martin: As far as the weather, that’s Northern Arizona. The fickle climate is something some of us even take pride in. I personally just get baffled by it, despite 20 years of living here.

By: Laguna2

Laguna2 — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 12:00:39 +0000

This picture is a composite of three pictures stacked together.

http://www.astrotreff.de/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=57635&whichpage=2

By: Mark Hansen

Mark Hansen — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 06:42:13 +0000

To my bronchitis-addled brain, it looks like a weird lightning-cloud creature malevolently approaching the observatory. “Puny humans, I will destroy your star watching instruments!”
Would make an excellent B-grade movie, maybe?

It’s still a beautiful picture.

By: icemith

icemith — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 04:59:34 +0000

Again, re the photo. I was reminded of a photo I took, (actually it was probably a GAF/Ansco color slide), taken with a then newish Minolta SRT101 SLR in about 1967, of close-ups of some roses growing in the backyard - by moonlight!

I set up a tripod (naturally), and with only the bright moon, and bracketing the exposures, found about 15 minutes was pleasing. Aperture was probably wide open, which could have been f1.7, but I would have been then smart enough to stop it down a bit to get a sharper image.

The resultant image on 50ASA stock was surreal and quite pleasing. I was proud of it and that it worked so well. I will just have to dig (and I do mean dig) that slide box out of storage. As others have mentioned or have alluded to, it does look as though the observertory/lightning photo was graphically enhanced, but as I noticed long ago, really it is all about the smooth creamy texture, no doubt caused by minute movements and light reflections, that stand out. Reciposity failure also figures in the final outcome, at least with filmstock, but I do not know if that is even a factor with digital systems.

Now, tonight there is a full moon, and it will be pretty bright for a week, why not set up your camera and take advantage of the really cool moonlight. Paradoxically, it yields a “warm” rendition, quite different and unexpected. Long exposure times with the, shall we say, less expensive digital cameras may be problematic. A remote control or the older cable release will be an advantage, or follow the century old technique and use a lens cap.

Sorry if this was a little off topic, but there was some connection to ethereal lighting, and I just couldn’t resist.

Ivan.

By: Space Cadet

Space Cadet — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 03:16:10 +0000

Hey, I traveled to Utah for the first time last summer, and as soon as we got past the salt flats we were in the biggest lightning storm I’ve ever seen. Bolts coming straight down into the peaks on both sides of us every thirty seconds. Scared the poop out of this California boy!

By: Harold

Harold — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 01:29:33 +0000

Off-topic, but…according to my Astronomy calendar tonight the full Moon will be beside Jupier all night. It won’t be as spectacular as the May 19 Moon-Venus pairing, but one thing it has in common with that beautiful conjunction is that MY FURSHLUGGINER SKY IS COMPLETELY CLOUDED OVER AGAIN! If you happen to have clear shies tonight, go out and see it for me. And don’t forget to mark your calendars for the June 18 daytime occultation of Venus by the very young Moon.