Author Topic: Solstices I have known (Read 6943 times)

rodekyll · « **on:** June 17, 2016, 02:26:44 AM »

I try to get either a noon or midnight picture on summer and winter solstices. This year I'll be travelling on the solstice, so instead of taking one I've chosen a few to share. Feel free to show yours . . .

Winter midnight

Winter noon

Summer midnight

Muzz · « **Reply #1 on:** June 17, 2016, 03:32:31 AM »

Real nice thanks RK

Love the summer midnight.

Nic in Western NYS · « **Reply #2 on:** June 17, 2016, 04:40:38 AM »

Beautiful! Those are all from near home? How far north are you?

rodekyll · « **Reply #3 on:** June 17, 2016, 05:25:39 AM »

1, 2, and 4 are from Sitka, my home. 3 is from the Copper River area much farther north.

Matteo · « **Reply #4 on:** June 17, 2016, 10:41:22 AM »

Glad I was there for the Copper river camp, for sure one to remember!

Daniel Kalal · « **Reply #5 on:** June 17, 2016, 12:49:56 PM »

Does this count?

In 2009 I was riding in Norway during the Solstice. I took this shot in the afternoon when the people were preparing some sort of daisy-draped maypole figure--I'm not clear on the historic significance of it, but it was nice to see folks celebrating the day.

Testarossa · « **Reply #6 on:** June 17, 2016, 12:59:52 PM »

RK: gorgeous shots! Thanks!

Dan: I know a little about Scandinavian tradition. Midsummer solstice is celebrated across Scandinavia; in Norway it's called Jonsok, which basically means St. John's Day, honoring John the Baptist. But in pre-Christian times it was essentially a celebration of new life with a focus on future marriage for kids and young women. The maypole decorated with a variety of herbs is a fixture of all these celebrations, which were brought to Great Britain by the Norse invaders around the year 800.

Bill N · « **Reply #7 on:** June 17, 2016, 04:07:58 PM »

I love your posts connected to astronomy which is a passion of mine.
Bill

rodekyll · « **Reply #8 on:** June 17, 2016, 04:18:37 PM »

I don't know much about astronomy, but I like taking pictures of it.

<---- night vision goggles

Matteo · « **Reply #9 on:** June 17, 2016, 04:46:47 PM »

I'm partial to gastronomy.

rodekyll · « **Reply #10 on:** June 17, 2016, 04:50:57 PM »

I don't do pictures of that. I think ATE had that niche.

Moto · « **Reply #11 on:** June 17, 2016, 05:12:55 PM »

Wow. As always.

I especially like #2, but I wonder how you got different sized stars in the the first photo. Long exposure time or some special trick?

Moto

rodekyll · « **Reply #12 on:** June 17, 2016, 05:26:50 PM »

The first photo was a long time exposure -- probably 30sec. The different sized 'stars' are stars of different light intensity (makes a bigger 'splash' on film), planets, and possibly the space station in there somewhere. That really big one is either Venus or Jupiter -- I can't remember which. Off to the left is Mars, and then there are another couple planets around that big one. I think there were four planets visible that night.

#2 is sometimes my favorite bike shot of any type. But that changes.

Moto · « **Reply #13 on:** June 17, 2016, 05:39:20 PM »

Quote from: rodekyll on June 17, 2016, 05:26:50 PM

#2 is sometimes my favorite bike shot of any type. But that changes.

#2 has it all, as a photograph.

At first I thought the motorcycle was parked on ice, but now I see it might be standing water. In either case, it brings back memories of having ridden on ice, and it's nice to imagine the Alaskan rider (you) riding through the countryside on it.

Guzzistajohn · « **Reply #14 on:** June 17, 2016, 07:45:08 PM »

A couple of my favorites were summer @ the telluride bluegrass festival

Yukonica · « **Reply #15 on:** June 18, 2016, 11:54:50 AM »

The b&w holds the most appeal for me. All of them are nice shots.
I've never thought to actually make a photograph at solstice; winter I'm already inside and warm and summer I'm already in bed:).
Perhaps, if the weather holds I'll begin in a few days time. Thanks.

Bill N · « **Reply #16 on:** June 18, 2016, 03:38:19 PM »

Quote from: rodekyll on June 17, 2016, 05:26:50 PM

The first photo was a long time exposure -- probably 30sec. The different sized 'stars' are stars of different light intensity (makes a bigger 'splash' on film), planets, and possibly the space station in there somewhere. That really big one is either Venus or Jupiter -- I can't remember which. Off to the left is Mars, and then there are another couple planets around that big one. I think there were four planets visible that night.

#2 is sometimes my favorite bike shot of any type. But that changes.

The picture is centered on the constellation Taurus. Orion is at the left edge of the picture. The Pleiades is the "clump of stars to the right of Taurus. The brightest "star" is Venus, to it's left is Aldebaran, further left is Mars. Jupiter is to the right below the Pleiades. You shot a very beautiful and somewhat rare picture. Thanks for posting.
Bill

rodekyll · « **Reply #17 on:** June 18, 2016, 07:49:09 PM »

Bill "N" as in the science guy?

Thanks for the interpretation! For such a serene shot it's a very busy picture.

Nic in Western NYS · « **Reply #18 on:** June 18, 2016, 10:19:23 PM »

In #1, is the top of the mountain in the background still lit (sun not set there)?

rodekyll · « **Reply #19 on:** June 18, 2016, 10:37:42 PM »

No, in January the light of the sun is gone by about 3PM, and this is within a half hour of midnight one way or the other. I think that what you see is called "nocturnal luminescence", which is a glow from excited atmospheric gasses that is caused by something other than what we think triggers the northern lights. In this case it gathers intensity as it bounces between the Pacific Ocean and the upper atmosphere, reflecting off of ice and water in the air.

But this is also the direction (SW) we'd expect the moon to set in January, so I could have gotten moon glow from beyond the horizon. I don't think there was a moon there at that time.

Maybe Bill will come back and tell us. Like I said, I'm not an astronomer; I just like taking long exposures.

[edit]

Here's another shot of Mt E. This is more what I expect moon glow to look like. It's not solstice, but for a few nights each year, if you stand in the right spot and squint just so, the moon sets inside the volcano. I suspect it's visiting a virgin. What makes this shot especially difficult is having a clear night for one of those few nights, and of course, knowing where to stand. I saw it happen one night before I could get my camera set up. It was 14 years before it all came together again.

. . . and another summer midnight solstice shot, well, just because.

injundave · « **Reply #20 on:** June 20, 2016, 10:58:06 PM »

Late evening solstice moon over Havelock North....

and after dark, during a break in the clouds.

rodekyll · « **Reply #21 on:** June 20, 2016, 11:15:05 PM »

Cloud cover on the moon can be good!

We went to rain yesterday evening and it will continue until 2021. That's on the calendar, not the clock. So even if I was outdoors with a camera there would have been nothing to shoot.

swmckinley54 · « **Reply #22 on:** June 21, 2016, 07:59:58 AM »

Those pics are mighty fine. Must be weird though on the body clock to see daylight at midnight. I was in Amsterdam a few weeks ago and it did not get dark till 10:30pm and the day was dawning at 4:30 am. I thought that was strange.

lucydad · « **Reply #23 on:** June 21, 2016, 08:27:51 AM »

Killer of roads,

Superb photos. I remember living in Anchorage, solstice was always a major marker. Optimists rejoiced, pessimists started counting down to termination dust. Great Strawberry moon here in Sugar Land last night.

Duc-Duc-Goose · « **Reply #24 on:** June 21, 2016, 12:01:53 PM »

Very nice photos! It's indeed a beautiful world we are blessed to live in

oldbike54 · « **Reply #25 on:** June 21, 2016, 12:09:53 PM »

Quote from: rodekyll on June 17, 2016, 04:50:57 PM

I don't do pictures of that. I think ATE had that niche.

No doubt he gave us heartburn

Dusty

drlapo · « **Reply #26 on:** June 21, 2016, 02:06:30 PM »

I was expecting Pontiacs

Gino · « **Reply #27 on:** June 21, 2016, 05:06:34 PM »

I'm in Edinburgh, Scotland, just getting dark at 11pm, bright at 3.30am, when I go to the North of Scotland this time of year it never really gets dark, plays hell with you if your partying at the campsite. Heading to Europe (continental Europe ) Thursday after work on the V11 for 4 weeks, I'll lose 5 hours of daylight in as many days. Really nice pics, I must try to record the solstice myself

chuck peterson · « **Reply #28 on:** June 21, 2016, 09:08:32 PM »

Quote from: Testarossa on June 17, 2016, 12:59:52 PM

RK: gorgeous shots! Thanks!

Dan: I know a little about Scandinavian tradition. Midsummer solstice is celebrated across Scandinavia; in Norway it's called Jonsok, which basically means St. John's Day, honoring John the Baptist. But in pre-Christian times it was essentially a celebration of new life with a focus on future marriage for kids and young women. The maypole decorated with a variety of herbs is a fixture of all these celebrations, which were brought to Great Britain by the Norse invaders around the year 800.

Pretty much just sacrificing virgins...!

Great shots, thanks....any virgins? By chance...in your neighborhood? Just in case we missed any..

News:

Author Topic: Solstices I have known (Read 6943 times)

Moto

Moto

lucydad

oldbike54