 | This amazing cloud-to-cloud lightning discharge was captured by Matt Franduto while on vacation in Tybee Island, Ga., August 20, 2010. |
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2009 Perseids Meteor Shower: In reviewing all 300 photos that I took, it turned out that I managed to catch this bright Perseid meteor, because the camera was mounted quite a bit higher than my position in the lawn chair. Image information: Camera - Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi; Lens - Canon EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6; Focal length - 18mm at f/5; ISO 800; one single 10-second exposure. Processed with Photoshop CS2. Arrows point to the Double Cluster (just rising), and the Andromeda Galaxy, both visible to naked eye despite the rising Moon. I chose this lens instead of my Sigma 20mm f/2.8 since I was shooting in the direction of the light pollution of Barberton and the rising Moon. One lesson I did learn is that in order to catch meteors, one needs multiple cameras, incredible luck, and the stamina to stay up until dawn!! -- Lynn Paul |
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ISS Pass by Joe Golias. Technical info: Date: May 11, 2009; Location: Hinckley, Ohio; Camera: Canon 40DH; Lens: Canon 28mm @ F/2.8; Exposure time: Single 15 sec. @ 800 ISO; Mount: Tripod; Processed in Photoshop CS2. |
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Super Bowl: Notice that the ISS passes a little below the "bowl" of the Big Dipper asterism. The space station was only -1.6 mag in twilight skies, making for a tougher image to process. Camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi at 400 ISO; lens: Sigma 20 mm f/2.8 set to infinity; time of shot: 22:23:30; shutter speed: 25 seconds. Image optimized for the Web using Photoshop CS and Canon Digital Photo Pro. -- Lynn Paul |
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This shot of the ISS (July 8, 2009) was taken under a stressful situation: I was in the house and looked at my clock realizing the ISS was going to fly over in roughly 10 minutes and I did not have anything ready to go! By the time a grabbed my camera and tripod and made it outside I had only 30 seconds to a minute to get setup and take the shot. You will notice that either I did not have my camera focused properly or I bumped the tripod. AHHH!!! Canon 40DH, 28mm, f/2.8, 30 sec., ISO 800 processed in Photoshop CS2. -- Joe Golias |
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Falling Into Cassiopeia: This was my second effort at capturing a pass of the International Space Station over our area. The first, an especially bright apparition on July 7, was blocked by clouds that moved in just as the ISS slipped into view. Skies were clear for the much dimmer July 9 pass but twilight and Northern Ohio light pollution didn't help things. A darker site and more experience will help. Thing to remember: the ISS may be bright, but it's moving -- photons are not being collected in a particular spot but strung out across the frame of the imager! Canon Digital Rebel XT: ISO 400, 30 seconds, f/11, about 40mm -- James Guilford |
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Space Station: The week of July 5 - July 11, 2009 saw many passes of the International Space Station over the Northeastern Ohio region. Two passes were particularly photogenic (bright and high in the sky) and a number of club members attempted photographs of them. This image, captured by Dave Taggart and Jay Reynolds was made from Bay Village -- the streak to the left of the inverted bowl of the "Big Dipper" is the ISS passing from top to bottom of the frame the night of July 9. |
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Stars over Spencer: On Friday April 17, 2009 many CAA members met at Letha House to enjoy a wonderful night of mild (for April) temperatures, transparent skies, and of course camaraderie! The shadowy figure is Ray Paul setting up his binoculars (along with a few others). This shot was taken with a Canon XTi and Sigma 20mm f/2.8 mm lens. Camera settings were: ISO 400, f/2.8 with focus set at infinity. Length of exposure was 10 seconds. I took the shot just as a car was coming up the road towards Letha House, which lit up the trees on the other side of the observing grounds. -- Lynn Paul |
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International Space Station (ISS): On March 30, 2009, at 8:50 PM, Matt Franduto took a break from a hectic life, took advantage of a rare (in March) clear night sky, and took this image. He wrote: "Tonight, I noticed the ISS was going to do an excellent fly over. So, I got out my camera. Camera settings: ISO 200, f/5. My 35-70 mm lens was set at 35mm with focus just shy of infinity. Length of exposure 30-45 seconds." |
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A rare and beautiful display mimicked
aurorae the night of Feb. 18 - 19, 2006. It wasn't the "northern
lights" captivating late-night travelers and sky-watchers -- it was
"light pillars," (aka "ice pillars") a cold-weather phenomenon of the
lower atmosphere. "I was on my way home from work at midnight and
thought they were auroras. Pretty cool" wrote photographer Joe Golias.
Joe feared he would be arrested as a thief as he stalked the
neighborhood at midnight in black cap and gloves with a ladder in hand
as an improvised camera stand! He recorded this image and others from
Hinckley, Ohio using a Canon 20D, 20-second exposure. The constellation
Orion stands just above the rooftop to the left. |
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At a point in its cycle when the Sun should be quiet, it was not. On the night of Nov. 7 - 8, 2004, North America was treated to beautiful and intense aurorae. "Here is a shot taken with a tripod-mounted Nikon F and 28mm lens @ F/2. A 40-sec. exposure on Fuji Supra 800 speed film. {The} aurora started just after sunset to the north and was soon visible in all directions. By 11:30 PM directly overhead, the aurora was pulsating beyond belief. I have never seen anything like it! The display ended around 1:00 AM. Conditions were very windy and cold. Up to 25 mph wind gusts but mostly clear." -- Joe Golias |
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I
was very fortunate to be out observing at Letha House on the evening of
Oct. 30, 2003 when we were treated to a dazzling display of northern
lights." Photo info: Canon D60, tripod mounted, 10-second exposure at
400 ISO. -- Wayne Cukras Letha House
is home of the CAA Observatory, a dark sky site near Spencer, Ohio.
That's the Pleiades just to the right of the center of the picture. |