Category: Skyscape

Views of the sky. Sunrise, sunset, clouds, and weather

Sunday (18-December-2022) — New Jersey

Backyard Nighttime Sky Over New Jersey.

It was a cold but clear night to try out a Vaonis Vespera Observation Station. This is a digital telescope, without an eyepiece for taking images of objects in the sky. The Vespera is controlled via Wi-Fi by the Singularity app. This allowed control the Vespera from inside a warm house. The Vespera automatically focuses the camera, and automatically tracks the selected object while taking a series of images (10 second exposures). The following image is of the Rosette Nebula (NGC2237-44). This is a composite of 309 images. The composite image was post-processed with Capture One Pro and Topaz Photo AI. I have also included a time-lapse video showing the development of the composite image by the Vespera. More images and comments about the Vespera to follow.

Rosette Nebula (NGC2237-44). (David J Mathre)
NGC2237_44 Rosette Nebula. Composite of 309 images taken with a Vaonis Vespera. Image processed with Capture One Pro and Topaz Photo AI. (David J Mathre)

Daily Electric Energy Used (87.0 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (22.4 kWh) from Sense. Sun and clouds. Deficit of 64.6 kWh.

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Saturday (03-September-2022) — New Jersey

Summertime Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the day viewed in my backyard: Mourning Dove, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Turkey Vulture, Downy Woodpecker, Tufted Titmouse, House Finch, American Goldfinch, Song Sparrow, Northern Cardinal.


Birds of the Day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (64.0 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (43.3 kWh) from Sense. Sun and clouds. Deficit of 20.7 kWh.

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Sunday (21-August-2022) — New Jersey

Summertime Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the day viewed in my backyard: Mourning Dove, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Turkey Vulture, Blue Jay, American Goldfinch, Song Sparrow, Common Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird, Northern Cardinal.


Birds of the Day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


American Goldfinch in a field of Zinnia flowers. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Ruby-throated Hummingbird at a hummingbird feeder. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Ruby-throated Hummingbird feeding on Zinnia flowers. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Ruby-throated Hummingbird feeding on Zinnia flowers. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Ruby-throated Hummingbird feeding on Zinnia flowers. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (76.8 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (44.0 kWh) from Sense. Cloudy. Deficit of 32.8 kWh.

Weekly Electric Energy Used (474 kWh) from Sense. Weekly Solar Electric Energy Produced (410 kWh) from Sense. Deficit of 64 kWh.

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Friday (19-August-2022) — New Jersey

Summertime Nature in New Jersey.

Birds of the day viewed in my backyard: Mourning Dove, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Downy Woodpecker, Turkey Vulture, Blue Jay, Black-capped Chickadee, Gray Catbird, House Finch, Song Sparrow.


Birds of the Day. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Ruby-throated Hummingbirds. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.


Turkey Vulture Soaring. Individual images in the slideshow are available in my PhotoShelter Gallery.

Daily Electric Energy Used (72.9 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (63.2 kWh) from Sense. Sunny. Deficit of 9.7 kWh.


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Thursday (30-June-2022) — New Jersey

Independence Day Fireworks

Montgomery Township typically celebrates Independence Day with fireworks several days before the 4th of July. The fireworks have been canceled the last couple of years due to Covid-19. The current infection rate is listed as moderate, so the township decided to go forward with the fireworks this year. Not far from where I live is a great location that overlooks the high school. I got there at about sunset. Several cars had already arrived, but I still found a good spot to set up two cameras on tripods. The settings I used were ISO 100, f/11, and an exposure of 4 or 8 seconds. I then used the images to produce the following time-lapse videos. I may go back later and add music.

Did anyone notice that I haven’t posted any bird, flower, or garden images during June? Is anyone out there… Other than the thousands of attempts to login and hack the site?

Daily Electric Energy Used (75.9 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (78.5 kWh) from Sense. Sunny. Surplus of 2.6 kWh.

Monthly Electric Energy Used (1987 kWh) from Sense. Daily Solar Electric Energy Produced (1931 kWh) from Sense. Deficit of 56 kWh.

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