Night Bright

A recent vacation to northeast Minnesota was a perfect opportunity for night sky photography in its dark skies environment. In the above image was captured at 9:27 pm CDT on Saturday, August 31, 2019 from Grand Marais, Minnesota. Camera looks SSW over Lake Superior. Crouching at center on a shoreline rock outcropping with a headlamp is Sue Alliss. The Milky Way core is clearly visible. The bright object just left of the Milky Way is the 0.32 magnitude planet Saturn. The bright object right of the Milky Way is the -2.21 magnitude planet Jupiter. The distant light on the horizon at right is probably from the small town of Lutsen, about 17 miles distant. Clouds can be seen at top of the image. Image is a 13 second exposure at f/2.8, ISO 6400, 11mm focal length.

10:15 pm, August 31, 2019. Milky Way in the southwest sky over Saint Francis Xavier Church near Grand Marais, Minnesota. 13 second exposure at f/2.8, ISO 6400, 11mm focal length.

10:30 pm, August 31, 2019. Looking NNE from Saint Francis Xavier Church. The opposite end of the Milky Way's arch is seen as well as an auroral glow just above the tree line, a result of G2 class solar activity. The Andromeda Galaxy (M31) is clearly visible at upper right. 10 second exposure at f/2.8, ISO 6400, 11mm focal length.

3:54 am CDT, Wednesday, September 4, 2019. Looking northwest from our room balcony at Skyport Lodge near Grand Marais, Minnesota. 13 second exposure at f/2.8, ISO 12800, 11.5mm focal length.

10:39 pm CDT, September 4. Milky Way in SSW sky as seen from our cabin at Tettegouche State Park in Minnesota. 13 second exposure at f/2.8, ISO 4000, 11mm focal length.

10:46 pm, September 4. Looking southwest at Milky Way. Bright star at center is 0.75 star Altair in the constellation Aquila. 13 second exposure at f/2.8, ISO 5000, 11mm focal length.

10:57 pm, September 4. Auroral glow in northern sky as seen from near our cabin. 13 second exposure at f/2.8, ISO 8000, 11mm focal length.

11:23 pm, September 4. Looking northeast from our cabin at auroral glow on horizon, a result of G2 class solar activity. The brightest star at lower left is the 0.06 magnitude star Capella in the constellation Auriga. Thin clouds are also seen. 13 second exposure at f/2.8, ISO 8000, 11mm focal length.

11:53 pm, September 4. Looking southwest at Milky Way as seen from our cabin. 15 second exposure at f/2.8, ISO 5000, 11mm focal length.