Bright Companions

A waxing crescent moon and the -4.21 magnitude planet Venus were within about four degrees of one another as they set in the western sky on the evening of Thursday, February 27, 2020. Above, the bright duo are captured at 7:10 pm CST with an exposure of 1/6 second at f/4, ISO 6400 and 24mm focal length.  The bright star in the trees at right is the 2.06 magnitude Alpheratz in the constellation Andromeda. This image looks over Bowman Woods Park in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, with air temperature being 24 degrees F. Within 12 hours the clear sky would change to one of falling snow. Nikon D7200 DSLR camera.

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Taking a Dim View of Betelgeuse

The star Betelgeuse (arrow) is shown within its constellation Orion in the SSE sky as seen from the Bowman Woods area of NE Cedar Rapids on the evening of Monday, February 10, 2020. The star has received recent notice because of its progressive dimming. The slightly variable star, with a normal magnitude of around 0.5, is located about 700 light years distant. It began its abnormal dimming last November 19, and by December 23 had lowered to a magnitude of 1.3. Betelgeuse is currently even less bright at magnitude 1.5--half of what it was in November. This significant dimming has some scientists speculating whether the red giant star is preparing to explode in a supernova event. The bright star at bottom in the trees is magnitude -1.47 Sirius. This image, captured at 7:02 pm CST, is a 2.5 second exposure at f/3.5, ISO 1600 and 18mm focal length.

7:09 pm. Closeup of the constellation Orion, with its prominent stars labeled. 2.5 second exposure at f/5, ISO 4000, 40mm focal length. Air temperature was 25 degrees F. Nikon D7200 DSLR camera.

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Icicle Clusters

Two paired images of icicle clusters hanging from our gutter on January 29, 2020. Air temperature was 21 degrees F. These are the same icicle clusters viewed from different directions. Nikon D7200 DSLR camera.

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Sled Hill Tree

Frozen fog and mist from an earlier precipitation event clung decoratively to the branches of this tree, located on a popular sledding hill at Bowman Woods Elementary School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa just after noon on Wednesday, January 29, 2020. Air temperature was 22 degrees F. This HD image was created from three separate bracketed images, shot at 1/500 second at f/9, ISO 200 and 52mm focal length. Nikon D7200 DSLR camera.

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January 23-24, 2020 Post-Snowfall Winter Wonderland

A 2-3 inch snowfall during the night of Thursday, January 23 through the early morning of Friday, January 24, 2020 in the Cedar Rapids, Iowa area created a visually striking coating of white on trees and shrubs. The following posted images were captured in Boyson Park, near or at the border of Marion and Cedar Rapids between 11:00 am and noon on Friday, January 24. Air temperature was 32 degrees F, dew point 31 and humidity 96%.

Looking south with Dry Run Creek at center.

North view from Dry Run Creek, with the triple culvert under Boyson Road in background.

Foot bridge over Dry Run Creek, looking east.

Oak tree along the Boyson Park trail just west of Dry Run Creek, looking north.

Flocked oak tree along the trail, looking south.

Interior view of woods lining the trail. Deer can be seen at left and at right.

Fallen log covered in snow in the wooded area.

Rustic tree in the wooded area, looking north.

Looking south along Dry Run Creek, just off Boyson Road and looking south.

A natural spring bubbles at right center in this image, located on the east side of Dry Run Creek. The temperature of the spring as it emanates from the ground ranges around 50 degrees F, and perpetuates green vegetation around it, even in the winter. This is one of three natural springs formerly used by the city of Marion as a water resource, but this one was discontinued in 1953. The spring is located just feet away from the remains of a pump house.

The fenced remains of the old pump house. Water inside its stone walls is enjoyed by mallard ducks.

Surface level view looking north from Dry Run Creek.

Boyson Park Trail, east of the creek, looking north. Nikon D7200 DSLR camera.

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Winter Storm Jacob

Winter Storm Jacob arrived at this location in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Friday, January 17, 2020 with the first snowflakes beginning to fall around 12:20 pm CST. Above, the camera looks north from Bowman Woods Park at 12:33 pm.

This image looks east along Boyson Road in Marion, Iowa between Timber Creek Drive and Newcastle Road amid heavier snowfall at 2:31 pm.

2:34 pm. Looking west from the same location. Temperature was 23 degrees F with 94% humidity, dew point at 22 degrees, wind SE at 10 mph and barometric pressure at 30.47.

2:38 pm. Looking east toward footbridge from Dry Run Creek at the border of Cedar Rapids and Marion, Iowa.

Same time and similar scene.

2:40 pm. Similar scene.

2:42 pm. Low angle view of Dry Run Creek, looking east.

2:44 pm. Looking south under heavy snowfall from Boyson Park at the Cedar Rapids/Marion border.

Looking south along Dry Run Creek at 2:45 pm.

Radar screen capture for 2:52 pm. White arrows indicate storm path, white target icon is my location. After Jacob finished into the evening, a little over 3 inches of snow had fallen here.

In the wake of Winter Storm Jacob, skies cleared and temperatures fell. Above, the sun sets in Bowman Woods Park the following day at 4:01 pm CST, Saturday, January 18, 2020. Air temperature had now dropped to 8 degrees F. Layers of ice coat the tops of the trees.

4:05 pm and similar scene. Ground snow swirls in the background from northwest winds gusting to 20-25 mph. Wind chills were around -13 F degrees. Nikon D7200 DSLR camera.

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Photo Library Severe Weather Extra Pics

2:43 pm CDT, May 16, 2016. Gathering clouds of a tornadic storm system, on Highway 325, about 11 miles southeast of Kenton, Oklahoma.

3:01 pm CDT, May 16, 2016. Texas storm chasers and stray cattle on country road in advance of an approaching tornadic storm just west of Highway 325, about 11 miles southeast of Kenton, Oklahoma. Image looks west toward New Mexico.

3:44 pm CDT. May 16, 2016. Looking west at approaching tornadic storm from Highway 406 and Seneca Road, about one mile south of Seneca, New Mexico.

3:46 pm CDT, May 16, 2016. Looking north at strong updraft and approaching tornadic storm from Highway 406, about 3.8 miles north of US Highway 64 in northeastern New Mexico. This storm would produce a tornado in Oklahoma about 45 minutes later.

3:58 pm CDT, May 16, 2016. Looking northeast at approaching tornadic storm as seen from Seneca Road (A081) at Highway 406 in northeastern New Mexico. Storm is moving left-to-right in image.

4:43 PM CDT, May 16, 2016. Looking NW from E0132 Road at US Highway 56/64, about 2.2 miles west of Felt, Oklahoma. Ryan Alliss photographs roping tornado on ground in background.

4:46 pm CDT, May 16, 2016. Mesocyclone looking northeast from US Highway 64, just west of Felt, Oklahoma.

5:50 pm CDT, Wednesday, May 17, 2017. Looking south at approaching line of severe storms from behind the Youngville Cafe, located on US Highway 30 in Benton County Iowa, just east of 24th Avenue, about 3.6 miles SW of Newhall, and about 13 miles west of Cedar Rapids. Most intense part of storm is located about 14 miles distant, just west of Conroy, Iowa.

8:13 pm CDT Thursday, June 15, 2017. Looking NW from the Ross Veterinary Clinic, on North Marion Road, .1-mile north of County Home Road in Linn County, Iowa. The intense part of the storm cell seen at left background was located near the town of Alburnett, about 5 miles distant. Note the possible funnel object just right of the farm silo.

8:17 pm CDT Thursday, June 15, 2017. Looking NW from the Ross Veterinary Clinic, on North Marion Road, .1-mile north of County Home Road in Linn County, Iowa. The intense part of the storm cell was located near the town of Alburnett, about 5 miles distant.

8:27 pm CDT Thursday, June 15, 2017. Looking SW from the Ross Veterinary Clinic, on North Marion Road, .1-mile north of County Home Road in Linn County, Iowa.

8:48 pm CDT Thursday, June 15, 2017. Looking NE at intense storm cloud from Oliver Court, just south of Boyson Road, and .15-mile west of Alburnett Road in Marion, Iowa. The cell is about 1.5 miles distant. A considerable hail core was located about 4 miles to the NW near Robins, Iowa at this moment.

Severe storm cell seen at 9:08 pm CDT, Thursday, June 15, 2017. Image looks ESE from Oliver Court in Marion, Iowa. CC lightning flashes occured every few seconds or so.

Severe storm cell seen at 9:08 pm CDT, Thursday, June 15, 2017. Image looks ESE from Oliver Court in Marion, Iowa. CC lightning flashes occured every few seconds or so. Nikon D7200 DSLR camera.

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