Astronomy
Leaves, Stars, Planets and a Bird
Yesterday the weather was up and down, one minute there was rain and high winds, the next there was nice patches of light hitting the trees and fields. Unfortunately all every time the light looked nice I was doing something else or by the time I got out with the camera it had turned to rain again. So, feeling the need to photograph something I opted for some leaves -
This morning, before the Sun had decided whether she was going to put in an appearance or not I was out in the lane watching the clouds flit by and stars appear and vanish. Rather than just stand and watch I decided to grab a couple of photographs, the first is of Jupiter above the trees (it’s the brighter dot lower left).
And then I turned the camera towards the Plough.
After this I went for a bit of a wander and as I returned to the house decided to watch the Sunrise, as the sky brightened I spotted a bird having a morning flight and managed a quick photograph.
Another first
Well, another first of the season anyway. Last night (or rather early early this morning) I decided to take a couple of night sky photographs, I was at work so I could not move far (well I could stand at the bottom of the steps at work and still hear the phone ring so that was my range 
). Anyway, here’s a couple of night sky shots from Kirkby Stephen signal box, and finally one of the night sky over Kirkby Stephen station.
Beverley
We decided to leave the car behind this time and wandered into Beverley, along the way we stormed the dark tower….
Okay, we didn’t storm it, and it may not have been a dark tower, but the mind works in strange ways at times Anyway, after the dark tower and a wander around Beverley we visited the Minster.
Amazing aurora timelapse
Don’t you just wish every now and then you could magic yourself to a different place for a while When I watched this video this morning I almost was somewhere else for a while. It’s certainly worth watching full screen. Amazing work by Terje Sorgjerd it must be said.
The Aurora from Terje Sorgjerd on Vimeo.
Change of plan
When I returned home this morning I thought I’d play with the camera taking photographs of the misty valley and the Moon above; as the morning wore on my plans changed slightly
At this point I thought it would be a good idea to go for a wander with the dog and the camera along the lane -
As I took this photograph I thought, wouldn’t it be good to take the Sun poking its head above the hills through the telescope rather than with the usual lenses, unfortunately I was not too close to the house and telescope at this point and the Sun was threatening to appear at any moment. So, a quick dash back to the house, set the telescope up and I’d just beat the Sun 
I quite liked the last one as there are a few small sunspots on view, next time I’ll plan in advance and get the scope set up and focused properly.
Now for the obligatory warning – If you own a telescope* or have access to one please don’t just look straight at the Sun through it as you’ll go blind, which may put a crimp in your day really.
*this really applies to all optical devices such as binoculars, camera lenses….