Photodump

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Eclipse Pictures

Fortunately, the weather here was perfectly clear. Unfortunately, it was 10 degrees, so I just ran out every 45 minutes or so, snapped a bunch of pictures, and ran back in. I don't remember the last time I got such a good view of a lunar eclipse. I took these from the street outside my fiancee's apartment. Sorry for the generally low quality - I was missing part of my tripod so these are all hand-held.

The very start of the eclipse:
















Halfway to totality, the curve of the Earth's shadow is easy to see, along with with the coloration of the light deflected through the atmosphere:















During totality. No tripod = ISO 800 = grainy. The Moon was very dark at this point.















Totality with Saturn to the lower left and Regulus above:




















Post-totality.

















The pictures don't really capture how beautiful it was to watch. Sorry you missed it Joe, there's always 2010. I'm sure you can find plenty of good pictures of it on the net.

Astronomy Picture of the Day/Week/Month.

From Space.com

<<The Moon passes less than a degree from very bright Mars. In fact, observers in northern Canada, Alaska, the Arctic and parts of Europe may see an occultation (basically, an eclipse) of Mars by the Moon. For a map and more information on the occultation, see the International Occultation Timing Association page: http://www.lunar-occultations.com/iota/planets/1224mars.htm>>



I took that picture a couple hours after the closest approach. It should be noted that It would have missed the event altogether if The Observant Murloc hadn't noticed it as we were driving home from mass.

In a little more cosmic terms, it would look something like this.



(Screenshot courtesy Celestia. What? You don't have Celestia? Go get it now!)

It's interesting to note that any picture with an exposure long enough to capture Mars automatically means the Moon is whited out. If you want a picture of the Moon, here's one.



Note that was taken without the aid of a tripod at a 1/1600" shutter speed.

Cameras Are Fun

Taken in Sandusky, MI











Feel free to use it for wallpaper on your computer.

More Camera Coolness

Taken from a rooftop in Chicago. Yes, that's the Sears Tower.

In the year 3000, they call it "Xmas".
And Santa is a deranged killer robot that delivers vengeance for all your wrongdoings.

PhotoDump.

'Twas the night before Christmas



And all through the house



(I am loving my new camera. This picture was a 1/4 second shutter speed and the one before was a full half second. No tripod, just me holding the camera and they still came out clear. Image stabilizing technology FTW! /bows to the Canon gods.)

Not a creature was stirring



Except for Babe the Pig, whom we mercilessly slaughtered and ate for dinner.



Yummy!



And this kitten which, apparently, Santa put under the Christmas tree.



Merry Christmas! Have a kitten!



(Again, 0.3 second shutter speed, no blurries.)



The stockings were hung by the chimney with care (except for the ones that Isis hated with a passion and would tear down the first chance she got)



In the hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there (or maybe Grom Hellscream and Tichondrius, when they finish disemboweling this angel).



Somethingsomethingblahblah Merry Xmas to all and to all a good night!