PLEASE DO NOT USE MY IMAGES WITHOUT EXPRESSED WRITTEN PERMISSION.
February 18th we had a good storm blow through bringing lots of snow to the area. Down here in the valley we got a months worth in 24 hours.
We got about 6 inches but, up in the mountains they got 20-30 inches. I’m sure most of you were seeing all the car wrecks, and hearing about the major interstate closures out here. Thankfully two days after the storm it was nice enough to get out and run some errands, and make a couple of images.
From my Patio shortly after daybreak the clouds began to break up.
It’s been in the low 50’s the last couple of days and today will be 57 degrees F! The snow here in the valley is melting so fast, but it’s been super windy the last two days. I’m hoping it tapers off this afternoon.
I hope you back east fared well through the Nor’easter and all are having a good week!
PLEASE DO NOT USE MY IMAGES WITHOUT EXPRESSED WRITTEN PERMISSION.
On Valentine’s Day morning the Moon rose just before sunrise and I was up and ready for it. I went out back and while setting up my tripod and camera I thought I heard a quiet “hello”. It was dark and way too early for anyone to be out so I carried on. Then I heard a louder “hello”. Oh, my gosh it was my neighbor out filling her bird feeder. We both giggled and said good morning then we both admired the Moonrise.
There was Earthshine too. What is Earthshine you may be asking? The internet has a better definition than mine.
“Earthshine is the faint glow seen on the unlit portion of the Moon, particularly during its crescent phase.
It occurs when sunlight reflects off Earth’s surface—especially clouds, ice, and landmasses—then travels to the Moon, illuminates its night side, and is reflected back to Earth. This creates a ghostly luminance on the Moon’s dark face, making the entire lunar disk visible even when only a thin crescent is lit by direct sunlight.
The phenomenon is most noticeable just before and after a New Moon, when Earth appears nearly full from the Moon’s perspective, maximizing the reflected light. Earth reflects about 30% of incoming sunlight, and from the Moon, Earth appears 40 times brighter than the full Moon does from Earth. The effect is sometimes called “the old Moon in the new Moon’s arms” or “the ashen glow.”
Earthshine is not just a visual curiosity—it’s a valuable tool for science. By studying the light reflected from Earth to the Moon, researchers can analyze Earth’s albedo (reflectivity), monitor changes in cloud cover, and even search for signs of life, such as the “red edge” spectral signature from vegetation.
It also serves as a natural illumination source for robotic missions exploring the Moon’s night side and permanently shadowed polar regions.”
Isn’t that a lovely thought, ” The Old Moon in the New Moon’s arms”.
The contrail was interesting- it looks like it’s going right through the Moon.
We’ve got a storm coming in as I type this (Tuesday morning). They predict 4-8 inches of snow here in the valley and 12-16 in the mountains. We woke up to snow and it’s still snowing. We’re staying in and getting cozy. Well until we have to get bundled up and start shoveling!
I finished the Love Stamps puzzle I started at the beginning of the month last night so, I suppose it’s a good time to start a new one.
I hope you’re all having a good week!
Nikon Df| Nikkor 120mm| edited and processed in PS CC 2026
PLEASE DO NOT USE MY IMAGES WITHOUT EXPRESSED WRITTEN PERMISSION.
January 8th just at dawn I photographed my first celestial event of the year. The Occultation of the crescent moon and Antares the brightest star in the constellation of Scorpius.
The tiny dot of light on the Earthshine side of the crescent moon is Antares right before it slipped behind the Moon. Venus the morning star shines brightly above and to the left of the Moon.
I give you three views, one with my star filter on my lens, one with my ultra wide angle lens, and one deeply cropped to show Antares slipping behind the Moon.
20mm view of the Crescent Moon, Venus, and Antares.
Crescent Moon, Antares, Venus dawn January 8, 2024
Venus above and left of the Crescent Moon, Antares a tiny dot of light on the Earthshine side of the Crescent Moon just before it disappeared behind the Moon.
I was in a bit of a rush putting on my star filter so it went on askew so some of the star lines aren’t clean, and worse it’s now stuck. It’s on too tight for me to unscrew it, and I broke my filter wrench some time ago removing a ND (neutral density) filter, and failed to replace it. DOH! I have ordered a new one…and not a plastic one this time. It should arrive today.
We had our first big snow drop that stuck on Sat/Sun. It required shoveling. My neighbor bought a new cordless snow-blower and did our driveway twice! I just shoveled the clean up and the road below our driveway. She’s a jewel! She said it took just 12 minutes to do the driveway. We’ve made a deal. She’ll do the snow-blower and I do the clean up shoveling on 3 driveways and sidewalks. I told her I’d spring for the Hot Cocoa with marshmallows!
We have another big storm coming this weekend which is going to mess up my plans to meet friends, and do some birding at one of our favorite California refuges. It’s going to snow here, and in the mountains I’d need to cross, and it’s got rain on the forecast for there. It’s always a risk in the winter though isn’t it. Looks like I’ll be cancelling my plans.
Hopefully, we can meetup in February.
That’s me all caught up. How’s it going for you? Were any of you up and notice the tiny reddish star right beside the moon Monday morning?
Nikon D810| Nikkor 24-120mm & Nikkor 20mmG| PS CC 25.3.1
Circadianreflections Blog 
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