Night Sky

Mooseline sent me a link to today's APOD (Astronomy Picture of the Day) when I just did some brainstorming on the topic "feet" of the creative challenge...

I took the photo 2017 in Finland. Doesn't the aurora look a bit like a footprint?

No, this is not a parking for UFOs but a field with solar at night.

As final photo, I have something very special for you. Before Christmas there was the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn. They were closest December 21st, but the weather didn't play along. Fortunately, I was more lucky on December 25th. I could not only observe the conjunction, but even take a picture:

July 2018, I had the opportunity to observe a lunar eclipse. 

Already when rising, the moon was partially occulted. In this picture the moon had just entered the umbra shadow of the Earth. Below the moon, you can also see Mars. The following photo shows the moon almost at the strongest occultation. 

What I love about my job? The magic of the night sky... Of course it's exhausting to be on night shift for 3-4 weeks - which in winter basically means hardly seeing the sun from full moon to full moon - but as the observatories are usually in remote places, this also gives me the chance to enjoy wonderful nature and above all the fascinating night sky. 

Recently, I went to the vineyards. I had planned to go in the afternoon to capture the yellow and red leaves in the magic light of the afternoon sun. Some work in the garden took longer than expected and in the end I left only after sunset. Unfortunately, I forgot my tripod which was a pity as the sky was almost clear and some stars visible.