Atmospheric Optics: Link

Last evening, far outside of the light polluted region of Prince George, I readied myself for an evening of excellent seeing as the snow-giving clouds that plagued the daylight hours ventured northward and left clear skies behind for an amazing sunset (what could be seen through the dense forest). I, camera in hand and teeth jostling for composure in the frigid air, waited for the perfect sunset picture to meld into the perfect starry picture. This was borne of immense greed because - and of course I should have known this - the moon, full, began to rise as the sun began to set. Luminesence was not to leave my eyes this evening so it seemed. There was thus no significant moment of clarity that enabled me to pause and wonder, yet again, at the cosmos and attempt to capture a fleetingly slight image of a cluster of stars so far eluding me. However, all was not lost - in mere moments I had a wonderous view of our Moon, duely named 'Moon', and readied myself for my secondary plan to capture said moon on film.
Foiled - all was lost as vapid clouds trailed the main mass that earlier departed and became a significant impairment, worse than the light of the moon. But then, third plan being made on the fly, I saw a sight that I had witnessed many times, we must have all seen many times, and decided that tonight was not going to be only an exhibition of how much nature wanted me to be cold. As I danced my muscles warm in the crunching snow underfoot and tried not to breathe, I aimed moon-ward, tensed my muscles steady against the stinging cold and pressed the shutter button (although the first time I did breathe and out came a dramatically eerie picture of a ghost...not a real ghost, of course.....gleaming on the image. My condensing breath captured on the image. Kind of neat, but unwanted).
Victorious - An extraordinary lunar aureole! I thought it would make a dreary picture, but it turned out wonderful. Then it made me intereted in more atmospheric imagery I had digitally flipped through before. And then I wanted to remember the site. So here it is, for me and you:

http://www.atoptics.co.uk/


Note - on the drive to our research station (which is where, four days a week, we elude the stench of pulp mills and see stars on a regular basis and work among the salmon and critters in the river system) we saw an even more spectacular sundog in the crisp wintery morning...then, as per above, I saw a lunar aureole on the last night we were there. What a way to bookmark this weeks trip - atmospheric optics saying goodmorning, good luck, and atmospheric optics saying goodnight, glad it went well.
At least thats what I imagined. Sort of.

So, check out the link above and skim around the pictures and writing. It is worth a moments time.

"Learning should be beautiful, not just fun..."
-Me

PS - This wendnesday Mercury transits the Sun - e-surf around NASA for some pic's, and certainly check in with www.badastronomy.com because I am sure he will have a few images and thoughts on it. Peace. Don't stare at the Sun.