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Jan 25th 7:45AM above and
right of brightest star, Altair. The full moon lit the
foreground Nikon N2020 60mm f2.8, 15
seconds with Kodak Ektachrome 400X
Also Feb 8th 6:30AM. Shows
Hale-Bopp location between Vega and Altair.
Nikon N90, 50mm f1.4 at 30 seconds on Fuji
Provia 100 film. Altair and Vega are "squashed" as a result
of being on the edge of frame taken with a wide open
aperture.
Feb 8th 6:30AM. HB is now
far to left of Altair (bottom right-center) Note coat hanger
asterism in upper center. Nikon N90,
60mm f2.8 for 20 seconds on 400 Royal Gold
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hb2897b
Feb 10th - First evening
Hale-Bopp was bright enough for a photo just before setting
in the west Nikon N2020 60mm f2.8 lens,
25 seconds on Ektachrome 400X
Hale-Bopp leaving Sagitta.
The tail is well defined and easily seen with the naked eye.
Feb 11th 6:30AM. Nikon N90, 50mm f1.4,
25 sec Provia 100 film
On a crystal clear Saturday
Feb 15th at 6:00 AM the aurora can be seen to lower left of
Hale-Bopp now sporting a tail several degrees long.
Nikon N2020, 50mm f1.4, 45 sec on
Ektachrome 400X
The North American Nebula
is visible in upper left quadrant of this and the previous
image. This one taken on Feb 18th, a stroke of luck between
weather fronts, shows Hale-Bopp has moved north almost into
Cygnus. Nikon N2020, 50mm f1.4, 30-40
sec on Royal Gold 1000
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hb21897b
Over the city of Kenai
at 8PM on the 18th. The comet is sandwiched between two
light trails. One trail left by an aircraft landing at the
Kenai airport and another of an aircraft passing high
overhead. Nikon N90 50mm f2.0, 30
seconds on Fuji Provia 100
I built a Haig or, as some call it, a Scotch equatorial
mount this week to try for some longer exposures without
star trails. The skies finally cleared on the evening of the
23rd.
For comparison I shot the following two exposures on 1000
speed film. At 8PM, just
before moonrise I took this 2 minute exposure with the Haig
mount. Note the blurred trees but sharp stars.
Nikon N2020 50mm fl.4, 2 minutes on Kodak
Gold 1000
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hb22397ahaig
Same shot for 40 seconds
without the Haig mount. Sharp trees but blurred stars and
comet. House lights are lighting the trees.
Nikon N2020 50mm fl.4 40 seconds on Kodak
Gold 1000
The real proof of the
Haig mount's value is in this telephoto shot. Star trials
would have been very distracting in this one minute
telephoto exposure. Nikon N2020 210mm
f4, 1 minute exposure on Haig mount. Kodak Gold
1000
Another of the birch
tree shots but with slower less grainy
film. Nikon N90 50mm f2, 1 minute
exposure on Haig mount. Fuji Provia 100
If you are having
trouble finding the comet, this picture of the summer
triangle may help. Taken March 1st towards the east one hour
before sunrise.. Nikon N90 20mm f2.8, 15
seconds on Kodak Ektachrome 400X
This shot on Saturday
morning March 1st demonstrates the distinct difference
between the upper ion tail and the lower dust tail of
Hale-Bopp. Nikon N90 50mm f2.8, 2
minute exposure on Haig mount. Kodak Ektachrome
400X
Also on March 1st - a good
reason to get up early and look over your
roof. Nikon N90 50mm f2, 20 seconds on
Kodak Ektachrome 400X.
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hb3197a
After we suffered six
straight days of clouds and snow I was amazed to see the
increase in brightness and size of Hale-Bopp on March
9th. Nikon N2020 50mm f1.4, 20 second
exposure on Kodak Royal Gold 1000
On Sunday the 9th I left
a camera out on a tripod from 10:30PM to 4:30AM to
demonstrate that Hale-Bopp shines all night here at 60
degrees north latitude. I think the batteries died after
about 2 to 3 hours but the point is made.
Nikon N2020 20mm at f8, 2 to 3 hour
exposure on Kodak Royal Gold 1000
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hb3997trail(without caption)
4AM on Wednesday the 12th,
the aurora borealis appeared to be hindering the view of
Hale-Bopp but this picture proves that the multi colored
band of northern lights enhanced the photograph.
Nikon N90 50mm at f1.4, 30 second exposure
on Kodak Royal Gold 400
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hb31297a
Over my roof with the
northern lights at 4AM. The green hue on the snow is caused
by my neighbors' mercury vapor yard
light. Nikon N90 50mm at f1.4, 20 second
exposure on Kodak Royal Gold 400
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hb31297b
March 12th 10PM from a hill
overlooking the western Kenai Peninsula all the way to the
Alaska Range 60 to 70 miles away. The first quarter moon was
just bright enough to light the mountains. Aircraft passing
right to left. Nikon N90 50mm at f2.0,
30 second exposure on Kodak Royal Gold 1000
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hb31397a
4AM on March 15th. The two
tails show their colors in this telephoto
shot. Nikon N2020 180mm at f2.8, 1
minute exposure on Kodak Royal Gold 1000 film using the
Haig
equatorial mount.
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hb31597a
Again at 4AM two days later
on the 17th, this long exposure shows the richness of the
Milky Way as Hale-Bopp moves ever closer to Andromeda and
Cassiopeia. Nikon N2020 50mm at f2.0, 4
minute exposure on Kodak Royal Gold 1000 using the
Haig
mount.
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hb31797a
VERNAL EQUINOX This
photo was taken at approximately 4:56AM Alaska Standard Time
March 20th, the exact moment of the vernal equinox.
Hale-Bopp was the first thing I saw this Spring. Another
experience to remember. Two minute
exposure on Ektachrome 400X, 180mm f2.8 using my
Haig
equatorial mount.
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hb32097b
The full moon is washing
out the ion tail of Hale-Bopp but I had to take this picture
on the 22nd to record HB's nearest approach to the earth.
Moonlight makes for interesting colors.
Nikon N90 180mm at f2.8, 1 minute exposure on Ektachrome
400X using Haig
mount.
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hb32297a
WELCOME TO SOLDOTNA
is the message here. Hale-Bopp in full moonlight arrives on
the outskirts of town. Nikon N90 50mm at
f2.0, 20 second exposure on Ektachrome 400X.
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hbsolsign32197c
The eclipse of the moon
was a disappointment. Clouds prevented us from viewing it
until the very end and then only through a hazy sky. This
multiple exposure was taken over a15 minute
period. Nikon N90 300mm at f4.0, 4 1/30
second exposures on Fuji 400HG.
March 25th just before
moonrise HB can be seen clearly in the richness of the Milky
Way. The Andromeda Galaxy is visible below the
comet. Nikon N90 50mm at f2.0, 25 second
exposure on Fuji 800HG.
The Alaska Air Guard is on
the watch for comets and other intruders. My brother
phoned me to ask if I had stayed up all night with Photoshop
creating this image. Not so. The aircraft is a static
display in front of the Kenai airport. So, brother Dick,
(click here to see Dick's expert aurora borealis
photography), take that. :-) This picture is not
a composite. But, to be fair to Dick, I must admit that
since he first suggested it was a composite others have
expressed similar doubts. Nikon N90 50mm
at f2.0, 30 second exposure on Fuji 800HG.
Welcome To Kenai. On
March 25th the comet makes an appearance over the Village
with a past, City with a future. Nikon
N90 50mm at f2.8, 30 second exposure on Fuji
800HG.
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hbkensigna
2 AM local time March 28th.
My attempts to capture the Andromeda Galaxy in one of my
comet photos has again been nixed by weather. Our clouds
here at 60 degrees north are waiting for the moonrise before
lifting. I've put a small arrow here to mark our neighboring
galaxy. Nikon N90 50mm at f2.0, 1 minute
exposure on Fuji 400HG, guided by haig
mount.
The sun still
silhouettes the mountains at 10PM in Alaska. The comet
points to the divide between the Alaskan and Aleutian
mountain ranges across Cook Inlet. How many constellations
and stars can you name here? Nikon N90
20mm at f2.8, 30 second exposure on Fuji 400HG.
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hbcook32897a
The Russian Orthodox
Church of Ninilchik is a favorite subject of many a
photographer. On this very clear and dark night of the 28th,
the Andromeda Galaxy is clearly visible below Hale-Bopp and
to the left of the right side cupola.
Nikon N90 50mm at f2.0, 25 second exposure on Fuji 400HG. .
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hb32897cha
This
link to Ninilchik is a beautiful experience
Or go here
for more photos of this little church by the
sea.
Andromeda and Hale-Bopp
shine amid thousands of stars in our Milky
Way. Nikon N2020 50mm at f2.0, a minute
30 second exposure on Ektachrome 400X with haig equatorial
mount.
Another shot of the
Orthodox Church in Ninilchik, Alaska. It is Easter morning,
a candle shines in the window, the aurora borealis is
creating a halo around the church, Hale-Bopp shines overhead
and Andromeda nearly touches the center cross. I don't know
if I'll ever capture more in a single
photograph. Nikon N90 50mm at f2.0, 30
second exposure on Fuji 400HG.
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hb33097cha
This
link to Ninilchik is a beautiful experience
Or go here for more
photos of this little church by the sea.
My 7 year old daughter
helps me a lot on my trips around town to shoot the comet.
Easter night she and I took our own picture on our back
deck. Nikon N90 50mm at f2.8, 25 second
exposure on Fuji 400HG using a rear curtain synch flash of
1/64th power.
A satellite passed in
front of the comet at around 10PM March 30th (7AM UT the
31st). I wonder if anyone seeing this knows what satellite
it was. We are at 60:29N 151:03W. Nikon
N90 180mm at f2.8, 2 minute exposure on Fuji 400HG using
homemade haig
mount.
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hb33097sat
Every neighborhood ought to
have skies like these throughout the year and each of us
live in a house as bright and cheerful as this one
photographed on April 2nd. Nikon N90
50mm at f2.0, 25 second exposure on Fuji 400HG.
I have a new FJR German
equatorial mount that I used for this photo on April
5th. I'm still refining my polar alignment of the new
gadget but posted this image anyway because it appears to
show an anti-tail in front of the comet. Probably just an
aberration but you can learn more about anti-tails in this
study by astrophotographer
Tom Polakis. Nikon N90 180mm at f2.8, 1
minute exposure on Fuji 400HG. Guided? by FJR
mount.
On the same evening as above
a faint aurora filled the sky at 10:30 so I switched to my
50mm lens to get this shot featuring the red aurora borealis
haze in the background. Nikon N90 50mm
at f2.0, 1 minute exposure on Fuji 400HG. Guided? by FJR
mount.
Kenai's elder residents
will enjoy seeing this image of The Kenai Senior Citizens
Center under Hale-Bopp taken at 12:30AM April
9th. Nikon N90 50mm lens at f 2.0 20
seconds on Fuji 800 Super G
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hbseniorctr
Sharing the sky with moon
light and sunset, the aurora borealis started its show late
April 10th with a colorful cloud that rose in the south and
then drifted north to light up Cook Inlet.
Nikon N90 20mm lens at f 2.8 30 seconds on
Fuji 400 HG
The northern lights
spectacle continued into the early morning hours of the
11th. Hale-Bopp is surrounded by a purple hue that descends
into the lights of Kenai, Alaska. A moon glade on Cook Inlet
and the constellations add even more excitement to this very
"busy" photograph. Nikon N90 20mm lens
at f 2.8 30 seconds on Fuji 400 HG
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hb41197a
As the auroral show
continues, Hale-Bopp points earthward to the Kenai
Airport. This is the photo I've been waiting to shoot
all Spring. The comet has crossed the path taken by
Hyakutake one year earlier. It now lies in nearly the same
spot on the same date 365 days later. The similarities in
these two photos taken one
year apart are eerie. Nikon N90 50mm
lens at f 2.0 25 seconds on Fuji 400 HG
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hb41197b
Couldn't resist taking my
own photo against this rich backdrop.
Nikon N90 50mm lens at f 2.0 20 seconds on Fuji 400
HG
2AM Saturday the 12th and,
although a bit less colorful, the aurora still engulfs
Hale-Bopp in its green haze while streaks of purplish spires
sachet side to side. Nikon N90 50mm lens
at f 2.0 20 seconds on Fuji 400 HG
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hb41297a
We've all had a
wonderful experience with Hale-Bopp by virtue of a "bird's
eye view". The tenants of this house literally
so. Nikon N90 50mm lens at f 2.8 30
seconds on Fuji 400 HG
This sign says it
all. Photographed on 4/18/97 three miles north of Ninilchik,
Alaska. Nikon N2020 50mm lens at f 2.8
20 seconds on Kodak Gold 1000
On 4/19/97 in the very
early morning, the aurora borealis started to dance across
Cook Inlet. Nikon N90 20mm lens at f 28
25 seconds on Fuji 400 HG
The aurora grows across
to engulf the entire Inlet and forms a huge pillow shape
under Hale-Bopp. Heavenly sights indeed.
Nikon N90 50mm lens at f 2.0 15 seconds on Fuji 400
HG
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hb41997nlb
Our "daylight" comet
visits the shores of Kachemak Bay at Homer, Alaska. The
moonlight is so bright now that midnight seems like daylight
to an open camera lens. Nikon N90 50mm
lens at f 2.0 20 seconds on Fuji 400 HG
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hb41997beach
Hale-Bopp above the
city of Homer, Alaska as seen from the Homer Spit, world
famous as the end of the road in Tom Bodett's novels and
radio programs.. Nikon N90 50mm lens at
f 2.0 20seconds on Fuji 400 HG
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All photos Copyright© the Kenai Peninsula Eagle
PresS®
Now that the negative
effect of moonlight is passed we have another uncompromising
fact of nature to deal with. In our northern latitudes the
sun's glow lights the horizon nearly all night. This shot
taken close to 1:00AM April 27th demonstrates our
predicament. Nikon N2020 50mm lens at f
2.0 20 seconds on Fuji 400 HG
In January and February I
bragged about the advantages of our long dark nights in
Alaska. Today the opposite is true. Even near 1:00AM local
time the skies are too bright for a clear view of
Hale-Bopp's ion tail. Another new development this week was
that the comet, at less than 30 degrees declination, set
below the horizon for the first time since mid February. For
we Alaskans the show is nearly over and views like the one
captured in this picture will be left to our memories and
our photographs. Nikon N2020 180mm lens
at f 28 1 minute on Fuji 400 HG
Back to the
top.
Thanks for coming by. I will be adding photos daily as
weather permits, so please try to visit again
tomorrow.
I enjoy hearing from you. Feel free to send a note to
bill@eaglestation.com
Hyakutake images from March/April
1996
With 300mm lens
On March 27th, its closest
approach
Over Capt. Cook State
Park, background lights are from oil platforms
Over the city of
Kenai
Through the trees in
Perseus
Show a child the stars and
comets
Sometimes the moon is not
unwelcome
Hyakutake in Perseus April
11, 1996
Planetary Society Magazine
Cover
Comments? bill@eaglestation.com
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