International Dark Sky Parks

Startrail with meteor in Arches National Park - Balanced Rock

Last month I visited some International dark sky parks and in one word, it was fantastic. Now I understand why we call our galaxy the Milky Way and how much one light/lamp can influence an entire dark sky.

Some of the dark sky parks and communities I visited are :

* Death Valley National Park

* Grand Canyon both North and South Rim

* Walnut Canyon National Park

* Canyonsland Park

* Dark Sky Communities Flagstaff 

* Dark Sky Communities Kaibab

As these visits were part of my trip in the West of the US, I was looking for dark sky parks in Europe. Currently the International Dark Sky Association (IDA) approved places in the Netherlands, Hungary, Denmark, UK and one in Germany (Eifel National Park). I'm wondering of those have the same "dark skies".

Flare X9.3 X10.0 generating blackout and CME

Today a major flare was produced on the sun by active sunspot AR2673. For sure this was the most powerfull one since the last 15 years. According the SIDC the X-ray flare Is classified as class X9.3 up to class X10.0. Earlier today, this region was responsable for a strong flare class X2.2
The strongest class X9.3 (X10.0) flare also generated a short blackout (region short wave and within Europe, Asia and Africa) and generated a CME which is heading Earth.

Sunspots

Currently many different and big sunspots are visible on the sun's "surface".

Scorpius area with Milky Way

Dark Sky picture taken at Valle (Grand Canyon South Rim, Arizona). The picture shows the area of Corona Australis and Scorpius with a very bright Milky Way. A couple of  Messier deep sky objects can be observed.

Arches National Park Dark Sky with Meteor

I had the chance to see a real, real dark sky. The first one was in Valle (south of the South Rim Grand Canyon) and the second one in Arches National Park. I could make some beautifull pictures and the one below shows a part of the Milky Way above Balanced Rock together with a meteor. Myfirst meteor ever ever I could catch in a picture. I was astonished on how bright the Milky Way was the way it was expanding the entire sky... awesome.

Error Press Shutter Release Button Again

Two days before the Solar Eclipse @ Rexburg (ID) my Nikon D60 gave the error "Press Shutter Release Button Again". I tried everything to fix the problem but unfortunately the error did not go away. Via Youtube the problem could be fixed by greasing the gear of the shutter motor. But I had no tools and even if this would work, was it reliable in view of the upcoming solar eclipse.

It was decided to buy a new camera and as we were heading from Moab to Salt Lake City I was luckily and found a Nikon Store "Pictureline" in Salt Lake City. I managed to get there on time (closing 14h30) and after a good discussion with the salesman and the Denish owner I bought a Nikon D7500 including a spare battery. I got a fair deal and a quick training on the most important features. Specific those aspects I needed for the solar eclipse.

Today I was able to open my Nikon D60 and to grease the gear of the shutter motor. However this did not solve the problem. My understanding is that the either the motor life span is over and/or the gearbox itself is weared out. With 50468 shutter counts and a lifetime of 11 years, I'm questioning if I should be dissapointed or not? Hopefully my new Nikon D7500 will last more then 10 years :)

Halo around the Sun @ Averbode

For those who looked up at the sky in Averbode, this afternoon, it was possoble to see halo's around the sun. Two sun dogs, left and right of the sun. And high above the sun, in the zenith, a circumzenithal arc showed up.