Near-solstice sunrise flare...

as seen from the White Temple ruin in Hidden Valley early this morning. Absolutely glorious. And quite COLD.

Though it’s not the actual winter solstice (still two days away) there was a weather window of perfect conditions that inspired eight intrepid adventurers to climb into Hidden Valley early this morning. We all scattered to various parts of the valley to make observations of how light played on various petroglyph panels near the shortest day of the year, and I nestled into the White Temple ruin with my camera. And waited. In the cold.

Sunrise is imminent in the deep notch between the two high and distant sandstone fins, or gnomons (the part of a sundial that casts a shadow).

Bang! Sunrise!

Minutes later a brightening landscape. Secret sauce for nice sun flares: f/22 aperture and a clean lens.

Looking back at the shadows cast by the sandstone fins, the gnomons, with the White Temple ruin marked as a O. An additional kiva-like structure sits atop the ridge at the X.

Wide view showing my observational position in the White Temple ruin in Hidden Valley.

Incredibly rare self portrait, with a couple of ancient friends. And an absolutely memorable day, with seven new friends.

Baking brownies and charging batteries...

in anticipation of a frigid ascent into Hidden Valley tomorrow in order to chase the rising Sun as first light falls on an array of petroglyph panels. A small yet determined group is prepared to make observations near the winter solstice while a clear weather window opens tomorrow. My focus is on both still and time-lapse photography, and I need to get an early start at 6 am at the trail head. The first half-mile climbs 660 ft but it will be dark and the predicted temperature is 14° F.

Three-dimensional terrain model showing the position of the rising Sun and the projected shadows on the landscape on the winter solstice. From Photo Ephemeris Web which is a very useful planning tool for astrophotographers.

Closer view at around 9:30 am on the winter solstice. Pin is at west end of Hidden Valley where I generally intend to place a GoPro for time-lapse photography.

Rory Tyler narrates his presentation on Hidden Valley Astronomical Observations.

Prepping for a star party...

with friends and neighbors during the holiday week ahead. It will be certainly be cold, but the stars shine like bright crystals in the dark skies of southern Utah during the winter months. Jupiter and Saturn are particularly nicely placed for observation now, immediately after dark, so one doesn’t have to stay out late.

Celestron 11-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope on a German equatorial mount.

Tonight's full Moon...

is known as the Beaver Moon, and it precedes a total lunar eclipse that occurs early tomorrow morning. Stay tuned.

UPDATE: A high, thin cloud layer moved in later in the evening obscuring a clear view of the eclipse. Double dang. This is my best image, caught partially eclipsed, at 2:30 am MST.

Equinox sunrise...

as experienced at the Potash Road petroglyph panels near Moab, Utah.

First morning light flares through a gap in the jointed sandstone on the opposite side of the Colorado River.

Direct rays of the rising Sun are strongly controlled by the jointed terrain to the southeast, limiting the places where the cliff is first illuminated along the Potash Road.

Another view showing the rising Sun’s rays striking the sandstone escarpment along the Potash Road at the equinox. Terrain models are from Photo Ephemeris website, a planning tool I use for astrophotography.

My long shadow projected on a fully lit panel around 7:30 am MDT.

Rock art expert Rory Tyler at one of the many small petroglyph sites along the Potash Road.

Sojourn to the Solstice Snake Panel...

in Pritchett Canyon today, to witness the play of light on the elusive rock art panel around the longest day of the year. Supercalifragilisticexpealidocious!

The light of the Sun is controlled by a narrow gap in the sandstone fin just before noon.

The illuminated “arrowhead” pierces the snake’s head for a couple of minutes at approximately 11:15 am, with this phenomenon occurring only during a several day period around the summer solstice. I was there so you didn’t have to be.

This is a huge petroglyph, spanning 17 feet (5.2 meters) in length. And it’s the only glyph on this beautifully varnished sandstone wall, perhaps suggesting its special significance.

Nearby and much smaller Warrior Panel, about five feet (1.5 meters) in width.

The digits: 9.43 miles with 1,624 foot ascent in moderate hiking conditions. I’m not going to post my GPS track in order to maintain the secrecy of the location of this special panel.

Sunset on the summer solstice...

in Castle Valley finds that the projected shadow of Castleton Tower points directly at the prow of Adobe Mesa. I caught the apparition on my evening ride, waiting patiently at this vantage point for the shadow to sweep across the lower slopes. Magnificent.

Click image to embiggen.

Pre-sunset panorama showing lengthening shadows as dusk approaches on the longest day of the year.

Today marks the centennial anniversary...

of the death of Sir Ernest Shackleton.

On the evening of 4 January 1922, as his ship - the Quest - lay anchored in the Grytviken harbor on South Georgia, he wrote his final thoughts in his diary: "A wonderful evening. In the darkening twilight I saw a lone star hover, gem like above the bay." Sadly, later that night, he succumbed to a heart attack and died in the place he loved most. RIP.

I used an astronomical charting program to determine, for that night in North Cumberland Bay on South Georgia, the star he likely saw was either Sirius or Canopus, the two brightest stars in the evening sky.

Moonrise reprise...

this evening, about an hour later and a little further northward in its position compared to last night. Full moon occurs tomorrow night, and I’m in a howling mood.

Waxing gibbous Moon...

captured early this evening, 69% full, annotated with the general location of the Apollo landing sites on the illuminated portion.

Apollo 11 — Mare Tranquillitatis — July 20, 1969

Apollo 15 — Hadley/Apennines — July 30, 1971

Apollo 16 — Descartes — April 20, 1972

Apollo 17 — Taurus-Littrow — December 11, 1972

The International Dark Sky Association...

recognizes places that adopt quality outdoor lighting ordinances in order to protect dark skies, and the Town of Castle Valley is preparing an application to be designated an International Dark Sky Community. I’ve been asked to contribute some astroimages to support the application and I’m more than happy to help.

Star trails above the historic Pace homestead in Castle Valley, Utah (shot June, 2020).

Here’s more about International Dark Sky Places.