Full Moon rising illuminates the smoke tinged sky. Recent bushfires are filling up valleys with smoke to produce some interesting sunsets & Moon rises.

Shevill - Southern Cross Observatory - Tasmania.
www.taao.has.it

Attached Images

Smoky Moonlit Skies.JPG (80.5 KB, 56 views)

Beautiful Picture Shevill!!
Thanks for sharing.

Phil

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If at first you fail, you're running average

Wow! Great shot!!

Interesting...are the fires still going on? Very nice photo, Shevill.

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Sunset

Die Sonne scheidet hinter dem Gebirge. In alle Täler steigt der Abend nieder
mit seinen Schatten, die voll Kühlung sind.

Unfortunately, yes. both in Tasmania and mainland Victoria, over 500,000 hectares on a 200 km front. The past 10 years has seen Australia getting drier until we now have the most severe conditions since about 1930. We are not expecting rain until next March!

Here is a link to my Picasa web album and some more fire pics.
http://picasaweb.google.com/AstroTas...ShoreOctober20
06 Also look for a folder 'Scamanda Fires' (current this past week). We have snow on the higher peaks - and 35C degree temps at sea level with 110 km/hr hot winds. Land of extremes.

I have an article published in the latest SKY & SPACE Magazine (Australia) on how this is changing my astro observing. The new image is a smoky sunset over Hobart, seen from my property, smoke is covering much of Tasmania because fires are burning in several different locations.

Attached Images

_DSC0044.JPG (44.0 KB, 7 views)

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Shevill Mathers, Southern Cross Observatory - Tasmania 42 South.
Associate Editor 'Sky and Space' Magazine Est.1988.
http://www.astrotasmania.com-a.googlepages.com/home

Shevill, I get an error on your link because it doesn't encompass the whole of "2006." I added it and looked at your photos - wow, pretty dramatic stuff. I think the view from the patio would be a little too close for my comfort though. Aren't you a bit nervous?

Earth Observatory has satellite pictures of the fires in Victoria:
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Nat...3?img_id=14029

Definitely a lot of smoke cover. I suppose this would ruin the effects of the solar storm and seeing any auroras in Tasmania, or maybe some parts one might see some? Seems like folks in Victoria won't see any with all that smoke.


OK, these people must have been freaking out:
http://picasaweb.google.com/AstroTas...01827792519186

Well, they are LUCKY, thanks to the firefighters.

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Sunset

Die Sonne scheidet hinter dem Gebirge. In alle Täler steigt der Abend nieder
mit seinen Schatten, die voll Kühlung sind.

Hello Melusine

Thank you for taking the time to look at my images and thanks for the link to the satellite view. The smoke streaming down 500km from Victoria is crossing Bass Stait and adding to the smoke over Tasmania. Fortunately we have a southerly wind the last 24 hours which has cleared my skies from the south of the State, so, I am planning to keep an eye out for any possible auroral activity. The smoke will block any views elsewhere.

Word wrap is a problem with long url's, October 2006 is correct.

We have installed some Honda powered Davey firefighting equipment and a big water tank, hoses etc. It is amazing just how much property has been saved due to people being prepared and getting help from the local brigades. In the past much would have been lost. Stock & wildlife losses are very high, which is always hard to come to terms with.

We have some of your firefighters over here right now and from NZ, helping out in Victoria. Most of these people are volunteers and do an incredible job, everyone has the highest praise for these firefighters. New pic is a 180-degree fish eye smoky sky view.

Kind Regards

Attached Images

DSC_5059.JPG (47.2 KB, 2 views)

__________________
Shevill Mathers, Southern Cross Observatory - Tasmania 42 South.
Associate Editor 'Sky and Space' Magazine Est.1988.
http://www.astrotasmania.com-a.googlepages.com/home