Object Name: Start of Totality

Observation Info

Imaging Info

- Date/Time: 2010-12-21 / 12:43am MST

- Camera: Canon XSi

- Location: Punkin Center, Colorado

- Scope/Lens: TMB 175, tracked

- Limiting Magnitude:

NOTES:

So great to see folks on the plains were favored with some great views.  My son Andrew and I took Rob Grover's tip to try by Karval CO.  After a lot of anticipation, it was a low drama trip.  About 3 h to get to Limon, one big U-turn around 15 mi south to avoid a stream of clouds.  We parked along SR 71 and endured about 2 semitrucks an hour.  The brightness of the moonlight was shocking as we set up.  There were a couple scares re the clouds but nothing sustained.  Like many of you, we are buried in a stack of files.  Andrew got some nice wide field with piggyback camera, and I shot closeups.  Cold bored in eventually and we had to cycle warm batteries.  Yipping coyotes and a curious herd of horses were it for the wildlife.  Memory of the site is pretty intense at the time of this photo.  The last sliver of bright moonlight was going, going, gone, and "Whoa, sky's FULL of stars!"  Andrew uploaded a couple shots like Tom T's to the asterisk site (link is from APOD), and the Spaceweather gallery page 2. RAW to TIF, then denoise in PS CS2.  We got back at 5 AM.  Will have a few more when the mental cobwebs clear.  Thanks to all for your inspiring shots, thanks to our volunteers for coming through.