Geminid Meteor Shower Dec 13-14 2021

 

  Conditions were not optimal for the annual Geminid Meteor Shower but light winds and temperatures in the mid 30's were nothing to complain about.  The biggest hindrance to ideal conditions was the waxing gibbous moon that washed out the dark background sky most of the night and made the dimmer meteors difficult to impossible to see.  Making the best of the situation I let the abundant moonlight illuminate the foreground as I locked the cable release on the camera hoping that some of the 6 second exposures would catch a few of the brighter meteors.  The evening session lasted from 7:45-9:15 pm and I counted 12 meteors.

Lake freighter Joseph L Block on the horizon.

    Moonset occurred at 3:45am and it made a big difference as I was able to see 81 meteors from 3:15 to 5:15 am.

Moonset

     

Geminid at the border of Orion and Taurus

Geminid between Canis Major and Orion

December Waterspout. 12/2/2021

 

    I noticed a colorful sky developing just before sunset so I grabbed the camera and went outside to get some photos.  

  Sure the sunset was picturesque but 10 minutes later after I was back in the house I looked out and noticed a funnel dropping down from the clouds.  It was the first waterspout of the year for me. So I ran out on my deck in my socks to try to capture the rare event. 

   Waterspouts form when cool air passes over much warmer water.  With Lake Michigan at record high temperatures for December waterspout season has lingered past its normal November 30th end. 

   As the funnel drifted south it lined up with the path that setting sun had taken, adding a dramatic color element to the photos.