Moon-rise Over Spring Fire

From the first day of the Spring Fire (yesterday) in Costilla County, Colorado, it has been an exceptionally photogenic and dramatic-looking fire. Tonight was no exception as this freeze-frame from live-streaming Viaero webcam convincingly demonstrates. Image courtesy of Viaero Wireless.

My First & Only Blue Blood Supermoon

Earlier this morning at a quarter to 3 a.m. I checked out the blue supermoon before it turned red while I slept. I was awakened by my cat or my bladder or something at 4:35 a.m. and went out and rechecked the moon. At that point it was further to the west behind a huge oak tree sans leaves so I could see it perfectly if I stood in the right place. It was in all its blue blood supermoon splendor at that point. I went to bed thinking I'd miss it and was blessed by not missing it at all. My only regret is that I did not have a good camera with which to capture it. The last one of these visible in North America was in 1866 so I'm pretty sure I won't see another one.
*Note: supermoons are when the full moon happens when the moon is at or near its closest orbit to Earth while a blue moon is the second full moon to occur in a given month while a blood moon is when the moon is partially eclipsed enough that it casts a partial shadow upon the earth which makes it appear reddish in the sky. Photo courtesy of USFS (all rights reserved).

Graphic of the Day - Super Blue Blood Moon Eclipse

This graphic leaves out the fact this also a blue moon making it a Super Blue Blood Moon! Blue bloods in space: who knew?!

Supermooning

This morning in the 5 a.m. hour local time, the largest supermoon in 69 years reached fullness. Consequently, when I viewed it last night and tonight it was just before and just after the actual fullness of moon being achieved. Both nights offered up splendid views of the supermoon that was the subject of intense photographic pursuit around the world. Below are my two favorite such images, one from last night and one from last night or tonight both of which I discovered on Twitter.

This image was captured last night by Bill Hunt.
Mr. Hunt tweeted about this image: ".... shot by cell phone through a new @ExplScientific 12-inch Truss Dobsonian."

This image was taken tonight by Kris Smith. It features the International Space Station passing in front of the supermoon.
To me it looks like a Tie Fighter! 

Picture of the Day - Central Coast Magic Hour

This was the scene tonight at my beloved church home group formerly known on this blog as the "17th Street Gang" whom I now officially christen "The Self Help Gang." Photo by Kim Patrick Noyes (all rights reserved).

Picture of the Day - Harvest Moon Over In-N-Out

This cell-phone captured image did not turn out as sharp as I had hoped. However, it does have a sort of artistic look to it so I'm sharing it here despite it flaws. The image of the Harvest Moon was captured tonight at the In-N-Out in Atascadero, CA, as my buddy Mike and I picked up dinner on the way home from work. Photo by Kim Patrick Noyes (all rights reserved).

Fish Fire Day & Night

Two major wildfires broke out on the Angeles National Forest in eastern Los Angeles County this afternoon, about an hour apart. The more easterly now-1,500-acre Reservoir Fire began near Morris Reservoir in San Gabriel Canyon. An hour later, the now-3,000-acre Fish Fire began in the hills above Duarte, CA. The Mount Wilson Towercam is a wonderful way to watch wildfires when the operators are pointing it at a nearby wildfire. I learned this during the 2009 Station Fire. Below is an image from the Towercam captured during the peak of the fire's daytime activity and the latter image was captured tonight as the Strawberry Moon rose over the eastern LA Basin. Images courtesy of UCLA (all rights reserved).*Update: both fires were combined into the San Gabriel Complex overnight. Updated 6/21/16, 2:05 p.m.

Both images courtesy of UCLA (all rights reserved).

Picture of the Day - Full Earth-Rise

This image was cobbled together from a series of images captured October 12, 2015, by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. This HD image composite was released December 18, 2015. For more about it read HERE. This is stunning and really puts a lot of things in perspective. Image courtesy of NASA (all rights reserved).

Two More Jaw-Dropping Rocky Fire Images

Today I found two more rather remarkable images from last night showing the second night of the Rocky Fire currently burning on the east side of Clear Lake in Northern California. I specify the east side currently because there is a real sense this beast may not limit itself to just the east side of the lake. There is scuttlebutt in the firefighting community that it might grow into a 100,000+ acre monster. This fire has possessed an ornery personality from the get-go and has not changed moods since. It has also been one of the most photogenic wildfires in recent memory. California is on the cusp of a major fire siege of the order of magnitude of 2008, except this time the conditions are significantly worse and are so earlier in the year. We could be on the verge of some unprecedented fires both in behavior and in scope and in effects on the land and on society. I hope we as a people are ready for what it feels like is coming. I also hope lone wolf terrorists don't finally figure out that starting wildfires in California is probably the safest form of attack with the greatest return value.

Image by Craig Philpott (all rights reserved).

Image by Jeff Frost (all rights reserved).

Clear Lake Rock Fire At Moonrising Dusk

The following images of the Rock Incident on the east side of Clear Lake in Lake County, CA, were shot by various local photographers (and one photojournalist). I collected them off of Twitter and share them with you here in alphabetical order of photographer name. These images are my favorites of many dozens I viewed. This fire exploded into life this afternoon as two separate fires on that burned together. This fire's initial spread is symptomatic of the drought conditions that exist across the state with burning conditions possibly never before observed of this severity across such a large swath of the state in non-katabatic wind conditions. This fire has been roughly estimated at 3,000 acres but is burning with uncharacteristic vigor since sunset.

Photo by Benjamin Zuffi (all rights reserved).

Photo by Benjamin Zuffi (all rights reserved).

Photo by Chloeluvsclouds (all rights reserved).

Photo by Corrigan Gommenginger (all rights reserved).

Photo by Jen Mullin (all rights reserved).

Photo by Kent Porter of the Santa Rosa Press Democrat (all rights reserved).

Photo by Kent Porter of the Santa Rosa Press Democrat (all rights reserved).

Photo by Kent Porter of the Santa Rosa Press Democrat (all rights reserved).

Photo by Macey Iannone (all rights reserved).

Photo by Niniane K. (all rights reserved).

Photo by Niniane K. (all rights reserved).

Photo by Niniane K. (all rights reserved).

Photo by Patricia Brittan (all rights reserved).

Photo by Tom Sweeney (all rights reserved).

Pre-Dawn Blood Moon

This image was taken at Griffith Observatory but this is how the moon appeared at 5 a.m. as viewed from Paso Robles albeit perhaps a bit darker-looking. I set my alarm at that time to catch a glimpse of this morning's blood moon lunar eclipse before summarily returning to bed for more sleep. Watch the entire event from the observatory HERE.
Image courtesy of Griffith Observatory (all rights reserved).

Picture of the Day - Moonrise Sunset Over Barn

I captured this image last evening as dinner was being prepared and about to be served for the first wedding event I worked in 2015... this being, of course, Santa Margarita Ranch. Photo by Kim Patrick Noyes (all rights reserved).

Moonrise Over Bianchi Winery Evening Wedding

This evening I had the privilege of working a second consecutive evening event for Vino Vice which saw me out on the East Side of Paso Robles and in a position to experience the Central Coast "magic hour" in full blossom. Better yet, I was also in an advantageous position to be able to yet again capture some decent images while staying true to my job. What follows is a sampling (shown in order taken) of what I saw earlier this evening as the sun set and the moon rose over Bianchi Winery.

Note: this wedding featured the very nicest and coolest groom I have ever encountered at a wedding. Props go to William and may his marriage be a long and happy one!

All photos by Kim Patrick Noyes (all rights reserved)

Special 17th Street Gang Family Feast

This evening my church family got together for a special meal out at the home of my church home group's leader couple (Ted & Janet) up Hog Canyon Road in the Estrella area northeast of Paso Robles, CA. I have affectionately christened my adoptive family the "17th Street Gang" since the regular host couple (Kevin & Heather) live on that street here in Paso Robles. Below are several images I captured before dark.

Note: I wish to convey my deepest thanks to Ted & Janet for most graciously hosting us and to everybody there for their contribution to our collaborative feast, but especially those who brought main course type things or made something themselves. Special props go to Janet's most amazing lemonade which had it been alcoholic I would now be in a blackout. I also thank Marty & Karen for allowing me to join their carpool. Also, thanks for all the food all of you sent home with me. I'm set for days now!

This is the view south and down-canyon from the hillock upon which we spent the evening.

This was the greater part of the 17th Street Gang in attendance this evening (+ 2 guests) although we were missing several pieces.

This was the start of a splendid sunset sequence this evening.

The clouds this evening had a subtly autumn appearance which combined with my noticing the change in the angle and intensity of the Sun in recent days in the context of my mild S.A.D. sobered me just a tad.

I used to photograph more sunsets in my "lost years" when I was oft driving home at dusk from an adventure whereas nowadays I'm usually not in position to capture a sunset from an unobstructed viewpoint given I live downtown Paso Robles.

Gary & Terry (of Gary's Original Sandwich fame in Atascadero in the 1990's) joined us tonight although they are not regulars but after tonight's vittles that might change I hope. Ted is working his grill magic.

The crescent moon combined with the clouds and setting sun made for an exquisite sunset.
All photos by Kim Patrick Noyes (all rights reserved).