Astronomy Picture of the Year (2009) - Norway

The astronomical photo-competition turned to amateurs as well as the more experienced. The subject must of course be some astronomical objects that reside in the sky: sun, moon, planets, comets, meteors, starry sky, nebulae, galaxies, etc., as well as the Northern Lights and astronomical phenomena.

The images were evaluated by three experienced astro photographer: Carsten A. Arnholm, Øivind Tangen and Arne Danielsen. The jury was given the task of picking out three main winners, plus seven others who were to receive honorable mentions.

1. The Bubble Nebula

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/files/7d930014c6a08fec.jpg[/atsimg]

2. The Pelican Nebula

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/files/f12319e3c139ad59.jpg[/atsimg]

3. The Moon

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/files/e43fc7cbb3ec798b.jpg[/atsimg]


Honorable mentions:

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/files/053574ac633d3b9f.jpg[/atsimg]

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/files/f873a50862b6db72.jpg[/atsimg]

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/files/bc287a1dabdaeb66.jpg[/atsimg]

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/files/7b477e7888a89220.jpg[/atsimg]

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/files/09b8badcc39f94a6.jpg[/atsimg]

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/files/30f51d342bb7f2bd.jpg[/atsimg]

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/files/587608a855e38204.jpg[/atsimg]

These are so pretty!!

I really love the first one.

Thanks for sharing this. I particularly like the first "honorable mention." Can somebody explain the phenomenon shown there?

Also, heia Norge.

reply to post by articulus


It looks like a rainbow at sunrise. With reflections off of the camera lens.

It sure is beautiful isnt it?

I get that same reflection with my digital camera when I go to the beach at sunrise...maybe something to do with the water?

I love the Moon

Originally posted by articulus
Thanks for sharing this. I particularly like the first "honorable mention." Can somebody explain the phenomenon shown there?

Also, heia Norge.

What you see is an atmospheric phenomena called "sundogs":

Sundogs, sometimes called Sun Dogs, Parhelia or Mock Suns, are with the 22º halo, the most frequent of the ice halos. They are most easily seen when the sun is low. Look about 22° (outstretched hand at arm's length) to its left and right and at the same height. When the sun is higher they are further away. Each 'dog' is red coloured towards the sun and sometimes has greens and blues beyond. Sundogs can be blindingly bright, at other times they are a mere coloured smudge on the sky. They are visible all over the world and at any time of year regardless of the ground level temperature. In Europe and North America one will be seen on average twice a week if searched for.

www.atoptics.co.uk...

More photos of sundogs:
www.atoptics.co.uk...

And thanks to the OP for sharing these wonderful images! I also want to share a link to a great collection of websites where you can find amazing lunar, planetary, solar and deep sky images. I have spent hours browsing through some of these websites!
www.astro-imaging.de...





[edit on 15/2/10 by ziggystar60]

reply to post by ziggystar60


Thanks for the explanation and links. I've seen sundogs before but none nearly as dramatic as that. There really are some remarkable things going on in the sky. This has reminded me to look up more.

Call me stupid but doesn't Mars atmosphere look a lot denser than what science said it is? And doesn't blue in the atmosphere denote oxygen "that's what I learn in school "



[edit on 15-2-2010 by MOTT the HOOPLE]

I have witnessed several sundogs, they are extremely fascinating! My favorite "sun dog" story is the one about Edward IV

Wars of the Roses
The prelude to the Battle of Mortimer's Cross in Herefordshire, England in 1461 is supposed to have involved the appearance of a complete parhelion with three "suns". The Yorkist commander, later Edward IV, convinced his initially frightened troops that it represented the Holy Trinity and Edward's troops won a decisive victory.
(from wikipedia)

Awesome

Thanks so much for sharing these. I can only hope within the year to have some shots like that when i set up my new telescope at our new house.

That moon is spectacular, the clarity and exposure are perfection.

Awestruck

Have the best day and thanks again for making mine.

themuse

Originally posted by MOTT the HOOPLE
Call me stupid but doesn't Mars atmosphere look a lot denser than what science said it is?

And doesn't blue in the atmosphere denote oxygen "that's what I learn in school "

[edit on 15-2-2010 by MOTT the HOOPLE]

I suppose you are talking about the left side of Mars, from the "8 o'clock" position to the "11 o'clock" position. I don't think we are actually seeing the thickness of the atmosphere there (although I don't know what is causing that optical effect -- i.e. the thick blue-colored concentric band on the outside the brownish color).

I'm guess the atmosphere is causing that blue color somewhat, but if you follow that blue band down to about the "7 o'clock" position, you will see that it isn't "all" atmosphere -- i.e., where that blue band should continue, there is planet instead.

Besides, that would be VERY thick for a planet's atmosphere. Earth's atmosphere is not even that thick, as seen here even when we are only looking very close-up:

Earth's atmosphere (the part thick enough to be considered "atmosphere") is really less than 1% the diameter of the planet. It would be almost impossible to see at a distance relative to that Mars image.

So, like I said, I don't think that blue band is all atmosphere. It must be some other optical effect.

Isn't color added to all deep space pictures?

Kinda ruins it for me.

Those space pictures are so amazing! Wouldn't It be a shame to die and miss out on seeing the astonishing real beauty, above the clouds on the Earth because life here doesn't reflect those images.

Here's a little pic to prove my point . With a blue sky on Mars the main component of Mars's atmosphere must be oxygen "it simply can't be anything else."

www.rense.com...

*sighs* how beautiful,
I especially like the "bubble" cant wait to visit all this someday

Some of those pictures are so incredible that they don't even look real..

makes u wish we could traverse the distances of space ... sucks ill be dead before that happens

So beautiful.
thank you for sharing.

It never fails to amaze me the beauty of our reality, both the microcosm and the macrocosm -Great find.

Originally posted by inlandempire88
Some of those pictures are so incredible that they don't even look real..

They do add ALL the color that you see in the pictures... so in a way, they are all fake