@EricTheSpaceCat

Goal is to capture and share the beauty of the universe. Astronomy, nature and weather photographer. Fascinated by meteors. Freedom loving patriot.

 Minnesota
Joined December 2023
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One night after the peak of the Perseid meteor shower. Meteors and red sprites from the night of 8/13-8/14. Captured from southern Minnesota which happened to be aiming above a storm over Iowa that started producing red sprites in the morning.
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Meteors from last night/this morning. 4 likely Orionids. The Orionids meteor shower is active and peaks the night of 10/21-10/22. The best time to look will likely be after moon set early Thursday morning before it gets light out.
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Meteors from last night/this morning. Cropped to show detail.
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A couple meteors from last night. The 1st one I saw while I was setting up. Caught it on my 2nd test exposure. I don't have it on video since I was still setting up. 2nd one I should have on video and I think it should look pretty cool.
Meteor 10/17/2026 Camera: Canon Rebel T8i (modified) Lens: Sigma 24mm f/1.4 art Exposure: 6sec at f/1.4 and ISO 3200

ALT Meteor 10/17/2026 Camera: Canon Rebel T8i (modified) Lens: Sigma 24mm f/1.4 art Exposure: 6sec at f/1.4 and ISO 3200

Meteor 10/17/2026 Camera: Canon Rebel T8i (modified) Lens: Sigma 24mm f/1.4 art Exposure: 6sec at f/1.4 and ISO 3200

ALT Meteor 10/17/2026 Camera: Canon Rebel T8i (modified) Lens: Sigma 24mm f/1.4 art Exposure: 6sec at f/1.4 and ISO 3200

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One year ago tonight I captured my first images of Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) The first image is an average combine aligned on the comet to show star trails. The second image the comet and the stars were stacked separately and then re-combined.
Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) Date: 10/17/2025 Camera: Canon Rebel T8i (modified) Lens: Canon 100-400 zoom lens at 100mm Exposure: 159x15sec (39min 45sec total) at f/4.6 and ISO 3200 Processed using PixInsight and NoiseXterminator

ALT Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) Date: 10/17/2025 Camera: Canon Rebel T8i (modified) Lens: Canon 100-400 zoom lens at 100mm Exposure: 159x15sec (39min 45sec total) at f/4.6 and ISO 3200 Processed using PixInsight and NoiseXterminator

Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) Date: 10/17/2025 Camera: Canon Rebel T8i (modified) Lens: Canon 100-400 zoom lens at 100mm Exposure: 159x15sec (39min 45sec total) at f/4.6 and ISO 3200 Processed using PixInsight and NoiseXterminator

ALT Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) Date: 10/17/2025 Camera: Canon Rebel T8i (modified) Lens: Canon 100-400 zoom lens at 100mm Exposure: 159x15sec (39min 45sec total) at f/4.6 and ISO 3200 Processed using PixInsight and NoiseXterminator

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Meteors from last night/this morning. Cropped to show detail.
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An early Orionids meteor this morning. This meteor left a very short trail from my perspective due to its close proximity to the Orionids radiant. The Orionids meteor shower is active and peaks on the night of October 21-22.
Meteor 10/17/2026 00:59 CDT Camera: Canon Rebel T8i (modified) Lens: Sigma 24mm f/1.4 art Exposure: 6sec at f/1.4 and ISO 3200

ALT Meteor 10/17/2026 00:59 CDT Camera: Canon Rebel T8i (modified) Lens: Sigma 24mm f/1.4 art Exposure: 6sec at f/1.4 and ISO 3200

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A decent meteor last night with a smaller meteor right next to it in the same 6 second exposure. I should have video of these.
Meteor 10/16/2026 22:52 CDT Camera: Canon Rebel T8i (modified) Lens: Sigma 24mm f/1.4 art Exposure: 6sec at f/1.4 and ISO 3200

ALT Meteor 10/16/2026 22:52 CDT Camera: Canon Rebel T8i (modified) Lens: Sigma 24mm f/1.4 art Exposure: 6sec at f/1.4 and ISO 3200

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One year ago tonight, Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) with a nice meteor. If only the meteor happened before the comet was moving into the tree from my view and also wasn't between frames. Still was a cool event to capture.
Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) with a meteor Date: 10/15/2024 8:31 PM CDT Camera: Canon Rebel T8i (modified) Lens: Canon 50mm f/1.2 Exposure: 2sec at ISO 800 and f/2 Processed using PixInsight and NoiseXterminator

ALT Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) with a meteor Date: 10/15/2024 8:31 PM CDT Camera: Canon Rebel T8i (modified) Lens: Canon 50mm f/1.2 Exposure: 2sec at ISO 800 and f/2 Processed using PixInsight and NoiseXterminator

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Another one from 2 years ago tonight. A stacked image of Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) showing the anti-tail.
Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) 10/14/2024 Camera: Canon Rebel T8i (modified) Lens: Canon 50mm f/1.2 Exposure: 61x2sec at ISO 800 and f/2 Processed using PixInsight and NoiseXterminator Cropped to show detail

ALT Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) 10/14/2024 Camera: Canon Rebel T8i (modified) Lens: Canon 50mm f/1.2 Exposure: 61x2sec at ISO 800 and f/2 Processed using PixInsight and NoiseXterminator Cropped to show detail

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Also on this day, 3 years ago there was a partial solar eclipse (annular in some areas). I was moving at the time and it was cloudy so I wasn't expecting to see it. The skies cleared right when I had a load ready to go. I stuffed my telescope, mount and camera into the truck and headed to my new place. I forgot my camera adapter! This was taken by holding the camera in the position of focus by hand.
Partial Solar Eclipse 10/14/2023 Telescope: 110mm f/7 refractor Camera: Canon T8i

ALT Partial Solar Eclipse 10/14/2023 Telescope: 110mm f/7 refractor Camera: Canon T8i

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2 years ago tonight Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) was putting on a beautiful show. It was shining bright and conspicuously visible despite bright moonlight. 10/14/2024
Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) Date: 10/14/2024 Camera: Canon EOS 850D (modified) Lens: Sigma 24mm f/1.4 art Exposure: 4sec at ISO 800 and f/2.5 Processed using PixInsight and NoiseXterminator

ALT Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) Date: 10/14/2024 Camera: Canon EOS 850D (modified) Lens: Sigma 24mm f/1.4 art Exposure: 4sec at ISO 800 and f/2.5 Processed using PixInsight and NoiseXterminator

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While capturing red sprites Thursday night I took some time to watch for them visually with just my eyes. I was surprised how nice and red this one looked. When I have seen them with better dark adaption they look like a colorless puff of light. Sound on to hear my reaction.
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2 years ago today Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) was starting to put on a good show. 10/12/2024
Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) Date: 10/12/2024 Camera: Canon Rebel T8i (modified) Lens: Canon 100-400mm Zoom lens at 100mm Exposure: 2sec at ISO 3200 and f/4.6 Processed using PixInsight and NoiseXterminator

ALT Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) Date: 10/12/2024 Camera: Canon Rebel T8i (modified) Lens: Canon 100-400mm Zoom lens at 100mm Exposure: 2sec at ISO 3200 and f/4.6 Processed using PixInsight and NoiseXterminator

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I try hard not to scare away eagles when I step outside. Unfortunately I interrupted this one in the middle of its meal yesterday despite checking the trees before putting my boots on. It must have landed right before I went outside.
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When I capture over 20 red sprites in one night it can be hard to give each sprite event the attention it deserves. This sprite that occurred at 21:49:24 CDT on 10/8 has some interesting upward moving details as the main sprite fades. Real time and 1/4 speed for detail.
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Red Sprites, Green Ghosts and a Troll! - TLEs 10/8/2026 youtu.be/PCa_tIExh8c?si=lY48… via @YouTube

Red Sprites, Green Ghosts and a Troll! - TLEs 10/8/2026

Red sprites, green ghosts and a troll captured the night of October...

youtube.com
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In addition to red sprites Thursday night I also captured 2 other types of TLEs. 1, a troll AKA secondary sprite. Sometimes called a secondary jet but it is more accurate to call them a sprite. 2, a rare group of 4 green ghosts. Fitting for October!
Troll 10/8/2026 Trolls, also known as secondary sprites are smaller sprites that appear near the tops of thunderstorms after a larger sprite. They are also sometimes called secondary jets. However, it is more accurate to call them a sprite than a jet.

ALT Troll 10/8/2026 Trolls, also known as secondary sprites are smaller sprites that appear near the tops of thunderstorms after a larger sprite. They are also sometimes called secondary jets. However, it is more accurate to call them a sprite than a jet.

Green Ghosts 10/8/2026 Green ghosts are a type of TLE associated with red sprites. They are a green glow that sometimes remains for a very short while after a red sprite.

ALT Green Ghosts 10/8/2026 Green ghosts are a type of TLE associated with red sprites. They are a green glow that sometimes remains for a very short while after a red sprite.

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2 years ago tonight, one of the most memorable aurora displays I have seen. This is real time video looking up from southern Minnesota. 10/10/2024
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Looking through my wider frames of red sprites from last night. Even though it is not the largest sprite I really like the look of this one. Frames stacked from video.
Red Sprite 10/8/2026 Camera: Sony A7s III Lens: Sigma 35mm f/1.4 art Exposure: 1/24sec at f/1.4 and ISO 80,000

ALT Red Sprite 10/8/2026 Camera: Sony A7s III Lens: Sigma 35mm f/1.4 art Exposure: 1/24sec at f/1.4 and ISO 80,000

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