David Blanchard

@davidblanchard.bsky.social

216

Posts

Atmospheric Scientist, Ph.D., CCM. Chased by storms since 1981. Trail running, mountain biking, skiing. Published weather and landscape photographer.

Flagstaff, AZ
dblanchard.net/blog/

Posts Replies Media

Thunderstorm at sunset with a waxing gibbous Moon and distant lightning. #azwx #landscape 📷

Flagstaff--July 2024 now has the 2nd most number of days with Tmax >= 90°F. Still a ways to go to equal the hot July 2023--but the month is only half over. #azwx

The thin crescent Moon shares the twilight sky with the planet Mercury (upper left) on Saturday evening. Thin layers of smoke from numerous wildfires around the west are visible along the horizon. #astrophotography 📷 #azwx

Comet 13P/Olbers on 2024-07-04. Nikon D750, 500mm, f/5.6, ISO 1600, 11x30 seconds. #astrophotography 📷

Here are a few more photos from last nights Firefly Alpha launch from Vandenberg SFB. These were shot with a telephoto lens. Congratulations on a successful launch! #astrophotography 📷

Firefly Alpha launch from Vandenberg SFB seen from Flagstaff, Arizona this evening was spectacular. Ionospheric effect was easily picked up by the camera. #astrophotography 📷

Clear skies last night gave me an opportunity to shoot Comet 13P/Olbers. Nikon D750, 200mm, f/5.6, ISO 800, 16x60sec images; aligned for stars. #astrophotography 📷 #comet

Abundant rain in the last week of June has brought forth a plethora of wildflowers along the Arizona Trail in the San Francisco Peaks. #azwx #wildflowers #landscape 📷

Firefly Alpha launch from VBG was scrubbed last night. Might as well shoot something while I'm out there so tried to get Comet 13P/Olbers. Was not using a tracker so very short exposure and no stacking. (28mm, 8 sec, ISO3200, f/2.8) Yeah, it's small! #astrophotography 📷

Looks like all parts of Flagstaff got rain yesterday. This is the 24-hour total ending this morning. #azwx

I'm pleased to learn that one of my photographs will be appearing in this art exhibition. Hope some of you can view the exhibit this summer in Flagstaff, Arizona. #weather #azwx

Rainbow and sunset colors over The Narrows of Upper Lake Mary, near Flagstaff, Arizona. #azwx #landscape 📷

The nearly full Moon rises behind Cathedral Rock in Sedona, Arizona. #astrophotography #landscape 📷

Another image from SpaceX/Falcon9 launch last night. In this multi-image composite (4-sec exposures) you can see the 1st stage/booster firing as it descends in an arc. Location: Upper Lake Mary, Flagstaff, AZ. #astrophotography #landscape 📷

SpaceX launch from Vandenberg SFB during twilight was spectacular and produced long-lasting, high-altitude clouds. #SpaceX #astrophotography #landscape 📷 Video: x.com/dblanchard_A...

Bismarck Lake and San Francisco Peaks in northern Arizona. The lake was filled by snowmelt this spring -- and is now drying up. Ready for some moisture! #Flagstaff

Hiking towards Pass da Casnil-Sud (Kanton Graubünden, #Switzerland) and was able to photograph this steinbok/ibex. Wonderful! (Sept. 2015) #landscape 📷

"Road to the Stars" The Milky Way shares the sky with air glow above a desert roadway (July 2016). #astrophotography #landscape 📷

The waxing crescent Moon is illuminated by Earthlight and is reflected in the waters of Lake Mary near Flagstaff AZ. As it got darker even a short 8-second exposure shows Comet 13P/Olbers. 08 June 2024. #astrophotography #landscape 📷

We spent time at this lake watching fish swimming in the shallows, gazing at reflections of snow-covered peaks in the water, and reveling in the presence of large mountains in almost every direction. Lej Muragl, Pontresina, Switzerland, September 2015. #landscapephotograph 📷

SpaceX Falcon 9 second stage deorbit burn as it moved over Arizona on Friday evening 2105–2109 MST. Exhaust gases were very bright in the evening twilight. Nikon D750, 12mm, f/4, ISO 800, 9x30 seconds. #astrophotography #landscapephotography 📷

Milky Way with airglow. Two image composite: one with tracking for stars; 2nd for foreground with tracking off. Nikon D750, Rokinon 12mm, f/4, ISO 800, 480 seconds. #astrophotography 📷

The Mogollon Rim Convergence Zone (MRCZ) is active today...but no convection to go along with it. www.stormresearch.com/pubs/sls2000... #azwx

Those of us who forecast monsoon weather in Arizona owe a lot to Jack Hales (June 11, 1942 ~ May 20, 2024). www.schwabmortuary.com/obituary/Joh... #azwx

Evening lights bring a beautiful glow to the old buildings in Pontresina, Graubünden, Switzerland. #landscapephotography 📷

For the 2nd night in a row there was a deorbit burn of the second stage of a #SpaceX #Falcon9 rocket as it passed over Arizona. 2113-2117 MST 23 May 2024. 2-second exposures. Video: x.com/dblanchard_A... #astrophotography

This is the deorbit burn of the second stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket as it passes over Arizona. The rocket was launched 1h28m earlier from Florida and deployed its payload while over the eastern Pacific Ocean. #falcon9 #astrophotography 📷

The nearly full Moon rises behind Cathedral Rock and Oak Creek near Sedona, Arizona. #astrophotography #landscapephotography

I have posted several additional photos plus some time lapse of the aurora.(Really looking forward to being able to post videos directly here!) www.dblanchard.net/blog/2024/05... #aurora #astrophotography #landscapephotography 📷 🔭

The Great Aurora Storm of May10-13, 2024www.dblanchard.net It has been called the Great Aurora Storm of 2024 and it occurred on May 10–13 with the peak occurring on May 10–11. It was seen across high, middle, and even low latitudes and it was the stro

Was not trying for a panorama--but these three shots about 1-2 minutes apart still sort of work. May 10, 2024, northern Colorado. #aurora #astrophotography 🔭