Cold Moon sets on Mooncrest Peak
Taken by Dewey Vanderhoff on December 19, 2021 @
Cody Wyoming USA
Click photo for larger image
| |
Camera Used: NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D5300
Exposure Time: 1/320
Aperture: f/8.0
ISO: 800
Date Taken: 2021:12:19 08:25:32
|
|
| More images
Details:
The full Moon nearest the Winter Solstice when observed from the western neighborhoods of Cody Wyoming will appear to set on or near Mooncrest Peak, the western summit of Pat O'Hara Mountain. On December 19 ,2021 the alignment and timing were near perfect to create a narrative.
The Cold Moon as it is called by its folk name was just above the skyline as the Sun rose. From the vantage of Skyline Drive it was setting on Mooncrest Peak, which is presumably how that apex got its Anglo name more than a century ago as my hometown of Cody was being settled . (The indigenous name for the mountain was Blue Bead , but the white settlers had a propensity to rename stuff ). This year's apparition was excellent. I feared the clouds would obsure the vista but instead they enhanced it... the golden Moon appeared between layers of clouds for a few minutes just when desired, and knocked back the brightness of the Moon face to reveal more of the lunar maria. The rising Sun brought out the very red tones of the Chugwater Sandstone detachment called Red Butte, an iconic Cody landmark. Some years the Sun rises too early while the solstice Moon is still high; some years the butte isn't lit till the Moon has already set. This year the synchronicity was ideal.
Photo taken with a Nikon D5300 dslr using a Nikkor 70-210 ED zoom lens at an effective focal length of 225 mm. ISO 800 was used with a warm white " Flash" color balance to offset the bluish grey light of a cold morning. Exposure in RAW mode was 1/320th sec at f/8 , developed in Affinity Photo
Skyline Mooncrest indeed. Happy Saturnalia , y'all.
Photographer's website:
No URL provided.
|
|
|
