Power & Light

In case you missed tonight's sunset (and it was gorgeous) here it is. Unfortunately when it set I didn't have an unobstructed view of the horizon, but it was pretty none-the-less.

-Steve

Sunset Sortie

Prairie Dog Town Fork Of The Red River

Morning Doves

Anybody seen Bob?

Dusty Dry Cold Front

A dry cold front pushed through the Panhandle at sunset tonight pushing ahead of it a band of dust, that most likely was once Canadian soil. Although no moisture is expected, it did make for an interesting sky.

-Steve Douglass

Dry Winter In Palo Duro Canyon

We've been having a nice run of warm winter (dry) weather but it doesn't mean out Panhandle skies are any less photogenic. Here is a shot I took of the winter sun cutting through some tangled and hibernating trees in Palo Duro Canyon.

This is the longest part of the year for me ( and my brother storm spotters) waiting for Spring to come, so you do what you can to cope.

I'll post some more soon.

-Steve Douglass

Morning Test Flight:CV-22 Osprey

I heard the familiar clatter of rotor blades, grabbed my camera and went out on the balcony a took a few shots of a new CV-22 Osprey heading out t o the West practice area. I was tempted to zoom in, but liked the sky so I kept it wide.

V-22s are fairly common here (because the Textron factory is on the East side of town) but I never miss an opportunity to photograph one of these weird airplane/helicopter hybrids.

-Steve

Conjunction , Venus, Moon, Jupiter

Last night's conjunction as photographed from Amarillo.

Flying Over A Panhandle Sky

Tonight just before 7:30 we had a fly over of the Space Shuttle/International Space Station. I shot some (a bit shaky) video of it as it flew from the SW to the N.

It didn't fly directly over Amarillo (skirted it to the West) so it wasn't the best sighting opportunity. There is another one tomorrow evening and an even better on on Thursday. I'll keep those interested advised.

Although I've seen it several times, every time I see a pass it's a thrill. To most of the populace, space travel seems mundane, but never for me. 

I remember when I was just a wee-sprout Dad taking us to Columbus, Ohio to watch a parade honoring astronaut John Glenn, not to mention watching man first set foot on the moon in July of 1969. I guess I've been bitten by the space bug ever since.

Since then I've intercepted communications (on a regular basis) space shuttle communications and even photographed the tragic demise of Columbia, but I've never seen a shuttle up close.

Needless to say, a year ago, I was extremely irked when the NASA 747 that transports the shuttle (on its back) landed in Amarillo to refuel (with shuttle in tow) and I missed it because I was out of pocket.

When I came home and everyone told me about it and then I saw the news video footage, I was kicking myself for weeks. Me - Mr. Communications, missed it, didn't even hear about it until it was all over.

In any event, to witness a space shuttle launch is on my bucket list - I just hope it keeps flying long enough until I can afford to fly down to Florida and see it.

Panhandle Halloween Sky

While sitting here waiting for the grandkids and trick-or-treaters, I couldn't help notice the lovely sliver of the moon gracing a Halloween sky. All it needs is a witch on a broom!

Enjoy!

-Steve

Gorgeous Clouds Over Africa. From NASA, Expedition 16 [PIC]

Gorgeous Clouds Over Africa. From NASA, Expedition 16 [PIC]: "Photographed by astronauts, part of Int'l Space Station-Earth Observatory program. Here dense, thick rain clouds ('cumulonimbus') shot in early 2008."

(Via digg.com: Stories / Popular.)

Sunrise Ascent

Balloon Glow In Amarillo.

The winds in the Texas Panhandle are rarely calm, so holding a balloon rally here is always problematic, but tonight (and hopefully this weekend) Mother Nature will hold her breath and let us grace the Panhandle skies with hot air balloons.

Tonight they held a balloon glow. The winds were calm, it wasn't too cold for the kiddos and we all had a great time. They launch again at sunrise and in the late afternoon, that is if the winds behave themselves.

Click on the images to enlarge.

Enjoy!



(C) Steve Douglass



Photos (C) Steve Douglass and require permission for reproduction.





(C) Steve Douglass




(C) Steve Douglass

Eat your heart out Batman. TIV 2 is ready to roll this Sunday.

The TIV 2 is proof that beauty is only skin deep - but ugly goes all the way to the storm.

Soar

Even though the fall rain might ground you - your imagination can still soar.
Photo by Steve Douglass

Unexpected October Storm

Some storms that went up in New Mexico actually survived (unexpectedly) and blew into Amarillo just after sunset tonight. Although not severe (they dropped some pea-sized hail) the shelf cloud was impressive. I shot this from the balcony of my apartment looking West.

-Steve Douglass

No, its not a UFO.

What it is - is a NASA high altitude instrument package flying ( as I write this ) somewhere just north east of Plainview. After sunset it will glow bright like a star and undoubtedly (like it does every time) prompt dozens of UFO reports.

Special thanks to Dale Stanton took this photo with his long telephoto lens from SE Amarillo. The balloon is flying above 100,000 feet and at a speed of 22 kts. To track the balloon in real time visit the link to the right.

-Steve Douglass

Update: Dale Stanton shot additional photos just after sunset showing it glowing after dark.

I hate thieves.

Last week my car was broken into and some low-down good-for-nothing thieves ripped out most of my storm chasing radio gear. I called the police, they found a few fingerprints and they tell me they have a pretty good idea who it was.

I lost my prized ICOM CR-3 wide-band communications receiver, which cannot be replaced because it isn't being manufactured anymore as well as a Radio Shack frequency counter and a Sunpack 500 series photo strobe. All in all the total is about $700 bucks.

As much as I'll have to struggle financially to replace my gear, what really gets me is that the prime suspect is one of my neighbors and the theft occurred in broad daylight during a 45 minute window of opportunity when i was out.

But, in some way, I can't but help blame myself. My car sprouts antennas and practically shouts to the meth addicts (that live in my apartment complex) "come rip me off!

I mean, who am i to think that in this day and age someone might actually respect other peoples property, especially a person who is a volunteer and spends his own money, risking life and limb to provide adequate and accurate storm warnings for the very same community the thief lives in.

I will chalk it up as a lesson learned, never again trust one's neighbors and never again leave anything of value in my car.

My only solace is that I know some day they will eventually be arrested and my stuff will probably be found among a big collection of other stolen items.

I'd wish for a tornado to destroy their home, but unfortunately it would take me out as well, since they are after all my good neighbors.

-Steve Douglass

September Sunset

Sometimes one can get rather good storm photography without wasting a drop of precious gasoline. I shot this (from my apartment balcony) as the sun was setting behind a far-off storm located on the Texas/New Mexico border. The birds sitting and chattering seemed to be enjoying the spectacle. I hope you do too.

-Steve Douglass