Nightscape photography with clouds in Borrego Springs; Going south to Bergen; Two Photon Absorption; Is that a submarine?

Greetings from Palmia Observatory

Well our search for the northern lights continues southward along the Norwegian coast and the clouds have not been our friends.

Clouded out at our best available remote dark sky site near Alta; Viking Sky moves to its next port, Narvik; Visit with the Sami shaman

Greeting from Palmia Observatory

So, we are here in Alta and we  faced with bad weather conditions for nighttime observing and the experts select the best available site at Suolovopmi Fjellstue, which is at higher elevation and might escape some of the bad weather.

(Arriving at our cruise’s most northerly point in Alta, Norway; Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel; Mostly clear weather forecast, now will the northern lights show up?

Greetings from Palmia Observatory

Well, we finished up our visit to Tromsø and it was time to pack up and head just a little bit further north to Alta.  Here you see our bus pulling up to the ship as we get ready to leave.

Having fun in Tromsø, Norway; Hooray, we saw our first stars (barely), but no lights; Next day forecast for more clouds and snow

Greetings from Palmia Observatory

Well, we are in Tromsø, waiting for the nighttime so we can continue on our search for the northern lights, but first we have to wait for the sun to go down, which gives us time to explore and enjoy the Norwegian countryside.

Hooray, crossed the Arctic Circle; Saw, the moon through the clouds in Bodo, but no lights yet; Is Dark Energy increasing?

Greetings from Palmia Observatory,

Well it has started to snow and our cruise ship is approaching the Arctic Circle.  Our next port of call is at Bodo, Norway, which is  above the Arctic Circle.  But check out these two images of snow on the stairs, going up to the “sun” deck and the snow around the observing telescope.  This is the first time we have been on a cruise where it snowed on us.