Come along with Shadow, a Jack Russel Terrier, and me on Adventures in Astrophotography, Rockhounding, Hiking, Camping, and Exploring the beautiful Southwest. See stars, Nebula, and Galaxies from remote dark places. Find Agates, Jaspers, Opal and other gems and rocks in some of the best rockhounding areas in the world. Enjoy all of this while camping, hiking, cooking over a camp fire, and experiencing the rugged, yet beautiful red rock desert country. Also learn tips on how to do Astrophotography, Camping, Rockhounding, and cooking over a fire.
In addition, see reviews and comparisons of various products and tools we use. This includes Refracting Telescopes, Reflecting Telescopes (Newtonian and Dobsonian), Astrophotography Cameras, Astrophotography Gear, Portable Observatory Tents, Equatorial Mounts, Guiding Solutions, Image Capturing Software, Guiding Software, Rockhounding Tools, and Camping Gear.
I use the rock identifier app. I would say it gets it right about 50% of the time. When wrong, it often helps point me in the right direction. And then sometimes it’s just way off. So it’s a tool to use. That’s my two cents worth. 🤪
Another wonderful and educational experience. You could make a mint if you developed those dog collars…..Shadow is such a show off….the camera loves him….he has great energy…..he gets it from the agates!
Hi Colleen! I’m still amazed by the huge, colorful agate. And the whole area up there is beautiful. I’m glad I went up when I did because it’s already under snow now. 🥶
@@adventuresofshadowdog Yes, since I posted earlier I went back and reviewed the geological map and documentation for the area. As you know and I think you mentioned, there are huge lava flows covering a significant amount of area just east of Cedar Breaks and Blowhard peak. So, that entire area to the east is modern, geological speaking. Much of the area around Blowhard including the peak are covered with debris from the Brian Head and Isom Formations. The edges of Blowhard and the streams cutting down into the underlying rock are cutting into the Claron Formation. This means that any chalcedony found around Blowhard is most likely derived from the middle Member of the Brian Head Formation. The geological map and unit descriptions can be found online at geology.utah.gov. The map is for the whole state and can be quite useful. There is a tool in the tool bar to turn off the geology overlay, otherwise it would be nearly impossible to figure out where you are. Hope that is clear. ( Yep, clear as mud, lol)
What an Agate you collected, and glad that walk to the truck wasn't any longer. Long enough, right! I have been enjoying the drone footage you are filming along with your music selection. Exotic like the landscape and quite a magic carpet ride through amazing Utah! Thanks again Lance. I enjoyed your top noch video.
What a delightful journey through time and space .. It brought such a smile as you transported that beautiful large specimen that so wanted to come home with you and shadow🌀 your deep affection and appreciation of the natural realms is so greatly appreciated, thank you for sharing your walkabouts! .
Thank you for coming along with us! The big Agate is now sitting on my patio smiling at me. I’m so glad we went there in early October because it snowed up there two days ago. 🥶
Very educational & cool! Pretty colors of the agate/chalcedony. I think the elephant trunk Nebula looks more like a moose or horse head. With the two stars as eyes 👀 ✨️. Nostrils glowing orange . Ha!😮
It’s always fun to hear what people see in these Nebulae. I can see where it got its name. But I can see lots of other possibilities too. Yours is as good as any! As always, thanks for watching and commenting!!! 🚗🧼🧹😎
Aww, Shadow loves it. That's one place I would like to go and do my photography! And, find agate 🙏♥️ I just love enjoying life in nature and RockHounding. Stay safe! I also love at the end where the shadows of the truck and camping supplies look like petroglyph images.
I just barely added to my comment. I'm sure you noticed it at the end but, I had to point it out. Thank you I'm definitely going to try! @@adventuresofshadowdog
Thank you for watching and commenting. One thing I know is that there is very little I can state with authority that “I know.” I do believe there is a God in Heaven that created all the Heavens and the Earth. How He did it? I can only wonder and speculate. But that He did, I have no doubt; and for which I stand in awe. 🙏
Wow, Moroccan music that’s new. I think all those mounds are made by either gophers or voles they are amazing digging machines, but you don’t want them in your farm ground. They kind of have an oversize front paws made removing a lot of dirt. I enjoyed your video
Nice video! I was very surprised how good the final image of M27 looks in comparison with the autostack. How did you do this? Do you have an option to save each subframe that is used in the autostack? And how did you calibrate the image? Did you take flats, bias, darkframes or similar? I'm really impressed by your progression in image processing!
Hey Rob! Great questions. With SharpCap, the individual sub files are saved as FITS files. The "Live Stacking" can be saved as a single image. I usually do save it. BUT, that is not the version I run through post processing. Rather, I stack the individual FITS files in DeepSkyStacker using filters to stack only the best frames. DeepSkyStacker saves the final stacked image as a TIFF. I then take that TIFF file into PhotoShop for post processing. I also take darks and use them in the stacking process in DeepSkyStacker. I do not, however, take flats. I should. But I use a plug-in called AstroFlat that does a pretty good job of doing what flats would otherwise do. I also use some other Plug-ins, depending upon the image, to help with noise reduction and star reduction. Sometimes, depending upon the image, I use StarXterminator to process a Nebula and then bring the stars back in. Honestly, I should switch and learn PixinSight, but it took so long to get to where I am that I'm like an old dog. Lol. I hope this helps and thank you so much for the kind compliment! Shadow sends a wagging tail hello to you!
You seem like such an intelligent soul and I am so greatful that you are willing to share your wisdom with us. Weather its rockhounding or astral photography you and Shadow are a wonderful spot in my day. Thank you Lance.
Yes, that's lovely. It also can be a place of healing, adventure, amazement, It is and adults Easter egg hunt, a prospectors treasure trove, a place of growing in knowledge. I've sat with God often and felt his kindness and healing. There can be a dark side to it. I have seen it happen a few times. Usually when one has too big of a dollar sign in there mind but all the rest, out ways that. The quiet. The quiet is one if my favorit things.
Hello to you and Shadow. Now that was an interesting place to visit and video. Always enjoy watching your little guy run so full of energy. Great job on obtaining the downloads of space scenes. Thank you. ❤
@@adventuresofshadowdog My wife just got me the Dwarf 3 Smart Telescope for an early Christmas present today. I look forward to seeing all its capabilities in the next couple of days. I am curious about something; how do you look into the sky and know what you are looking at? Is there a reference point? Star formation, planets and so on. Thank you
How exciting! Start with getting an app on your smart phone that will show you where the moon, planets, and other deep space objects are at any point in time in relation to your position on earth. SkyGuide is a good one. So is NightSky. Then start by observing the moon and planets. Read up or watch videos on how to use your telescope and mount. Learn about altitude and azimuth (similar to latitude and longitude) for space. Eventually you’ll figure it out. Once you know how to find objects, get a smartphone adapter and try using your smartphone to photograph the moon and planets and then maybe The Orion Nebula. You can do a lot with a smartphone. I’ll even try to make a video for you. Above all, be patient and have fun!
I want to travel around and find amazing things 🙏♥️ you're living my dream. Tell Shadow hello from me and he's adorable! I seriously have no luck finding anything. Thank you for sharing the poem! 🙏♥️
Thanks so much for watching and commenting. Keep looking! You’ll find things. It may sound crazy because “looking” is something we all can do, but one gets better with practice. When I first started rockhounding, I would go to known places and not find anything. Now I find things everywhere. I got better and better at it with experience. So hang in there! Oh, and make sure you have fun!
You just created a future astrophotographer. I've got my 8" Dob in the mail and I look forward to slowly gathering what I need to photograph. In the meantime I'll really enjoy exploring the sky. Stunning pictures, you seem to have a lot of fun with it.
I started off with a DOB! An 8” is a great DOB! Did you get a GOTO? If not, that’s okay. But if you did, that’s even easier to start off with. Once you get the hang of how to use it and find targets, etc., you might want to get a planetary camera and start learning astrophotography on the planets and moon.
@@adventuresofshadowdog I didn't get a goto, but i came close! I plan on getting an EQ at some point. I have never heard of a planetary camera until now. I see some bargains! It looks getting started si closer than I thought. I'm really excited. Hardest part will be waiting for clear nights 😁
Coral Dunes State Park just South of Kanab and about 1 hour East of St . George. It’s a hidden gem. Thanks for watching and it’s always good to hear from you! 😎
That was very enjoyable to watch I'm glad I wasn't trying to climb that with you I somehow knew that shadow would beat you down haha the color on those images is incredible I'm glad you had good weather for it
I love when nature repeats itself and seeing the forms and patterns surprise you unexpectedly. I am totally blown away that this phenomenon is in deep space also. I appreciate having my mind blown over this and will look into the stars totally different.
City lights? I refer to them as $hitty lights! In my town every gas station insists on having the brightest Led panels almost requiring the use of sunglasses at night.
