The Stars over Shetland

Mousa under the stars

Jupiter just behind Sandlodge

Jupiter and a few of its Moons

Orion looking good over Sandsayre

Milky Way over Leebitton, Sandwick

 Orion with Pleiades higher up

Planets showing

 A clear night for a change and a chance of the Aurora, well that was the plan. No Aurora showed as the CME passed us by but it was good to get out to photograph the night sky.

Mars was showing big (40%) and bright off to the east just to the left of Sandlodge. Over to the south Saturn and Jupiter showed and i manged to capture both together with Jupiter's moons.

Even at 11.15pm it wasn't dark but in the coming weeks the nights will be drawing in, so hoping for a few clear nights and plenty of Aurora activity

All photos from Sandsayre in Sandwick, Shetland

Stars over Sumburgh Shetland

Despite the light pollution from Sumburgh airport there is plenty of interest nearby. I first called off at Mossy Hill where plenty of stars showed

Its always great to see the milky way and due to its darkness this is a good place to see not only  the Milky way but Andromeda as well, showing close to the radar mast

Next stop the top of Compass Head and a look down to the airport but you can still see stars above the glow

Its almost alien like with the orange glow from the warning light on the radar globe on top of Compass Head.

Further up the hill to the bottom carpark at Sumburgh Head. The small lighthouse is the old one from Muckle Roe and it makes as a good photographic subject

Used the light from the main lighthouse to come round to illuminate to glass dome

Moon lit from the south east

Looking towards Sumburgh Lighthouse

Its coming up to the 3rd anniversary for Shetland Aurora Hunter on facebook, the only place locally to get up to-date information on the Aurora- just send a request to join