Bat Surveys and the Night Sky

Bryan has been doing bat surveys again all summer. Last year we went to Rose Cave a few times to experience it ourselves. The kids and I haven't made it to that location this year, but we managed to make it to the surveys taking place at Lehman Caves. I guess the kids were inspired enough to change into their bat t-shirts their dad got them in California on a work trip. Ava grabbed a special friend from her pile of stuffed animals :)
It was great to have Charlie come out with us. There were many other people interested to see the process that evening......

Some of the bat crew.......

Bryan scooping up the bat after it hits the net.....

A little after 9:30 pm, we all stood there witnessing a crazy, slow moving streak move across the sky. Too slow to be a meteor. Also, too many amazing, intense colors ~ like a firework. Simply amazing. We were pretty excited yelling "What the %$#&  is that ?!"
We were all in awe, and very excited.
Minutes later there were 2 sonic booms that followed. It wasn't long before the mystery lights hit the news channels. We learned that it was pieces of a Chinese rocket. You don't see that very often either.

The space junk was such a memorable experience that Isaac wrote about it in his summer homework journal :)

While I'm on the topic of night skies, I've been experimenting with my new camera lens. I took a few photos in the yard experimenting with the Willow tree in the foreground. The flashlight was way too bright but I still like the haunting, windy look of it......

We camped out at the Baker Archeological Site one night with Gretchen, Matthew, and Emma. It was during the Perseid meteor shower. I was able to capture a few streaking through the sky.....

This next one you can see the Strawberry Fire Camp glow......

The sun was starting to come up .......

I had the opportunity to take a Night Sky Photography workshop in Baker. I am so glad I participated. I learned a lot and we put our new hobby to the test that night. Because the moon was so bright we experimented with Day - Night photography. This is where the photo looks like day because of the light of the moon, but you see stars. Pretty cool. This next photo I tried to get the Big Dipper in with the sagebrush foreground....

Experimented with star trails......

Anyway, I'm not going to get all crazy with photoshop or anything like that (maybe someday?).
For now, I just figured since I live under one of the darkest night skies in the country - it would be nice to know how to photograph it somewhat ........
At least I'll have fun trying ;)

Catching Up With Friends

Our friends, Sarah and Ryan Thomas, along with their kids (Troy and Jordyn) came to Snake Valley to visit. They currently reside in Ohio. Both of them worked at Great Basin National Park many years ago. There was a potluck held in their honor.

Gretchen, Sarah, and I made plans to take the kids on a hike. The following day we were ready to hit the Timber Creek trail. Emma, the little fashionista, cracks me up. Love it.

We enjoyed playing and relaxing in the grassy meadow........

Willow's expression says it all........

I think they all had a really great time .....

It was refreshing to get back on a trail. I've really missed it. I was reminded that I needed to do this more. With the kids starting school, Willow and I may embark on adventures of our own :)
It was great to see Sarah, Ryan, and the kids. Hopefully we can get together in Ohio in December.