@ztresearch.bsky.social
@ztresearch.bsky.social
Atmospheric scientist focused on lightning. Former B-1B Lancer and T-28 Storm Penetrating Aircraft pilot. Atmospheric Wildlife Photographer. Rapid City, South Dakota.
Red aurora visible from Montauk, NY 755 pm ET (0055 UT, Nov 12th)
November 12, 2025 at 12:55 AM
Red aurora visible from Montauk, NY 755 pm ET (0055 UT, Nov 12th)
Did I mention I hate thunderfog? www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCxK...
October 16, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Did I mention I hate thunderfog? www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCxK...
Things got pretty intense in the South Dakota Badlands last night. 60+ mph winds rolled a camping trailer at the boondock. Here is an image of 1st responders rushing to the scene with lightning still hammering the area.
August 16, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Things got pretty intense in the South Dakota Badlands last night. 60+ mph winds rolled a camping trailer at the boondock. Here is an image of 1st responders rushing to the scene with lightning still hammering the area.
Trying to figure out what type of Transient Luminous Event this was over North Dakota on the night of 6/20. Recorded at 24 fps, each image is 42 ms exposure. Sony A7iv, 85mm, f/2, ISO 51,200. Doesn't look like typical sprite or a typical gigantic jet. Thoughts? Captured two during a 2 hour period.
June 27, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Trying to figure out what type of Transient Luminous Event this was over North Dakota on the night of 6/20. Recorded at 24 fps, each image is 42 ms exposure. Sony A7iv, 85mm, f/2, ISO 51,200. Doesn't look like typical sprite or a typical gigantic jet. Thoughts? Captured two during a 2 hour period.
Lots to see in the night sky over Devils Tower, Wyoming.
January 31, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Lots to see in the night sky over Devils Tower, Wyoming.
Ouch. Windchill down to -35ºF out at Rapid City, SD airport. -7ºF ambient.
January 20, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Ouch. Windchill down to -35ºF out at Rapid City, SD airport. -7ºF ambient.
Didn't feel it, but my Rapid Shake in Rapid City, SD caught it.
January 1, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Didn't feel it, but my Rapid Shake in Rapid City, SD caught it.
Approching the end of another year trying to better understand and explain lightning. Grateful for the displays I was able to witness and record. Always in awe.
December 27, 2024 at 1:26 PM
Approching the end of another year trying to better understand and explain lightning. Grateful for the displays I was able to witness and record. Always in awe.
Nature's Christmas Lights.
December 25, 2024 at 12:01 AM
Nature's Christmas Lights.
Wow!! What a show last night by the #Geminid meteor shower. 771 meteors detected by my south facing #GlobalMeteorCamera in Rapid City, SD.
December 14, 2024 at 4:15 PM
Wow!! What a show last night by the #Geminid meteor shower. 771 meteors detected by my south facing #GlobalMeteorCamera in Rapid City, SD.
Even with a bright moon and periodic clouds and fog, my #GlobalMeteorNetwork cameras captured a lot of #Geminid #meteors last night. We will see what tonight brings.
December 14, 2024 at 4:35 AM
Even with a bright moon and periodic clouds and fog, my #GlobalMeteorNetwork cameras captured a lot of #Geminid #meteors last night. We will see what tonight brings.
Something deorbited and punched through the ionosphere causing the red aurora effect around 1145 UTC this morning. Here is the view looking SW from Rapid City, SD with Nikon D850 full spectrum. Was heading SE. I have included a list of candidate rocket launches. @planet4589.bsky.social
December 4, 2024 at 7:01 PM
Something deorbited and punched through the ionosphere causing the red aurora effect around 1145 UTC this morning. Here is the view looking SW from Rapid City, SD with Nikon D850 full spectrum. Was heading SE. I have included a list of candidate rocket launches. @planet4589.bsky.social
Excellent capture of the #Starlink lattice pattern coincident with the Sun moving from 60º to 37º below the horizon at your location. Here are the Sky Safari views for that location at 0200 and 0430 MST.
December 4, 2024 at 4:38 PM
Excellent capture of the #Starlink lattice pattern coincident with the Sun moving from 60º to 37º below the horizon at your location. Here are the Sky Safari views for that location at 0200 and 0430 MST.
Little cloud ballet while filming Orion the other night. #astrophotography
December 3, 2024 at 11:59 PM
Little cloud ballet while filming Orion the other night. #astrophotography
Most likely scenario given brightness increase on right side of image right b4 upward leader. Intracloud leader development from left to righ then a +CG return stroke on right. +CG return stroke triggers upward leader. Similar to animation.
December 1, 2024 at 3:20 PM
Most likely scenario given brightness increase on right side of image right b4 upward leader. Intracloud leader development from left to righ then a +CG return stroke on right. +CG return stroke triggers upward leader. Similar to animation.
Example of multiplicity in a lightning flash. I was moving my van to the right when my still camera captured this multiple stroke negative CG flash. Left channel had 2 return strokes. Right channel had 4 return strokes with 3 M-components following the 3rd return stroke. Time moves right to left.
November 29, 2024 at 5:40 PM
Example of multiplicity in a lightning flash. I was moving my van to the right when my still camera captured this multiple stroke negative CG flash. Left channel had 2 return strokes. Right channel had 4 return strokes with 3 M-components following the 3rd return stroke. Time moves right to left.
Patiently waiting for another round...this was from May 10th at Devils Tower, WY
November 28, 2024 at 12:54 AM
Patiently waiting for another round...this was from May 10th at Devils Tower, WY
Your morning wake up...
November 24, 2024 at 5:52 PM
Your morning wake up...
Bright meteor last night over Rapid City, SD.
November 12, 2024 at 5:50 PM
Bright meteor last night over Rapid City, SD.
Captured a nice meteor near Orion last night. View looking south from west Rapid City, SD. Canon Ra, 14mm (cropped), f2.8, iso 3200, 5sec
November 11, 2024 at 1:27 AM
Captured a nice meteor near Orion last night. View looking south from west Rapid City, SD. Canon Ra, 14mm (cropped), f2.8, iso 3200, 5sec
Somebody mentioned Monochrome Monday
November 4, 2024 at 7:39 PM
Somebody mentioned Monochrome Monday
Spent part of the summer imaging the area near the star Antares (lower left orangish star) in the constellation Scorpius. This was about an hour's worth of 3 minute exposures with a Red Cat 61 and ZWO ASI 6200 MC Pro on a Paramount MYT mount. Processed with Astro Pixel Processor and Adobe Lightroom
October 26, 2024 at 11:15 PM
Spent part of the summer imaging the area near the star Antares (lower left orangish star) in the constellation Scorpius. This was about an hour's worth of 3 minute exposures with a Red Cat 61 and ZWO ASI 6200 MC Pro on a Paramount MYT mount. Processed with Astro Pixel Processor and Adobe Lightroom
Comet A3, Monday, Oct 21st from Rapid City, SD. Red Cat 61, ZWO ASI6200 MC Pro, Skywatcher Sky Adventurer GTI, 60 x 60 sec lights, 15 x 60 sec darks, Astro Pixel Processor.
October 23, 2024 at 7:20 PM
Comet A3, Monday, Oct 21st from Rapid City, SD. Red Cat 61, ZWO ASI6200 MC Pro, Skywatcher Sky Adventurer GTI, 60 x 60 sec lights, 15 x 60 sec darks, Astro Pixel Processor.
If you get a chance, try to see if you can capture a repeat of this around the same time and direction. Established Starlink sats flare like this when the sun is 35-45 deg below the horizon.
October 23, 2024 at 12:13 PM
If you get a chance, try to see if you can capture a repeat of this around the same time and direction. Established Starlink sats flare like this when the sun is 35-45 deg below the horizon.
Hanging out with fluffy cows in the Badlands while waiting to photograph a comet.
October 18, 2024 at 4:38 AM
Hanging out with fluffy cows in the Badlands while waiting to photograph a comet.