tisdag 3 februari 2026

Lichens with Jupiter and lightpollution

Bright planet Jupiter in the night sky on this clear and cold evening. In the foreground is a birch with lava in different colors as I have used UV light to create fluorescence. Lichens on birch are usually harmless, superficial organisms that use the bark as a base without damaging the tree, often a sign of clean air. Common species include blue lichen and various crust lichens. Lichens do not penetrate the bark, do not cause rot and can benefit biodiversity by offering food to insects. The bright night sky is due to light pollution, caused by excessive or misdirected artificial night lighting, disrupting ecosystems, disrupting the circadian rhythm of humans and animals and obscuring the starry sky. It is a rapidly increasing environmental problem that negatively affects biodiversity, insect and bird migration patterns, and can be counteracted by targeted, warm white lighting, motion sensors and timers








lördag 31 januari 2026

Snow Moon and Planet Jupiter


A dramatic scene in the sky as clouds obscure the snow moon and the planet Jupiter. If you look closely at Jupiter in the right corner, you can also see three of its moons. The light is refracted in the clouds, creating beautiful colors.
When moonlight hits water droplets in clouds or rain, the light is refracted and reflected, splitting the white light into all the colors of the rainbow (red to violet). This optical phenomenon is called dispersion and occurs when light rays pass through the surface of the water droplets, bounce off the back, and are refracted again.


 

torsdag 29 januari 2026

Lonely lingonberry leaves

Many nights with clouds and no photography. But tonight the sky was clear and I went out in the moonlit forest and found this lonely lingonberry leaves sticking up above the snow. They can withstand temperatures down to -45 degrees. This night in the moonlight the temperature is -11 degrees. Lingonberry leaves (Vaccinium vitis-idaea) are known to be rich in substances such as arbutin and proanthocyanidins, which makes them traditionally valuable for urinary tract problems. They can be used as a tea or tincture but should be used in moderation and not during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Health effects: Lingonberry leaves are often used as a natural home remedy for urinary tract infections, like bearberry leaves. They are also considered to have antioxidant properties.
Uses: Dried leaves can be used to make tea, where 1-3 teaspoons of leaves are brewed in 200 ml of boiling water for 10-15 minutes.