Sunset over Golden Gate

Every year during the days around the Summer Solstice, you can witness the sun set over the North Tower of the Golden Gate Bridge from the Marina Greens. 

Sun setting behind the North Tower of the Golden Gate Bridge

Transit of Venus

A once in a lifetime event, the transit of venus across the sun, occurred today. The sky over the East Bay was clear enough to capture the transit until just about after the maximum, when high clouds started to diminish the quality of the pictures. The next Transit of Venus won't be until December 11, 2117.

Transit of Venus as viewed from the East Bay at 3:45pm PDT (22:45 UT)
Venus is the little round black disk at about 1 o'clock position in the above picture.

ToV at 3:29pm PDT
Venus just after 2nd Contact

Transit of Venus at 5:49pm PDT

Transit of Venus at 6:29pm PDT
Venus at Maximum

Strawberry Moon

The Strawberry or Rose Moon, June's full moon, rises over the north tower of the Golden Gate Bridge with The City in the background on a gorgeous evening.

Full Moon over Golden Gate Bridge

Partial Lunar Eclipse

Naturally the forecast for the San Francisco Bay Area was mostly cloudy for the June 4 partial lunar eclipse. Driving east to escape the one day rainy weather, I ended up in Sacramento to catch the partial lunar eclipse.

First frame full moon, then eclipse of moon every 10 min starting from moon entering earth's umbra until
20 min after maximum eclipse. Clouds ended session early. 

Time lapse of partial lunar eclipse with 5 minutes between shots.
"Missing" moon towards the end is due to clouds.

Elephant Seal Beach

Five miles north of San Simeon lies the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Beach. During May the juveniles and the females are molting.

Sardines of Sea Elephant Juveniles

I'm bored!

Hearst Castle

Hearst Castle marks the southern end of Big Sur. Once the home of newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst, it is now a well visited State Historic Park.

The Indoor Roman Pool

The Neptune Pool 

San Simeon Pier at the Hearst State Beach Park