Joshua Tree National Park
🌟 International Dark Sky Park #17
June 28, 2021
I first visited Joshua Tree National Park in 2017 (see here). This time I’d camp in the park despite the excessive heat warning to see its dark skies, my 17th dark sky park.
Things to know: The moon rises like the sun, just as powerful in my camera’s lens.
Clouds play with the Milky Way; the park’s low shrubs make for a nice horizon.
So this is a funny picture that displays all that can go wrong with a night shot… but I still love it! The moon can blow things out; the clouds block other things; planes go by; the shadow of the tripod is in the shot and I randomly decide to dance in front of the stars.
Our campsite, where the coyotes sang with the rise of the moon and the rise of the sun. It was a wonderful thing to hear, though slightly scary. After talking to the Ranger the next day, I learned that they just do this: Sing at the moon.
