April 18, 2022
With a really big moon shining like the sun blotting out the Milky Way’s galactic core, I was only able to catch some stars briefly before the moon past the horizon. It was a bummer, but the Milky Way season is a long one… and at this early point in Read more…
February 23, 2022
In non-scientific terms, the Northern Lights are a glimpse of the Sun’s violent power. Spitting out particles from the corona’s chaos, debris-filled solar wind travels at nearly 42 million miles per hour into the Earth’s ionosphere. The Earth’s dutiful magnetic fields grab the particles, soothe their heads with loving words, Read more…
January 24, 2022
You have to cherish a friend with the same child-like sense of adventure, one who can–like you–make almost any situation an opportunity for fun. When a night shoot had us both pulled over by a Park Ranger and spoken to by a concerned man tapping on our car window outside Read more…
November 27, 2021
After some discussion of star trails in my astrophotography Zoom class, I decided I’d include a star trails mission in my long holiday weekend.. . at the best place for star gazing in my vicinity, Montauk Point. Having gone to Camp Hero State Park just last week but forgetting my Read more…
November 6, 2021
I’m currently taking an astrophotography class given by Amateur Astronomers Association of New York . . and so I have photographic assignments to complete. This week’s was to shoot the crescent moon. But the elusive slither was far less exciting than the faint Milky Way and meteors that showed up Read more…
September 5, 2021
With the new moon overlooking Port Bay, New York, the Milky Way came out to play. Merged faces caught by the ultra wide 📷 Shooting stars 🌠
August 15, 2021
And with the moonset the enormous blob of white light fell past the horizon at Letchworth State Park, leaving me great conditions to shoot the Milky Way, which seemed to originate from the park’s iconic steel bridge. But while the light was still bright (below), it illuminated the waters around Read more…
August 6, 2021
You know how the full moon makes some turn into a werewolf? The New Moon turns me into a wild brog with a tripod. But alas, the slither of land that is suspended in front of Connecticut’s shore is light polluted. Still, some nice faint Milky Way shots: At Custer Read more…
August 1, 2021
Though a bright sliver of an orange hazy moon illuminated Long Island’s North Fork so brightly, the Milky Way waved hello faintly. And though I am attempting this shoot again next week, with the arrival of the New Moon, the subtle Milky Way is still so dreamy. ❤️ 🌻 🌌 Read more…
July 11, 2021
In the back of my mind during a recent road trip was the fact that it was time for the New Moon. Since shooting the Milky Way is often less fruitful in the East, I didn’t make any plans around astrophotography. But as the sky darkened and that familiar cluster Read more…
July 4, 2021
I really wanted to do this cosplay-astro shoot, a genre I may have invented as I have never seen other pictures fitting it… though admittedly I haven’t looked very hard. I wanted to battle my friend, galactic style. And so a portion of my suitcase contained the costume for this Read more…
July 1, 2021
With a Milky Way twinkling vibrantly above, it is not difficult to capture a magical shot. But just down the dark path were the abandoned trains of the San Diego Railroad… so, astro-urbex it was. The contrast of the glowing beauty of our Universe and the lifeless decay of train Read more…
June 30, 2021
Last time I was in Borrego Springs in February of 2020, it was the trial of my then-new camera base. Since then I have discovered that the settings were way off when I did my night shoot, resulting in disappointing shots. This time, much more exciting and dynamic shots near Read more…
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. Read more…
June 13, 2021
An astrophotographer who lives on the East Coast is a glutton for disappointment. With the entirety of it lit up like a Christmas tree, nary a dark sky in sight, photographic astro missions are often unsuccessful in spite of all my efforts. So when I decided to tack on a Read more…
May 3, 2021
Even though there was just a slither of time that we shot the stars on the first evening at Hither Hills, arriving home with the sky on my memory card was invigorating. And I can’t wait for another star shoot. Though the whipping wind shook my camera, just seeing the Read more…
January 3, 2021
With my visit to Big Cypress National Preserve I would accomplish visiting both of Florida’s IDA-certified dark sky parks. Though the skies were plentiful in the preserve, the rise of a spectacularly bright moon, along with constant vehicle traffic, along with no time for daytime exploration to seek a spot Read more…
December 20, 2020
The holidays are an excuse for light-hearted foolishness, an alibi for a few weeks of colorful magic and wonder. Before it ushers in the wave of New Years’ productivity, some revelry. Hot chocolate with jumbo Dandies marshmallows for a quick walk to the fabulously tacky Dyker Heights Christmas Lights. I Read more…
December 17, 2020
I might have spent a collective total of 4 hours on Clear Sky Chart trying to choose a spot within a 100 mile vicinity to best view the Geminids Meteor Shower. After clouds in my initial spot, Sunken Meadow Park, I headed to the Vanderbilt Planetarium, convinced the grounds would Read more…
To follow, light in various wavelengths from Long Island’s Sunken Meadow State Park. The scouted location seemed to be the best option to view the Geminids Meteor Shower in light of a wide-reaching cloud cover and an emergency dentist appointment to make in Brooklyn the follow morning. Unfortunately the bright Read more…
October 19, 2020
[Oh my.] The Orionids Meteor Shower will be peaking on my birthday. So naturally, I have to accept the sky’s invitation. I’d have to find the dark, program my camera, sit back and watch the show, hoping for better luck than when I attempted to catch the Perseids this time Read more…
October 18, 2020
Camp Hero State Park. This might just be my favorite place for a star shoot. Abandoned / Dark sky / Conspiracy theory / By the Ocean. I mean, c’mon. Though the horizon is always filled with light, the site makes for some gorgeous shots. And because I wasn’t alone and, Read more…
Ah, going through a fence is always the sign of a worthy adventure. Though this abandoned site in Camp Hero State Park is a hazardous place, indicative by the big pieces of the radar that now lay on the grass. And the structure seems to breathe and drip like a Read more…
Despite the light of the campsites, the stars were plentiful and bright. And the Milky Way and shooting stars also showed up for the party. Here are a few of my favorite shots before heading to Camp Hero to shoot next to the radar tower. I enjoyed the campsite much Read more…
September 6, 2020
An astroshoot in New York City? Sure, let’s do it. There were a few stars and a very bright Jupiter and Mars, though the billions of other celestial bodies were shy of the bright lights in the big city. Still very worth the while… The 9/11 Tribute lights were on. Read more…
August 23, 2020
Though Tonopah, Nevada is not dark sky certified by the IDA, it was rated as the #1 stargazing destination in the United States by USA Today at one point. And it has an official stargazing park, The Clair Blackburn Memorial Stargazing Park that has concrete picnic tables set for you Read more…