♊ Chasing the Geminids 🌠

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 be aligned in my quest. But they were having a holiday event… Bright Lights at the Vanderbilt. Doh!

Eventually, I wound up at Robert Moses seashore… within the contrails, the brash revolving light from the lighthouse, and a group of vocal star gazers committed to the cause. They screamed with every shooting star, which made me giggle. In the end, I saw many more than I could capture with my camera. Because I captured only one. But it was a good one.

Oh, and so many gosh darn planes. I wish I had a light painter with me. I have decided that this activity makes East Coast dark sky shoots more worthwhile. You know… because the stars are not so plentiful.

My meteor

And video of her. Crazy that this time lapse is made from 18 images.

After this location, tea at a nearby friend’s house and then back to Sunken Meadow Park. It was supposed to be clearer and I wouldn’t need to worry about the lighthouse… but the gate was closed. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. So that’s the end of my hunt.

Happy to say I will be finding a certified dark sky in Florida in the coming weeks. Happy Dark Sky hunting!