Tupper Lake New York Adirondack Mountains Astrophotography

Tupper Lake, located in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains, offers some of the darkest accessible skies in New York State. Under optimal conditions, this region approaches Bortle Class 3 — where the Milky Way appears bright and richly structured to the naked eye.

For this session, I intentionally chose the shoreline of Tupper Lake to create a balanced nightscape composition. While much of the Adirondacks is forested, the lake provided an open foreground and subtle sky reflections — adding depth and symmetry to the scene.

The weather was not perfectly clear. High-level clouds were moving across the sky throughout the night. Rather than ruining the session, they added texture and atmosphere to the images.

Even with upper cloud layers present, the Milky Way structure remained clearly visible under these dark Adirondack skies. The shifting clouds created contrast against the star field, giving the night a dynamic and slightly dramatic character.

All images were captured using a Canon 60Da with the Canon EF 16–35mm f/2.8L II USM lens:
30 seconds · f/2.8 · ISO 6400

The Milky Way rises above the calm waters of Tupper Lake, with visible dust lanes and rich star clouds.

Tupper Lake New York Milky Way Astrophotography

Looking north across the water, the Big Dipper dominates the sky. Its bright stars stand sharp against the Adirondack darkness, enhanced by the open lake foreground.

Adirondack Mountains Tupper Lake Big Dipper New York Astrophotography

The Pleiades star cluster (M45) sparkles above the dark horizon. In skies this dark, the cluster is easily visible to the naked eye and appears crisp and diamond-like in long exposures.

 

Pleiades over Tupper Lake - Adirondack Mountains Astrophotography

In the final image, a thin layer of fog formed just above the surface of Tupper Lake. This low ground mist added depth to the foreground while the Big Dipper remained clearly reflected in the water.

The combination of stars above, drifting upper clouds, subtle fog at water level, and the dark Adirondack treeline created a layered composition — sky, atmosphere, reflection, and forest all in balance.

Moments like this show that perfect astrophotography does not always require perfectly clear skies — sometimes atmosphere adds more character than clarity.

Reflection of Big Dipper - Tupper Lake Astrophotography

Why Tupper Lake Is One of the Best Dark-Sky Locations in New York

• Near Bortle Class 3 sky quality on clear nights
• Minimal direct light glare
• Accessible dark-sky site in the Northeast United States
• Excellent seasonal transparency in autumn

Compared to urban environments such as Manhattan (Bortle 8–9), the improvement is dramatic. The Milky Way becomes fully visible to the naked eye, and subtle star clouds emerge clearly in photographs.

For astrophotographers in the Northeast seeking darker skies without traveling to the western deserts, Tupper Lake remains one of the strongest options.

Adirondack Public Observatory

Just outside the village of Tupper Lake is the Adirondack Public Observatory, a community astronomy center hosting public star parties and educational programs.

You can read my full visit here:
Adirondack Public Observatory – Night and Day Visit

The observatory sits under these same dark Adirondack skies, making it an outstanding destination for both visual observing and night-sky photography.

Geographic Advantage on the East Coast

Another important advantage of the Adirondack Public Observatory is its geographic position. Located in northern New York, it is among the easternmost dark-sky observatories in the continental United States.

When transient astronomical events become visible shortly after sunset — such as bright comets, novae, planetary conjunctions, or meteor outbursts — eastern observatories can often observe them earlier in the evening compared to locations farther west.

Combined with relatively dark Bortle Class 3 skies, this makes the Adirondack Public Observatory one of the first truly dark East Coast sites capable of capturing such events under good conditions.

Related East Coast Dark-Sky Locations

• Adirondack Public Observatory – Tupper Lake, New York (Bortle Class 2)
• Custer Astronomical Observatory – Long Island, New York (Bortle Class 4)
• Cherry Springs State Park – Pennsylvania (Bortle Class 2)
• Acadia National Park – Maine Astrophotography (Bortle Class 1)
• Toronto Reservoir – Bethel, New York (Bortle Class 5)

Adirondack Public Observatory

The Adirondack Public Observatory in Tupper Lake, New York is one of the best dark-sky locations in the Northeast United States. With low light pollution, high visibility, and excellent community outreach programs, this observatory is a top destination for both amateur astronomers and serious astrophotographers.

Located just outside the village of Tupper Lake in the heart of the Adirondack Mountains, the site offers exceptionally dark skies — rare on the East Coast. On clear nights the Milky Way is clearly visible to the naked eye, stretching directly above the domes.

Below are several images from my visit, including views under the Milky Way and daytime photos of the observatory grounds.

Adirondack Public Observatory and Milky Way

Inside the observatory domes, multiple telescopes are available for public programs, star parties, and deep-sky viewing. On a truly clear night, the Adirondack sky becomes one of the darkest on the East Coast, revealing rich detail in the Milky Way directly above the observatory.

Adirondack Public Observatory in the day time

During the day, the Adirondack Public Observatory sits quietly among the trees and mountains, ready for the next clear night. The site hosts public outreach events, educational programs, and observing sessions that introduce visitors to planets, star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies.

Adirondack Public Observatory -Tupper Lake - New York

At night, the observatory is surrounded by deep darkness and a brilliant star field. The Milky Way arches overhead, and on the best nights you can see faint nebulae and galaxies with the naked eye. For astrophotography, this location offers outstanding sky quality compared to most of the East Coast.

If you are traveling through the Adirondacks and love astronomy, the Adirondack Public Observatory is well worth a visit for both visual observing and night-sky photography.

Related Observatory Posts

• Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) – New Mexico
• Lowell Observatory – Flagstaff, Arizona
• Custer Astronomical Observatory – Long Island
• Sky’s the Limit Observatory – California
• Arecibo Radio Telescope – Puerto Rico

Northeast Astronomy Forum NEAF 2018

The immense distances to the stars
and the galaxies mean
that we see everything in space in the past,
some as they were before the Earth came to be.
Telescopes are time machines.
— Carl Sagan

Northeast Astronomy Forum (NEAF) 2018 — Astronomy & Space Expo (New York)

NEAF is one of the largest astronomy and space expos in the U.S., bringing together telescope manufacturers, accessory makers, publishers, astrophotographers, and astronomy clubs for two packed days of hands-on gear and inspiration. NEAF is hosted at Rockland Community College (SUNY) in Suffern, New York.

Below is a photo walk-through from NEAF 2018 — booths, classic instruments, solar observing equipment, new mounts, and the little accessories that make a big difference in the field.

NEAF 2018

One of the best parts of NEAF is that you can compare equipment side-by-side — from beginner-friendly setups to serious premium instruments — and talk directly with the people who design and use them.

Sky and Telescope Astronomy Tours  NEAF 2018

The Sky & Telescope Astronomy Tours booth was especially interesting. For anyone passionate about astrophotography, organized dark-sky tours can open access to locations that are otherwise difficult to reach — high-altitude deserts, southern hemisphere skies, and carefully selected Bortle Class 1 sites.

Walking past the booth naturally makes you think: what would it be like to photograph the Milky Way under truly pristine skies, with logistics already handled and experienced observers guiding the way? For astrophotographers seeking new horizons, it is an intriguing idea.

America the Beatiful at Night NEAF 2018

NEAF isn’t only about hardware — it’s also about ideas and inspiration. Seeing the Astropics.com booth featuring Wally Pacholka’s “America the Beautiful at Night” project is a reminder that astronomy is not just about equipment, but about storytelling through light. Large-format nightscape prints from national parks show what is possible when technique, patience, and dark skies come together.

For any astrophotographer, walking through NEAF becomes more than shopping for gear — it becomes creative motivation. It connects the technical side of optics and mounts with the artistic side of capturing the night sky, something that continues to influence my own astrophotography work.

Classic Telescopes NEAF 2018

Explore Scientific Telescope NEAF2018

Solar Filters DayStar NEAF 2018

Binocular NEAF 2018

New iOptron SkyTracker NEAF 2018

This is the newer version of the iOptron SkyTracker. I have been using an older model for my wide-field astrophotography, and it has served me very well. However, seeing the updated design at NEAF naturally makes me think about a future upgrade — especially for travel and lightweight dark-sky trips.

Glatter Parallizer NEAF 2018

It’s easy to focus on large telescopes, but NEAF also highlights the importance of precision accessories. The Howie Glatter Parallizer is a cleverly engineered 1.25" to 2" eyepiece adapter designed to ensure precise parallel alignment between the focuser drawtube and the eyepiece. By keeping the optics square, it helps prevent angular misalignment that can degrade image quality during visual observing, imaging, and collimation.

In this display, the adapters were arranged in a small pyramidal structure — a simple presentation that made a technical component visually interesting. Sometimes the smallest mechanical improvements have a significant impact on optical performance.

Diffraction Spikes Telescopes NEAF 2018

These are William Optics Zenithstar 81 refractors shown in multiple color finishes. The telescopes include integrated Bahtinov-style diffraction spike caps, combining practical focusing assistance with distinctive aesthetic design. Unlike simple accessories, these are complete optical tubes — compact, high-quality refractors often used for wide-field astrophotography.

I personally use a Bahtinov focus mask with my Celestron 4SE, and it has been an extremely useful tool for achieving precise focus in astrophotography. You can read about my experience here: Bahtinov Focus Mask — Astrophotography .

That is why it was especially interesting to see the William Optics Zenithstar 81 telescopes with integrated Bahtinov-style diffraction spike caps already included as part of the optical design. It shows how focusing accuracy has become an essential element of modern astrophotography — so essential that some manufacturers now build it directly into the telescope itself.

Coronado Telescope NEAF 2018

This is my Coronado SolarMax II 60 H-alpha solar telescope. At NEAF it was presented with an added branded ring around the objective, but optically it is the same instrument I use for solar imaging.

Using this telescope together with my Canon 40D, I have captured detailed solar prominences and surface activity. You can see example images here: Solar Prominences — Coronado SolarMax II 60 + Canon 40D .

Solar observing is always a crowd magnet at NEAF — from safe white-light filters to narrowband H-alpha systems that reveal dramatic prominences and fine chromospheric structure when the Sun is active.

Telescope NEAF 2018

The final image shows an impressive outdoor solar setup — a massive 7" f/15 RF Royce refractor mounted in a Parallax Instruments tube. Seeing a solar telescope of this size in person is rare. The long focal ratio and large aperture make it a serious instrument for high-resolution solar observation.

With visitors gathered around, the scale of the telescope becomes clear. It is not every day that you see such a large dedicated solar refractor — a true highlight of the daytime observing at NEAF.

NEAF is not just a marketplace of optics and mounts — it is a reminder of why we look up in the first place. Between precision mechanics, handcrafted refractors, and stories of dark-sky expeditions, the event reconnects technology with wonder. You leave not only thinking about upgrades, but about the next sky you want to stand under.

Photographing NEAF using Astrophotography Lenses

An interesting observation from NEAF 2018 is how astrophotography lenses themselves become ideal tools for photographing the expo. The same optical principles we use under the night sky apply perfectly inside a large exhibition hall.

A wide-field lens allows for dynamic overview images — capturing the scale of the show, the arrangement of booths, and the atmosphere of the event. The very first photo was taken from the upper (second) floor, giving a broad perspective of the entire NEAF exhibition space. This approach mirrors wide-field Milky Way photography: context, environment, and scale.

In contrast, a telephoto lens transforms individual astronomical devices into almost studio-like portraits. For example, the Binocular NEAF 2018 image was taken using a longer focal length. The binoculars remain sharply in focus while the background smoothly falls out of focus, creating separation and directing attention precisely where it belongs. This shallow depth of field effect isolates the subject — just like isolating a galaxy against the star field.

In many ways, NEAF becomes its own kind of “astronomical landscape” — wide views for scale, tight optics for detail — the same visual language we use when photographing the night sky.

Related Astrophotography Posts

• NexImage 5 + Coronado SolarMax II 60 — Solar Astrophotography
• Saturn — Celestron NexStar 4SE + NexImage + RegiStax
• Celestron NexStar 4SE + Canon 40D — Solar Imaging
• Milky Way Casting Shadows — Bortle Class 1 (Atacama, Chile)
• Magdalena Astronomy Club — Large Custom-Built Telescopes

Antelope Canyon at Night - Astrophotography Arizona

Antelope Canyon at night — astrophotography from Arizona during a short and challenging visit. This image was captured during my Arizona trip, with only a single night available near Antelope Canyon. Weather conditions were far from ideal, with clouds limiting sky visibility, but even under these conditions the canyon revealed a dramatic and almost cave-like night atmosphere.

In the first image, the viewer looks outward from within the canyon. Layered sandstone walls dominate the foreground, while a small opening reveals a fragment of the night sky — creating the impression of observing the stars from inside a natural stone cathedral.

Antelope Canyon at Night - Astrophotography Arizona

Camera settings:
Canon EOS 60Da, EF16–35mm f/2.8L II USM, 30 seconds, f/2.8, ISO 6400

During the same visit, I also captured a photograph near Antelope Canyon at sunset — Horseshoe Bend on the Colorado River. This second image provides a striking contrast between day and night, showing how dramatically the landscape transforms as the Sun disappears below the horizon.

Horseshoe Bend SunSet

I had only one night near Antelope Canyon, and the weather did not fully cooperate. Still, these two images represent what was possible during that brief window — a quiet night view framed by stone, and a glowing sunset over one of the most iconic river bends in the American Southwest.

Related Astrophotography Posts

• Balanced Rock – Arches National Park, Utah Night Landscape Astrophotography
• Different Types of Milky Way Night Landscapes – Arches National Park, Utah
• Grand Teton Milky Way Astrophotography – Reflections of Stars and Airglow
• Reflection of Ursa Major (Big Dipper) – Grand Teton Nightscape
• The Milky Way Over the Sailing Stone – Racetrack Playa, Death Valley
• Rainbow of the Milky Way and the Eternal Baobab — Tarangire, Tanzania

Night Storm Grand Canyon Arizona Astrophotography

I had only one night at Grand Canyon. The weather was not good, but as minimum I tried. Canon EOS 60Da, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, 96 sec, f/2.8; ISO 6400.Mather Point, South Rim of the Grand Canyon, Arizona.

Night Storm Grand Canyon Arizona Astrophotography

Canon EOS 60Da, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, 30 sec, f/2.8; ISO 6400

Cloudy Night Grand Canyon Astrophotography Arizona

Lowell Astronomical Observatory, Flagstaff, Arizona

One of the oldest observatories in the United States, Lowell Observatory was founded in 1894 by astronomer Percival Lowell. Located in Flagstaff, Arizona, at an elevation of about 7,200 feet, the observatory has played a major role in planetary astronomy and the history of modern astrophysics.

The observatory is most famous for the discovery of Pluto in 1930 by Clyde Tombaugh using the 13-inch astrograph telescope — which remains preserved inside its original dome.

Lowell Astronomical Observatory, Flagstaff, Arizona

The Slipher Rotunda Museum welcomes visitors and showcases the observatory’s scientific legacy.

Lowell Observatory -  Entrance Gate

Decorative metal entrance gate featuring astronomical motifs.

Lowell Observatory - Cat Sculpture

Cat sculpture inspired by celestial themes and Lowell’s planetary studies.

Lowell Observatory - Old Telescope

An old telescope displayed outdoors on observatory grounds.

Lowell Observatory - Pluto Telescope - 13-inch Astrograph

The famous 13-inch astrograph used for the discovery of Pluto.

Lowell Observatory Spectrograph

Historic spectrograph demonstrating early astronomical instrumentation.

Lowell Observatory Art

Art inspired by the observatory’s scientists and telescopes.

Welcome to Lowell Observatory

Lowell Observatory Today Program

Lowell Observatory Elementary and Middle School classes

Lowell Observatory SunDial

Lowell Observatory Saturn Lamp

Lowell Observatory Old  Car

Lowell Observatory Sculpture

Lowell Observatory Store

Lowell Observatory Store 2

Lowell Observatory Store 3

Lowell Observatory Electrical Calculator  Millionaire

Lowell Observatory beautifully combines scientific discovery, education, and public outreach. Walking through its historic domes and museum exhibits is like stepping back into the early days of planetary exploration — when careful photographic plates and patient sky surveys revealed new worlds.

Scientific Tools of Another Era

Two small details inside Lowell Observatory stood out as especially memorable. Inside the dome of the 13-inch astrograph — the very telescope used to discover Pluto — a protective glove remains mounted near the instrument. In the era of glass photographic plates, astronomers handled delicate plates by hand in cold, dark domes. The glove is a quiet reminder that planetary discovery once depended entirely on careful human observation.

Equally fascinating was the mechanical “Millionaire” calculator displayed in the museum. Long before electronic computers, astronomers relied on such devices to compute orbital positions and perform precise multiplications required for celestial mechanics. These machines formed the computational foundation of early 20th-century astronomy.

Together, the telescope, the glove, and the mechanical calculator illustrate how discovery was achieved through patience, mathematics, and meticulous manual work — a striking contrast to today’s digital astrophysics.

Other Observatory Visits

• Arecibo Observatory — Puerto Rico
  Formerly home to one of the world’s largest radio telescopes, pioneering planetary radar and radio astronomy research.
• Mauna Kea Observatories — Big Island, Hawaii
  World-class optical and infrared telescopes located above the clouds at 13,796 feet on Mauna Kea.
• Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) — New Mexico
  A radio interferometer of 27 movable antennas studying the universe at radio wavelengths.
• Custer Institute & Observatory — Long Island, New York
  One of the oldest public observatories in the United States, dedicated to education and amateur astronomy.
• Sky’s The Limit Observatory — Joshua Tree National Park
  A public observatory operating under exceptionally dark desert skies, supporting outreach and astrophotography.

Milky Way over Galapagos Astrophotography

We can allow satellites, planets, suns, 

universe, nay whole systems of universes, 

to be governed by laws, but the smallest insect, 

we wish to be created at once by special act.

--Charles Darwin

The Galapagos Islands offer one of the most extraordinary night skies on Earth. Located almost exactly on the equator, they allow observers to see both the northern and southern celestial hemispheres in a single night — a rare and powerful perspective for astrophotography.

This image is a 40-frame Milky Way panorama, captured over approximately one hour from Puerto Villamil, Isabela Island. Visible in this single panorama are constellations from both skies: Orion, Canis Major, Crux (Southern Cross), Carina, and Centaurus.

Three of the brightest stars in Earth’s night sky appear together: Sirius, Canopus, and Rigel Kentaurus (Alpha Centauri). Subtle red and green airglow is also visible — a natural atmospheric emission that is especially prominent at equatorial latitudes.

Milky Way over Galapagos Astrophotography

Camera: Canon EOS 60Da
Lens: EF 16–35mm f/2.8L II USM
Panorama: 40 frames (about 1 hour)
Exposure (per frame): 16 s · f/2.8 · ISO 6400
Location: Puerto Villamil, Isabela Island, Galapagos, Ecuador

The Galapagos are famous not only for their skies, but also for life forms that appear almost unchanged over millions of years. To capture the true atmosphere of this place, I combined night-sky astrophotography with daytime wildlife photographs — all taken by me.

One more photo: "How to Train Your Dragon"

The marine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus), also known as the sea iguana, saltwater iguana, or Galapagos marine iguana, is a species of iguana found only on the Galápagos Islands (Ecuador) that has the ability, unique among modern lizards, to forage in the sea, making it a marine reptile.

How to Train Your Dragon or Milky Way over Galapagos Astrophotography

Not so much were changes on Galapagos Islands during last 3 millions years!

The blue-footed booby (Sula nebouxii) is a marine bird. The blue-footed booby is distributed among the continental coasts of the eastern Pacific Ocean from California to the Galapagos Islands down into Peru. The blue color of the blue-footed booby's webbed feet comes from carotenoid pigments obtained from its diet of fresh fish.

The blue-footed booby and Milky Way Isabela Island Galapagos Ecuador

Frigatebirds (also listed as "frigate bird", "frigate-bird", "frigate", "frigate-petrel") are a family of seabirds called Fregatidae which are found across all tropical and subtropical oceans. Females have white underbellies and males have a distinctive red gular pouch, which they inflate during the breeding season to attract females.

Frigate-bird and Milky Way - Galapagos Islands

Darwin's finches (also known as the Galapagos finches) are a group of about 15 species of passerine birds. During the survey voyage of HMS Beagle, Darwin was unaware of the significance of the birds of the Galapagos. These birds were to play an important part in the inception of Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection.

Darwin's Galapagos finch and night cloudy sky Santa Cruz Island

Most of Galapagos Flamingo plumage is pink, giving rise to its earlier name of Rosy Flamingo and differentiating adults from the much paler European species. Flamingos can only eat with their head upside down. Their beaks have lamellae (thin, flat membranes) which are used to filter the mud.

Galapagos Flamingo and Milky Way Astrophotography

The Galapagos tortoise are the largest living species of tortoise. Modern Galapagos tortoises can weigh up to 417 kg (919 lb). Today, giant tortoises exist on only two remote archipelagos: the Galapagos Islands 1000 km due west of mainland Ecuador; and Aldabrachelys gigantea of Aldabra in the Indian Ocean, 700 km east of Tanzania.

Galapagos giant tortoise and Orion - night sky

These composite images are a deliberate artistic exception for me. They merge sky and life to convey the spirit of the Galapagos — a place where ancient biology and cosmic perspective coexist naturally.

Related Galápagos & Equatorial Sky Astrophotography

• Sky Ladder - Galapagos Nightscape Astrophotography
• Crux (Southern Cross), Milky Way and Palm Tree — Galápagos
• Large Magellanic Cloud — Galápagos Night Landscape
• Moonset — Galápagos Ecuador Astrophotography
• Milky Way Tanzania Astrophotography
• Why the Equatorial Sky Glows More Red — Tanzania & Galápagos

Crux (Southern Cross), Milky Way and Palm Tree - Galapagos Night Sky Astrophotography

The Galápagos Islands offer a rare opportunity to photograph the southern night sky from an equatorial location. In this image, the sky is filled with southern-hemisphere highlights rarely visible from mid-northern latitudes.

Prominently visible are Alpha Centauri — the closest stellar system to our Solar System — the distinctive Crux (Southern Cross) constellation, and the faint glow of the South Celestial Pole. A palm tree in the foreground provides a natural tropical frame, emphasizing the unique location and latitude.

Crux  (Southern Cross), Milky Way  and Palm Tree - Galapagos Night Sky Astrophotography

Image details:
Panorama of 3 frames
Canon EOS 60Da · Canon EF 16–35mm f/2.8L II USM
16 s · f/2.8 · ISO 6400
Puerto Villamil, Isabela Island, Galápagos, Ecuador

The South Celestial Pole in this image is located using two independent geometric methods. The first method uses the Crux (Southern Cross) constellation: a line extended along the long axis of Crux points toward the south celestial pole.

The second method uses Alpha Centauri and Beta Centauri. By drawing an imaginary line connecting these two bright stars and then constructing a perpendicular line through the midpoint between them, this perpendicular also points toward the south celestial pole.

When both constructions are applied to the same image, the Crux axis line and the Centauri perpendicular intersect very close to the south celestial pole. The annotated image above shows this intersection clearly.

The South Celestial Pole - Galapagos Equator Sky - Annotated

From this image, the south celestial pole appears very close to the horizon. Because Isabela Island lies on the equator, this photograph captures a true equatorial sky — a rare vantage point where the geometry of Earth and the celestial sphere becomes visually apparent.

Related Galápagos & Equatorial Sky Astrophotography:

• Milky Way Over Galápagos – Astrophotography
• Large Magellanic Cloud – Galápagos Night Sky
• Sky Ladder - Galapagos Nightscape Astrophotography
• Moonset - Galapagos Ecuador Astrophotography
• Milky Way Tanzania Astrophotography
• Why the Equatorial Sky Glows More Red