Green Airglow Through Thin Clouds – Swain, New York

Green airglow shining through thin atmospheric clouds in the night sky near Swain, New York on August 15, 2026. Canon EOS Ra, EF 16–35mm f/2.8L II at 16 mm, f/2.8, ISO 40000, 25 seconds.

On the night of August 15, 2026, near Swain in western New York, I was photographing the night sky with my Canon EOS Ra. The sky was dark enough that a noticeable green color from atmospheric airglow was visible across much of the photograph.

What caught my attention was not only the green sky, but also the thin atmospheric clouds crossing parts of the frame. Stars remain clearly visible through them, showing that these clouds were optically thin.

Most of the thin clouds lie outside the brightest part of the Milky Way and appear greenish against the strong green airglow background. Small portions that cross the Milky Way appear somewhat warmer or more reddish. The effect is subtle, but it raises an interesting question: why can thin clouds appear green at night?

Green Airglow High Above the Clouds

The green night airglow is produced mainly by atomic oxygen emitting at a wavelength of 557.7 nm. The strongest part of this emission comes from Earth's upper atmosphere at roughly 90–100 km altitude, far above ordinary weather and tropospheric clouds.

The atmospheric clouds in these photographs are much lower. Because they are thin enough for stars to remain clearly visible, a significant part of the green airglow coming from above and behind them can simply pass through the cloud layer.

The clouds can also scatter some of the surrounding light. However, scattering by cloud droplets and ice crystals is different from the Rayleigh scattering by molecules that makes the daytime sky blue. Cloud particles are much larger and their scattering is considerably less selective by wavelength, so a thin cloud can retain much of the color of the illumination and sky background around it.

Different from Light-Polluted Clouds

This appearance is very different from the clouds we commonly see near cities. Under a light-polluted sky, clouds can become white, yellow, or orange because they reflect artificial light coming upward from the ground. Thick clouds may become much brighter than the clear sky, while stars behind them disappear completely.

Here the situation is almost the opposite. The clouds are faint and transparent, stars remain visible through them, and much of the observed color appears to come from the natural night-sky background rather than from strong artificial illumination below.

There is another subtle detail in the main photograph. Where the background sky is dominated by green airglow, the transparent clouds appear greenish. Near some of the more reddish regions of the Milky Way, their color also seems to shift slightly toward warmer tones.

The Canon EOS Ra has enhanced sensitivity to red astronomical emission, particularly around the H-alpha wavelength at 656.3 nm, so reddish emission regions along the Milky Way can be recorded more strongly than with a standard digital camera.

Why This Effect Is Easy to Overlook

Greenish atmospheric clouds are not necessarily rare in night-sky photographs, but the effect is easy to overlook. In many astrophotographs the green color is simply described as airglow, while the clouds themselves are treated as an unrelated foreground or atmospheric feature.

The important distinction is that the clouds are not producing airglow. The green emission originates much higher in Earth's atmosphere, while ordinary weather clouds are far below it. When those clouds are optically thin, part of the green airglow remains visible through them, and the cloud-covered part of the sky can therefore appear greenish in the photograph.

This can easily be confused with several other effects: light pollution reflected from clouds, aurora, camera white-balance shifts, or simply aggressive color processing. The most useful clue is that stars remain visible through the clouds, showing that the cloud layer is transparent enough for the background sky emission to pass through.

For this reason, I think the effect is probably photographed more often than it is discussed. What makes this Swain observation especially useful is the combination of strong green airglow, a dark sky and thin atmospheric clouds, which makes the relationship between the airglow and the cloud color easier to see.

The Effect Was Visible Even in a 2.4-Second Exposure

A 2.4-second exposure showing green airglow and thin transparent atmospheric clouds with stars visible through them near Swain, New York on August 15, 2026.

Earlier that night, I took this 2.4-second exposure. Despite the very short exposure time, the green background and greenish transparent clouds are already visible, although the Milky Way and faint cloud structure are less detailed than in the 25-second photograph.

I find this short exposure especially interesting because it shows that the green airglow was strong enough to be recorded in only 2.4 seconds. The later 25-second exposure collected much more light and reveals the airglow, Milky Way and thin cloud structure in considerably greater detail.

A Similar Example from Colorado

A very interesting comparison was photographed by Aaron Watson of Skies-Alive Photography near Paonia, Colorado, on May 21, 2025. His photograph, Emerald Green Airglow with Orange Clouds, shows strong green airglow together with clearly visible atmospheric clouds.

The photograph is especially useful for comparison because the clouds near the horizon are orange from artificial skyglow, while the atmosphere behind and above them shows strong green airglow. It demonstrates that airglow can still be visible even when some light pollution is present near the horizon.

My Swain photographs show a different case. The atmospheric clouds are much thinner and more transparent, with stars clearly visible through them. Most of these clouds appear greenish where they are seen against the green airglow background, while small portions crossing the more reddish Milky Way show slightly warmer tones.

Together, the two observations show that the appearance of nighttime clouds depends not only on the clouds themselves, but also on the light coming from different directions. Artificial light from below can make clouds orange or yellow, while natural airglow high above them can create a green background that remains visible through sufficiently thin clouds.

Airglow Is Not Aurora

A green night sky can easily be mistaken for aurora in photographs, but airglow is a different phenomenon. Aurora is produced mainly when energetic charged particles interact with Earth's upper atmosphere and is strongly connected with geomagnetic activity. Airglow, on the other hand, is present even during quiet geomagnetic conditions and is continuously produced by chemical and physical processes in the upper atmosphere.

The intensity of airglow can vary considerably from night to night and across different parts of the sky. Atmospheric tides, gravity waves, changes in temperature and density, and changes in the distribution of atomic oxygen around the mesopause can all affect the brightness and structure of the green 557.7 nm emission.

This is an important reminder that a genuinely dark night sky is not necessarily black. Under good conditions, a camera can reveal green, reddish and other faint emissions produced by Earth's own atmosphere.

Photography Settings

Main photograph:
Camera: Canon EOS Ra
Lens: Canon EF 16–35mm f/2.8L II USM
Focal length: 16 mm
Aperture: f/2.8
ISO: 40000
Exposure: 25 seconds
Date: August 15, 2026
Location: Near Swain, New York

Short test photograph:
Camera: Canon EOS Ra
Lens: Canon EF 16–35mm f/2.8L II USM
Exposure: 2.4 seconds
Date: August 15, 2026
Location: Near Swain, New York

A Dark Sky Reveals Its Own Color

The area near Swain has a very good dark sky for New York State. According to the Light Pollution Map, this location is approximately between Bortle Classes 3 and 4. However, light-pollution maps should be considered an estimate rather than an exact measurement of what an observer will experience on a particular night. Actual sky quality also depends on atmospheric transparency, humidity, aerosols, nearby lights, the time of night and even the surrounding terrain.

Local geography can sometimes create a significantly darker pocket than a large-scale map might suggest. I experienced a good example at Sand Beach in Acadia National Park, Maine. The beach is only about 290 yards long, but the combination of a dark open-ocean horizon and surrounding mountains that shield light from populated areas creates an unusually dark observing location. Only a few miles away, where that terrain shielding disappears, light pollution becomes more noticeable.

One of my own practical indicators of an excellent astrophotography sky is visible airglow. In the original Bortle scale, readily apparent airglow is one of the characteristics of a Class 1 sky. A camera, however, is much more sensitive than the human eye and can record airglow under skies that would not visually qualify as Bortle Class 1.

The strong green airglow near the zenith in these Swain photographs can therefore have several explanations working together. The site was genuinely dark, photo at ISO 40000 was sensitive enough to reveal very faint atmospheric emission, and the green airglow itself may simply have been stronger than average that night because airglow intensity naturally changes with conditions in the upper atmosphere.

For me, this is one reason airglow is such an interesting practical indicator of sky quality. A light-pollution map provides a useful prediction, but the photograph records what the sky was actually doing at that location and at that moment. When natural green or reddish atmospheric emission becomes clearly visible instead of being overwhelmed by artificial skyglow, I know I am photographing under a genuinely good dark sky.

These photographs also show why atmospheric clouds at night do not always have to be white, gray or black. Under a dark sky, a thin transparent cloud can reveal some of the color of the natural sky behind it. On this night near Swain, that color was unmistakably green.

Related Astrophotography Posts

• Meteor over the Milky Way – Swain, New York
• Cloudy Starry Night Sky
• Why the Equatorial Sky Glows More Red — Tanzania & Galápagos Astrophotography Experience
• Acadia National Park, Maine USA – Astrophotography
• Airglow Astrophotography – Bryce Canyon National Park – Sunset Point
• Arches National Park Astrophotography
• Sky Ladder – Galapagos Nightscape Astrophotography

Meteor over the Milky Way – Swain, New York

Cropped view showing a faint meteor crossing the Milky Way during a 308.6-second exposure near Swain, New York on August 15, 2026.

On the night of August 15, 2026, near Swain, New York, I was photographing the Milky Way with my Canon EOS Ra. During one long exposure, my wife and I saw a meteor cross the sky. It was not especially bright, but later I found what appears to be the same meteor recorded in the photograph.

I have watched Perseid meteors before, and even visually this one did not particularly look like a bright, typical Perseid to me. My first impression was that it could be a sporadic meteor. However, August 15 is still within the active period of the Perseid meteor shower, so I wanted to investigate whether it could have been a Perseid — and, perhaps even more importantly today, whether the streak could instead have been a satellite.

Meteor, Perseid or Satellite?

The meteor moved approximately from the upper-left toward the lower-right in the photograph. This is generally the correct direction for an object moving away from the Perseid radiant, which was located toward Perseus on the northeastern side of the sky.

The full photograph contains enough recognizable stars to check the orientation of the camera. The Milky Way crosses the frame, the Summer Triangle is prominent, and Beta Cassiopeiae (Caph) can also be identified toward the left side of the Milky Way.

When the meteor trail is extended backward across the sky, however, it does not line up perfectly with the expected Perseid radiant for August 15. Because this is a wide-angle photograph and the radiant is well outside the frame, simply extending a straight line on the image is only an approximation. Nevertheless, the difference is large enough that I would not confidently identify this meteor as a Perseid.

For now, my preferred interpretation is therefore simple: it is most likely a meteor, and probably a sporadic meteor rather than a Perseid.

Full-frame 16 mm view showing the Milky Way, Summer Triangle and a faint meteor near Swain, New York on August 15, 2026. Canon EOS Ra, 308.6 seconds, f/2.8, ISO 1600.

Could It Be a Satellite?

With a five-minute exposure, a satellite has to be considered. A satellite normally produces a long straight trail, and a satellite that slowly flares and fades can sometimes look surprisingly similar to a meteor in a single photograph.

I checked available catalogued satellite trajectories for the location and corrected exposure time. There were satellites in this general region of the sky, but I did not find a convincing illuminated satellite that followed the photographed trail at the correct time and in the correct direction. One geometrically interesting satellite candidate was already inside Earth's shadow and therefore should not have been visible by reflected sunlight.

This does not provide absolute proof — very faint satellites and some orbital debris can always make identification difficult — but together with the fact that two of us actually watched the meteor at the time of the exposure, a meteor is by far the more natural explanation.

Photography Settings

Camera: Canon EOS Ra
Lens: Canon EF 16–35mm f/2.8L II USM
Focal length: 16 mm
Aperture: f/2.8
ISO: 1600
Exposure: 308.6 seconds
Date: August 15, 2026
Location: Near Swain, New York

Finding the Exact Time

For checking satellites, the exact exposure time is important. I had photographed my computer clock during the same session and later discovered that the camera clock was approximately 8 minutes 1 second fast.

The meteor image has a camera timestamp of 11:39:19 PM. I also tested my Canon EOS Ra afterward and confirmed that the time stored with a photograph corresponds to the beginning of the exposure, not the end.

After correcting the camera clock, this exposure therefore began at approximately 11:31:18 PM EDT and continued for about 5 minutes 9 seconds, ending near 11:36:27 PM.

I later synchronized the Canon EOS Ra clock with my computer using Canon EOS Utility. This is a very useful setting for astrophotography, especially for meteors, eclipses, satellite identification, or any observation where the exact time matters. It is also important to check the camera's Daylight Saving Time setting; for New York in summer the DST setting should be enabled.

Meteor Photography in the Age of Satellites

There is also something a little frustrating about photographing meteors today. Twenty years ago, when a short unexpected streak appeared in an astrophotograph, a meteor was often the obvious first possibility. Satellites existed, of course, but there were far fewer of them crossing every part of the night sky.

Today the situation is very different. A long exposure can contain one or several satellite trails, and even a short fading streak has to be investigated before calling it a meteor. Sometimes it feels as if photographing a meteor is no longer only about being lucky enough to catch one — afterward you also have to prove that it was not a satellite.

In this case, fortunately, there was something the camera metadata and satellite catalog could not provide: my wife and I were standing under the sky and actually saw the meteor ourselves.

Dark Sky, Airglow and Dew

The area near Swain, in western New York near the Finger Lakes region, has a very good dark sky for New York State. According to the Light Pollution Map, this location is approximately between Bortle Classes 3 and 4. One of my own simple indicators of a genuinely dark sky is visible airglow. Under a dark enough sky, especially in long-exposure photographs, the background is often not black at all but can show green or sometimes reddish emission from Earth's upper atmosphere. The noticeable green airglow close to the zenith in this photograph was another indication of how dark and transparent the sky was that night.

There is also one practical challenge when photographing at night in this area: dew can become very strong. During a long astrophotography session the front lens element can gradually fog, even when the sky looks perfectly clear. An anti-dew heater around the lens is highly recommended for long exposures and overnight photography here.

Related Astrophotography Posts

• Watching the Sky, Observing Meteors, Making Wishes – Cherry Springs State Park, Pennsylvania
• Meteor or Satellite? A Perseid Mystery Near the Andromeda Galaxy
• Perseid Meteor Shower: This Bright Meteor – August 11, 2013

Rainbow Milky Way Joshua Tree National Park

This image represents a large-scale panoramic Milky Way photograph captured at Joshua Tree National Park.

The final image is a wide-field panorama composed of 40 individual exposures, stitched together to reveal the full Milky Way arch stretching across the desert sky. This post focuses on the panoramic process itself — showing the individual frames, the intermediate stitched result, and how the final image was formed.

Milky Way panorama: 40 images
Canon EOS Ra, EF 16–35mm f/2.8L II USM
f/2.8 · ISO 25600 · 4.8 sec

Rainbow Milky Way Joshua Tree National Park

Below are examples of individual frames used to build the panorama. Each image captures only a small section of the sky, but together they form the complete Milky Way arch.

Single photo 1 for Panorama

Single photo 2 for Panorama

Single photo 3 for Panorama

Single photo 4 for Panorama

After capturing all frames, I used Photoshop → File → Automate → Photomerge to stitch the images into a single panorama.

Panorama after Automate Photomerge

At this stage, the Milky Way arch was complete, but the horizon appeared noticeably curved — a common effect of automated panorama stitching. The software prioritizes smooth blending between frames, often at the expense of geometric realism.

In the final step, I manually corrected and leveled the horizon in Photoshop using Select → All followed by Edit → Transform → Warp, while preserving the true curvature of the Milky Way. This transformation turned the temporary stitched image into the final panoramic photograph shown at the top of the post — closely matching how the scene appeared under the dark skies of Joshua Tree National Park.

Related Astrophotography Posts

Joshua Tree National Park

• Joshua Tree National Park Astrophotography
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Rainbow Milky Way & Milky Way Panoramas

• Rainbow of the Milky Way
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Joshua Tree National Park Night Landscape

This post continues my Joshua Tree National Park astrophotography series, this time focusing on the desert night landscape itself — Joshua trees, rock formations, and the Milky Way rising above the California desert.

Joshua Tree is one of the best places in Southern California for night photography. The combination of dark desert skies, strange rock shapes, and the iconic silhouettes of Joshua trees creates a very special foreground for wide-angle Milky Way photos.

Canon EOS Ra, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM Lens, f/2.8, ISO 25600, 3 sec, Panorama

Three Sisters and Milky Way Joshua Tree National Park

The park is located far from any major cities, which means that the night sky is incredibly dark and clear. On a clear night, visitors can see up to 15,000 stars, as well as the Milky Way and other celestial objects. The park even offers astronomy programs and events throughout the year.

Canon EOS Ra, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM Lens, f/2.8, ISO 25600, 3 sec, Panorama

Milky Way Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts, nature lovers, and photographers alike. One of the most unique and rewarding photography experiences in the park is astrophotography. With its clear skies and minimal light pollution, Joshua Tree is the perfect place to capture stunning images of the night sky.

Canon EOS Ra, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM Lens, f/2.8, ISO 25600, 3 sec

Night Landscape Joshua Tree National Park

The night sky in Joshua Tree National Park is much darker than the sky near Los Angeles or other large Southern California cities. On a clear moonless night, the Milky Way becomes visible to the naked eye, and with a sensitive astronomy camera like the Canon EOS Ra, even short exposures can reveal a rich star field above the desert.

Canon EOS Ra, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM Lens, f/2.8, ISO 25600, 3 sec

Night Sky Joshua Tree National Park

For these photos I used a wide-angle Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM lens. This type of lens is very useful for desert nightscape photography because it captures both the sky and the surrounding landscape in the same frame — the Milky Way above, and Joshua trees or rock formations below.

Canon EOS Ra, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM Lens, f/2.8, ISO 25600, 3 sec, Panorama

Joshua Tree and Milky Way

The Joshua tree is a member of the Agave family and is a type of yucca plant. It has a distinctive, spiky appearance, with thick, twisting branches that reach upwards of 40 feet tall. The tree's trunk is usually short and thick, and it has green, sword-shaped leaves that grow in clusters at the ends of its branches.

Canon EOS Ra, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM Lens, f/2.8, ISO 25600, 3 sec, Panorama

Sky and Earth Joshua Tree National Park

The Joshua tree is native to the Mojave Desert, which spans parts of California, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah. It is particularly well-adapted to the harsh desert environment, with long, deep roots that allow it to survive in dry, sandy soils. The tree can also tolerate extreme temperatures, from freezing winter nights to scorching summer days.

The Joshua tree is a unique and fascinating plant that is an important symbol of the Mojave Desert. Its distinctive appearance and cultural significance make it a beloved icon of the American West.

This was one of the most enjoyable parts of my Joshua Tree trip — not only photographing the Milky Way, but also using the desert landscape itself as part of the composition. The park is not just a dark-sky location; it is a place where the foreground and the sky work together beautifully.

Related Astrophotography Posts

• Rainbow Milky Way Joshua Tree National Park
• Joshua Tree National Park Astrophotography
• Joshua Tree National Park Night Sky Festival 2022
• Sky's The Limit Observatory

Joshua Tree National Park Astrophotography

These images were captured during my trip to Joshua Tree National Park, one of the most iconic dark-sky locations in the United States.

Joshua Tree National Park is an exceptional place for astrophotography and stargazing. Located in the high desert at elevations of roughly 3,000–6,000 feet above sea level, the park is far from major urban centers, resulting in very low levels of light pollution and excellent sky transparency.

The eastern side of the park offers the darkest skies, with minimal artificial glow. The nearest major city in that direction—Phoenix, Arizona—is nearly 300 miles away. In contrast, the south and western sections of the park are more affected by light pollution from Palm Springs and nearby desert communities.

Wide-field panoramas work especially well at Joshua Tree, where distinctive rock formations and desert vegetation create strong foreground elements beneath the Milky Way and airglow-rich skies.

Joshua Tree National Park Astrophotography

Canon EOS Ra, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM Lens, f/2.8, ISO 25600, 3 sec, Panorama of 8 photos

There is entrance to the park at nigh:

Joshua Tree National Park Entrance at Night

Canon EOS Ra, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM Lens, f/2.8, ISO 25600, 7 sec

Other entrance during the day:

Entrance to Joshua Tree National Park

Stargazing Area of Joshua Tree National Park

Sunset Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park at Night

Canon EOS Ra, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM Lens, f/2.8, ISO 25600, 9 sec

Joshua Tree National Park Night Landscape

Canon EOS Ra, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM Lens, f/2.8, ISO 25600, 25 sec

Related Joshua Tree & Desert Astrophotography

• Joshua Tree National Park Night Landscape
• Joshua Tree National Park Night Sky Festival 2022
• Rainbow Milky Way — Joshua Tree National Park
• Sky’s The Limit Observatory — Joshua Tree

Sky's The Limit Observatory

Here are some photos of Sky's The Limit Observatory and Nature Center from my trip to Joshua Tree National Park. This observatory is located just outside the park, between the north entrance and the town of Twentynine Palms, California.

Sky's The Limit is a well-known place for astronomy outreach in the Joshua Tree area. It is a nice place to visit both during the day and at night, with observatory domes, telescopes, and an open desert setting that fits very well with the spirit of Southern California astronomy.

Because Joshua Tree is famous for its dark skies, this observatory is also a natural stop for people interested in stargazing, amateur astronomy, and astrophotography. Even the surroundings already create the feeling that you are entering a place dedicated to the night sky.

Sky's The Limit Observatory and Nature Center

Sky's The Limit Observatory and Nature Center at Night

Sky's The Limit Observatory Dome

At night the observatory becomes even more atmospheric, with the buildings and domes standing under the desert sky not far from Joshua Tree National Park.

Night Sky - Sky's The Limit Observatory

Sky’s the Limit Observatory in 29 Palms

Sky's The Limit Observatory near Joshua Tree National Park

Sky's The Limit Observatory at night

This visit to Sky's The Limit Observatory was also part of my broader astrophotography trip to Joshua Tree National Park. It can also be compared with several other observatories and astronomy centers that I photographed in different parts of the world.

Related Joshua Tree Astrophotography Posts

• Rainbow Milky Way Joshua Tree National Park
• Joshua Tree National Park Night Landscape
• Joshua Tree National Park Astrophotography
• Joshua Tree National Park Night Sky Festival 2022

Related Observatory and Astronomy Center Posts

• The Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA)
• Puerto Rico Radio-Telescope Arecibo Observatory
• Mauna Kea Observatories, Big Island Hawaii
• Lowell Astronomical Observatory, Flagstaff, Arizona
• Cherry Springs State Park Pennsylvania Observatory
• Adirondack Public Observatory
• Long Island Astrophotography - Custer Astronomical Observatory
• Los Angeles California Observatory

Austin Dam Ruins - Cherry Springs State Park Pennsylvania Astrophotography

The Austin Dam Ruins, located near Austin, Pennsylvania, are one of the most dramatic historic landmarks in the region surrounding Cherry Springs State Park — one of the darkest sky locations in the eastern United States. The massive concrete remains of the dam create an unusual foreground for nightscape astrophotography, combining history, landscape, and a pristine starry sky.

The original dam was constructed in 1909 to supply water for the Bayless Pulp and Paper Mill. On September 30, 1911, the dam catastrophically failed after heavy rains, sending a destructive flood through the valley below and causing significant loss of life. A second dam was later rebuilt on the same site, but it also failed during a severe flood in 1942. After the second disaster the structure was never rebuilt.

Today the broken concrete walls remain as a memorial and historic site. Since 1994 the Austin Dam Memorial Park Association has worked to preserve the ruins and maintain the surrounding parkland. For photographers visiting the Cherry Springs region, the dam provides a striking foreground subject beneath the dark skies of northern Pennsylvania.

Austin Dam Ruins - Cherry Springs State Park Pennsylvania Astrophotography

Camera settings: Canon EOS Ra, ISO 16,000, 15 sec exposure, Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM lens at f/2.8.

One interesting atmospheric phenomenon visible in this image is green airglow. Airglow is a natural emission of light from Earth's upper atmosphere caused by chemical reactions involving oxygen and other molecules at altitudes of about 90–100 km. Under very dark skies — such as those around Cherry Springs — airglow often appears as faint green bands or waves across the sky.

Green Sky and Red Milky Way - Cherry Spring State Park Pennsylvania Astrophotography

Camera settings: Canon EOS Ra, ISO 10,000, 25 sec exposure, Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, f/2.8.

Cherry Springs State Park is known for its exceptionally dark skies, often approaching Bortle Class 2-3 conditions. These skies allow faint phenomena such as airglow, zodiacal light, and the detailed structure of the Milky Way to become visible both visually and in long-exposure astrophotography.

Austin Dam Ruins map

Although truly dark skies are rare in the eastern United States, locations such as the Cherry Springs region of Pennsylvania still offer remarkable conditions for astrophotography. Farther west, dark skies become even more common. Large areas of the western United States — particularly in states like Utah, Arizona, Nevada, and California — provide vast regions with minimal light pollution, allowing the Milky Way, airglow, and other faint sky phenomena to appear with striking clarity. For night sky photographers, exploring these different dark-sky environments is part of the adventure.

Related Astrophotography Posts – Pennsylvania Dark Skies

• Cherry Springs State Park Pennsylvania Astrophotography
  One of the darkest sky locations in the eastern United States. Cherry Springs State Park is famous for Milky Way visibility, airglow, and meteor observing under Bortle Class 2 skies.


• Watching the Sky, Observing Meteors, Making Wishes – Cherry Springs State Park Pennsylvania
  Meteor watching and night sky observation during a dark-sky session at Cherry Springs. Under excellent conditions, faint meteors and the detailed structure of the Milky Way become visible.


• Boulder Field – Hickory Run State Park Pennsylvania Night Sky
  Nightscape astrophotography above the famous Boulder Field in Hickory Run State Park. This location offers darker skies than most eastern U.S. locations, approaching Bortle Class 5-6.


• Cloudy Starry Night Sky
  Even partial cloud cover can create interesting astrophotography compositions. Moving clouds illuminated by starlight and nearby light pollution reveal the sky brightness typical of Bortle Class 6 skies near Delaware Water Gap.

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.

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Yellowstone Milky Way

Yellowstone National Park is one of the darkest and most impressive places in the United States for night-sky observation. Under truly dark skies, the Milky Way becomes bright enough to resemble glowing clouds, and individual stars appear almost like lamps suspended in the sky.

I spent three days in Yellowstone, staying near Yellowstone Lake the first night, then Mammoth Hot Springs, and finally near Old Faithful. The first two nights were rainy and overcast, and I missed several opportunities to photograph the night sky despite seeing amazing images captured by others.

On the final night, the weather finally cleared. Near Old Faithful Geyser, the sky turned exceptionally dark and transparent. The Milky Way rose high above the horizon, stretching upward through the sky, accompanied by a faint green airglow — a natural atmospheric emission visible only under pristine, light-pollution-free conditions.

YelowStone MilkyWay and Old Faithful Geyser Canon 60Da

In the foreground, you can see Old Faithful Geyser and nearby lodge buildings, providing a sense of scale and location. Above them, the Milky Way arches upward into the night, framed by a dense star field that highlights just how dark Yellowstone’s skies can be.

Camera: Canon EOS 60Da
Lens: Canon EF 16–35mm f/2.8L II USM
Exposure: 20 s · f/2.8 · ISO 3200
Location: Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA

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Yellowstone Astrophotography

During my trip to Yellowstone National Park the weather was mostly cloudy and rainy, and for several days I thought I would not be able to photograph the night sky at all. Yellowstone is famous for dramatic weather changes, and this trip proved it. Clouds, fog, and rain covered the park almost continuously. 

Only on the very last night, shortly before midnight, the sky suddenly cleared for a couple of hours. It felt like a miracle. I rushed outside with my camera, knowing this might be my only chance. By the next morning it was raining again — so I was extremely lucky to catch this short window of perfectly clear sky. Yellowstone Astrophotography Old Faithful Geyser at night Canon 60Da    Canon Lens EF 16-35mm f2.8L II USM Ultra Wide. 

Yellowstone is one of the darkest and most impressive places I have photographed. The quality of the sky is excellent, with very little light pollution, and the combination of geothermal features and the Milky Way creates a truly unique atmosphere. All images were taken with a Canon 60Da camera paired with the Canon EF 16–35mm f/2.8L II USM ultra-wide lens, a great setup for capturing wide night landscapes. Exposure time 30 sec; f/2.8; ISO 4000. 
One of the most surprising and beautiful elements in these photos is the foreground. Normally, it is very difficult to capture natural color and detail on the ground at night. But in this case, soft light from the nearby hotel illuminated the grass and the area around Old Faithful just enough to make it visible, without overpowering the stars. This gentle lighting worked perfectly and added a sense of depth to the landscape.

Yellowstone Starry Sky Night Landscape Photography - Panorama Night-scape Astrophotography Panorama of two images - Exposure time 30 sec; f/2.8; ISO 4000

Seeing Old Faithful Geyser under the stars was unforgettable. The steam rising into the cold night air, the illuminated grass in the foreground, and the star-filled sky above created a scene that looked almost prehistoric — like the Earth a million years ago. The combination of geothermal activity and a dark, crystal-clear sky made the whole landscape feel timeless.
This short window of clear sky turned what I expected to be a completely cloudy trip into one of the most memorable astrophotography experiences I have had. Yellowstone at night is magical, and I hope these images capture a little of that feeling.

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