Utah Astrophotography

The sky calls to us.
If we do not destroy ourselves,
we will one day venture to the stars.
--Carl Sagan

Utah is one of the best places for landscape Astrophotography in USA and maybe one of top 10 in the word. It has true and excellent amazing dark sky.

Utah Astrophotography - Milky Way and Airglow over Road

Canon 60Da, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, 30.0 sec; f/2.8; ISO 6400

Eruption of  Milky Way Utah Landscape Astrophotography

Airglow and Milky Way Utah Landscape Astrophotography

Canon 60Da, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, 23sec; f/3.5; ISO 6400

Night Parking Utah Landscape Astrophotography

Canon 60Da, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, 15sec; f/3.5; ISO 6400

Natural Color of Night Sky - Airglow and Big Dipper Utah Astrophotography

Canon 60Da, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, 21sec; f/3.5; ISO 6400
 

Night sky observation with the Astronomy Rangers at Bryce Canyon National Park

Martian landscape from Bryce Canyon

Canon 60Da, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, 30sec; f/3.5; ISO 6400

Milky Road

 Canon 60Da, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, 30sec; f/3.5; ISO 6400

Utah Backyard Astrophotography

Airglow Astrophotography - Bryce Canyon National Park - Sunset Point

Night sky with green Airglow, the Milky Way, Seven Sisters and Andromeda Galaxy is on the top; hoodoos, caused by erosion over many millennia are on bottom.  This photo was done from my trip to Bryce Canyon in Sunset Point.

Airglow Astrophotography in Bryce Canyon National Park

Canon 60Da, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, 30.0 sec; f/3.5; ISO 6400

On this picture you can see a lot of green color on the sky. If this is real color or just effect of camera filter? This question directly connected to other question “What is natural color of night sky?”

I started to learn astronomy many years ago reading the book with black and white pictures. So in these books I didn't see color picture of the natural sky. Most of time I was living in big city with a lot of light pollution, and I am not able to see natural color of sky.

Still remember when first time recognize that some starts has color and after that read article about color of stars cannot be green. After that article I assumed that green color is very rear on the sky. But this is not correct.

Most of Comet Tails has green color. Some Nebular are green too. Northern Light mostly has green colors. But Northern Light visible only near North Pole, comets are rear so still assume that this green colors are exceptions. When I started see Internet picture I saw a lot of strange colors so assuming that these is Photoshop. Especially after reading article how to remove light pollution in Photoshop. And only made some my own pictures I recognized that green color from Airglow effect is gives a lot of green on the natural sky. So a green color is pretty common on the natural sky too.

This photo got about 1.5K likes on National Parks Traveler Facebook

National Parks Traveler Facebook Astrophotography

Super Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse September 27, 2015 Brooklyn New York

Total Lunar Eclipse September 27, 2015 Brooklyn New York


Canon 60Da, Canon EF 200mm f/2.8 L II USM Telephoto Lens, exposure 4 sec; f/5.6; ISO 640

Super Blood Moon Lunar Eclipse September 27, 2015 New York Brooklyn

Canon 60Da, Canon EF 200mm f/2.8 L II USM Telephoto Lens, exposure 1 sec; f/5.6; ISO 640

Super Blood Moon New York City

Canon 60Da, Canon EF 200mm f/2.8 L II USM Telephoto Lens, exposure 1 sec; f/9; ISO 320

Lunar Eclipse New York City

Cloudy Lunar Eclipse Brooklyn Astronomy

Cloudy Total Lunar Eclipse

Between clouds Total Lunar Eclipse

Utah Astrophotography and Astronomy - Bryce Canyon National Park - Milky Way

The entrance sign to Bryce Canyon National park has amazing location – especially under the Milky Way with green Airglow night sky. 

Utah Astrophotography and Astronomy - Bryce Canyon National Park - Milky Way

 Canon 60Da, Wide Angle EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, ISO-6400, F3.5; 30 sec

This photo got first place in AstronomyForum.net 3rd quarter 2015 competition in Nightscape Category

Astronomy Forum Winner 3rd Quarter 2015 Nightscape Category

 

Milky Way over Sunset Point of Bryce Canyon - Astrophotography

A still more glorious dawn awaits.
Not a sunrise, but a galaxy rise.
A morning filled with 400 billion suns, the rising of the milky way.
Carl Sagan

This photo is from my trip to Bryce Canyon. It is continue my serious of night sky photos from National Parks. Bryce Canyon night sky is really very dark – you can see it from photo where the starry sky has natural green color – result of Airglow.

Photo is panorama of 7 shots; it is done in Sunset Point – Milky Way over Hoodoos.  Duration of one shot was 30 seconds, Camera – Canon 60Da,  Wide Angle EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM Lens, F/3.5;   ISO 6400.

Milky Way over Sunset Point of Bryce Canyon - Astrophotography

Basketball Astrophotography - White Lake New York

Basketball and Milky Way - Astrophotography

Basketball Astrophotography - White Lake New York

Canon 60Da, Wide Angle EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, ISO 5000, f4, 30 sec

White Lake, New York - Astrophotography

All these photos were done in New York Upstate Catskill Mountains near White Lake London Cottages Resort.  Canon 60Da with Ultra Wide Angle Canon Lens EF 16 35mm f2.8L II U.

Night Reflection - White Lake, Catskill, New York

London Cottages at night - White Lake Catskill New York Upstate

Cloudy Night Sky at Catskill Mountains NY Upstate

Trees and Starry Night - Canon 60Da

Catskill  Bungalows White Lake NY Upstate Night Sky Astrophotography

New York Milky Way

Night Road and Starry Sky

Virginia Astrophotography

All these photos are from my trim to Virginia. And as usual trip was too short and only one night weather was good. All photos were done by Canon 60Da with Ultra Wide Angle Canon Lens EF 16 35mm f2.8L II U.

Virginia Astrophotography Natuaral Bridge

Virginia Astrophotography

Virginia Night Sky Astrophotography

Virginia Starry Night Orion

Natural Bridge Virginia Astrophotography

These photos of the Natural Bridge were done during my trip to Virginia. The Virginia Natural Bridge is historical landmark forming a natural arch 215 ft high with a span of 90 ft. These photos were done during the light show called the Drama of Creation. Every day has own colors. Also the show started after sunset so you can see different brightness of the sky.

Natural Bridge Virginia Astrophotography

 Canon 60Da, Wide Angle EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, ISO 4000, f3.5, 2 sec

Natural Bridge Light Show Nightscape AstrophotographyYellow Canon 60Da

  Canon 60Da, Wide Angle EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, ISO 4000, f3.5, 2 sec

Virginia Night Sky Natural Bridge

 Canon 60Da, Wide Angle EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, ISO 4000, f3.5, 2 sec

Natural Bridge Night Landscape Virginia

Lighthouse Astrophotography Puerto Rico

There are night photos of Cabo San Juan (Fajardo) Lighthouse.

Cabo San Juan (Fajardo) Lighthouse Astrophotography

Canon 60Da,  Wide Angle EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, ISO 3200, f3.5, 30 sec

Light House and Galactic Andromeda - Puerto Rico Astrophotography

Canon 60Da,  Wide Angle EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, ISO 6400, f4, 20 sec

LightHouse Night Sky Astrophotography Puerto Rico

Canon 60Da,  Wide Angle EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, ISO 6400, f4, 30 sec

Orion Constellation over Lighthouse Puerto Rico Astrophotography Canon 60Da

Canon 60Da,  Wide Angle EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, ISO 3200, f5, 30 sec

Bioluminescent Astrophotography Puerto Rico

Bioluminescent Astrophotography - Puerto Rico Bio Bay Laguna Grande

Cassiopeia and Andromeda galaxy over Bioluminescent Bio Bay Laguna Grande,Puerto Rico.

Canon 60Da, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM lens, Panorama of 2 images.

Night sky over plankton’s glow!

There are other photos from Bio Bay

Bioluminescence - Bio Bay Laguna Grande

 Canon 60Da, EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, 4sec, ISO-12800, F2.8

Bioluminescence  - Night Photography Puerto Rico

 Canon 60Da, EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, 4sec, ISO-12800, F2.8

Puerto Rico Astrophotography

You might be an amateur astronomer if

you center your vacation time around the New Moon.

--Amateur Astronomer Jokes

These are photos from my trip to Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico Astrophotography - Big Dipper constellation, Canon 60Da

 This is the panorama of 4 images. Location - Wyndham Grand Rio Mar Beach Resort, Puerto Rico. Canon EOS 60Da, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM lens, ISO -3200, F6.3.

This photo can be used for a question "What is the latitude of the observer?" Palm trees in the image  give the clue to this question.

It is interesting how well known constellations (like Big Dipper) look from different places of the world – Puerto Rico, Yellowstone, Grand Teton.

Puerto Rico Night Sky Palm Tree and Jupiter

Canon EOS 60Da, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM lens, 20 sec, ISO-3200, F4.5

Palm Trees and Orion and Canis Major constellations Puerto Rico Astrophotography

 Canon EOS 60Da, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM lens, 20 sec, ISO-3200, F4.5

Yacht Astrophotography Culebra Island  Puerto Rico

 Long exposure and waves gave such interesting yacht effect
Canon 60Da, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM lens, 30 sec, ISO-3200, F4

Near Equator Big and Little Dippers Puerto Rico Nightscape Astrophotography

Canon 60Da, Wide Angle EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM lens, 10 sec, ISO-6400, F2.8

Northern Pole  Star - Polaris - Laser Pointer Puerto Rico Golf Course Astrophotography

 Canon 60Da, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM lens, 14 sec, ISO-3200, F6.3

Culebra Puerto Rico Night Sky

  Canon 60Da, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM lens, 30 sec, ISO-3200, F4

Orion, Canis Major and Milky Way - iOptron SkyTracker  Astrophotography Puerto Rico

Canon 60Da, Wide Angle EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, f/4.0, ISO 3200, Duration 120sec iOptron SkyTracker, Culebra Puerto Rico

Constellations: Orion, Canis Major, Canis Minor, Monoceros. Part of Constellations: Lepus, Eridanus, Taurus, Gemini.

For such duration Barnard’s Loop in Orion is pretty much visible.