Rainbow Milky Way Joshua Tree National Park

Milky Way - panorama of 40 images. Canon EOS Ra, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, f/2.8;   ISO 25600, 4.8 sec

Rainbow Milky Way Joshua Tree National Park

 There is example of single photos for panorama:

Single photo 1 for Panorama

Single photo 2 for Panorama

Single photo 3 for Panorama

Single photo 4 for Panorama

After File > Automate > Photomerge

Panorama after Automate Photomerge

After the initial panorama was created using Photoshop Photomerge, the Milky Way arch appeared complete, but the horizon was slightly curved. This is a common effect of panorama stitching, where the software prioritizes smooth blending between frames. To achieve a natural look, I manually adjusted and leveled the horizon while preserving the real curvature of the Milky Way. These final corrections turned the stitched image into a realistic desert nightscape — close to what the eye truly sees under the dark skies of Joshua Tree National Park.

Joshua Tree National Park Night Landscape

 Continue previous posts about my trip to  Joshua Tree National Park. 

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

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

Night Sky Joshua Tree National Park

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.

 

Joshua Tree National Park Astrophotography

 There are some photos from my trip to Joshua Tree National Park.

Joshua Tree National Park is one of the fantastic places to stargaze in the US! The reason it’s so dark is because the park is located in the High Desert—3000-6000 feet above sea level—far from any major cities, which create light pollution. 

The east side of the park is best for stargazing. There is very little light pollution there, since the closest major city to the east—Phoenix, Arizona—is about 300 miles away. Unfortunately, the south/west areas of the park get light pollution from nearby Palm Springs. 

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

Joshua Tree National Park Night Sky Festival 2022

 There are night photos from Joshua Tree National Park Night Sky Festival 2022.

Joshua Tree National Park Night Sky Festival Observatory

Joshua Tree National Park Night Sky Festival 1 

Joshua Tree National Park Night Sky Festival 2

Joshua Tree National Park Night Sky Festival 3

Joshua Tree National Park Night Sky Festival 4

Joshua Tree National Park Night Sky Festival 5

Joshua Tree National Park Night Sky Festival 6

Joshua Tree National Park Night Sky Festival 7

Joshua Tree National Park Night Sky Festival 8

Joshua Tree National Park Night Sky Festival 9

Joshua Tree National Park Night Sky Festival 10

Joshua Tree National Park Night Sky Festival 11

Joshua Tree National Park Night Sky Festival 12

Joshua Tree National Park Night Sky Festival 13

Joshua Tree National Park Night Sky Festival 14

Joshua Tree National Park Night Sky Festival 15

Joshua Tree National Park Night Sky Festival 16

Joshua Tree National Park Night Sky Festival 17

Sky's The Limit Observatory

 There some photos of Sky's The Limit Observatory from my trip to Joshua Tree National Park. The observatory located outside of the park between the north entrance and the town of Twenty Nine Palms.

Sky's The Limit Observatory and Nature Center

Sky's The Limit Observatory and Nature Center at Night

Sky's The Limit Observatory Dome

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

Washington State Hurricane Ridge - Big Dipper

 Washington State Olympic National Park during astronomy tour in  Hurricane Ridge. 

Canon EOS Ra, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, f/2.8; 6 sec,  ISO 25600

Washington State Hurricane Ridge - Big Dipper

A few hours before the war began - Night Sky

 Something wrong was at this night. Even tripod was broken. Clouds cover all sky in couple minutes. In a few hours the war began.

A few hours before the war began - Night Sky

February 23-24 2022, Grazalema, Cañada Grande-Los Alamillos S/N, Grazalema, 11610, Spain. 

Canon Ra, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, ISO 12800,  Composition of thee images,  15 sec,  Photoshop, Topaz DeNoise AI

Boulder Field (Hickory Run State Park Pennsylvania) Night Sky

I am continuing series of Pennsylvania astrophotography. Last year I did night photos in Cherry Springs State Park – one of most popular space for amateur astrophotographers. This year I did photo in Hickory Run State  Park - Boulder Field in the Poconos of Pennsylvania. 

Canon EOS Ra, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, f/2.8, 25600, Panorama of 3 images 30 sec, 5 sec, 5 sec. Post Processing: Photoshop, Topaz DeNoise AI.

Boulder Field (Hickory Run State Park Pennsylvania) Night Sky

Boulder Field is a very popular and a pretty cool place. It is hidden gem deep within the woods and really an awesome place. The Hickory Run Boulder Field was designated by the National Park Service as a natural national landmark in 1967. It’s a huge field of rocks in the middle of the forest.  It is said to be the largest boulder field of its kind in all of the Appalachian Mountains. The rocks range in size from under 18 inches to more than 25 feet in length. The tops of the rocks are nearly at the same height over the approximately 400-by-1,800-foot field that slopes at a one-degree pitch. Why did an 18-acre field of rocks form in the Poconos? There are several theories on how exactly this boulder field formed.

Poconos Boulder Field Night Landscape

Milky Way over Poconos Boulder Field - Summer Triangle - Stars Altair, Deneb, and Vega  - Constellations Aquila, Cygnus, and Lyra

Map Boulder Field

The Boulder Field at Hickory Run State Park is unlike any other place for night photography. Stretching nearly 1,800 feet long and blanketed with ancient glacial rocks, this flat expanse becomes a surreal landscape under the stars. On clear nights, the Milky Way rises above the stones like a river of light flowing across a frozen sea. I chose this spot not only for its geological beauty but also for its dark skies — a rare find in eastern Pennsylvania. Photographing here means working with sharp contrasts: the cold texture of granite in the foreground and the soft glow of the galactic core overhead. Using my Canon EOS Ra and a fast wide-angle lens, I composed multiple frames to balance the stones’ subtle reflections with the deep sky above. The result is a quiet image of time and endurance — the ancient Earth meeting the eternal night.

Washington State Hurricane Ridge - Night Sky and Snow Mountains

 

Astrophotography from Washington State Olympic National Park, July 11, New Moon, during astronomy tour in  Hurricane Ridge. 

Canon EOS Ra, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, f/2.8;   ISO 12800, Combination of two photos 4 sec and 30 sec, Hurricane Ridge, Olympic National Park, Washington State.

Washington State Hurricane Ridge - Night Sky and Snow Mountains

Standing above the clouds at Hurricane Ridge, I experienced one of the clearest and darkest skies in the Pacific Northwest. The snow-covered Olympic Mountains reflected faint starlight, while a greenish hue shimmered across the horizon — not from city lights, but from natural airglow high in Earth’s atmosphere. The Big Dipper hung over the peaks, guiding the viewer toward the heart of the night sky.

Big Dipper above the Olympic Mountains — captured from Hurricane Ridge, Washington. The greenish hue is natural airglow, a faint atmospheric emission visible only under truly dark skies.

I enjoy the night sky view.

New York City Solar Eclipse - June 10, 2021 - Astrophotography

Solar eclipse - New York City  Staten Island  - June 10, 2021. Approximately 70% of the sun is eclipsed by the moon. Photos were done about 5:30 am in the morning on sunrise. This is view from Staten Island boardwalk to Brooklyn near Verrazzano Bridge.

Canon Ra, Canon  EF 200mm f/2.8 L II USM Telephoto Lens

Solar Eclipse NYC - June 10, 2021 - Astrophotography

Partial Solar Eclipse Staten Island, New York, USA 06-10-2021

People, Birds and Solar Eclipse - NYC view from Staten Island to Brooklyn - June 10, 2021