The Night Sky

[LouisianaJoe]

For most of us the night sky is not totally visible because of light pollution caused by street lights and lights from industry. To see what the sky looks like without light pollution go to the following link. Be sure to click the option that shows this in full screen mode. I was amazed!

Plains Milky Way on Vimeo

 

[jeffsmith]

This Map will give you and idea where its still possible to see the Night Sky

Google Maps Overlay - 3DaveL

 

[Bullet Bob]

I lived in South Dakota for 5 wonderful years - if I could have gotten a decent job there when I got out of the USAF, I might still be there today. Many wonderful nights camping out and hunting mule & whitetail deer, and pheasants. Nothing for miles. I was a little claustrophobic for a while when I first moved back to NC.

 

[Onomea]

That's beautiful. Is the photographer doing, say, five second exposures so that more light is gathered than would be seen by the naked eye?

 

[bigolddave]

About thirty years ago I went up to the UP of Michigan, across the bay from Escanaba. A buddy and I had gone up to look at some Lake Michigan property, and stayed overnight at an old farm my in-laws owned.
We were just going to be there for one night, so didn't turn on the power. There were no electric lights on for at least a mile, and it was a clear, moonless night. The number and brightness of the stars was awesome, in the strictest sense of the word.

And to think we were looking at the FLOOR of Heaven!

 

[LouisianaJoe]

That's beautiful. Is the photographer doing, say, five second exposures so that more light is gathered than would be seen by the naked eye?

Read the info below the video. He documents the Camera, Lenses and exposure data.

He used a Canon T2i camera. I have a T1i and I am amazed at what the camera will do. It can make me look like a pro and I am no where close.

 

[Cyrano]

Wow!! Our galaxy, seen edge-on, on a a clear night, is a really impressive sight.

 

[Frank237]

Great stuff...Thanks for the link.

I spend quite a bit of time, especially in the Winter months gazing up at the relatively unpolluted night sky here in MT. Last year when jupiter was very visible ....especially enjoyable.

 

[50 target]

The heavens declare HIS glory and the firmament HIS handiwork (Ps 19) We have a small hill on our place out in the county and we take a blanket and just pie under the stars and gaze. Helps to balance the body and mind after working in town all day. Gives you some perspective on how inadequate we are no matter what our progress or achievements. My God is an awesome God. HE is such the artist in all that HE does.

 

[Rangerpat]

Thanks for sharing the Plains Milky Way and the Google Maps Overlay web sites, both excellent!

 

[Brian41]

I used to make overnight passages to Canada on Lake Huron on my sailboat. My lighting and instruments were red so as not to kill my night vision while out there.
Once well offshore away from the light pollution it was awesome how the stars were so bright and clear. I spent many an hour silently sailing and watching those stars. Some of the best times of my life.

I too used to spend time hunting in the woods in Michigan's UP. The stars there too were something to see and we spent quite a bit of time around a campfire watching them there.

 

[mike from st pete]

Hosmer's Pond (sp?) outside of Camden Maine not as dark as the plains but taking the rowboat out to the island and looking at the night sky back around 1981 was quite a view.