The Milky Way

[moose135]

I've been trying to do this for a little while now, but clouds have foiled most of my attempts so far. I was out to the Great Smoky Mountains over the weekend, and finally got clear skies (at least for a few hours) on Saturday night. These were taken at Clingmans Dome, the highest point in the Smokies.

It's probably a shooting star, but there's a chance it's a UFO...

http://www.moose135photography.com/NorthCarolina/Great-Smoky-Mountains-National/i-pKsKXfh/1/XL/JM_2014_09_20_Clingmans_Dome_Stars_002-XL.jpg

The Milky Way:

http://www.moose135photography.com/NorthCarolina/Great-Smoky-Mountains-National/i-msdHg2B/1/XL/JM_2014_09_20_Clingmans_Dome_Stars_005-XL.jpg

http://www.moose135photography.com/NorthCarolina/Great-Smoky-Mountains-National/i-Qn62TPj/1/XL/JM_2014_09_20_Clingmans_Dome_Stars_007-XL.jpg

[jerslice]

Having tried to do this and so far failed...I'm impressed.

[puckstopper55]

amazing! you really forget what a great starry night looks like living out here.

[Zee71]

Moose ... That is outstanding! What did you use (if anything) for tracking?

[moose135]

Thanks, guys! Mark, no tracking involved - I used a Rokinon 14mm f/2.8 lens on the 5D3. They were shot at 20-25 seconds, ISO 3200, f/2.8, that's short enough with that size lens that star motion isn't an issue. Star trails are next...

[Joe]

Hey Moose,
In that first shot, that is an iridium flare from a satellite. Nice images, I haven't shot the night sky in a few years as I had to sell my tracking mount and scope. Some day, I'll try again.
Joe

[moose135]

Thanks, Joe - someone else pointed that out to me after I had posted, I was unfamiliar with them.

[Gintaras B.]

Moose ... That is outstanding! What did you use (if anything) for tracking?

Star Walk - good free app for tracking.

Photos - outstanding!

[Joe]

Star Walk - good free app for tracking.


Gintaras, Mark wasn't referring to a tracker showing what is in the sky, Stellarium (http://www.stellarium.org/) is a great free one for that, he was referring to a tracking mount. A tracking mount is like a heavy duty tripod to mount your camera on, that rotates at the same speed as the Earth so that you can take long exposures without the stars trailing or looking like eggs or streaks. See this (http://www.astropix.com/HTML/I_ASTROP/MOUNTS.HTM)page.

Moose, once you get the bug for the night sky, it can get expensive quickly. If you are in an area with dark skies, with that camera, you should be able to crank up the ISO, along with a 30 second exposure at F2.8 as depth of field isn't an issue, to really bring out the details, as well as some creative editing.

[megatop412]

Wow that makes me want to try that sometime, great job John

[tjc]

Yeah I am impressed! and, I don't impress easy! My questions were already answered ( how,what lenses etc) . Great stuff!!!!

[Derf]

Well Done Moose!