I was the assistant instructor in a night sky and Milky Way photography
course and workshop for 10 years. Ron's recommendations are all quite
good, and I can add a few other places to the list.
Most of our courses were taught in Big Bend, but we also did Death
Valley, Grand Tetons, Palo Duro Canyon, Big Bend Ranch State Park, Ft.
McKavett. We also did some "on site testing" to see if we could offer
some single night courses near Houston, which included, Sea Rim Park &
Halletsville. We also shot at the National Seashore down at Padre Island.
Seeing the Milky Way is one thing - - photographing it is another. Let
me know if you want any photography pointers...
Depending on the month, you will have to look for it in the early,
pre-dawn mornings or late after astronomical twilight (usually 2-3 hours
after actual sunset). If you see it at night (in the fall) it will be
vertical, perpendicular to the horizon, and if it is a dark enough
place, like the Big Bend area, you will be able to see it arch all the
way across the sky from horizon to horizon. If you see it in the
morning (in the spring), then it will be horizontal, parallel to the
horizon. Seeing it also depends on more than just the darkness of the
sky where you are standing. Light pollution form population center,
drilling operations, etc. can light up the atmosphere enough that it
will wash-out your chances of seeing it, even if they are 50-100 miles
away. That was actually one of the disappointments of Death Valley - -
encroachment of light pollution from California to the southwest. The
Milky Way will always be somewhere from the SE to the SW sky, depending
on the season. So when you are picking a place to try, think about what
is beyond specifically where you will be.
Late April is probably your last chance to see it until September. In
the time in between, it is still there - - it's just up during the
daylight rather than the dark.
On 4/27/22 10:38 AM, Ron Bosch via BVARC wrote:
BTW the best night sky in the CONUS is either Steens Mountain
Wilderness (South Steens Camp) in Oregon, or Tin Mountain Primitive
camp in Death Valley. The best night sky I ever seen in my life was
from the deck of a sub at midnight around 63N 4W, although the night
sky at 0N 0W wasn’t too shabby either.
Ron KE4DRF
Sent from Mail <https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for
Windows
*From: *Jonathan Guthrie, KA8KPN via BVARC <mailto:[email protected]>
*Sent: *Wednesday, April 27, 2022 10:11 AM
*To: *mark janzer via BVARC <mailto:[email protected]>
*Cc: *Jonathan Guthrie, KA8KPN <mailto:[email protected]>
*Subject: *Re: [BVARC] Stargazing
Not nearly as dark.
https://www.darkskymap.com/nightSkyBrightness
On the other hand, it might be dark enough. If it is a lot closer
(for me, Hallettsville is a lot closer than Galveston) then I would
suggest checking it out and seeing if it's dark enough. Try to go in
the dark of the moon, or at least when the moon is crescent not
gibbous or full. I mostly wanted to share the night sky brightness
map. I'm pretty confident that you can see the milky way from the
green areas.
On 4/27/2022 7:34 AM, mark janzer via BVARC wrote:
A spot much closer, and maybe as dark would be:
Beach Access Point #16
4245 13 Mile Rd
Galveston, TX 77554
73
Mark
K5MGJ
On Wednesday, April 27, 2022, 01:45:48 AM CDT, Mark Brantana via
BVARC <[email protected]> <mailto:[email protected]> wrote:
My wife and I would like to do a day trip to look at the Milky
Way. One website suggested Hallettsville or Sargent Beach. I would
be grateful for any suggestions. The next new moon 🌚will be this
Saturday.
Mark
N5PRD
Sent from my iPhone
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