Milkyway nightscapes

Inspeqtor wrote in post #18106668
Thank you for answering, even though I sadly never asked you!

What app do you have for finding the Milky Way?

Usually i just use the compass app as in switzerland where i live i know the MW during autumn is in the south-east. But additionally to that i use the photopills night AR to locate it or to find out where it is

Inspeqtor wrote in post #18106668
What app do you have for finding the Milky Way?

I don't have (and have never used) this app, but the one I see come up on the forums is called PhotoPils. Looking it up, it appears to be for Apple iOS and I don't see an Android version.

The app I use is a bit more astronomy-focused and it's called Sky Safari Pro (there are three editions... a standard, Plus, and Pro version). But this isn't really photography oriented. It's mostly intended to help locate objects in the night sky (it has a huge database), pull up info on them, and can be used to control "go-to" telescopes (plus or pro versions only), inspect the path of objects through space, etc. It's basically a planetarium application written to work on mobile devices (both iOS & Android devices). It turns out it knows where you are and it knows where the Milky Way is ... so it can easily help you locate it (it has compass/gyro support so you use your phone to scan the horizons and sky until you find it.)

But PhotoPils does "augmented reality" -- meaning it uses the camera in your phone to show you a live-image of your horizon, but then super-imposes the position of the Milky Way on top of the live-image. This makes it easy to visualize the composition of a "landscape" shot you want to take -- with the super-imposed Milky Way in the sky above it -- to decide where you want to position your camera for optimal composition.

Both apps let you set the date & time to anything you want. So you can scope out a location by day, but see where the Milky Way will be at some hour of the night when you actually plan to do the photography (or even change the month to decide that maybe the Milky Way won't be in a good spot now... but it will look better in a different month.

I use stelarium to locate the MW in the sky. Its simple and its free.

ptcanon3ti wrote in post #18106979
I use stelarium to locate the MW in the sky. Its simple and its free.

Stellarium is an absolutely fantastic software, and the one I use as well. However just to clarify, the PC version is free, while the Android app is $2.49. Absolutely worth it though!

I also use Stellarium for both my PC and Galaxy Note 4, it's a good app and easy to use. Another one I have it "PlanIt! for Photographers", it's more like the Photographer's Ephimeris or PhotoPills, it gives map overlays and detailed information in terms of when the sun rises and sets, astronomical twilight, Milky Way location over time, augmented reality overlay of the Milky Way, etc etc.

Sterllarium for a regular computer (desktop or laptop) is free and you can get it for PC, Mac, or Linux. Stellarium for a mobile device $2.99 (last I checked).

I was a bit confused by that and I think I ultimately learned that the mobile version doesn't come from the same people that develop the desktop (free) version. I think someone took advantage of the fact that it's open-source software, downloaded the source, did the mobile port... but decided to 'sell' the mobile version.

I love the desktop version of Stellarium, and it's particularly cool that you can import your own panoramic background.

While mine is not particularly accurate for height of trees, it is fairly accurate for direction, once you've aligned it properly.

Just one for fun from last night. After a nice evening on the terrace with the parents having BBQ, we stayed there and enjoyed the stars (and lightning in the distance) for an hour or two. No better way to spend a summer evening!

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/Lc39​hj

The best kind of BBQ you can have!

A few from this weekend, from the low desert near the Great Salt Lake west of SLC to the highest mountain road pass in the state up in the Uinta Mountains:

First two are taken at a rock formation called Lone Rock in Skull Valley, it's interesting because the valley is very flat and barren of trees and other features (besides some hot springs), except this large rock formation that's about 75 feet tall out in the middle of the valley.

mystik610 wrote in post #18105891
Hah sorry to offend anyone who had the luxury of being at home. Was not my intention. I was given a package when I left my old employer so money wasn't the issue...will actually come out ahead once I start my new gig (time to buy some gear!). I was just getting super restless at home. I found myself pacing around the house at one point lol. Don't think I'm ready to do this permanently just yet.

I told myself I'd focus more on photography since I have the free time...but it was too hot to ever want to go out and shoot and oddly losing my job killed my motivation to shoot.

pdxbenedetti wrote in post #18109402
The best kind of BBQ you can have!

A few from this weekend, from the low desert near the Great Salt Lake west of SLC to the highest mountain road pass in the state up in the Uinta Mountains:

First two are taken at a rock formation called Lone Rock in Skull Valley, it's interesting because the valley is very flat and barren of trees and other features (besides some hot springs), except this large rock formation that's about 75 feet tall out in the middle of the valley.

Then last night I decided to head up into the Uinta Mountains east of SLC about 70 miles, lots of people camping and even a couple other "astrophotographers" who were very excited to shine their insanely bright flashlights all over the place and try to ruin all my pictures.

Those are just fantastic

pdxbenedetti wrote in post #18109402
The best kind of BBQ you can have!

A few from this weekend, from the low desert near the Great Salt Lake west of SLC to the highest mountain road pass in the state up in the Uinta Mountains:

First two are taken at a rock formation called Lone Rock in Skull Valley, it's interesting because the valley is very flat and barren of trees and other features (besides some hot springs), except this large rock formation that's about 75 feet tall out in the middle of the valley.

Then last night I decided to head up into the Uinta Mountains east of SLC about 70 miles, lots of people camping and even a couple other "astrophotographers" who were very excited to shine their insanely bright flashlights all over the place and try to ruin all my pictures.

All nice but first one kills it IMO!

virginie24jb wrote in post #18109195
Just one for fun from last night. After a nice evening on the terrace with the parents having BBQ, we stayed there and enjoyed the stars (and lightning in the distance) for an hour or two. No better way to spend a summer evening!

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/Lc39​hj BBQ under the stars by Virginie Bitterlin, on Flickr

Yep, never seen a better looking BBQ grill !!!

pdxbenedetti wrote in post #18109402
The best kind of BBQ you can have!

A few from this weekend, from the low desert near the Great Salt Lake west of SLC to the highest mountain road pass in the state up in the Uinta Mountains:

First two are taken at a rock formation called Lone Rock in Skull Valley, it's interesting because the valley is very flat and barren of trees and other features (besides some hot springs), except this large rock formation that's about 75 feet tall out in the middle of the valley.

Then last night I decided to head up into the Uinta Mountains east of SLC about 70 miles, lots of people camping and even a couple other "astrophotographers" who were very excited to shine their insanely bright flashlights all over the place and try to ruin all my pictures.

Out of this world beautiful.

Now what if you went to NZ and got with NCHANT
The two great Milky Way photographers in the world working the stars.
Something to think about.

Amazing shots

If I was a child I think I would decribe the Milky Way as being the Exit out of our Universal Bubble


P.

Thanks everyone.

MedicineMan4040 wrote in post #18109568
Out of this world beautiful.

Now what if you went to NZ and got with NCHANT
The two great Milky Way photographers in the world working the stars.
Something to think about.

Man I wish, New Zealand is definitely on the bucket list, some of the best night skies on the planet for sure. One of these days I'll have some money and time to travel down there, definitely would be a pleasure to shoot with Mr. Mack.