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Milky Way Best Times
May 4, 2014 18:02:49 #
I live in So. Cal and plan to go to Joshua Tree and Anza Borrego soon to photograph the night sky primarily. I am desperate to get a great Milky Way shot. I will probably add a Joshua Tree or two. I bought the Night Sky Chart. May through August seems to be a good time for this shoot. I don't know enough about the heavens to know the reason why these months are the best other than the MW is visible. I am aware it is best to have a moonless night(?) How do I know which month will give me the best shot of the MW? Bear in mind I am not too excited about staying up or getting up in the wee hours of the night for this shot, but if that is what I have to do, I will do it.
Also, I will be using a Canon lens 28-135 and a Canon 5D II. I suppose I could use my Sigma 15mm fisheye(?)
Thank you in advance for any input.
Also, I will be using a Canon lens 28-135 and a Canon 5D II. I suppose I could use my Sigma 15mm fisheye(?)
Thank you in advance for any input.
May 4, 2014 18:35:43 #
Recently one of the UHH members posted a link to terrific site on shooting the night sky and MV. You might find this very useful:
http://intothenightphoto.blogspot.com/2014/03/correct-nightscape-lens-vignetting.html
http://intothenightphoto.blogspot.com/2014/03/correct-nightscape-lens-vignetting.html
May 4, 2014 19:27:49 #
I've been googling and the main thing I found was July is the best time with as little light pollution as possible.
I don't know if before midnight or after midnight would be best. I don't know how the main part that is visible, moves around.
Last summer in West Virginia, the main part was almost straight up and a little to the east, as I remember. I think the time was about 10:30pm.
Looking forward to seeing your results!!!
Pat
I don't know if before midnight or after midnight would be best. I don't know how the main part that is visible, moves around.
Last summer in West Virginia, the main part was almost straight up and a little to the east, as I remember. I think the time was about 10:30pm.
Looking forward to seeing your results!!!
Pat
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May 4, 2014 20:29:49 #
May 4, 2014 20:30:49 #
May 4, 2014 21:09:09 #
May 4, 2014 22:07:40 #
PinUpPro wrote:
I live in So. Cal and plan to go to Joshua Tree an... (show quote)
If you don't enjoy it, why do it? Photography is a bit like fishing to me: don't have to "catch one" to enjoy what I'm doing.
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May 5, 2014 10:40:26 #
PinUpPro wrote:
I live in So. Cal and plan to go to Joshua Tree an... (show quote)
I am just getting into trying to shoot MW.. I have a free app for my phone called Planets It will show me the MW and where to look for it.. here is a shot from 4:30 this morning..I shoot with a Canon 6D and used tokina 11-16mm 2.8 lense 8 sec @IS0 2500
May 5, 2014 10:55:50 #
To answer some of your questions, summer is the best time to shoot the Milky Way because at that time of the year we are viewing the center of our galaxy during the night. The center of our galaxy is the thickest, most visible part of the Milky Way. If you plan it right, you can go out and shoot the Milky Way and be in bed well before midnight. You just need to wait until it gets dark...
It would be best to have a wide angle lens that opens up nice and wide....f/2.8 or better. You can get away with f/4 with decent results too. Smaller f-stops will force you to increase you ISO which may produce more noise. I have used an 17-40 f/4 (@17mm) and a 24-70 f2.8 (@24mm).
Framing and exposing for the Milky Way is just the beginning, however. You most likely will need to process the shot properly to make the galaxy pop from your final image. There are many tutorials out there to help with this.
Now, for the fun part. Learn how to find some of the constellations. A key constellation you will want to find is Sagittarius. Sagittarius is an archer (half man half horse) who is aiming he arrow towards the heart of Scorpio, the star Antares.
When you look towards the southern sky and see the Milky Way Sagittarius will be there. But instead of looking for the Archer, look for the "Tea Pot" shape. It is still Sagittarius, but the tea pot shape is easy to see. There is a tea pot body, slightly tilted to the right, a handle to the left, a triangle top and a spout to the right. Coming up out of the spout is the "steam" of the Milky Way. Just above the spout is where the center of our galaxy resides.
Good Luck
It would be best to have a wide angle lens that opens up nice and wide....f/2.8 or better. You can get away with f/4 with decent results too. Smaller f-stops will force you to increase you ISO which may produce more noise. I have used an 17-40 f/4 (@17mm) and a 24-70 f2.8 (@24mm).
Framing and exposing for the Milky Way is just the beginning, however. You most likely will need to process the shot properly to make the galaxy pop from your final image. There are many tutorials out there to help with this.
Now, for the fun part. Learn how to find some of the constellations. A key constellation you will want to find is Sagittarius. Sagittarius is an archer (half man half horse) who is aiming he arrow towards the heart of Scorpio, the star Antares.
When you look towards the southern sky and see the Milky Way Sagittarius will be there. But instead of looking for the Archer, look for the "Tea Pot" shape. It is still Sagittarius, but the tea pot shape is easy to see. There is a tea pot body, slightly tilted to the right, a handle to the left, a triangle top and a spout to the right. Coming up out of the spout is the "steam" of the Milky Way. Just above the spout is where the center of our galaxy resides.
Good Luck
PinUpPro wrote:
I live in So. Cal and plan to go to Joshua Tree an... (show quote)
May 5, 2014 14:40:27 #
With your explanations and lessons I feel very confident I can get a good image of the MW. How awesome. Can't wait. Thank you all!!!!
May 5, 2014 16:24:44 #
jkaye65 wrote:
When you look towards the southern sky and see the Milky Way Sagittarius will be there. But instead of looking for the Archer, look for the "Tea Pot" shape. It is still Sagittarius, but the tea pot shape is easy to see. There is a tea pot body, slightly tilted to the right, a handle to the left, a triangle top and a spout to the right. Coming up out of the spout is the "steam" of the Milky Way. Just above the spout is where the center of our galaxy resides.
When you look towards the southern sky and see the Milky Way Sagittarius will be there. But instead of looking for the Archer, look for the "Tea Pot" shape. It is still Sagittarius, but the tea pot shape is easy to see. There is a tea pot body, slightly tilted to the right, a handle to the left, a triangle top and a spout to the right. Coming up out of the spout is the "steam" of the Milky Way. Just above the spout is where the center of our galaxy resides.
This is great info. Thx for sharing.
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May 5, 2014 19:44:55 #
May 5, 2014 21:46:49 #
When to See the Milky Way
The sun is in the constellation Sagittarius in December so the months of November, December and January make for lousy views of the richest part of the Milky Way. The optimum viewing time in the Northern Hemisphere is in the summer when the sun is on the opposite side of the sky. Unfortunately summer in the Northern Hemisphere is also when hot, stormy, cloudy weather is doing its worst and also when the nights are the shortest. Those in the Southern Hemisphere have an advantage longer and cooler nights during winter mean the air is clearer. Using a simple tool called a planisphere it is easy to predict when and where to look for the dense part of the Milky Way. But what must also be factored in is the location and phase of the moon. The time of year and the direction of the least light pollution will also frame the parameters for getting the best view of the Milky Way. Generally the dense part of the Milky Way is best viewed when it is as high as possible in the Southern sky. Facing south during April and May the pre-dawn hours are best. From June to early August the best time is near midnight, though the Milky Way will be visible almost all night. From Mid August through September the best time is soon after the sun has set and the sky has grown dark.
Where to See the Milky Way
Central Nevada, Eastern Utah. Montana. In short, remote areas far from city light pollution afford the best view. But if you know what to look for and when and where to look you can spot the Milky Way from many places throughout the world. Or you can wait for a massive regional blackout.
http://starcircleacademy.com/2012/06/milkyway/
The sun is in the constellation Sagittarius in December so the months of November, December and January make for lousy views of the richest part of the Milky Way. The optimum viewing time in the Northern Hemisphere is in the summer when the sun is on the opposite side of the sky. Unfortunately summer in the Northern Hemisphere is also when hot, stormy, cloudy weather is doing its worst and also when the nights are the shortest. Those in the Southern Hemisphere have an advantage longer and cooler nights during winter mean the air is clearer. Using a simple tool called a planisphere it is easy to predict when and where to look for the dense part of the Milky Way. But what must also be factored in is the location and phase of the moon. The time of year and the direction of the least light pollution will also frame the parameters for getting the best view of the Milky Way. Generally the dense part of the Milky Way is best viewed when it is as high as possible in the Southern sky. Facing south during April and May the pre-dawn hours are best. From June to early August the best time is near midnight, though the Milky Way will be visible almost all night. From Mid August through September the best time is soon after the sun has set and the sky has grown dark.
Where to See the Milky Way
Central Nevada, Eastern Utah. Montana. In short, remote areas far from city light pollution afford the best view. But if you know what to look for and when and where to look you can spot the Milky Way from many places throughout the world. Or you can wait for a massive regional blackout.
http://starcircleacademy.com/2012/06/milkyway/
May 5, 2014 22:03:34 #
I have to say this is most supportive site I have ever seen. Thank you for your invaluable insight. I will have to post an image or two if I am successful. Regards all.
May 6, 2014 00:18:19 #
PinUpPro wrote:
I have to say this is most supportive site I have ever seen. Thank you for your invaluable insight. I will have to post an image or two if I am successful. Regards all.
Ain't that the truth!
Good luck on your shots and can't wait to see them :-)
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