dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

I won't try star trails, but I think I've got the hang of what you've suggested for settings above. Good mention about not going too high on the ISO because of difficulty seeing the stars on the LCD monitor, big-guy!

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

Wish I had a choice about the new moon, mrtobin, but this trip is booked and the only window of dark that I will have is the 17th-19th. It will be very limited, indeed. But, hopefully, what I mess up on the first night's try I will learn from and get a do-over the next morning. (BTW, twilight is the time between day and night--dawn is morning, dusk is evening.) The twilight will begin around 6:10am, so I realize I will only have 1-1/2 hrs. in the best case scenario, and only 40 min. in the worst case scenario.

However, your mention of the late moonrise will give me another narrow window of opportunity when I get to Bryce and Zion...1/2 hr. and 1-1/2 hr. respectively.

But this is the only opportunity I have to try it. I do not live in a 'dark' zone.

ckayakne Loc: Wolfeboro/Portsmouth, NH

Anyone interested in viewing some awesome milkyway timelapse videos, google Ron Risman and take a look at his vimeo account. Oh heck here is the link https://vimeo.com/risman. Someday I will go on one of his trips.

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

I watched the 'Love Letter to Moab' and was blown away--stunning!! Thank you for sharing this link!

stan0301 Loc: Colorado

I may have missed it--but the words "you'll need a good tripod' come to mind--in a pinch an ok tripod can be made better by hanging a bag of sand from it
Stan

Preachdude Loc: Geneva, OH

Why do you intend to make images of the Milky Way during the full moon? Astrophotography is always better during the NEW moon. Unless you're making images with less than 10% of the moon, our nearest neighbor always generates light pollution. For the best timing go to http://www.timeanddate.com/. There you can figure out the best times for photographing our galaxy in a specific location.

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

Glad to know you're not leaving anything to assumption--yes, I have a good tripod that I use 90% of the time.

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

I wouldn't attempt this without doing a lot of research, Preachdude. My trip was booked last Sept. but I didn't get interested in the Milky Way until recently. I won't actually be taking pictures of the MW during the full moon--I am planning to set up in the darkness between moonset and twilight at the start of the trip and have found that I have a narrow window again towards the end of the trip between twilight and moonrise. I've just got to take my shot while I am in a 'dark' area (Utah) because I don't have any darkness close to home. I'll have ten days of fantastic scenery to photography--the MW was an afterthought.

alandg46 Loc: Boerne, Texas

Do as best you can and have a good time. You'll come away with some terrific pics no matter and some terrific memories. Don't forget to look at the scenery and not always through a view finder.

Dr.Nikon Loc: Honolulu Hawaii

Be sure to download the "SKY SAFARI" app on your phone or tablet ..you can aim it at the sky and see every position of every celestial body .. Then train your tripoded camera on it ..3:30 am will catch it all .. Good luck ..

BassmanBruce Loc: Middle of the Mitten

You have tons of good advice so far, I would like to echo, set up your composition in daylight when you can. A couple others, take someone with you, if you haven't shot in the boondocks in the middle of the night it can add a little anxiety.
Practice shooting in the dark, camera functions are harder when you can't see.
Practice Manual focusing in the dark, it's a horse of a different color. (Do this a lot while you can)
For me, I turn iso to 3200, find a star using live view 10x and make the star as small and distinct as possible. Choose a dimmer star and repeat, don't forget to return iso to shot setting.
Use 2 or 10 second delay.
Have fun but be warned, one good shot and you are hooked! Faster and wider lenses are in your future! Lol!

Edit: the higher your altitude, the clearer the sky. I shot at Zion at about 8,000ft (I think) and it was very clear!

alandg46 Loc: Boerne, Texas

Use mirror up.

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

I'll definitely need to practice with the night shooting. I do have a travel buddy, but I know exactly what you mean about remote places. A few years ago I was on Owl Creek Pass in Colorado waiting for a moon shot and as the night grew blacker, it grew eerier. When a lone car approached and then parked in the same pull-out, my heart skipped a beat for sure. Turned out to be fellow photogs.

I am fairly comfortable with using live view and the zoom feature in order to fine tune focus. Also, I have cable release. But as to the ISO, my DX doesn't do so well above 1300, but I am trying to buy a D610 full frame before I leave (and learn the settings by cramming on the plane) and that will allow a much cleaner image at higher ISO's. Hope to find a 24mm f/1.8 lens or else the 18-35mm F/3.5-4.5.

We'll be 4am waiting for the moonset at the Goblin Valley site going in but, once the moon rises late later in the trip, I'll get a chance to set up the composition in daylight at Bryce and then Zion.

Oh, and I have a headlamp with red light as well as clear light. That should help keep us from losing our night vision.

Thanks for the thoughtful suggestions, Bruce.

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

With my DX camera, I can use Live View. If I can get the D610 FF I'll be able to lock the mirror up. Glad you reminded me!

BassmanBruce Loc: Middle of the Mitten

Just a couple add ons, I only use the 3200 iso to focus on the stars, I take the shots at much lower iso.
During the day at Zion, there is a spot where you can't drive beyond and must take the shuttle. I went there an hour or so after dark and got some very nice mw shots. I wish I could remember the nam of this spot.

Edit: Canyon Junction was where I got my best shots, lots of cool foreground. I did this before I found out about all the terain through the tunnels to the east side of the park so there's probably better spots, but it was the best I'd found and we left next morning. Btw, I'm envious of your trip, have a ball!

2nd edit: Don't let the moon be a problem, it just changes the type of shot you get, sometimes beautifully. Shoot with it, without it, around it whatever! Lol!