This is my workplace for the past 7 years as Glacier's Astro-VIP. I do the Astronomy programs for Glacier at St Mary Visitor Center each year and we also do a series of Logan Pass Star Parties in conjunction with the Big Sky Astronomy Club from Kalispel. You are right, it is an awsome place and should be on your Bucket List to see at least once in your lifetime. I also teach wide field astro-photography at SMVC each night and last year we were privileged to witness 26 different nights of the Aurora.

Zodiacal light from Logan Pass. This image was taken on 20 September 2013 at the end of our last Logan Pass Star Party that year.

The donut shape is a clue you were out of focus. Try focusing with and without the extension while in "live view" mode on your camera. The focal point may be closer to the tube than the extension allows. To use eyepiece projection, you may need the extension to get it into focus. Try this out during the day time on a far away object like the top of a telephone post or top of a tree or edge of a building. Once you get it into focus, mark where the setup is and then try it again at night.

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I'm from Littleton, NH and lived in Oakland, Me for about 6 years back in the late 70's. Thanks for posting a picture of my homeland. I'm currently living in Tacoma, Washington where the mountains are a bit bigger, trees taller but more people. I still love New England the best.

Connie: I'm glad to help. Yes, I work for the National Parks Service through the Astro-VIP Program which is run by Colorado State University. My assignment these past three years has been Glacier National Park where I do Solar Viewing each day and Celestial Viewing each night during July, August and September. Last year we serviced 10,925 park visitors at St Mary Visitor Center in Glacier NP. For 2012 we are going to have Astronomers on both sides of the Park at Apgar and St Mary. This program is very popular with park visitors and is the most attended Ranger led program in the park. If you come to Glacier, please look me up at the St Mary Visitor Center.

Get a tripod. Set ISO to about 6400 (for dark moon shots) with no moon in the sky Set camera function to Manual. Use widest f/stop (low number). Set time delay to about 10 seconds. Turn on High ISO Noise Reduction. Turn on Long Exposure Noise Reduction. Turn off Image Stabalizer. Turn off auto focus and manually focus on bright star (arcturus) through viewfinder or on tripod in "live-view" mode. Use wide-angle lens (18mm OK). Use cable release. Frame what you want through view-finder (after eyes adjust to low light). For stars & planets, take no more than 20-25 second image or your stars will appear fat or elongated. Hope I remembered everything.

Yousa Mighty Indeed! Wonderful

Don't like the HDR, looks fake. The natural picture is much more realistic and inviting as the HDR seems hard and sharp rather than soothing like flowers should be.

Don't like the HDR, looks fake. The natural picture is much more realistic and inviting as the HDR seems hard and sharp rather than soothing like flowers should be.

I like it! There is a lot going on in this photo and keeping it simple is what makes it work. To an Astronomer, one can descerne the Full Moon is high in the sky which makes it a wintertime shot reflecting off the Ocean and highlighting the Tree in the forground. The shadows are subtle with the irregular footprints in the sand which shows activity around the tree prior to when the shot was taken. Above all, it tells a story in the simplest form. Great shot: Enter it.

I had the 450D and used the 18mm-55mm kit as well as the 55mm-250mm kit lens as they both came with the camera from costco. These served me very well but when I upgraded to the Canon T1i, I went for the Tameron 18mm-27-mm lens. Although pricy ($700+) it is a very good all around lens that works in most situations. I've used it for over a year now working at Glacier National Park and am very satisified with it. This Tameron lens fits all Canon Rebel cameras.

First of all, you need to focus your Telescope on the object. The fact you had a donut indicates the telescope was pointed at either a star or one of the planets you wanted to photograph. Use the "Live View" function on your camera to focus the object, making sure the tracking is turned on or the object will drift out of the FOV rather quickly. You will have to refocus anytime you change the setup at the back of the Telescope tube.

Hello Everyone: When you visit Glacier National Park make sure to stop by St Mary and attend one of my Astronomy viewing sessions. I do Solar Viewing every day either at Logan Pass or St Mary Visitor Center and Nightly Star Parties at St Mary Visitor Center with some nice telescopes. Ask for Ray or Steve at St Mary and Dave at Apgar or Lake McDonald. The Rangers at the desk know us. On the Dark Moon of both July and August we hold our annual Logan Pass Star Party which is limited to 500 attendees. Get your ticket for the LPSP at St Mary Visitor Center or the Apgar Visitor Center. Ray Stinson, Astro-VIP

glen123: I too a similar shot from Fircrest on 10 december during the eclipse. Like your shot of the city; were you near stanly & seaforts? The large building next to the moon looks like the Hospital (St Joe's)