CocoaRoger Loc: Cocoa Florida

I would like to try to get some photo's of the stars of the Milky Way. But trying to find accurate information on it's location in the sky at a particular time on a particular night from a particular location has been disappointing. I've subscribed to several astronomy websites with star charts and all of that. Some use Julian dates, or universal dates, some say it's here tonight and you look at the date and it's July 17 or something like that. Yes it's near Cassiopia which I may not even be able to see here although it gets very dark at night. I live near Cape Canaveral and my house faces north and apparently about 9 pm it will be in the low southwest according to one website, or the high southeast according to another. I tried googling many different phrases of seeing the night sky and objects, sky charts, sky and telescope magazine etc... It's clouding up anyway now but all I want is to just be able to put my location in, the time of night, and see what's available in any given location. I know theres a lot of night photographers out there so maybe someone can enlighten me. Meantime I'll shop for a program I guess. Just seems like a pretty basic thing to just google what's in the sky at your location, at a particular time of night in a particular direction....

zuzanne Loc: Crawfordville, FL

I would also like to know.

zuzanne

Niko65 Loc: Colorado

Try these sites, there free. Stellarium.com or http://heavens-above.com

Wheezer1

Roger, it looks like the Milky Way should be almost directly overhead for you in the early evening hours. Saggitarius and Scorpius are in the center of the Milky Way and should be a little south of you as you look to the zenith (overhead). Scorpius has a bright pale orange star called Antares and part of Saggitarius looks like a "tea Pot" once you locate it... Farther north, the Milky way heads through Cygnus which is one of three bright stars that make up the summer triangle with Vega in Lyra and Altair in Aquila.For me in Michigan the summer triangle fills the evening sky. You'll need to be in a very dark location to see the Milky Way. Try these free planetarium programs....www.stellarium.org or http://www.deepsky2000.com/cartes.htm ..Good Luck, Wheezer

CocoaRoger Loc: Cocoa Florida

Thanks. I like the Stellarium for now. It shows what I'm looking for at this point. I found what I think would be a good place to set up but the weather isn't looking like it will cooperate tonight. Guess we'll see. Now if only I could get my remote to work with the D3100 to work! I still can use up to 30 seconds but I'd prefer to go a little longer.

GrandmaJoy Loc: North Carolina

I hope you find it soon. For the first time in many many years I saw the milky way last night in Floyd Co. Virginia. I don't ever remember seeing it's path across the sky. It was dark and the stars were shining. I just wanted to camp there and never forget the view.

CocoaRoger Loc: Cocoa Florida

I've seen it many times while camping in the Sierra's. Alas, now I'm in Florida but the skies are very dark here at night. I can barely see the street out front after dark.

vinnya Loc: connecticut

it may be dark with not much light pollution but you also need to have the weather right, you'll need the sky to be clear,it may look that way but the humidity has to be low also as it will effect the view. get down to the everglades maybe your best shot at seeing it with the naked eye, or see if there is a astronomy club near by ,they should be able to help and may even have viewing nights open to the public

CocoaRoger Loc: Cocoa Florida

Right, with a long exposure even dark can come out foggy. That's ok, I only took my first star shots last night and was pleasantly surprised. I'm not expecting anything like we see in high dry desert, I just want to see what it looks like under the given conditions and then I can better weigh future attempts. And that doesn't even take into account yet whether the sky will be clear. But, it does get very dark here at night and when the winter comes I'd like to get the Pleide's in Orion and hopefully satellite trails. I also want to get the ISS flying over. That's an easy one since it's so bright. You only need clear sky, and to know when and where it's coming and for that I use a website http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/cities/skywatch.cgi?country=United+States which tells you all of that.

Niko65 Loc: Colorado

Try this, ISO 400, f4 and 4minutes for exposure. Make sure your in a very dark spot.

CocoaRoger Loc: Cocoa Florida

The problem is my remote won't seem to work so I can't use bulb without keeping my finger on the shutter which I won't bother with. So I'm limited to 30 seconds. I'll use 400 iso but not sure of the f/stop

Wheezer1

Where I live the Milky Way looks like a white cloud in the sky ..
When you photograph it you need to use about ISO800 or higher if your camera doesn't produce too much noise. Use the widest angle lens you have at the lowest f/stop. If you go over 20-30 seconds you might see star trails instead of sharp round stars. You will need to turn off your auto focus and image stabilizition.. I try to focus on a bright star, use live view if your camera supports it and of course, use your tripod and remote shutter release..Good Luck Wheezer

Northern lights, ISO400, 18mm, f/3.5, 30 secs.

CocoaRoger Loc: Cocoa Florida

Oh well, now it's low overcast blowing in from the ocean anyway, gusts around 20 mph. Tonight is not looking good....

Ratwrf

LOL. any star you see at night, with the naked eye, is in the Milky Way. My guess is you are looking to get some photos of the heavy band of stars on the arm. It will move around as do all stars. A free app for a smart phone will most often show the hazy arm you are looking to get.

cetw Loc: Miami FL

I love your shot! How did you get pts instead of trails with the stars. I have gone to Everglades when there saw no moon and the light from Miami still shows up in pictures. You don't see it til you view it, seems dark but not when holding shutter open. Camera picks it all up. Help if you can advise as going to Utah and hoping for some of the shots you are talking about.But really don't know how except what I am reading.