I know there are many definitions of boondocking, and that is a good thing. But here is one possible test -- if you are not in a campground and you can see the Milky Way under clear skies, you are really out in the boonies!
Here is one of our more recent Milky Way experiences -- it is not a great shot because I illuminated the trailer with an LED flashlight for a few seconds, giving it an odd blue color -- but the sky is pretty close to the real thing:
Here is one of our more recent Milky Way experiences -- it is not a great shot because I illuminated the trailer with an LED flashlight for a few seconds, giving it an odd blue color -- but the sky is pretty close to the real thing:
First "Milky Way" post in a long time. This was taken early this month just east of the Eastern Sierra, between Mammoth and Bridgeport, Calif. The bright star field is the galactic center of the Milky Way. With the help of a 20 second exposure, the galaxy lit up the snowy peaks:
Click For Full-Size Image.
Click For Full-Size Image.
Great picture. Almost impossible to find such a place however east of the big river. North Central PA, WV, the Catskills of NY, VT and ME, UP of MI, and some select areas along the Appalachians.
The photo posting app somehow altered the colors of one of those images, so I re-edited it to look more true-to-life:
Click For Full-Size Image.
Click For Full-Size Image.
This shot was taken in early March of 2020, a few days before Covid arrived. This was taken on BLM land near Tioga Pass โ that's Parker Peak, right under Orion. There was some moonlight, which interferes with the stars, but the snow was shining brightly:
Click For Full-Size Image.
And this next shot was taken in early April of 2021, just after we were fully vaccinated. This was also taken on BLM land, east of Capitol Reef National Park. The mountains in this photo are part of the Waterpocket Fold.
There were so many stars that it was hard to see the constellations. In this shot, Orion's sword is directly over the trailer. Sirius is in the upper left. And there is a faint meteor trail near Betelgeuse, which we did not see until we got home and viewed the photo on the computer.
Click For Full-Size Image.
The stars were so bright that after our eyes had fully adapted to the darkness, we could see pretty well, even though the bright galactic center of the Milky Way had not yet risen above the horizon. There was no light pollution at all at this campsite -- some of the darkest skies we've ever seen. It's very rare that the only light to be seen is starlight, all the way down to the horizon, with no artificial light at all.
I'm hoping to see the bright part of the Milky Way again this summer โ it has been almost two years without seeing it.
Click For Full-Size Image.And this next shot was taken in early April of 2021, just after we were fully vaccinated. This was also taken on BLM land, east of Capitol Reef National Park. The mountains in this photo are part of the Waterpocket Fold.
There were so many stars that it was hard to see the constellations. In this shot, Orion's sword is directly over the trailer. Sirius is in the upper left. And there is a faint meteor trail near Betelgeuse, which we did not see until we got home and viewed the photo on the computer.
Click For Full-Size Image.The stars were so bright that after our eyes had fully adapted to the darkness, we could see pretty well, even though the bright galactic center of the Milky Way had not yet risen above the horizon. There was no light pollution at all at this campsite -- some of the darkest skies we've ever seen. It's very rare that the only light to be seen is starlight, all the way down to the horizon, with no artificial light at all.
I'm hoping to see the bright part of the Milky Way again this summer โ it has been almost two years without seeing it.
Horton Creek BLM Campground, Bishop, Calif., in late September of 2019:
Click For Full-Size Image.
The bright star on the right is Jupiter, and the peak on the right is Mt. Tom.
In that photo, I tried to "paint" the foreground with a flashlight during a time exposure. It sort of worked, but not perfectly -- it is very hard to get just enough light on the foreground without overdoing it.
Click For Full-Size Image.The bright star on the right is Jupiter, and the peak on the right is Mt. Tom.
In that photo, I tried to "paint" the foreground with a flashlight during a time exposure. It sort of worked, but not perfectly -- it is very hard to get just enough light on the foreground without overdoing it.
