Can you comprehend it?

[alnorth]

One sad reality today is that virtually the entire US is bathed in such a bright nighttime light that most people spend most of their lives never really seeing how cool the night sky can really be. Even if you are in a small town it all gets drowned out in a dull grayish off-black with only the brightest stars visible.

You pretty much have to go to someplace like northern Arizona or rural Utah to see the true beauty of the night sky. That actually will probably play a significant role in deciding where I want to retire someday 25-30ish years from now.

National Geographic wrote a really cool article about light pollution a couple years or so ago. I go outside, and I just simply don't see stuff like this:

[Easy 6]

Originally Posted by alnorth

One sad reality today is that virtually the entire US is bathed in such a bright nighttime light that most people spend most of their lives never really seeing how cool the night sky can really be. Even if you are in a small town it all gets drowned out in a dull grayish off-black with only the brightest stars visible.

You pretty much have to go to someplace like northern Arizona or rural Utah to see the true beauty of the night sky. That actually will probably play a significant role in deciding where I want to retire someday 25-30ish years from now.

National Geographic wrote a really cool article about light pollution a couple years or so ago. I go outside, and I just simply don't see stuff like this:

Absolutely, theres nothing like being waaay out in the country on a clear night. Back in my service days, i spent untold hours using my night vision goggles to stare at the sky while out in the field, the sky literally explodes with stars when you're wearing those on a clear night out in the boonies.

[Rasputin]

[Dave Lane]

Had to put this up, its not mine but its a 60 hour exposure in 4 sections of the Orion nebula, Horsehead nebula and the flame nebula. I know the guy who did it and had to share. I thought it was tits.

[Buck]

Originally Posted by Dave Lane

Had to put this up, its not mine but its a 60 hour exposure in 4 sections of the Orion nebula, Horsehead nebula and the flame nebula. I know the guy who did it and had to share. I thought it was tits.

How exactly do you keep a 60 hour exposure without noticing any movement? I mean the Earth is moving, right?

[Dave Lane]

Originally Posted by Buck

How exactly do you keep a 60 hour exposure without noticing any movement? I mean the Earth is moving, right?

Well his exposures are over 2 months time and yes that is what really tough about doing this. Usually you do 10 minute "subs" at a time then stack them in software to gather all the light from the different frames. If the scope varies by 1/32 of the width of a human hair anytime during the 10 minute subs the shot is ruined and you have to toss it out.

The mounts that guide the scopes for the pictures are insanely complex. And expensive for the really good ones.