Astronomy trip of a lifetime - DPChallenge Forums

05/11/2006 08:53:51 PM · #1

Those DPCers who know me know that I'm a hardcore astro-geek. I wanted to share with you something I'm very excited about. Next month, I'm taking a dream astro trip. Me and three friends are staying three nights at New Mexico Skies, a premier astronomy retreat high in the Sacramento Mountains of southern New Mexico. Weather permitting (please, God, no clouds), I will have an unparalleled opportunity for some incredible astrophotography, both wide field and telescopic. During the three nights that we're there, I'm renting a 12" LX200, primarily for piggybacking the cameras, but also for visual and photographic use through-the-scope. We're also renting a 15" dobsonian one night and a 25" dob the next night. If you know what a large scope can do with skies like that, you're salivating now.

For the record, Kirbic, my partner in astrophotography, was invited along on this trip, but he had to decline (what WERE you thinking Fritz?), but he's allowing me to take a small piece of him along, his 15mm f2.8 Canon lens.

One of my goals for this this trip is to do a mosaic of the summer milky way, horizon to horizon. Stitching together such a mosaic can be a nightmare, but it'll be fun trying.

To appreciate the darkness of the skies in a location like this, here are two "light pollution maps," generated by satellite data. The first is my location here in Madison, WI

Madison Light Pollution

Madison is the cross at the center. The white, blown out areas represent major population centers, Milwaukee to the right and Chicago to the lower right.

Below is the map for New Mexico Skies:

New Mexico Skies Light Pollution

The cross is centered on the NMS location. The blob to the lower left is El Paso, about two hours away and over the mountains.

This location is Dark, DARK. Can you tell I'm excited?

Look for a lot of new asto pics in my portfolio by the end of June.

Message edited by author 2006-05-11 20:54:43.

robshookphoto

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 28mm f/1.8 USM

05/11/2006 08:58:00 PM · #2

i would rent or borrow a sigma 8mm fisheye... with almost a 180 degree fireld of view, it may make for a cool "skyscape." just a thought...

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

05/11/2006 09:07:13 PM · #3

Originally posted by mo5988:

i would rent or borrow a sigma 8mm fisheye... with almost a 180 degree fireld of view, it may make for a cool "skyscape." just a thought...

I've got a Peleng 8mm fisheye. Is the Sigma that much better?? I will definitely be using that to capture as close to 180 deg as I can get. Here's an example from last summer:

This is from the "dark" sky location I use 30 miles s of Madison. Look at the circle of light around the perimeter!

robshookphoto

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 28mm f/1.8 USM

05/11/2006 09:10:40 PM · #4

i have no idea...
a wide fisheye is not something that i would buy, though, because my budget is way too tight for something that i would barely use. Good luck!

thegrandwazoo

Nikon D750

05/11/2006 09:13:37 PM · #5

Originally posted by strangeghost:

Originally posted by mo5988:
i would rent or borrow a sigma 8mm fisheye... with almost a 180 degree fireld of view, it may make for a cool "skyscape." just a thought...

I've got a Peleng 8mm fisheye. Is the Sigma that much better?? I will definitely be using that to capture as close to 180 deg as I can get. Here's an example from last summer:

This is from the "dark" sky location I use 30 miles s of Madison. Look at the circle of light around the perimeter!

That's really cool! I don't know a thing astrophotography but that is awesome!

espy2

Nikon D50

Quantaray AF 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6 LD Tele-Macro for Canon

05/11/2006 09:21:37 PM · #6

One of my daughters lives in Las Cruces, New Mexico. She is always telling me about the view. From her porch she can see Organ Mountain. Of course I would love to visit and shoot out there, but it's not possible for me to travel that far. I envy you!! My best to you on your trip, and I look forward to your photos upon your return!!

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

05/11/2006 09:21:52 PM · #7

Droooool... that's one place I plan to visit someday, but probably not this June, unfortunately. :-(

The closest I've been to really dark skies was an exceptionally clear night in rural Vermont. The Milky Way seemed like thick cumulus clouds, and the Andromeda galaxy looked like a real-time image from Hubble... extending completely out of the FOV through a pair of low-power binoculars.

*sigh* Someday. For now I'm stuck 45 miles from NYC, which shows up as a blistered 3rd degree burn on your dark sky chart. "See that dim, fuzzy spot over there? That's the moon."

Tamron AF 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical for Nikon

05/11/2006 09:26:15 PM · #8

I'm already thinking about June 2007 Shannon. File it somewhere near the top and let's talk next spring....

"New Mexico DPC Astro GTG..."

Originally posted by scalvert:

vtruan

Nikon D5100

05/11/2006 09:32:16 PM · #9

I remember when the Hale-Bop Comet was visable to the naked eye. We were on our way to Phoenix, via Four-Courners. On the Navajo Reservation we stopping at 3 A.M. in the middle of the highway an looking at all the sky, stars and the comet with no light from man. It was unbelievable. So you will enjoy the sky there for sure.

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

05/11/2006 09:57:28 PM · #10

Originally posted by strangeghost:

I'm already thinking about June 2007 Shannon. File it somewhere near the top and let's talk next spring....

Hey, dood, don't give away my place! ;-)

Dayum, I wish I could go this year. Especially wince the weather pretty much shut me down for night sky shooting on my recent AZ trip. Methinks I'm going to have to live with a weekend trip to northern Wisconsin sometime later in the summer.

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

05/11/2006 10:02:03 PM · #11

Originally posted by kirbic:

No worries, I'm counting on you next summer. As for northern Wisconsin this summer, I'm planning a trip with a friend in August (most likely). We should collaborate. We're also planning to hit some cool waterfalls in the forest.

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

05/11/2006 10:37:37 PM · #12

Originally posted by strangeghost:

Originally posted by kirbic:
Hey, dood, don't give away my place! ;-)

Dayum, I wish I could go this year. Especially wince the weather pretty much shut me down for night sky shooting on my recent AZ trip. Methinks I'm going to have to live with a weekend trip to northern Wisconsin sometime later in the summer.

No worries, I'm counting on you next summer. As for northern Wisconsin this summer, I'm planning a trip with a friend in August (most likely). We should collaborate. We're also planning to hit some cool waterfalls in the forest.

Oh, you can so count me in!

ElGordo

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC OS for Canon

05/11/2006 10:51:38 PM · #13

You will be very close to the National Solar Observatory, "Sunspot", interesting in it's own right. The southern end of the Sacrementos slope gently to the desert floor, the "Jornada Del Muerto". It is about 75 miles to El Paso (where I was raised), the nearest large source of light pollution. The nearby city of Alamogordo has an ordinance prohibiting unshielded lights so the skies stay relatively dark. The lights of Las Cruces are on the western side of the Organ Mountains and present very little pollution. I own 5 acres of property in the community of Tamarron, not far from where you will be staying. Hope to rebuild my Observatory at that location someday.
Some other great daytime photo opportunities in the area are White Sands National Monument due West of Alamogordo, The "Valley of Fires" NNW about 50 miles near Carrizozo, and a terrific ancient railroad trestle just west of Cloudcroft, visible from the main road down to Alamogordo. The "Space Hall of Fame" is in the foothills at the North end of Alamogordo, well worth a visit. Ruidoso is only about 40 miles North, home of Ruidoso Downs All American Futurity Racing. Several Casinos are in that area as well, complements of the Mescalero Apache Indians. Very little chance of a sandstorm in June and about zero chance of rain!
Its a great place to visit!!

Message edited by author 2006-05-11 23:01:42.