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Several Saturdays a month the observatory on top of Fremont Peak (3,169 ft.) is kept open until Midnight for amateur astronomers, photographers and campers. Fifteen members of the photography club ventured up the steep, winding road to first photograph the sunset and then the Universe. A thin layer of fog softened the light of the descending sun, highlighting the ridges of the Santa Lucia Mountains, beyond which lies Big Sur.
Several Saturdays a month the observatory on top of Fremont Peak (3,169 ft.) is kept open until Midnight for amateur astronomers, photographers and campers. Fifteen members of the photography club ventured up the steep, winding road to first photograph the sunset and then the Universe. A thin layer of fog softened the light of the descending sun, highlighting the ridges of the Santa Lucia Mountains, beyond which lies Big Sur.
It is difficult to include the sun in a photo without flares showing up. I took this flare-free one with my iPhone using Pro HDR, and then grunge processed it in Snapseed.
Photographing the stars and planets requires a dark, moonless sky, but this lovely crescent moon hung around long enough to charm everyone and give us something to focus on as we waited for full darkness to arrive.
Do you see the Big Dipper?
Getting the correct exposure for a photo of the The Milky Way involves scientific precision and complex algorithims that must be worked out in your head and applied in the dark; or trial & error: take a picture, check the histogram, take another picture. Which method do you think I used?
The observatory houses a 30-inch reflecting telescope, one of the largest available for public use. As others waited in line to peer through the scope, I set up my tripod to peer around it. During the 30 second exposure, I painted the scope with a small flashlight covered in red tape.
The most awesome moment of the night was a spectacular meteor that fell, cutting across the Milky Way. It was the longest lasting shooting star I have ever seen. Everyone erupted in spontaneous cheers and applause that could be heard down the mountain. Fortunately, I was attempting to capture star tracks with a 25 minute exposure when it occurred. Cool, huh?
Nothing was going to surpass the meteor shot (which two others also captured), so around 11:00, we packed up and headed back to the campground to look through the telescope that Dave Kutilek had set up. I am so glad that others are interested enough in seeing the details of the Universe that they buy telescopes that I can look through and photograph. This last shot was a team effort. Dave positioned the telescope and during the 25 second exposure, George painted the lower parts with his red light while I painted the barrel with my red covered blue light. I love it!
The photography club has attracted a phenomenal group of people. We share experiences, help and encourage one another, buy & sell equipment, and have a grand time together. I was so tired during the ride home, and so pleased.
You can see more photos from Fremont Peak on my Flickr page:
