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September 27, 2022  |  By Matt Hamas

Milky Way

Milky Way Live

Big Bend National Park

This photo was taken far from light pollution in west Texas

This photo was taken far from light pollution, out in west Texas. I took this photo in Big Bend National Park, which sits right on the border of Mexico and the United States. This area is remote. We camped in the desert a few days and had multiple clear nights for astrophotography.  Two other photographers were on this trip, Ben and Nick Ivers. As an astrophotographer, you can make all the arrangements, invest all the time and money, and sometimes it’s just cloudy and you can’t shoot. Fortunately, this was not the case for our trip. 

Fremont's Cottonwood

When to see the Milky Way

The best time to observe the Milky Way galaxy will not only depend on light pollution and the phase of the moon, it will also depend on your latitude. We were able to photograph the Milky Way in a stunning way because we were at this latitude in the summer. In the northern hemisphere, our Milky Way season is in the summer. During this time, the galactic core is visible. This is considered to be the best time to observe the Milky Way Galaxy. 

Milky Way Effect

I recall the impact it made on me to see so many stars. It bogles your mind and humbles you. This is one facet of nature that doesn’t have an inherent cost. Yet, access is still limited due to light pollution. It would make a measurable impact if everyone were able to see the night sky. 

IDA

July 2021, Wild Boyz Photography partnered with International Dark Sky Association (IDA). IDA’s approach is to raise awareness about the value of darkness, and a star-filled night sky. They educate people about the problems and solutions, with a goal of reducing light pollution. I’d encourage you to watch the video “Losing the Dark” at the link below (bottom of page).

Access is limited to seeing the Milky Way due to light pollution

What is a “Dark Park”?

The International Dark Sky Association has a program that encourages communities to preserve dark sites through responsible lighting policies and public education. The (IDA) has five designations for dark places, including “Dark Sky Communities”, “Dark Sky Parks”, “Dark Sky Reserves”, “Dark Sky Sanctuaries”, and “Urban Night Sky Places”. To learn more about these designations and to see photos from IDA destinations check out the link below.

International Dark Sky Association

Interested in astrophotography? 

Check out Nick Ivers’s photo from July of last year!

Astrophotography

Did you know?

  • The color of stars is a refection of their temperature. The hottest burning stars are blue/white while smaller cooler stars are usually red.
  • Our sun was formed ~4600 million years ago. It is expected to live ~10,000 million years.
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Matt Hamas and Ben Ivers here. We are focused on fostering a greater understanding and appreciation of the environment. We endeavor to bring you a unique perspective of the wild. Our photos are being placed here for you to enjoy. Please feel free to download any of the photos for your personal use. We are currently seeking partners for printing and developing photos.

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Matt Hamas and Ben Ivers here. We are focused on fostering a greater understanding and appreciation of the environment. We endeavor to bring you a unique perspective of the wild. Our photos are being placed here for you to enjoy. Please feel free to download any of the photos for your personal use. We are currently seeking partners for printing and developing photos.

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