Dark Sky’s of Texas
Dark Sky’s of Texas, there are a lot of areas in North America that are still considered dark sky areas. Meaning no light noise from cities, where you can see the stars clearly at night. Texas has quite a few of these places all along the southern edge.
I have to say, we have been meeting some amazing folks on this journey this year. The most memorable place so far is Marathon Texas. Our first place we camped at where astrophotographer’s come together with the most beautiful telescopic equipment I have ever seen. This is my first time ever hearing of this type of equipment and seeing how it works is very exciting to say the least.
This photo below is one of the telescopes I am talking about, we met a young man at this campground and started talking about dark sky’s and photography and he asked us if we have ever seen astrophotography equipment. No, we said. He said come with me and I will show you what it does.
This is his telescopic equipment. He was kind enough to explain the entire thing, how this scope is connected to his laptop and he programs what he wants it to do and the scope will follow what ever nebula he is trying to photograph for hours at night. They have cement pads on the ground for these scopes so there isn’t any motion blur when filming.
My video of Marathon Texas, a peak at an old west town. Here; Marathon Texas
He asked what kind of camera I had, I told him a Nikon. He said bring it over tonight and he will put my camera on the telescope and take some photos. This is the first shot he took with my camera connected.
This is, the Orion Nebula, it is the nearest star-forming region to Earth, located approximately 1,350 light-years away. Just amazing to see something like this photographed right in front of us.
Now, I don’t have the right editing software to edit a clear shot of this nebula. Like the photo below, this is the Orion Nebula as well that I copied from the internet taken with more precise equipment. There are people from all over the country that set their scopes up here and have them in locked building who can control them from their homes in other states.
Some of these professional photos like below, need a least a 3 hour timed exposure or more.
Below are two gentlemen that have a place right here in Marathon Texas and the equipment they use, in a building with a retractable roof that they can operate from home. Here is the link for more on this; Space for Everybody
Below; the Cigar Galaxy from my camera
Cigar Galaxy
Bode Galaxy, my camera. 12 million light years away
Bode galaxy from a bigger telescope.
Oh how small we really are in this beautiful place.
Dark Sky’s of Texas
50 Replies to “Dark Sky’s of Texas”
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I have never seen those (except the moon) in Texas, but I believe you! Nice work!
Thank you very much 😊
These are amazing photos Sandra – you were lucky to hook up with this kind person. Did you see any of the plants’ alignment Friday morning?
Thank you Linda, I did not see the planets aligned but I did read about it. It had been pretty cloudy here for the most part.
I think we had good weather for this, but not great weather for the recent eclipse. I think it rained or was very cloudy – no one saw anything.
Spectacular!
Thank you very much 😊
Editing or not incredible photos all the same
Thank you so much M 🙂
You are one of my favorite photographers
I so appreciate that 😊
Thanks Sandra. This is quite interesting. I think it could be a new venue for you. I remember your posts highlighting the night skies and star movement, and how the stars rotate around Polaris, so I know you have already done some of this work. We must also be careful to identify actual photos of the heavens and be aware of NASA’s ubiquitous CGI presentations. Though you do not have the high-end equipment of those guys you certainly have enough to continue. It’s great that they were so accommodating and making it a great experience for you.
Thank you RJ, yes I did not know anything about these new telescopes being able to take photos of galaxies and such. It is a thing for those who have some extra money laying around when it comes to buying this equipment. I was fascinated with their topic on how long it takes to create some of these photos. One individual he said took 7 years of taking photographs and stacking them to see the final image. I don’t know a lot about science, but trying to understand that they can measure light years is somewhat daunting. The photo they took with my camera, is a galaxy one can see with your eyes if it is dark enough. That makes sense to me. It is mind bending to me to think of the size of this earth in comparison to the unknown universe. How amazing He is, to know He created this tiny planet and everything on it. Makes me smile thinking about it. 😊
Incredible! Thanks for sharing what you learned and what great pictures to take away from the experience.
You are so welcome, I never knew about this astrophotography and the capabilities they have to see into the night sky’s with them. Some photos these guys take are just incredible and can take years to collect the data. I think I will stick to birds. 🙂
it’s great to find places without light pollution.
My telescope would have had the ability to have a motor and be connected to a laptop. But I committed the naivety of not buying what was needed and today it is no longer possible to have it.
The images are spectacular.
I had never even heard of this kind of equipment that you can use for photography. The images that these guys take are like nothing I have ever seen before. Makes me one to have a telescope. 😊
Fascinating photos! Thank you for sharing. I am in awe!! <3
You are very welcome Jan, thank you 😊
Wow 💙
Thank you Krista. 😊
Sandra, your trip has exemplified the idea that traveling the US is a wonderful opportunity to meet an endless supply of interesting people who are willing to share their stories and resources with others.
Thanks for this effort to preserve the optimism about our country. I have found the same behavior on my Beerchasing exploits across the US.
It is so good to see, if you watch TV to much like the news. It is all about bad news, bad people. But there still are a lot of good, kind, generous people all over the place. 😊
These photos are so beautiful! What a wonderful experience you had at this place. 🙂
Thank you very much 🙂
Thank you very much
Isn’t it wonderful to meet such great people on our travels? I (Kellye) love that you got to meet the astrophotographer and that he helped you take those amazing pictures on your phone! Their equipment looks expensive and complicated, but also interesting. Thank you for sharing your adventures.
You are so welcome Kellye, yes folks especially at campgrounds seem so friendly, probably because they are happy being on vacation, it is such a joy to visit with folks. They also give great advice on things to see in their areas if they are from there.
The awesome pictures here remind us about an Old Testament passage that says “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?”
Yes, isn’t it a wonderful reminder how much He loves us being how small we really are 🙂
🌟🌟✨⭐️⭐️🙏
Thank you very much Francine 😊
Wow, it would make me feel like I’ sitting on the edge of the universe…Someday!
Yes, it does. 😊 thank you Gary.
💜 Awesome!!!
…💛💚💙…
😊😊
What a wonderful time you have had enjoying the sky with kind folk and your camera. Lovely post thank you so much Sandra.
You are very welcome, yes we have been meeting so many nice people who love to share their crafts, like Astrophotography 😊
Increadible these images from deep sky. It’s a fascinating word full of secrets we still don”t understand.
Yes it is, I have never really looked at photos of galaxy’s until learning more about them at this park. 🙂
Amazing! Great photos! Lift up your eyes on high and see who created these: He leads out their army and numbers them, calling them all by name. By his great might and the strength of his power not one of them is missing! (IS 40:26).
It is hard to wrap our minds around how big this universe really is, thank you Gerry
Beautiful. I would have enjoyed that.
They had an even bigger telescope and the owner of the park loved talking about space and galaxy and would answer and questions. 🙂
It is blow you away amazing Sandra, just how wonderful and big our God is and the universe we live in, considering we are but a spec, and he loves us each personally.
Yes, that is quite the thought isn’t it. 🙂
top compos et infos bonne journée
Thank you very much Patrick 🙂