BajaNomad - Baja dark skies? The furthest you can get from a light bulb?

Baja dark skies? The furthest you can get from a light bulb?

verichip - 12-6-2022 at 06:47 PM

Towards the end of the month there will be many opportunities to take star photos. Where is the darkest places in Baja?

mtgoat666 - 12-6-2022 at 07:13 PM

Quote: Originally posted by verichip

Towards the end of the month there will be many opportunities to take star photos. Where is the darkest places in Baja?

Lots of dark sky. The coastal area can be hazy. More reliable clear skies in the central area. Catavina. The SPM plateau. The Sierra San fransisco.

RFClark - 12-6-2022 at 08:27 PM

The air needs to be both dry and sill. The sky needs to be dark. Didn’t people do amateur astronomy at Mike’s Sky Ranch?

4x4abc - 12-6-2022 at 08:34 PM

anywhere between El Rosario and Bahia de los Angeles is dark without much light pollution
the below image is not the greatest - but it gives you a good idea about light pollution in Baja

Screen Shot 2022-12-06 at 8.29.13 PM.png - 207kB

BajaBlanca - 12-6-2022 at 11:10 PM

The skies in our little village are amazing since we never have fog. My Mom says the first time she saw the La Bocana, BCS night sky, she felt as if she could touch the stars and actually stepped back.

Now that we are here in Alanya, turkiye, that is something I really miss. Cannnot see any stars.

Don Pisto - 12-7-2022 at 06:33 PM

and here we are on the earliest sunset of the year, two weeks before the solstice!

AKgringo - 12-7-2022 at 06:38 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Don Pisto

and here we are on the earliest sunset of the year, two weeks before the solstice!

But look at the full moon we will have!

[Edited on 12-8-2022 by AKgringo]

verichip - 12-7-2022 at 07:45 PM

Look at a moon rise chart for the end of the month. There will be many opportunities to photograph the stars .
"Moonrise, Moonset, and Moon Phase in Ensenada" https://www.timeanddate.com/moon/mexico/ensenada

[Edited on 12-8-2022 by verichip]

Don Pisto - 12-7-2022 at 07:50 PM

https://news.yahoo.com/full-moon-eclipses-mars-tonight-18460...

verichip - 12-7-2022 at 08:46 PM

Mars the God of war is approaching it's closet point to earth.

pacificobob - 12-8-2022 at 08:06 AM

Cool map 4x4, thanks for posting it.

boe4fun - 12-8-2022 at 10:56 AM

The Vizcaino desert, as long as you’re away from ambient light sources, ie Bahía Tortugas - Bahía Asunción.

bajaric - 12-8-2022 at 11:49 AM

I was in the Sierra Juarez a while ago and was surprised that the stars there were not very bright at all. I guess there is some light pollution / haze there that drifts down from the Tijuana / Southern California megalopolis. Oddly, out at the end of the Punta Banda Penninsula the stars can be very bright, about the same distance south. Have also seen some amazing star brilliance about 30 miles south of Puertecitos on the Sea of Cortez.

[Edited on 12-8-2022 by bajaric]

RFClark - 12-9-2022 at 10:27 PM

We have a place just 30KM north of Puertecitos. This time of year the air is dry and cool it makes for excellent viewing. 30 years ago it was much darker. Solar led lights and San Felipe’s growth have changed that.

That said, last night we saw the Space Station (US) pass overhead NNW to SE at 6:30 local and it was beautiful.

AKgringo - 12-10-2022 at 09:12 AM

Quote: Originally posted by boe4fun

The Vizcaino desert, as long as you’re away from ambient light sources, ie Bahía Tortugas - Bahía Asunción.

Last year I spent a night in the hills north of Vizcaino, and southeast of El Arco. The pea-soup fog that formed made it pretty tough to see anything more than a stone's throw from my camp!

The same thing happened a few years ago when I spent a night in the hills east of San Ignacio.

[Edited on 12-10-2022 by AKgringo]

verichip - 12-10-2022 at 05:47 PM

Anybody know how to post this map up for all to see?
"Light Pollution Map - DarkSiteFinder.com" https://darksitefinder.com/maps/world.html#8/29.748/-114.440

[Edited on 12-11-2022 by verichip]

mtgoat666 - 12-10-2022 at 06:43 PM

Quote: Originally posted by verichip

Anybody know how to post this map up for all to see?
"Light Pollution Map - DarkSiteFinder.com" https://darksitefinder.com/maps/world.html#8/29.748/-114.440

[Edited on 12-11-2022 by verichip]

The link worked fine. No need for a pic.

David K - 12-11-2022 at 08:38 AM

Quote: Originally posted by verichip

Anybody know how to post this map up for all to see?
"Light Pollution Map - DarkSiteFinder.com" https://darksitefinder.com/maps/world.html#8/29.748/-114.440

Thank for sharing that map!
If you want to show what it looks like, so folks who don't click on unknown links can see, do a: Print Screen > Paint > Paste > Save > Crop and get this (hosted on Postimages.org because it was greater than the Nomad 342kb limit):

verichip - 12-11-2022 at 03:25 PM

Quote: Originally posted by David K

Quote: Originally posted by verichip

Anybody know how to post this map up for all to see?
"Light Pollution Map - DarkSiteFinder.com" https://darksitefinder.com/maps/world.html#8/29.748/-114.440

thanks. Looks like Baja has the most dark skies. Anybody know if the lights from Sinaloa affect the skies near the Sea of Cortez

David K - 12-11-2022 at 04:44 PM

We camp a bit south of San Felipe and the glow from Puerto Peñasco, across the gulf, is low on the horrizon. Does not deminish star and satellite viewing on moonless nights!
It is incredibly dark on those nights in the Baja desert and mountains.

verichip - 12-11-2022 at 05:04 PM

It's cold in those mountains this time of year. Cameras are best handled with a steady hand. Not a shivering hand.

mtgoat666 - 12-11-2022 at 06:53 PM

Quote: Originally posted by verichip

It's cold in those mountains this time of year. Cameras are best handled with a steady hand. Not a shivering hand.

If you are doing photography of night sky, a tripod is what you need. You won’t get much usable handheld. :light:

mtgoat666 - 12-11-2022 at 06:56 PM

Quote: Originally posted by David K

We camp a bit south of San Felipe and the glow from Puerto Peñasco, across the gulf, is low on the horrizon. Does not deminish star and satellite viewing on moonless nights!
It is incredibly dark on those nights in the Baja desert and mountains.

If doing night sky photos, that city glow will often spoil your photos if you include the lower quadrant of the sky in the direction of the town.
The city/town glow is not as noticeable if you are just star gazing with binos or naked eye.

David K - 12-11-2022 at 07:30 PM

No need to photo stars near the horizon. The atmosphere is thicker so less clarity. Just wait for the Earth to rotate a couple more hours.

mtgoat666 - 12-11-2022 at 09:01 PM

Quote: Originally posted by David K

No need to photo stars near the horizon. The atmosphere is thicker so less clarity. Just wait for the Earth to rotate a couple more hours.

Sounds like you got it all figured out!

verichip - 12-12-2022 at 03:13 PM

The light's from Ojos Negros obscure the stars from 20 kilometers south and the other side of the hill. You want the north star in your photos.
https://youtu.be/_kC1nKlIPU0

mtgoat666 - 12-12-2022 at 09:30 PM

Quote: Originally posted by verichip

You want the north star in your photos.

Why

BajaMama - 12-13-2022 at 09:03 AM

The Dark Sky Map is one of my favorite websites. For fun, look up south Korea, the look at North Korea - that poor country is so lacking any infrastructure.

BajaMama - 12-13-2022 at 09:06 AM

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666

Quote: Originally posted by verichip

It's cold in those mountains this time of year. Cameras are best handled with a steady hand. Not a shivering hand.

If you are doing photography of night sky, a tripod is what you need. You won’t get much usable handheld. :light:

The exposure time for night photography is around 30 seconds on a wide open aperture. A tripod and a remote shutter cable is a must as is a lens that will open to F2.8.

[Edited on 12-13-2022 by BajaMama]

[Edited on 12-13-2022 by BajaMama]

BajaMama - 12-13-2022 at 09:10 AM

This is another helpful site for night photography since you do not want to shoot stars/Milky Way after the moon rises.

https://www.sunrisesunset.com

verichip - 12-13-2022 at 05:40 PM

Quote: Originally posted by BajaMama

This is another helpful site for night photography since you do not want to shoot stars/Milky Way after the moon rises.

https://www.sunrisesunset.com

December 2022
Cataviña, Baja California, Mexico

14

Sunrise: 6:26am
Moonset: 11:13am
Sunset: 4:41pm
Moonrise: 10:33pm
15

Sunrise: 6:26am
Moonset: 11:42am
Sunset: 4:41pm
Moonrise: 11:28pm
16

Sunrise: 6:27am
Moonset: 12:10pm
Sunset: 4:42pm
Moonrise: none
17

Moonrise: 12:24am
Sunrise: 6:27am
Moonset: 12:38pm
Sunset: 4:42pm
18

Moonrise: 1:22am
Sunrise: 6:28am
Moonset: 1:08pm
Sunset: 4:42pm
19

Moonrise: 2:23am
Sunrise: 6:29am
Moonset: 1:42pm
Sunset: 4:43pm
20

Moonrise: 3:29am
Sunrise: 6:29am
Moonset: 2:21pm
Sunset: 4:43pm
21

Moonrise: 4:39am
Sunrise: 6:30am
Moonset: 3:07pm
Sunset: 4:44pm
22

Moonrise: 5:51am
Sunrise: 6:30am
Moonset: 4:04pm
Sunset: 4:44pm
23

Sunrise: 6:31am
Moonrise: 7:01am
Sunset: 4:45pm
Moonset: 5:09pm
24

Sunrise: 6:31am
Moonrise: 8:05am
Sunset: 4:45pm
Moonset: 6:20pm
25

Sunrise: 6:32am
Moonrise: 9:01am
Sunset: 4:46pm
Moonset: 7:34pm
26

Sunrise: 6:32am
Moonrise: 9:47am
Sunset: 4:46pm
Moonset: 8:45pm
27

Sunrise: 6:32am
Moonrise: 10:27am
Sunset: 4:47pm
Moonset: 9:53pm
28

Sunrise: 6:33am
Moonrise: 11:01am
Sunset: 4:48pm
Moonset: 10:56pm
29

Sunrise: 6:33am
Moonrise: 11:33am
Sunset: 4:48pm
Moonset: 11:57pm
30

Sunrise: 6:33am
Moonrise: 12:03pm
Sunset: 4:49pm
Moonset: none
31

Moonset: 12:57am
Sunrise: 6:34am
Moonrise: 12:33pm
Sunset

[Edited on 12-14-2022 by verichip]

verichip - 12-13-2022 at 05:53 PM

Rokinon 14mm F2.8 Full Frame Ultra Wide Angle
Is a good choice for star shots

Hook - 12-13-2022 at 08:09 PM

Quote: Originally posted by verichip

Mars the God of war is approaching it's closet point to earth.

I was wondering about that. It looks noticeably closer right now.

BajaMama - 12-14-2022 at 01:54 PM

Another tip: The reason you need a f2.8 aperture or bigger is that the earth rotates: 30 seconds is about the max shutter exposure time before you get "star trails".

verichip - 12-14-2022 at 05:52 PM

Another 800 tips
https://youtu.be/A-4suqRMdO0

DouglasP - 12-15-2022 at 07:47 AM

Telescope and my phone this morning.
From Punta Chivato.

4x4abc - 12-15-2022 at 08:30 AM

Quote: Originally posted by boe4fun

The Vizcaino desert, as long as you’re away from ambient light sources, ie Bahía Tortugas - Bahía Asunción.

the Vizcaino desert has a lot of light pollution from Guerrero Negro

4x4abc - 12-15-2022 at 08:45 AM

you don't have to have the north star in your pictures
but it is a cool focussing point

image was taken in the High Sierras near Tahoe
about 1990
notice the light pollution from Reno
60 miles away

north star star circle reno light pollution.jpg - 103kB

4x4abc - 12-15-2022 at 09:02 AM

in the old analog photo days I often set the camera on a tripod, opened the shutter and went to bed
at whatever time I woke up during the night, I would then close the shutter
the image above indicates an open shutter for about 2.5 hours (24 hours in a full circle)

image below was taken in Death Valley 1986
Saline Valley hot springs
probably a 200mm lens

notice the shooting star in the lower right corner!

on most digital cameras you can no longer leave the shutter open for hours

star circle long exposure with shooting star.jpg - 230kB

star circle long exposure with shooting star.jpg - 230kB

verichip - 12-15-2022 at 03:50 PM

Welcome to the modern world.
"One of the more creative and expressive techniques that digital photography excels at is the multiple exposure. Back in the days of film it was much more difficult to pull off a successful double or multiple exposure. But digital has opened up so much in terms of creative options and the Z series mirrorless cameras have expanded those options even further."
"Using the Multiple Exposure Mode
You can record from two to 10 exposures as a single image.

To shoot multiple exposure images, you have to select the Multiple Exposure Mode which can be found in the shooting menu. Choose On (series) which lets you shoot until you turn it Off or On (single photo) that takes one multiple exposure. You also have to select the number of shots you’re planning on taking and the Overlay Mode."

"Multiple Exposures with Z Mirrorless Cameras | Nikon" https://www.nikonusa.com/en/learn-and-explore/a/tips-and-tec...
So, if I use the bulb setting and take ten 900 second shots and the camera combines them into one photo, do I have a 2 1/2 hour shot? If the camera automatically takes 100 thirty second shots and I combined them on a computer would I get good star trails? Welcome to the modern world

[Edited on 12-15-2022 by verichip]

David K - 12-19-2022 at 06:58 AM

Great news... Welcome to Baja Nomad!

surfhat - 12-19-2022 at 09:44 AM

A little off topic, but a couple of years ago it looked like a total solar eclipse was going to be happening around BA as a prime spot to view it.

At the time, I was thinking Shari's would a be great spot to go in the summer of 2024.

When I checked back recently there was no such event in the works for central Baja. It looked like the trajectory was now south of the East Cape.

Did I imagine that first trajectory? It appears so. I doubt the heavens changed. haha

In 91, I was at my East Cape place for the total solar eclipse which was spectacular. We had a group of astronomers stay on our property for a few days from Palo Alto. They set up several telescopes focused on some of the planets in our solar system. Saturn and its rings were the best and my first chance to see them so clearly.

It was midday at the time when the eclipse began. All the birds went silent. The light was eerie as the shadow moved across the ocean and landscape. The diamond ring was spectacular. Tough to find another term fro why we saw.

When I wasn't looking through one of the clubs telescopes, I was laying on my back and watching it through a pair of binoculars with a safety filter piece across the lens.

These astronomers were a unique set of folks and as individual as the phenomena they came down for.

We later received a set of photos they took while they were gracing us with their knowledgable presence. We were happy to have them for a few days.

OK, now back to the topic at hand.

mtgoat666 - 12-19-2022 at 07:42 PM

Quote: Originally posted by surfhat

A little off topic, but a couple of years ago it looked like a total solar eclipse was going to be happening around BA as a prime spot to view it.

At the time, I was thinking Shari's would a be great spot to go in the summer of 2024.

When I checked back recently there was no such event in the works for central Baja. It looked like the trajectory was now south of the East Cape.

Yep, 2024 eclipse will only be partial in baja.