Thursday, October 31, 2024

Milky Way Project 2024

I didn't really identify this as a "project" until about 3 months into the Milky Way season. My first MW attempt of 2024 was during the new moon in March. By the time I got to May, I remember thinking, “I wonder if I can keep doing this every month for the entire season?” As June arrived and the temperatures were routinely climbing into the triple digits, it made sense to be out in the desert at night when things cooled off a bit. It was just too dang hot to hike during the day!
 
So here's my completed project: One photo of the Milky Way a month (except in March when I took two), starting in March 2024 and ending in October 2024. I've shared them all individually, but for some odd reason I feel compelled to compile them here in a single post. It was a very fun project, and I feel extremely lucky to have been able to do it. There's something very magical about being out under the desert sky at night, and I'm amazed I didn't have at least one or two failed attemps (such as cloudy skies or wind storms).
 
Of the nine photos here, my personal favorite is May. That's in part because I like the photo, but even more so because of the experience. I was out solo in a very remote location trying to get a photo of the MW over one of my favorite arches. Every photo I took showed a partially pink sky (which wasn't visible to the naked eye), and I couldn't figure out what was going on. I thought my camera sensor must be having issues in the hot weather. It wasn't until the next day that I learned I had captured the MW and the aurora in the same photo. A night I will never forget!
 
Please let me know if you have a favorite, and thanks for stopping by!!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Linking with Skywatch Friday.

PS: Happy Halloween!!
I came across this on a recent hike!


49 comments:

  1. Dearest Peter,
    Your favorite is a shared favorite with me!
    That Aurora light is incredible in May—so well captured.
    Hugs,
    Mariette

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  2. ...these are fabulous, I wish you a Spooktacular Halloween.

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  3. I love the sky that is the mix with the pink and the Milky Way, but of course all your photos are magnificent.

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  4. All lovely and difficult to pick a favorite, although the October scene with the heart-shaped rock captured my imagination. :)

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  5. They are all great photos, Peter, but I think June would be my favourite :)

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  6. I know capturing the Milky Way by photograph is a skill, and you did a wonderful job! The May aurora photo and September's really bright Milky Way photos are my favorite!

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  7. This is such an incredible series! In the desert too!

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  8. It has become a beautiful series, Peter. As a lover of the Northern Lights, the photo from May is also my favorite. Number 9 is a good second. Happy Halloween!

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  9. All fabulous, but May was the most attractive. The colours! 😍

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  10. I liked June with the tree looking like the seeds were being blown away, September looked spectacular and October well you could use than on Valentines day but the we all amazing

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  11. All totally brilliant especially knowing the effort required to capture them. May is definitely a winner but August my second choice.

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  12. It’s May for me but each is special in its own way! Spectacular really!

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  13. I love them all, especially May and September.

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  14. what a great experience to view this sky in person! I like the second March photo and the last two pics listed.

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  15. Magnificent!! Great project, I love it.

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  16. WOW I got back just in time to see those shots. I have NEVER seen pictures that highlighted stars in the sky, much less the Milky Way. Amazing that the camera knew the aurora was there. I have missed the great pictures. The best to you out there...

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  17. An incredible series showcasing the Milky Way throughout the months! I would say it was a very successful "project". It would make a great calendar for 2025. :-) I am always impressed by these photos as it's something I have never tried, and admittingly, would be afraid by the results.

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  18. May is definitely the best with the aurora. Have you considered compiling these into some sort of booklet?

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  19. Definitely May and the runner up is September. The MW is just gorgeous and you captured them well.

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  20. It was a fantastic project. Thanks for sharing it with us. I think my favourite photo is July. but others run a very close 2nd.

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  21. Good to see a compilation of MW's changing.
    They are all great, of course may is very especially and for me September.
    And the stone in the last - boooooooh!
    Thanks for this gorgeous project.

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  22. Every one is a work of art, in my opinion. Are you aware of Michael Shainblum's YouTube channel? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqNoxlDIA3o&t=937s

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  23. Making this a "project" and your dedication to it turned out being an amazing experience filled with wonderful adventures! My favourite would be May, it's a beautiful photograph to begin with, yet on top of that, capturing the unexpected Aurora Borealis was the icing on the cake! I got to witness the Aurora Borealis mid October for the first time ever!

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  24. This was a fantastic project. I think June and August are my favorites. Although I'd just have to say all of them?
    Though, the rock sure did make me laugh!

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  25. May and July! While all of them are spectacular, I like the ones with natural rock features. Love that creepy rock on at the end!

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  26. They are still beautiful pictures!

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  27. They indeed remain beautiful fotoos.

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  28. Fantastic project photos.
    What a great idea.

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  29. I think September is my favorite but I also like the May shot with that tinge of pink. The September one is just perfect positioning. It looks like a volcano erupting with stars instead of lava. Such a great project and you mastered the art of Milky Way photography.

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  30. All are excellent ~ hard to pick a favorite ~ you do a great job ~ but Oct is pretty special ~ thanks,

    Wishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
    clm ~ A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  31. What an incredible project and such a stunning accomplishment! Capturing the Milky Way every month throughout the season must have been a truly magical experience, especially out in the desert under those clear night skies. It’s amazing how nature cooperated with you, and your dedication really paid off. As someone who works long days as a carpet cleaner, I’m inspired by how you made time for something so special and meaningful. Thanks for sharing this breathtaking journey!

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  32. What a great compilation of all your milky way photos. I like the accidental aurora shot the best too. I was just at Joshua Tree NP this week for my first time. Didn't get any nighttime photos but lots of desert landscapes.

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  33. impressive results of your project. May is indeed remarkable, but I guess my favourite would be September or October.

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  34. Buenas fotos del firmamento. Me gusta todas las tomas que has hecho.
    Un abrazo.

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  35. What a project! Congratulations on the successful end to an amazing several months. My favorite photo was August but it was so interesting seeing the different angles of the Milky Way as the months progressed. It reminded me of growing up in New York City and observing how the moon would set over different buildings depending on the month.

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  36. Love the Hallowe'en stone! Hope you had a good one :-D

    I cannot pick a favourite, they are all wonderful photos :-D

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  37. Every single photograph is stunning, I am so in awe of your night Milky Way photography and yes, you are so lucky to be able to go hiking in the desert. I've never been in a desert at night. I love all the fascinating foregrounds you have captured in these photographs. We had an Aurora a week ago and I went out (in my pajamas) to try for photos, but too many street lights in the way. Disappointed.

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  38. The scary Halloween rock has me shaking in my boots......

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  39. Never heard of this. What great photos.

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  40. Wow! Very impressive! I like the Halloween rock too.

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  41. This was so much fun to look at - the Milky Way on the Mojave Desert! Recently we captured the Aurora Borealis in Maryland - but it was just a faint pink in the night sky, UNTIL we held up our phone cameras and THEN we saw the most amazing greens and pinks! We didn't even have to change the settings on our cameras. Much like your photo of the May Milky Way! A calendar of this 12 month long project would be wonderful - plus the extra March photo of course.

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  42. What a project! I have bene in awe as you have worked your way through. Looking at the again, I think June and September may have appealed most. I live the June tree and the single dominant moutain.

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  43. My favorite photograph is the heart rock and the sky. You are one talented photographer and dedicated to your photographic eye even when its hotter than hot! Without that passion we bloggers would be lacking all these beyond wonderful images of the desert. Thank you for being the adventurer you are.

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  44. Amazing work! These Milky Way photos are breathtaking.

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  45. wow... these look unreal. Brilliant shots!

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  46. Wow! Thanks so much for these beautiful photos. I'm so glad I did not miss seeing them. Wishing you all the best with aloha my friend

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