Scorpius Arch Milky Way

 So it's August and well into triple digit temperatures for this hike. I'm out in the Joshua Tree wilderness area on my way to Scorpius Arch. It appears I am the only human being in the entire area. The highway was empty on my drive out. Smart people stay indoors when it's this hot. In my defense, it's a short hike, and most of my time here will be after the sun goes down.

I've hiked out to (or passed by) Scorpius Arch many times over the years, but have never tried photographing it under the Milky Way. In my quest to keep trying new things, tonight should be fun and interesting!
 

 

View from underneath the arch.

 

As I wait for the night sky, I'm treated to a really pretty sunset!

 

  

 

 

 

After sunset, I have time to mess around while I wait for the stars. If I look directly at the camera with my head lamp as I click the remote shutter button, I get this huge flare. 
 

I'm really pleased with the way the Milky Way aligns with the arch. Plus, it's a beautifully clear sky. This turns out better than I was anticipating!

 

Milky Way over Scorpius Arch.

 

Lots of lighning off to the east.

 

I'm lucky to come across this desert tarantula on my hike back to the car. I rarely see them! This is an iPhone photo with lighting from my headlamp.
 

Thanks for joining me on another beautiful evening in the desert!

Linking with Skywatch Friday.

Milky Way Over White Tank Campground

 I've hiked all over White Tank Campground in Joshua Tree National Park in the past, but I've never been here at night to try my hand at Milky Way photography. So this post finds me wandering around White Tank on a hot summer afternoon (6/28/25), hoping to be able to line up the arch of the Milky Way in the night sky with some of the incredible rock formations in the area. Goal #2 is to capture some nice sky photos as the sun sets over White Tank.

White Tank is a small campground, with picnic tables and BBQs nestled among the monzogranite boulders. If you're lucky enough to score a campsite here, you won't be disappointed!

 

 

 

One of my favorite rock formations. It reminds me of a smiling dolphin or whale, pushing out of the water. I'll be setting up camera and tripod somewhere in the area later tonight, with hopes of capturing these boulders in the foreground under the Milky Way sky. Meanwhile...

... It looks like I'm in luck for a beautiful sunset!

 

 

 

 

 8:30pm, the crescent moon is setting (and will be gone by the time the MW rises). It looks like the MW will be in optimal position between about 10:30pm to 11:45pm, so I have a couple hours to kill. Usually I enjoy sitting under the stars, soaking up the desert solitude and stillness, and hearing the occasional coyote yip. That's how this night was, and before I knew it, it was time to begin photographing the Milky Way.

Sometimes the rocks take on a sinister look at night!

 

10:25pm. I'm really happy with this one. Totally unexpected and icing on the cake are the meteor streaks. Look closely and you can count three of them! 

A cropped version, which makes the meteors a little easier to see.

 

11:48pm. The Milky Way has moved higher in the sky. After this photo, it was time to pack up my gear and head home. A fun and productive evening!

 

Thanks for stopping by!!

Linking with Skywatch Friday.