Death Valley Milky Way Shoot

[LuckyJames]

I have two nights booked for the New Moon, weekend of Sept 3rd for a astrophotography trip to Death Valley. With all of the wildfire smoke pretty much from Baja California to Greenland, and certainly settling in the valleys, do I postpone to the spring, or give it a shot. I'm a year one Milky Way chaser so need expert advice please. 

Warm Regards - James

[kvbarkley]

No one can say, but I would check the prevailing weather pattern a week before you go, if it is South to North, you should be OK.

Have you tried to call the ranger station and ask them what the conditions are?

[LuckyJames]

Thanks for your response, yes, I chatted with the ranger this morning, he couldn't see the mountains from the station. I can cancel 48 hours prior to check in. I'm curious if anyone has experience of Milky Way photography in a smoky environment, and what that does to the image. One photographer suggested it may give the stars an "ethereal" look. I'm more inclined to think tight chest and red eyes.....

[wq9nsc]

If this is going to be a major trip you wouldn't do often, I would cancel and reschedule for a better time.  You might get lucky and have great conditions but the odds are high that there will be a lot of undesirable "stuff" between you and the view you want to get.  Smoke/haze is not going to make things better and I would skip the "ethereal" look opportunity, it would probably still be a fun shoot for you but not if this is going to be a rarely done shoot for you.

The smoke could well be like going out to shoot on a night with significant overcast and you probably wouldn't do that.

Rodger

[ebiggs1]

The "holy grail" for sky shooters is clear and dark skies. But you never know until you try. All shoots are learning experiences.

If it is a once in a lifetime trip, remember, it just might be!

[LuckyJames · Accepted solution]

Well its a 7 hour drive from NorCal and the hotel is not inexpensive. It is probably a one off, so many other sites, Utah, Grand Canyon, The Wave etc that we want to visit, so I am inclined to push it to the Spring. Thanks all for your thoughts and guidance.

Warm Regards - James

[ebiggs1]

Good luck  

[jrhoffman75]

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@LuckyJames wrote:

Well its a 7 hour drive from NorCal and the hotel is not inexpensive. It is probably a one off, so many other sites, Utah, Grand Canyon, The Wave etc that we want to visit, so I am inclined to push it to the Spring. Thanks all for your thoughts and guidance.

Warm Regards - James

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Add White Pocket to that list. 

[LuckyJames]

Added to the bucket, thank you.

[ebiggs1]

BTW, make sure you check your sky charts before planning a trip.