Update:   Milky Way Arch photography Field trip

 Needing no moon in the sky, March 18,19,or 20th is perfect timing for a panorama of the arching Milky Way from Northeast to Southeast in the early morning before sunrise.  We just need the clouds to cooperate.  So keep your calendar open those dates to get a spectacular sight and image that few people see. 

We have found interesting foregrounds to work with at the Gleeson "ghost town".  There is an old schoolhouse and another abandoned building across the road that line up with the Milky Way arching overhead.  The Milky Way core rises around 1:30AM and is visible until 5AM.  This gives us plenty of time to set up and have different lighting schemes for the foreground elements. There is parking very close to the spot but not too close.

Now you can do it 2 ways, either leave around 4PM  have dinner in Tombstone and drive to Gleeson 40 minutes and nap in your camper or car or tent and wake up at 1 for photos.  Or have a nap at home and leave Saddlebrooke at 10:45 PM and drive to Gleeson arriving around 1AM for the shoot.  Then all drive back to Benson for breakfast at 6 when they open and continue to our Saddlebrooke homes.  Either way will work.   Bring warm clothes, snacks, hot coffee, water, a chair, flashlight, tripod, camera with wide angle lens, and charged batteries.

For those who want extra credit there is only one time each year when you can get a double Milky Way Arc composite panorama photo.  The Winter MW is arching across the western sky at 10:00 to 10:30 pm then add the Summer MW at 4:30 to 5 am for a 340 degree image.

To get to Gleeson take I 10 east towards Benson then exit #303.  Go South on Hwy 80 to Tombstone about 30 minutes.  In Tombstone go through town and turn left on N Camino San Rafael Rd. Go 1 mile to E Gleeson Rd and turn right. Then 14 miles to N High Lonesome Rd. The old schoolhouse photo location is on the right 100 yards up the road on the left.

We will have a practice session (bring your equipment) in Saddlebrooke around the 18th of February at 6:30 pm to go over the settings of the camera and lens. We can meet in the Topaz room then head over to the softball field parking lot.  The Sky gazers club use that spot and will be there on the 19th with their telescopes. Depending on the clouds in the sky of course.