Milky Way Meet Up - Picketpost Mountain Milky Way

Hello fellow Milky Way Fans: the galactic center will rise about 26 degrees above the horizon very early in the morning hours before dawn on Saturday Morning.

There is a new moon on this day, and the sun will rise at 6:16 AM. If we're onsite by 3:00AM, it will give us enough time to shoot the Milky Way before the sky begins to brighten up. We must wait until this time in the morning because in the early part of Milky Way Season, the galactic center does not appear or rise very high in the sky until the wee hours of the morning (26.6 degrees above horizon at 453am)

We're meeting at Picketpost Trailhead in Superior. From the Phoenix area, take US-60 East toward the town of Superior. Between mile markers 221 and 222, turn right/south at the sign for Picketpost Trailhead. Google identifies this road as "Uno Trail." The dirt road to the parking lot is long and you need to watch out for the cows.

We are meeting at Picketpost Trailhead. Just past milepost 121, turn right on Uno Trail. Go past the windmill and follow the dirt road until it ends, then make a hard left on East Saddleridge Trail. Follow East Saddleridge Trail until it dead ends at Picketpost Trailhead. There are bathrooms (holes, not toilets) and lots of parking spots around the circular lot.

This is a very EARLY pre-dawn event! You should plan to be on the road about 45 mins to 1 hour to make it to Picketpost Trail and set up in time (if you're coming from Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, etc.)

Required for this shoot are a tripod, remote shutter (or in camera timer), flashlights (especially a red one), and your widest, fastest lens (i.e. 24mm f/1.4 or better).

Note: This event is subject to postponement due to unfavorable weather including rain, clouds or mud.

Let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

See you on Saturday Morning.

Jennifer
623-759-4610 call/text if any issues with finding us

Landscape Photographer | Storyteller | Nature Enthusiast | Pagan Inspired

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