Milky Way at Frosty Drew Observatory

Skill level - Intermediate to advanced night photographers.

Weather-dependent event. If the forecast deteriorates, the Meetup will be canceled. Keep an eye on the comments and notifications.

Let's chase some stars! Saturn reached opposition this past Saturday, so it's a glowing jewel in the sky. If you have a telescope, feel free to bring it.

We are approaching the end of Milky Way season (booo). We have a few more weeks remaining before the galactic core drops below the horizon until it is once again visible in early February. Tuesday night has the potential for clear skies, so let's revisit Frosty Drew Observatory in Charlestown, Rhode Island. The observatory is stinking cute and makes for a perfect foreground object for the Milky Way. The featured image is from a beautiful clear night several years ago.

Sunset is at 6:20 PM
Blue hour begins at 6:36 PM
Night begins at 7:51 PM
Temperature 53 degrees
Dew point: 35 degrees

Please do not use your flashlight or headlamp when shooting. Only red flashlights, please during the shoot. Call out before you turn on your light to verify no one is in the middle of a shot.

Keep an eye on the forecast and dress accordingly. Dress in layers and wear sturdy shoes.

What you need:

> * DSLR or Mirrorless Camera
> * A wide-angle fast lens, f/2.8 minimum aperture.
> * Sturdy Tripod
> * Intervalometer/remote shutter release
> * Fully charged batteries
> * Formatted SD card.
> * Red flashlight
> * Normal flashlight to help navigate while we're not shooting.
> * Lens wipes

Recommended

> * Plastic bag or shower cap to cover your camera in case dew is high.
> * Dew heater - handy on a night of high dew point.
> * Power bank to power the dew heater.
> * Hat to protect your head from mosquitos.
> * Bug Spray