Hi guys - Well, I finally decided to try some longer-duration (total time) star trails. In the past, I've pretty much not gone longer than 20 or 30 minutes, if I remember correctly. So, the other night, I decided to extend that time to about 2 hours of total image capturing, to see what the equivalent of 2 hours of star trails would look like (assuming I could get to a place where I could expose a single image that long without light pollution ruining the shot).

Image data: a total of actually 244 30-second shots were taken using a Canon 20D (unmodded) with a 28-135mm IS lens set at 28mm, ISO 800, f/5.6, manual focus, auto white balance; camera/lens mounted on a tripod, using a remote shutter release with lock. Camera was set to take multiple exposures so I could leave it unattended in my light polluted back yard 25 miles northwest of Los Angeles, California.

I forgot one important ingredient...somewhere around December 17, 1903, 2 brothers launched a contraption with wings, motor, and a propeller, and forever after, were apparently credited to have been the first in world history to launch what ultimately became known as an airplane (if I remember some of the story correctly). OK, all is still good, right? But then, sometime between then and now, somebody gets the idea that, Hey, if we put lights on this thing, we can even fly it after dark....wouldn't that be fun?! Yeah, right!

So here is where the problem lies...after dark...when you and I really want to take star trail pictures (or other forms of astrophotography from a dark site or wishing you were at a dark site).

Hmmm, so this is what I ended up with...

Comments, questions, critiques welcome . Laughter not (just kidding).

Clear (and empty) skies!

Paul

Attached Images

244 30-second images of star trails-smaller.jpg (122.2 KB, 44 views)

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Hi Paul.
Where did you find all those planes to pose for this image. Nice job.

Very Nice Paul, Lots of aircraft flying in your vicinity in two hours must be an aircraft pattern area. but adds interest to the photo. Well Done

You're under some busy airspace. But at least you get cloudless nights!

Every now and then I see a jet pass overhead (a great circle route from Anchorage to either Denver or Dallas passes somewhere near here). That's a big deal - especially the fact that the sky was clear!