Dark Sky Utah

09/04/2026

The often-overlooked northern end of the Milky Way Arch is less bright and colorful than the core, but it still boasts some beautiful sights. 

Here we can see the Cassiopeia and Perseus constellations, the Double Cluster in Perseus (NGC 769 & NGC 884), and the Andromeda Galaxy. 

Images of this part of the Milky Way look much closer to what we see with our eyes when we observe the Milky Way arch. You can see the dust, gas, and clusters of stars that make up our galaxy, but there is not much visible color in these images. 

We don’t see many colors in the dark, so these images of the northern end of the Milky Way Arch give us a good indication of what to look for when trying to find the Milky Way. 

Want personalized settings for your camera gear to help you capture time-lapses like this one?
Comment CAMERA, and I’ll send you my free Milky Way Time-Lapse Settings Calculator.

158-image time-lapse video
Canon 80D 25.0 sec at f /3.2 ISO 4000 on the Rokinon 14mm lens

09/02/2026

Why is fall the best time to photograph the Milky Way? Find out in this video.

Most people assume summer is the season for the Milky Way, but if you're trying Milky Way photography for the first time, early fall can be an easier place to start.

Why is fall the best time to photograph the Milky Way? Earlier nigh...

09/01/2026

Hoodoo Tribunal- These hoodoos remind me of a panel of judges looking over the rock before them. I see that because they taught me a lesson. ⠀

I took the image at Blue Hour and planned to track the stars on the 50 mm lens that night. Clouds ruined that plan, and by the next night, I had forgotten. Later, I realized I didn’t have stars for this foreground. I liked it, so I tried the smaller 14 mm stars. ⠀
⠀
Standing closer to the hoodoos with a 14 mm lens would look like this, so it is still true to life, but the Milky Way isn’t as big as it should be. This image reminds me that keeping a to-do list on your phone is a good idea. Otherwise, you might get caught up in the excitement of finally getting a clear night and forget. ⠀

Want to learn how to take Milky Way images with pinpoint stars with gear you already own? Comment CAMERA, and I’ll send you the link to my free Milky Way Settings calculator. You will be able to find personalized camera settings for your gear and location.

This composite image has stars tracked on the iOptron Sky Tracker Pro. ⠀
Stars- Canon 6D, 440 seconds, f/3.2, ISO 640, on the Rokinon 14mm lens ⠀
Blue hour foreground- Canon 6D, 1.6 seconds at f /5.6 ISO 400, on the Canon 50 mm EF f/1.8 II⠀

This composite image has stars tracked on the iOptron Sky Tracker Pro. ⠀
Stars- Canon 6D, 440 seconds, f/3.2, ISO 640, on the Rokinon 14mm lens ⠀
Blue hour foreground- Canon 6D, 1.6 seconds at f /5.6 ISO 400, on the Canon 50 mm EF f/1.8 II⠀

Comment CAMERA to get specific settings to capture your own Milky Way image with your gear.

Capture the night with my FREE Milky Way Settings Calculator.

08/30/2026

“Whosoever holds this hammer, if he be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor.”
-Stan Lee

Clouds stopped me from capturing this image in a single shot. So I used a star image from a different night at the same location. We call this kind of image a composite image, but the size and placement of the Milky Way are accurate. The stars and foreground are different focal lengths, so I enlarged the image of the stars in size by 24% to make them match. (62mm/50mm=1.24)

Want to learn how to take Milky Way images with pinpoint stars with gear you already own? Comment CAMERA, and I’ll send you the link to my free Milky Way Settings calculator. You will be able to find personalized camera settings for your gear and location.

Foreground- Canon 80D 1/800 sec at f/ 9.0 ISO 250 at 62mm on the Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

Stars- 3-image tracked vertical panorama.
Canon 80D 240.0 sec at f/3.5 ISO 1250 on the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II lens

Foreground- Canon 80D 1/800 sec at f/ 9.0 ISO 250 at 62mm on the Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

Stars- 3-image tracked vertical panorama.
Canon 80D 240.0 sec at f/3.5 ISO 1250 on the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II lens

Comment CAMERA to get specific settings to capture your own Milky Way image with your gear.

Capture the night with my FREE Milky Way Settings Calculator.

08/28/2026

I got one little window last night near peak coverage for the lunar eclipse. So here it is, just in case you missed it. After that, it was solid clouds with just a few little glimpses of the partial phases.

Of course, once the partial eclipse ended, the clouds cleared and I could see the full Moon. So I couldn’t go to sleep without getting a few shots with the S30Pro smart telescope from ZWO_astronomy. This image is from when the Moon was in the penumbral phase, when the Moon passes through the very edge of Earth’s shadow.

Don’t want to miss the next eclipse? Comment DIGEST to join my newsletter for monthly photography tips and night sky highlights.

August 27, 2026
Taken on a Canon R6 astromodified by Spencer's Camera & Photo

Image 1
Canon EOS R6 1/6 sec at f/8.0 ISO 2000 EF70-300mm f-4-5.6 IS II USM

Image 2

Taken on the Seestar S30 Pro on auto exposure settings. ZWO_astronomy
Image 3

Canon EOS R6 0.3 sec at f - 8.0 ISO 2000 EF70-300mm f-4-5.6 IS II USM

08/27/2026

Don’t miss the deep partial lunar eclipse Thursday night/ early Friday Morning!

On August 27, Earth’s shadow will sweep across almost the entire Moon, creating a dramatic partial lunar eclipse visible across Utah and much of North America. At maximum eclipse, Earth’s dark shadow will reach across about 93% of the Moon’s diameter, leaving only a small portion brightly illuminated.

Here in Utah:
🌕 Moonrise: Around 8:00 PM
🌘 Partial eclipse begins: 8:33 PM
🌑 Maximum eclipse: 10:12 PM
🌒 Partial eclipse ends: 11:51 PM

The eclipse begins while the Moon is still very low in the eastern sky, so find somewhere with a clear view toward the east/southeast.
No telescope needed. No special eclipse glasses needed. Just walk outside and look up!

If you’d like monthly photography tips and night sky highlights, comment DIGEST, and I’ll send you the link.

Save this post so you remember to watch Thursday night, and send it to someone who needs to see it with you.

08/26/2026

The darkest spot on a light pollution map isn't always the best place to see or photograph the stars. A slightly brighter location with less light pollution in the direction you're looking can actually give you a better view of the night sky.
Click the link below to watch the full video.

The darkest spot on a light pollution map isn't always the best pla...

08/24/2026

It is a rare treat to witness a wildflower super-bloom in the deserts of the American Southwest. Because of this, I chose to highlight the flowers by creating a space with a few bokeh stars in the background for asymmetrical balance.

Want personalized settings for your camera gear to help you capture images like this one?
Comment CAMERA, and I’ll send you my free Milky Way Time-Lapse Settings Calculator.

Taken near Toadstool Hoodoos in Utah on May 21, 2023 
Canon EOS 80D 13.0 sec f/2.8 ISO 800 on the Rokinon 24mm lens



Shutter Speed: 13 sec
Aperture: f/ 2.8
ISO 800

Camera: Canon 80D
Lens: Rokinon 24mm f/1.4
Focal Length: 24 mm



Correct settings are specific to your camera and lens. I built a tool to help you with your gear.

Comment CAMERA to get the link

Welcome! I’m Carly, a Milky Way Photographer and Educator. Here on Instagram, I share night sky photography, dark-sky locations, and tips for shooting the Milky Way throughout the year.

Comment Camera to get the link for this free tool