The 2020 Eastern Sierra Dark Sky Festival

A Dark Sky Festival is coming to the Eastern Sierra in 2020! The event is happening October 16th through 18th, at the Whitmore Recreation Area in Mammoth Lakes, California, and will feature huge telescopes, astronomy lectures from professional astronomers, nighttime photograph workshops, booths/vendors, camping in SHIFTPODs or your own RV/camper van, food trucks, beer, wine, and more!

Stargazing AdventuresEastern Sierra ObservatoryJanuary 25, 20202020 eastern sierra dark sky festival, dark sky fest, stargazing, meade, shiftpod, color wine, june lake brewing, wavelength brewing co, mammoth lakes, eastern sierra, eastern sierra observatory

A Cold Morning at Benton Crossing

On February 12, 2019, I was able to capture the first Milky Way of the season. In the Northern Hemisphere, the galactic core (brightest part of the Milky Way) is behind the horizon during nighttime from late-fall to mid-winter. This is why people speak of a Milky Way “season” — mid-February through October when the galactic core is visible.

Samuel KahnApril 26, 2019Benton Crossingbenton crossing, crowley lake, milky way, cold morning, winter night, star tracker, ioptron, vixen polarie, eastern sierra, first milky way of the season

Hot Springs Under The Moonlight

After driving out to our favorite hot spring in the Eastern Sierra, I was glad I'd brought my camera.