Galactic Core Near Birch Creek, Idaho

The weatherman and the Stellarium app agreed that there would be a nice window to view the Milky Way early in the morning of April 25, just between moon set and sunrise.  I decided to drive to the Birch Creek area in hopes of avoiding the light from the towns in the valley.  I batted .500.  The stars were wonderful, but the light from the Snake River Plain was, well, plain.  That is the yellow light on the horizon (looking South).  Sunrise would come from the left in another hour or so.

Even so, I was pretty pleased.  I wasn't even late for work that morning!

PS.  At magazine print resolution, the original file is 7 feet tall x 5 feet wide.  The sharpness seems to have suffered in the reduction.  Sorry.

...

Market Lake

A very quiet morning at the wildlife sanctuary.  I'd been hoping to see a couple of Sandhill Cranes, but nobody was around but these sleepy little ducks.   But my coffee was hot, the sunrise was crisp, and that was good enough.

...