Drove 2 hours to a dark sky site in Arkansas and the moon ruined everything

I planned this trip for weeks to shoot the Milky Way at Buffalo National River, but I didn't check the moon phase. It was 80% full and washed out the whole sky. Has anyone else driven way too far only to get wrecked by bad timing?

2 comments

2 Comments

mason_ward21d ago

The moon makes for some great landscape shots with extra detail in the shadows.

kai_west21d ago

Man oh man, I've been there. That moon can just wreck everything if you don't plan ahead. Mason_ward is right that it can help with landscape shots but for Milky Way stuff you need that new moon window. Next time check a moon phase app before you go, I use one called Moon Phase Calendar that's free. Also try planning around moonrise and moonset times, sometimes you get a dark window right before the moon comes up if you're at the right spot.