The
Issue No.5 • May 2016
Wanderer
The Best Places to Stargaze
Star Trails: A How-To Guide
Hidden gems in your backyard of Northeast and Central PA
The ins and outs of the perfect photo
THE
STAR GAZING ISSUE
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ABOUT THE WANDERER wan•der: (v.) To behave in a manner that does not conform to morality or norms. Living in a politically driven valley has ups and downs. But more than anything, it forces us to live in the moment. That’s what the Wanderer was established upon, and will always be the core of what we stand for. To wander is to move without a specific destination or purpose. Much like that, all of the places and things you see have come from wandering and stumbling upon. What we show in this magazine is only a fraction of what Pennsylvania has to offer. Go explore, find things for yourself. And then, share them with those who will enjoy them in the moment.
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR There’s something interesting about the connection we share with past generations through the stars at night. With the exception of light pollution consuming our cityscapes, the night sky has remained the same for centuries, and will always remain the same for centuries to come. Things have changed quite a bit in the past hundred years or so, but it’s calming to lay back in the grass and and reminisce about times in which life was simpler (and also much, much harder). These dark places throughout Pennsylvania allow us to reconnect with not only history as a whole, but our ancestors and their ways of life. An interesting thought is that one day, the next generation will be laying in the grass, remisicing about how we spent our days. Let’s make it a point to give that generation something to think about, while they gaze at the stars the same way we do.
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[ MAY 2016 ] About Stargazing 4 The Best Places To Stargaze 7-9 Star Trails: A How-To Guide 11 Stargazing Do’s and Dont’s 12-13 Getting The Right Equipment 15 Monthly Reader Submissions 16-17 Community Interview: Chris Spellman 18 Preview of Next Issue 19
CONT ENTS
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I’m not sure anyone knows exactly when stargazing originated, but I can certainly say it’s been around for a very long time.Indian tribes used to search for spots with the clearest night skies to set up camp, because of how dark the surrounding areas would be. Studies suggest that the Armenian people were the first to name constellations across the night sky. Throughout the ages, civilizations have used the stars for different purposes. Today, we use them to become more creative and imaginative as a whole. In our local area, many people spend their nights on the edge of the city, just beyond the light pollution gazing up at the night sky. This began as a sort of peaceful rebellion against the urban centers
we have created throughout Pennsylvania. Yet so much of our state remains undeveloped. For this reason, Pennsylvania has remained one of the best places to stargaze. I think we have this reputation not only because of our dark skies, but also our mild temperatures. Nowhere else in the nation can you find moderate temperatures and dark skies. While most people assume stargazing is done only on the clearest, darkest nights, it can be done in virtually any environment. Some people prefer to gaze at wide landscapes of bright stars, while others prefer to examine specific stars in detail. The difference between the two is the use of a telescope. Both of these are typically only accomplished on the darkest nights. But that doesn’t mean you can’t gaze at the moon on the special occasion of a lunar eclipse or a super moon. The truth is, anyone can be a stargazer. You need virtually no
equipment to have a good time throughout the state of Pennsylvania to get a group of friends together and venture off into the darkness. The only thing that you might want to bring is a good attitude. Our use for the stars has varied dramatically throughout the years. But it’s important to remember our roots and what the same exact stars were used for many years ago. People still to this day worship the stars and feel as if they can predict what will come next in their lives. So next time you glance up to the great unknown, remember what came before, and what’s to come.
ABOUT STAR GAZING
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One of the best past-times living in Pennsylvania is gazing out at the night sky, and sometimes counting the stars above us. We broke down to basics, mapping out the state’s best destinations to partake in this hobby that’s lasted centuries. This list, put together by our resident stargazers, talks about the places that ensure a night well spent. So grab your tripod and sleeping bag, and get ready to plan out your next celestial trip with our top picks.
PRO TIP
No matter where you are, the weather plays a huge role in your stargazing experiences. Make sure to check websites such as cleardarksky.com to stay updated on your upcoming viewing conditions.
BEST PLACES TO STAR GAZE
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CHerry springs Cherry Springs State Park
Noted for it’s semi-annual star parties and absolute remote-ness, Cherry Springs State Park remains the number one stargazing destination throughout all of the Eastern Seaboard. Cherry Springs is dedicated entirely to casual and serious stargazers, and enforces a strict no white light rule throughout all night hours. People from all over the nation come to Cherry Springs to camp out overnight and enjoy the mosiac of stars above every single night. Cherry Springs was originally a regular state park, with closing hours and midday visitors. But after researching the geographic climate and maps of light pollution across the nation, it was soon realized that Cherry Springs sat directly on top of the darkest spot throughout the East Coast. Within years, Cherry Springs was revamped to be primarily used for astronomers. All of the power lines were buried underneath the park, and the white streetlamps were turned to a fluorescent red. Well over 60 miles from the closest city (Williamsport), Cherry Springs is as remote as it gets without having to hike into the Pennsylvania mountains. Cherry Springs not only offers two different astronomy fields, but has grown to offer several rotating observation domes with retractable tops, concrete pads with 4-6 electrical outlets each, free WiFi, an Amphitheater, and solar powered restrooms. Cherry Springs celebrates it’s dark skies and growing facilities publicly twice a year at what they call “Star Parties”, which usually occur on the weekends closest to a New Moon in the summer time. Star Parties consist of live music, free food, and entertainment all night with an emphasis on fun, enjoyable stargazing.
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THE VISTA
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RICKETT’S GLENN
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CAMPBEll’s LEDGE
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Pinchot State Forest Located in the heart of the Pinchot State Forest, The Vista offers some of the darkest Northeast Pennsylvania skies. Just outside the light pollution of nearby Wilkes-Barre and Scranton, The Vista offers a raised viewing platform that allows stargazers to get gorgeous night landscapes. Most nights, a DSLR can pick up the Milky Way from the platform. But on a New Moon, the Milky Way, among other large constellations, are visible with the naked eye. Beware the nearby population of porcupine!
State Gamelands No. 13
Rickett’s Glenn is common among hikers and nature photographers, solely for the influx of large, scenic waterfalls throughout the area. But one overlooked feature that Rickett’s Glenn offers is it’s remote-ness. Deep in the woods of State Gamelands No. 13, Rickett’s Glenn offers very dark skies where you won’t be bothered by loud teenagers or even nearby traffic. This site is without a doubt the hardest to reach, but the dark skies will leave you feeling proud you took this venture.
Campbell’s Ledge Reservior
A common mid-day hike among Greater Pittston residents, Campbell’s Ledge is one of the highest peaks in the WilkesBarre Scranton area. Recently under new ownership, Campbell’s Ledge boasts a private reservior and a scenic view of the entire valley. Due to it’s height, Campbell’s Ledge can be a great space to relax and gaze at both the city lights and the stars. While Campbell’s Ledge does not escape the light pollution, it provides a unique experience on the brink of the city and the country.
30 SEC
exposure
One of the most sought after styles of night photography is known as “Star Trails�. These photos are taken with a very long exposure, much longer than the recommended exposure for typical star photos. What happens is the Earth spins as the sensor on the camera is exposed, leaving us with a very slow rotation of the stars at night. This is why the Milky Way rotates as the night goes on. As the Earth spins and the sensor is exposed, the light from the stars eventually turns into a trail that follows same rotation. This produces a very cool and
5 MIN
exposure
20 MIN
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exposure
unique effect on the night sky through the camera. The biggest challenge is exposing the sky for long enough without destroying the sensor in the camera. The answer is StarStax, a free program that stacks multiple photos on top of one another to create one, cumulative star trailed photo. On site, you need to take many long exposure photos continuously for the desired time you would like. The longer the better, but be sure to watch out for fog that will form on the front of your lens and effectively ruin your trails.
STAR TRAILS: A HOW-TO GUIDE
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DO
Bring a small group of friends that can have fun while still being respectful of other stargazers.
DON’T
Bring a large group of friends that are loud and disrespectful of other stargazers.
DO
Plan out your trip according to moon phases and weather patterns.
DON’T
Decide spontaneously that it will be a good night to star gaze and be unprepared for the oncoming weather.
DO
Cover any cell phone light in red celophane and use red LEDs for light. White light lessens your night vision.
DON’T
Consistenly use cell phones and bright, white lights in the presence of other stargazers.
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STAR GAZING DO’S and dont’s DO
Respectfully throw out your garbage. This is non negotiable.
DON’T
Leave your litter behind, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant it might be.
DO
Check area regulations and how dry the woods around you are before you light an open campfire.
DON’T
Start a campfire in a prohibited or at-risk area for wildfires. Throughout the summer, forestry gets very dry.
DO
Be sure to have fun. Someone who genuinely enjoys what they’re doing is bound to have better photos.
DON’T
Be intimidated by photos you see on the internet. Every one starts somewhere, and if you’re having fun, who cares.
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CAMERAS Perhaps the most vital piece of equipment when stargazing is a camera body. The camera body is what actually captures your image, and can make or break your star photos in terms of quality, clarity, and budget. There are two main types of camera bodies. The first is referred to as a ‘full frame’ camera body, named for it’s large sensor. Although at a higher price, the full frame camera body is unrivaled in photo quality and clarity. The second is a sized down version of a full frame, referred to as a ‘crop sensor’. The crop sensor is more affordable, but compromises photo quality and clarity.
Lenses Most photographers lean towards standard lenses, such as a 24-70mm or an 18-55mm, but for stargazing: the wider, the better. Try to obtain an 8mm for a crop sensor camera, or a 12 mm for a full frame camera. These wide angles will allow you to capture entire landscapes while still keeping in focus the entire night sky. Pay close attention to the apertures for each lens, as that’s what mainly dictates price points. f/2.8 or lower is a higher end lens, while f/4 and above is typically cheaply made.
ACCESSORIES Remotes, both wired and wireless, are must-have’s for stargazing. A wired remote, otherwise referred to as an intervalometer, is useful in setting up timelapses for extended periods of time. And a wireless remote from either Canon or Nikon creates easy access to the on and off features of the ‘BULB’ mode on the camera body.
GETTING THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT
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Kyle Spellman Andrew Coehlo
Every month we ask our readers to submit photos that are related to the specific type of photography we cover, and every month we learn how talented our readers are. These are a couple of our hand selected photos we thought deserved recognition in this issue.
READER SUBMISSIONs
Brandon Morgan Ryan Hutton
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Matt Carroll Ryan Sebastyan
Greg Rakozy Chris Spellman
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COMMUNITY interview:
CHRIS SPELLMAN Chris Spellman has been a notable reader of The Wanderer, submitting photos on a monthly basis. Chris is an avid night photographer located in Swoyersville, Pennsylvania. We sat down with Chris to chat about his interest in star photography.
How long have you been star gazing for? C: I’ve been star gazing my entire life, but I never really got into it with the photography aspect until about 2 years ago when a friend took me out and showed me how awesome it was.
What is your current equipment set-up? C: I currently shoot with a Canon 60D body, Manfrotto tripod, and my lens of choice is an Opteka fisheye. I feel like the fisheye really captures as much as possible and although it may not be a high quality lens, it gets the job done exactly how I like it.
Where was your most memorable night of star gazing? C: My most memorable stargazing experience was at Cherry Springs State Park. It is considered a dark zone and I consider it a must to anyone who truly wants to get into night photography.
Do you have any advice for people who want to star gaze? C: Everyone will start with very poor quality and grainy pictures. Don’t worry if they come out bad, post the pictures anyway. You will learn as you go and eventually, your pictures can be the ones that inspire some people to start doing night shots.
To see Chris’s photos, please visit him on instagram at @chris_spellman.
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IN NEXT MONTH’S iSSUE Summer is approaching quickly, and with summer comes warm weather and sports. From cliff jumping to action sports, next month’s issue will cover how to get the shot with the smallest, most reliable action camera on the market.
As always, our dedicated & loyal readers can submit photos to show off your GoPro expertise at:
thewanderersubs@gmail.com (Please limit to 3 submissions per reader)
GOPRO ACTION PHOTOGRAPHY