In this presentation, we’ll explore why Chile’s Atacama Desert is considered the best place on Earth for experiencing the night sky. I’ll cover what it’s like to capture deep sky and nightscape images in this remote region, renowned for some of the darkest and most transparent skies. We’ll briefly discuss packing tips, essential astro gear to bring, what to expect during your travel, astro-friendly lodging, and preparing for high-altitude excursions to see “out of this world” scenes. You’ll also learn how the Milky Way’s changing orientation in the Southern Hemisphere creates unique photographic opportunities, and which celestial objects are ideal to capture during your visit. Plus, I’ll showcase many of my own deepsky and nightscape photographs and the stories behind them, highlighting how the Atacama can deliver amazing results with less effort. For those of you who want to travel as part of a group, with people who share the same passion for the night sky, I’ll also introduce some exciting tours I hope to co-host in the coming years.
Kerry-Ann is a senior meteorologist for a 24-hr TV station in Canada and lives in the Niagara Region with her husband and two daughters. In her spare time, she flies small airplanes and volunteers for the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association. Driven by her lifelong passion for astronomy and photography, she dedicates considerable time to capturing deep sky and Milky Way nightscape images. Her work has won awards and has been featured in books, calendars, magazines, and online platforms like NASA APOD. She loves sharing her knowledge through social media, international workshops and photo tours.
Our meeting is on November 15th, 2024 and will begin at 7:30pm. You can attend in person at the Cronyn Observatory on the Western campus, or join us via Zoom at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89015777788
(or use the Zoom app with meeting ID 89015777788 with no password)