Always loved being out on deck on a cloudless night in the middle of the Indian Ocean or the North or South Pacific. The number of Stars you can see is simply amazing. The Southern Cross is my Favorite one.

Might have been interesting to add Northern Lights to the poll. I've seen 'em, but not the brilliant colors that you see in photographs. They were a more very light pastel green and blue, but still had a wave effect going on. We were at altitude going to Winnipeg from O'Hare. Started seeing them once we crossed the border north of Minnesota...

California in the middle of the desert was awesome .

I grew up in places that was arid and empty so star gazed a lot as a kid.

Spent some time at sea on a Carrier, both sides of the America's, North and South Atlantic, Mediterranean, Indian Ocean, Mid to South Pacific and crossed the equator on opposite sides of the globe.
I always worked night shift and worked on deck a lot.
It always cracked me up when city dwellers seen the night sky for the first time.

I haven't seen the sky like that in over 20 years now.

To be honest…my last great view of the night sky (with all the “trimmings”) was a few years ago while walking late at night at Fall Creek Falls State Park here in Tennessee…a moonless night and everything in the heavens was brilliant…sadly my neighborhood has enough lighting to drown out the stars when walking …it’s just a sign of the times I guess…but at least I can see well enough not to trip over the occasional raccoon …”the seven sisters” is my favorite constellation…and no she is not the “little dipper” …

https://earthsky.org/favorite-...ys-worldwide-renown/

The last town I lived at in Arizona complied with and enforced the Dark Skies "rules".

quote:

Originally posted by radioman:


Some of which cannot be explained

*Snickers*

Last seen several years ago at night in Shenandoah National Park. Growing up in the country back in the '60s no one knew what night lights were, etc. Star gazed as a kid.

The stars over Lake Superior are beautiful here in the Yoop.

Saw it when I rafted the Grand Canyon. Also one time in SD.

Probably the clearest I've seen it is around Kenton, Oklahoma many years ago.

I visited Drake Bay in Costa Rica in the early 90’s and was actually gobsmacked by the beauty and magnificence of the Milky Way. I had never had the opportunity to have a true dark sky with no light pollution. Absolutely magnificent.

Many times. The best is in the middle of nowhere. The high country in Colorado. Middle of the desert in southern Utah, northern Arizona, Nevada. Places well away from human habitation. I've seen it lit up like a neon sign. A little bit of an exaggeration, yes, but not by much.

Laying on my sleeping bag looking up at the Milky Way in the Gila Wilderness was amazing. Last year went to the Cosmic Campground an international dark sky sanctuary in the Gila National Forest.

Crossing the Gulf of Mexico overnight and down in the Out Islands of the Bahamas.

There is seeing the Milky Way and there is "swimming" in it. I can usually see it from the house when conditions are good. But an hour east the Badlands are a great area to view from. My best view among many including at sea is still on a MC trip I took into Canada back in the '70s. 4 hours straight north of the NY 1000 Islands crossing. It was truly amazing.

Every Labor Day I get a good look at it, in Canaan Valley, West Virginia.

While I can't see it from my house I have backpacked and camped in some remote areas.

I can very distinctly remember one night when there was no moon and no clouds camping in the middle of nowhere after hiking that day. Got out of my tent after dark and was blown away. The clearest night I had ever seen with no moon. I'd seen stars and all before but this night was something special. It takes a lot to blow me away and this night was something special.

quote:

Originally posted by VictimNoMore:
Every Labor Day I get a good look at it, in Canaan Valley, West Virginia.

Nice my story above was in Roaring Plans, WV back when you could go out to Dolly Sods/Roaring Plans and hike all weekend and count the number of others you saw on one hand. Things certainly have changed out there.

quote:

Originally posted by comet24:

Nice my story above was in Roaring Plans, WV

Roaring Plains of Dolly Sods is about 3-4 miles to the left, in my photo.
Greatest place on earth.