Where can I park outside Eugene to do astrophotography? (Bend: college, camping)

[Those Who Squirm]

I would like to drive to any nearby dark-sky spot in order to do astrophotography, but the roads around here have neither shoulders nor turnouts. There doesn't seem to be anyplace where I can safely park and set up my gear. Where can I go?


Preferably it would be somewhere beyond the northwestern city limits i.e. along or near Royal Avenue.

[Cloudy Dayz]

Originally Posted by Those Who Squirm

I would like to drive to any nearby dark-sky spot in order to do astrophotography, but the roads around here have neither shoulders nor turnouts. There doesn't seem to be anyplace where I can safely park and set up my gear. Where can I go?


Preferably it would be somewhere beyond the northwestern city limits i.e. along or near Royal Avenue.

I have never heard of anybody doing night sky photography, from the shoulder of a road. I can't imagine the results of that being good. Why not just go camping on some free BLM land way away from city lights? Get out of the Willamette Valley. Try something in the mountains, maybe 25 or 30 miles west of Eugene.

[soarswitheagles]

The only place I can think of is the College Hill reservoir. Most of the local parks close at dusk or 10 pm and I don't think it's safe to just pull over on any of the roads. A young photographer was almost killed when trying to get some shots out 126 a couple of years ago at dusk. You could ask the Eugene Astronomical Society.

[Those Who Squirm]

Originally Posted by Cloudy Dayz

I have never heard of anybody doing night sky photography, from the shoulder of a road. I can't imagine the results of that being good. Why not just go camping on some free BLM land way away from city lights? Get out of the Willamette Valley. Try something in the mountains, maybe 25 or 30 miles west of Eugene.

With some post-processing I get decent results from my back deck.


https://flic.kr/p/2hmkSvM

I'd like to see what I can do if I drive a few miles beyond city limits. Eugene isn't exactly "bright lights, big city" either, especially on the west side where I live. I'm only using a crop format Nikon with a f/1.8 50mm lens, so I'm not expecting to capture faint DSOs.

[MtBierstadt]

Try your local golf course.

[Hawk J]

Perhaps you can get some good views camping at Fern Ridge Reservoir, or one of the other lakes, ...


https://www.google.com/search?sxsrf=...4dUDCAc&uact=5

[oregonwoodsmoke]

You aren't far from Philomath. Try the top of Mary's Peak.

[Cloudy Dayz]

Originally Posted by Those Who Squirm

With some post-processing I get decent results from my back deck.


https://flic.kr/p/2hmkSvM

I'd like to see what I can do if I drive a few miles beyond city limits. Eugene isn't exactly "bright lights, big city" either, especially on the west side where I live. I'm only using a crop format Nikon with a f/1.8 50mm lens, so I'm not expecting to capture faint DSOs.

Eugene is a bright lights city. I really think you need to get away from the city and go camping in the mountains, if you want to get good pictures. Here is one suggestion I can think off. Take a look at the map link. It's a massive clearcut area about 35 miles southwest of Eugene. It's not very pretty, but since there are no trees it should give you a good view of the sky. Check it out.

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Euge...520691!1m0!3e0

[pdxMIKEpdx]

Here is a handy app I use to find public land:

https://www.onxmaps.com/states

Before you drive for miles down a washboardy dirt road in the middle of nowhere just to find a locked gate, do your research.

[A. Roz Mar]

I am a lover of the stars and do Astrosophy (destiny-sidereal birth charts). I suggest Hwy 126 toward Florence there are a billion places to shoot at night. Cemetaries are good too if they are out of town. I support International Dark Sky association. The beach is of course always a place. I live in North Bend on the coast near Coos Bay and my own backyard is brilliant during dark moons.