Night Sky over Great Sand Dunes National Park after snow storm

            Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, located in southern Colorado, is a unique and breathtaking destination that offers incredible opportunities for astrophotography. The park is home to the tallest sand dunes in North America, which rise over 750 feet high against the backdrop of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. 

With its remote location, low light pollution, and clear skies, Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is the perfect place for stargazing and capturing stunning photographs of the night sky.

As an avid amateur astrophotographer, I am always on the lookout for unique and breathtaking locations to capture in my photography. When I heard about the incredible natural beauty of Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, I knew that I had to visit and see it for myself.

Canon EOS Ra, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM Lens, f/2.8, ISO 25600, 13 sec. Post processing: Photoshop and Topaz AI.
This photo was done at midnight about 1 hour after a snowstorm had passed through the area. The snow on the dunes provided a striking contrast against the dark night sky, creating a dramatic and almost otherworldly atmosphere. 

One particularly interesting element in the photo is the air glow. Air glow is a natural phenomenon that occurs when atoms and molecules in the Earth's atmosphere emit light. This can create a soft, diffuse glow in the sky that is visible on the long-exposure photos. The green, yellow and red colors are the result of  emissions in the atmosphere.

The black clouds is visible on photo. It is another indicator of dark sky without light pollution.

It was a moment that I will never forget, and a photo that I will treasure for years to come. I feel so lucky to have been able to capture this photo, and I hope that it inspires others to get out there and explore the wonders of our natural world.

Taken in: United States / Colorado / Liberty (show map)

Taken on: April 15, 2023

Tags:

Night

Sky

national park

Snowstorm

Astrophotography

Landscape

Stars

Airglow

Sand

Dunes

Colorado

Park

Snow

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Sets appears in: • Canon Ra • Airglow more » • Astrophotography in the National Parks • Astrophoto Canon EF 16-35mm f 2.8L II USM • Night Landscape « less

Groups appears in: • U.S. National Parks and Places • Nightscapes - Natural Landscapes at Night more » • After Dark - Night Photography • Night Shots* • Astronomy • *amazing nature* • Sky Masterpieces • Amateur Astronomy • Our Sky • Canon EF 16-35/2.8L II USM • Absolut Sky • PhotoPlus Magazine • ONLY LANDSCAPES AND SUNSETS( NO PEOPLE PLEASE!!!!) • Sky Chasers • Landscapes with Atmosphere • Astronomy.FM • Skyline at Night • DazzlePix LANDSCAPE & SEASCAPE • Landscape Astrophotography • Best of the National Parks • Digital SLR Photography Magazine • BBC Sky at Night and Stargazing Live • USA Landscape Photography • Night Photography Group • Starry Night Astrophotography • Night Landscape Photography • moon and sky photographs • Universe Today • Amazing Nature and Landscapes • Elite Night Photography • APOD Submissions • in explore • TOURISM magazine • Amateur Photographer Magazine • Dark Sky Travels Magazine • Canon R • Canon EOS R User Group • The Art of Astrophotography • WONDERS OF PHOTOGRAPHY IN GENERAL.MARAVILLAS DE LA FOTOGRAFIA EN « less

Camera: Canon EOS Ra, f/2.8, 12.7 sec, 17mm, ISO 25600 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon EOS Ra
Lens:	EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM
Aperture:	f/2.8
Exposure Time:	12.7
Focal Length:	17mm
ISO:	25600
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	No Flash
Exposure Program:	Bulb
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Photoshop CS6 (Windows)
Show full info

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