Milky Way at Mt. Fremont Fire Lookout: A Year of Astrophotography Growth

A year ago, I stood at Mt. Fremont Fire Lookout and saw the Milky Way with my own eyes for the very first time. The galactic core aligned with Rainier like a waterfall of stars, and that single moment sparked my journey into astrophotography.

Back then, I didn’t know about trackers or stacking or even proper color grading. I just took one noisy shot: faint Milky Way, underexposed foreground, and a way-too-blue sky. It wasn’t technically great, but it was the beginning.

This year, I came back to the same lookout—but this time with everything I’ve learned. I used a star tracker to extend exposures and reduce noise, stacked multiple frames to bring out the detail in the Milky Way core, and took a panorama using tighter focal lengths (instead of using an ultrawide lens) to get more image detail. Blending the tracked sky with the foreground, especially with the fire lookout sticking out of the horizon, was a huge pain, but I'm glad how this one turned out.

The Journey from Then to Now

It's incredible to see the progression. The initial fascination of seeing the Milky Way with the naked eye is a powerful motivator, but the true journey begins when you try to capture it. That first attempt, while technically lacking, holds immense sentimental value as the catalyst for learning and improvement.

This year's image represents a significant leap forward, demonstrating the impact of understanding and utilizing advanced astrophotography techniques. The use of a star tracker, stacking multiple exposures, and careful panorama stitching all contribute to a much richer and detailed final image.

Technical Details and Planning

This shot was made possible through meticulous planning and the right equipment. Here's a breakdown:

• Location & Settings:

  • Mt. Fremont Fire Lookout, WA
  • August 22, 2023, 8:00 PM - 1:30 AM
  • Sky: 4 x 100" exposures at f/2.5, ISO 800, 24mm (Tracked, Stacked, Panorama 1x5)
  • Foreground: 240" exposure at f/2.8, ISO 800, 24mm (Panorama 1x5)
  • Final Image: 14999 x 8437 pixels, 127 MP

• Equipment:

  • Sony A7RV
  • Sony 24mm f/1.4 GM Lens
  • MSM Nomad Star Tracker
  • Benro Tortoise 34c Tripod

• Software:

  • PhotoPills (for planning)
  • Astrospheric and Windy (cloud forecast)
  • Sequator (Stacking)
  • PTGui (Panorama)
  • Lightroom, Photoshop (Editing)

The Final Image

Here is the culmination of a year's effort:

It's moments like these, capturing the vastness of the cosmos from stunning terrestrial locations, that fuel my passion for astrophotography. I hope you enjoy this image as much as I enjoyed creating it!