Stargazing in Alaska

[Disnyfan2]

Are the lights on the ship so bright that you cannot appreciate the night sky. I was thinking about using the lawn on Solstice for some star gazing.

[cb at sea]

Any light will diminish what you see in the sky....and it doesn't get dark enough until quite late during ship sailing times in Alaska. Hopefully, you won't have clouds to contend with.

[Disnyfan2]

It is got to be better than seeing only the moon and the big dipper that we get here in suburban Atlanta.

[theriac]

It is got to be better than seeing only the moon and the big dipper that we get here in suburban Atlanta.

 

I went to Alaska last summer and you really don't get to see many if a year stars. It stays light until like midnight and never really is ever dark outside. The sun rises about 04:00 so you can try but you have a small window to see them if they are out. I'm in the suburbs of Tampa and can see stars much better here than I did in Alaska.

[Jim_Iain]

I would think if you go out after mid-night you would see some stars - Possibly far forward on the observation area Deck 16 Solstice Deck and the observation area above it.

 

We were on a TA out of Casablanca they had a full eclipse of the moon. It was interesting to watch as it was a couple hours from the beginning to the full eclipse.

[mickeysgal]

It does get dark enough. You're very far north in the summer months...its a deep twilight at best, then light again around 3:30ish. Same reason you can't see the northern lights this time of year.

[hapster85]

Cruise season is definitely the wrong time of year for star gazing. These were taken around midnight, aboard the Radiance, July 2015. The brightest one is facing north. It was after our stop in Hoonah, I believe. It wasn't until we were much farther south, that we had full darkness.

 

Edited August 26, 2016 by hapster85
Realized after posting that only one was taken from our balcony. Oops.

[easyboy]

Cruise season is definitely the wrong time of year for star gazing. These were taken around midnight, aboard the Radiance, July 2015. The brightest one is facing north. It was after our stop in Hoonah, I believe. It wasn't until we were much farther south, that we had full darkness.

I agree. It depends on the season. BTW, nice photo.

[Disnyfan2]

Nice pictures, Hapster85.

 

What type camera did you use. Trying to figure out what lens to take for my nikon.

[hapster85]

Those were just snapped with my phone, which was a Samsung Note 3, at the time.

[phoenix_dream]

I agree - of all cruises Alaska is one of the worst for seeing stars. Too much daylight, and so often the skies are cloudy or foggy. Have seen much better stars while sailing the Caribbean.