My desert trip proved you don't need clear skies for great astro photos

Drew Torres · 2026-03-06T21:26:01.298357+00:00

I mean, I went to the Mojave last month hoping for perfect conditions, but it was partly cloudy every night. I still managed to get some really good milky way shots by stacking a bunch of short exposures. The clouds actually made the photos look more interesting, with cool light effects. Idk, maybe it's just me, but I think folks stress too much about having a totally clear sky.

ruby_grant7mo ago

Notice this everywhere now. People waiting for perfect conditions to start anything. The flawless weather, the right gear, the ideal timing. Your photos prove the magic happens in the mess. We miss so much by trying to avoid the clouds.

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dylan238mo ago

Read somewhere that stacking shots cuts through light pollution too. Agree with @eva_bennett6, clouds make the whole scene way less boring.

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eva_bennett68mo ago

Totally, clouds can add so much more character than plain stars.

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