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23From Concept to Curating—Four Detailed Case Studies

The goal of this chapter is to illustrate all the concepts described in the book through four case studies. Two involve sky-priority images; two involve foreground-priority images. Each case study integrates the foundations of astronomy and photography described in this book along with specific information obtained from our planning tools. A few stumbling blocks are also revealed along the way!

Case Study Orion Over Mt. Whitney and through Möbius Arch

23.1 The constellation Orion poised over the Eastern Sierra in the early morning twilight and peeking through the portal of the Möbius Arch. There are only a few days out of the entire year when this image is possible. The following conditions need to be simultaneously satisfied: (i) Orion is positioned at this precise altitude and azimuth; (ii) at this point within the period of pre-dawn astronomical twilight; and (iii) with the moon below the horizon. A few minutes later, Orion is obscured by the bright sky; a few minutes earlier and it is overwhelmed by the abundance of stars. Furthermore, Orion is not properly positioned through the arch at this same time a month earlier or later. Finally, this image can only be created within a few days of the new moon, otherwise the moonlight sky is too bright. Clearly, thorough planning is needed to ensure success!

23.1 The constellation Orion poised ...

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