A mere 1.5hrs away from Calgary just past Elbow Falls in Kananaskis is Forget Me Not Pond. During the day its turquoise waters offer a location that is not only breathtaking, but peaceful as well. With the Milky Way transiting over Canada during the late summer and early fall months this was a great location to try capturing it.

The first time we were here was also our first attempt at astrophotography - needless to say it was not very fruitful. We had trouble finding the correct focal plane and capture settings. Here we've returned with a better understanding of what settings to use and were able to capture a number of beautiful shots.

Once your eyes get adjusted to the darkness you'd be surprised by how many stars there are in the sky. To some extent even the haze of the Milky Way can be distinguished by the naked eye. Satellites are also quite abundant, appearing as stars transiting the atmosphere. But unlike shooting stars, these satellites don't fade. However, with some patience and a bit of luck you might capture a shooting star yourself!

46.56° N, 8.56° E

59.93° N, 30.34° E

March 12th, 2017

March 12^th, 2017