Cape Lookout National Seashore

On July 17, the Astronomy Club in Morehead City, NC. (Crystal Coast Stargazers Club) had an outing on Great Island (a barrier island part of the Cape Lookout National Seashore).  I went with two other guys to Davis, NC. to catch the ferry boat across to the Great Island.  We had a cabin for the evening.  Unfortunately, no one brought a portal generator, so we had no lights or power in the cabin, but we didn’t seem to mind the weather was perfect with a 10-knots southeast breeze.

I used my Nikon D7500 camera with my new Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM lens.  I brought the lens because the aperture stays constant at f/2.8 when you zoom out.

The moon is in a waning crescent phase at 13% and with the nice dark sky, I was able to see Comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE), aka Neowise an hour after sunset in the north sky below Polaris (part of the  Big Dipper).

Taken at: 21:33 on 17 July 2020 Shutter Speed: 1.3 sec. Aperture: f/2.8 ISO: 3200 Focal Lenght: 17mm

Taken at: 21:24 on 17 July 2020 Shutter Speed: 1.0 sec. Aperture: f/2.8 ISO: 3200 Focal Lenght: 17mm

Taken at: 21:21 on 17 July 2020 Shutter Speed: 1.0 sec. Aperture: f/2.8 ISO: 3200 Focal Lenght: 17mm

Taken at: 21:16 on 17 July 2020 Shutter Speed: 1.0 sec. Aperture: f/2.8 ISO: 3200 Focal Lenght: 17mm

Taken at: 21:15 on 17 July 2020 Shutter Speed: 1.0 sec. Aperture: f/2.8 ISO: 3200 Focal Lenght: 17mm

Taken at: 21:11 on 17 July 2020 Shutter Speed: 1.0 sec. Aperture: f/2.8 ISO: 3200 Focal Lenght: 17mm

I was also able to the Milky Way clearly due to the lack of light pollution in the area.

Taken at 22:43 on 17 July Shutter Speed: 20.0 sec. Aperture: f/2.8 ISO: 3200 Focal Length: 17mm

Taken at 22:29 on 17 July Shutter Speed: 20.0 sec. Aperture: f/2.8 ISO: 3200 Focal Length: 17mm

Taken at 22:29 on 17 July Shutter Speed: 20.0 sec. Aperture: f/2.8 ISO: 3200 Focal Length: 17mm

Taken at 22:27 on 17 July Shutter Speed: 20.0 sec. Aperture: f/2.8 ISO: 3200 Focal Length: 17mm

Taken at 22:03 on 17 July Shutter Speed: 15.0 sec. Aperture: f/2.8 ISO: 3200 Focal Length: 17mm

I got up around 3 AM to do more stargazing.  I watch Venus rise over the horizon and behind the moon rise.

Taken at 04:25 on 18 July Shutter Speed: 20.0 sec. Aperture: f/2.8 ISO: 3200 Focal Length: 17mm

Taken at 04:00 on 18 July Shutter Speed: 20.0 sec. Aperture: f/2.8 ISO: 3200 Focal Length: 17mm

Taken at 03:56 on 18 July Shutter Speed: 20.0 sec. Aperture: f/2.8 ISO: 3200 Focal Length: 17mm

Taken at 03:48 on 18 July Shutter Speed: 20.0 sec. Aperture: f/2.8 ISO: 3200 Focal Length: 17mm

Taken at 03:33 on 18 July Shutter Speed: 20.0 sec. Aperture: f/2.8 ISO: 3200 Focal Length: 17mm

Taken at 03:32 on 18 July Shutter Speed: 20.0 sec. Aperture: f/2.8 ISO: 3200 Focal Length: 17mm

Taken at 03:28 on 18 July Shutter Speed: 20.0 sec. Aperture: f/2.8 ISO: 3200 Focal Length: 17mm

The sunrise was gorgeous.

Taken at 06:11 on 18 July Shutter Speed: 1/160 Aperture: f/6.3 ISO: 100 Focal Length: 50mm

Taken at 06:11 on 18 July Shutter Speed: 1/160 Aperture: f/6.3 ISO: 100 Focal Length: 50mm

Taken at 06:10 on 18 July Shutter Speed: 1/125 Aperture: f/5.6 ISO: 100 Focal Length: 50mm

Taken at 05:02 on 18 July Shutter Speed: 6.0 sec. Aperture: f/2.8 ISO: 640 Focal Length: 17mm

I would definitely go and do it again on my own or with the club.  On the morning of August 11, 12, and 13, it will be the peak for the Perseid meteor shower. The Perseids tend to be bright, so we expect a good percentage to overcome the moonlit glare. The Moon will be in the last quarter on the 11th of August rising at mid-night (last quarter will be at 12:46).