Day 3: Sunrise, Annular Solar Eclipse and Pole Canyon Trail, and Night Sky Photos
Sunrise
On Saturday, October 14, 2023, I woke up early to walk around the Airbnb and capture photos of the sunrise.
Annual Solar Eclipse
We then stayed out to photograph the Annular Solar Eclipse!
Heidi and I chose to visit Great Basin National Park the weekend of 10/13/2023 because we wanted our trip to align with the new moon, maximizing visibility of the Milky Way. That was one of the few weekends in 2023 when the new moon coincided with a Saturday.
After booking our trip and Airbnb, we discovered we’d also have the chance to view the Annular Solar Eclipse! The eclipse was visible across parts of North, Central, and South America, with the path of annularity crossing the United States from Oregon to Texas.
During an annular solar eclipse, the Moon’s apparent size is slightly smaller than the Sun’s, leaving only the outer edge of the Sun visible. This creates a stunning effect, often called a “ring of fire,” for those within the path of annularity. It’s such an amazing sight to see, but it must be viewed with proper safety precautions — be sure to wear specialized solar eclipse glasses and use a properly designated solar filter.
I captured the eclipse using my 100-400mm lens with a solar filter, which allowed me to safely photograph the “ring of fire” in stunning detail.
The eclipse began in Nevada on October 14, 2023, at 9:18am, with the maximum duration of annularity in the state lasting 4 minutes and 37 seconds.
It was so amazing to see, and I’m incredibly grateful that I had the opportunity to witness it.
Pole Canyon Trail
Around 12pm, Heidi and I headed to Pole Canyon Trailhead, located near the Grey Cliffs Campground. This 7-mile loop trail in Great Basin National Park offers a moderately challenging hike through groves of Pinyon, Juniper, and Aspen Pine trees, opening up to a meadow before transitioning back into a forested area.
I chose to stay in the meadow to take photos of the surrounding area, while Heidi continued further into the forested section of the trail. She later returned, and we headed back to the car. While the trail is designed as a loop, you don’t have to complete the entire route if you prefer a shorter hike. I wound up hiking a little over 4 miles in just under 3 hours.
Night Sky Photos
That evening, I went back out to capture some more night sky photos around the property. Living in Chicago, I rarely get the chance to photograph the night sky because of all the light pollution. It was so wonderful to have the opportunity to capture some beautiful photos of the Milky Way!
