Chasing Stars and a Comet: Milky Way Photography at Bodie Island Lighthouse, Fall 2024
Photographing the Milky Way is always a thrill—but capturing it alongside a rare bright comet makes the experience unforgettable. In Fall 2024, I headed to Bodie Island Lighthouse on North Carolina’s Outer Banks to photograph the Milky Way, timed perfectly with the appearance of Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS . Why Bodie Island Lighthouse? This location is one of my favorite dark sky sites on the East Coast. With its distinctive lighthouse , minimal light pollution, and reflective marshes, Bodie Island offers a unique blend of atmosphere and composition opportunities for night photography. As always, I scouted dark sky conditions in advance , looking for a new moon window and the best alignment between the lighthouse, the Milky Way core, and the predicted comet trajectory. Gear I Used Nikon D850 — unmatched detail and dynamic range in low light, plus a built-in intervalometer I use for time-lapses and star trails 24-70 mm f/2.8 wide-angle lens Sturdy tripod Headl...