Zabriskie’s Night

Story

Ah, the night sky. For as long as humans have been humans, we’ve looked up into the sky and the infinite points of light. Some of us have used the stars to guide us across vast distances. Others have wondered what, or maybe even who, is up there. Zabriskie’s Night epitomizes a perfect night for stargazing.

Today, there is no better place to peer at the universe from Zabriskie Point in California’s Death Valley National Park.

Zabriskie Point is an iconic location. By day, its brown rocks, swirling into fantastical shapes, and even small peaks, is mesmerizing. Your eye doesn’t know where to stop, nor end. It’s oh-so-easy to realize you’ve been staring at it for hours. Truly, it is so interesting that you can, and will, sit and stare at it, quickly losing track of time.

At night, though, Zabriskie’s Night takes on a whole new perspective, and now the browns fade into the muted tones of the evening. With a modified camera and careful processing, I was able to bring out the unseen emission nebulas, shown here as the reddish whorls and swirls.

The crescent shape is known as Barnard’s Loop. The loop is home of some of the most intriguing nebulas in the entire sky. You can see the constellation of Orion, too, making Zabriskie’s Night an endless fascinating photograph on so many levels.

More Death Valley Night Skies

Explore of Death Valley, and especially its night skies.