Recently while visiting our son going to college in Cedar City, Utah we took an evening drive up to Cedar Breaks National Monument to watch the sun set at this magnificent overlook. When leaving and walking back to the parking lot past the log cabin (see pic at left-click all pictures to enlarge) we happened onto a star party hosed by the National Parks Service and their guest that evening was world renowned astrophotographer, Wally Pacholka. Intrigued, we decided to stay for the slide show presented by Mr. Pacholka. 
He shared his amazing photos of the night sky taken from many different locations around the U.S. and told of his life long love of astronomy. The pictures are true, untouched photography using extended exposure settings to capture the colors and the grandeur in the night sky that the human eye does not have the capacity to see. The beauty of these types of photos are amazingly surreal and speak to the awe inspiring grandeur of the cosmos and our connection to it. Hugh Nibely in, Temples and the Cosmos, talks about the ancients and their knowledge and dependence on the cosmos and the association to the temple. The ancient scriptures and writings are full of depictions of the cosmos. 
Today with so much light pollution we seem to have a defiant disconnect to the reverence and awe that is ever above us. This experience has inspired an awaking within to want to learn more about astronomy and the cosmos. And so, I share a small bit of information in hopes it will inspire the same desire in others to begin to gain a very real appreciation of the Lord's creation and its vastness, beauty and magnificence.
Wally Pacholka's photos have been published in major magazines throughout the years. (About Wally Pacholka)
The False Kiva photo above was featured as an Astronomy Picture of the Day in September of 2008. Here is their write up:
Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.
Is there any place in the world you could see a sight like this? Yes! This digital mosaic shows the night sky as seen from False Kiva in Canyonlands National Park, eastern Utah, USA. Diving into the Earth far in the distance is part of the central band of our Milky Way Galaxy. Much closer, the planet Jupiter is visible as the bright point just to band's left. Closer still are the park's buttes and mesas lit by a crescent moon. In the foreground is the cave housing a stone circle of unknown origin named False Kiva. The cave itself was briefly lit by flashlight during the exposure. Astrophotographer Wally Pacholka reports that getting to the cave was no easy trek. Also, mountain lions were a concern while waiting alone in the dark to record the mosaic.
Mr.Pacholka explained how anyone can take these types of photos. He generally uses a Fuji S2 Pro digital SLR camera (set at ISO 1600) and a 50-millimeter f/2.4 lens for anywhere between a 20 to 60-second exposure and mounting the camera on a tripod. The key is to be out far enough away from artificial city light where it won't obscure the night sky. Then experiment with the different camera settings and become familiar with the phases of the moon and the different constellations in the heavens so you know where to look for them and the times they are most visible. At times he also uses a star filter which create points of light, streaking outward from a central light source. (see pic to the right) I'm going to try shooting the night sky at some of my favorite locations such as Spirit Lake in the Uinta Mountains and other scenic spots around where I live in Northeastern Utah.Also See:
Astronomers Without Borders-One People, One Sky (Boundaries vanish when we look skyward)
International Year of Astronomy 2009
Cosmic Mystery Tour
Joseph Smith and Modern Cosmology
Astronomy, Papyrus, and Covenant
Treasures in the Heavens
Astronomy and the Creation in the Book of Abraham
Abraham's Visions of the Heavens
Books:
Illustrated Guide to Astronomical Wonders
Astronomy Hacks: Tips and Tools for Observing the Night Sky
National Audubon Society Field Guide to the Night Sky
The View From the Center of the Universe: Discovering Our Extraordinary Place in the Cosmos
Temple and the Cosmos
Temples of the Ancient World: Ritual and Symbolism
“Thy mind, oh man, if thou wilt lead a soul unto salvation, must stretch as high as the utmost heavens, and search into and contemplate the darkest abyss and the broad expanses of eternity. None but fools will trifle with the souls of man. Thou must commune with God"- Joseph Smith
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