This image of the Big Dipper, or "Plough" to some, was taken near Moab, Utah, right beside the Colorado River. The desert sky is so clear at night -- very little haze due to atmospheric moisture, and almost no light pollution when you get away from the cities. I would have loved to have had a telescope on that trip, but there was no room for it. The exposure had to be relatively short to prevent star trails (motion blur due to the rotation of the Earth) because I didn't have my tracking tripod with me. On this trip we once we pulled over in the desert mountains in the middle of the night and looked up... The Milky Way was so clearly visible I couldn't believe it. I didn't think it looked like that anywhere on earth. It was like looking at a stream of jewels strewn across the sky. It was one of those magical moments that really sticks with you for the rest of your life. Such a view also makes one painfully aware of how light pollution robs us of our view of the heavens. In San Francisco (I think) not so many years ago they had a blackout. There were no city lights to wash out the sky, and with no artificial lights to stare at, people's eyes became fully dark adapted (takes about 30-45 minutes!). Those who ventured outside and looked up couldn't believe what they saw. Many frightened people called the sheriff's office to ask what that strange light in the sky was, and if it was responsible for the recent Earth quakes and blackout. They were of course seeing the Milky Way for the first time in their lives. They had no idea what lingers above them every night because the light pollution keeps them from seeing even a hint of it. Speaking of the Milky Way, if you've never seen it with your naked eyes, you should try at least once in your life to get to a truly dark site and see it for yourself. Eliminate all sources of light (pick a moonless night, too!) and wait for your eyes to become fully dark adapted.