LOCAL REALITY ✳
THE LOCAL REALITY FIELD SHEET / FREE TO USE

A night worth
leaving the house for.

Before you leave, check the forecast, confirm legal parking and pack what you need. Use this sheet to organize the details.

This field sheet is free. Use it with the planner, print it for the trip, and leave yourself room to notice something unexpected. For help choosing a target or making your first photograph, start with our field notes.

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Mike Basso’s photograph of the Milky Way above a house and desert mountains
MILKY WAY · HOUSE · MIKE BASSO
FREE SAMPLE / TAKE THIS WITH YOU

Before you go
chasing stars.

Use this alongside the free night planner. Print this page using your browser’s Print command to take the worksheet with you. Blank lines are for handwritten notes.

01 / Pick the night

Date: __________________________

What I want to see: _______________

Moon phase / rise / set: _____________

Cloud forecast checked at: __________

Choose one main target. The Moon is a good place to start; faint Milky Way views benefit from darker skies and less moonlight.

02 / Confirm the place

Destination: _____________________

Official access source: ______________

Parking / hours / permit: ____________

Backup destination: ________________

Check the land manager’s current rules, closures, weather, and road conditions. A map pin is a research lead, not permission to enter.

03 / Pack the essentials

  • Warm layers, water, snacks, and a chair
  • Charged phone, power bank, offline map
  • Low, dim light; avoid shining it at others
  • Binoculars if you have them; eyes work too
  • Any required pass or permit
  • A way home that doesn’t depend on signal

04 / Make the return plan

Leave by: _______________________

Expected home time: ______________

Person who knows my plan: __________

Turnaround conditions: ______________

Don’t push through fatigue or worsening conditions. Give your eyes time to adjust, respect other observers, and leave the place as you found it.

One thing I noticed

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

Local Reality · Mike Basso · Personal use. Conditions and access can change; check current official information before travel.

Keep a little
of the night.

Enjoy Mike’s night-sky photographs on your phone. Preview the six-image After Dark collection, or try one wallpaper free before buying. Your purchase helps support the free planner and field notes.

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