
The Milky Way Galaxy is one of the most awe-inspiring reasons for preserving night skies. Sought out by photographers all over the world, dark sky places are a gold mine for good night sky photography. With one of the darkest skies in the lower 48, Grand Teton National Park makes for a fantastic destination for dark sky photography.
Below are some tips on what to expect when visiting and how to get iconic shots of the Milky Way Galaxy and a stellar night sky. And if you’d like some in-person tips and tricks, I’m available for private night photography workshops! You’ll learn all the best spots plus expert knowledge on how to effectively capture the night sky.
Where is the Milky Way Galaxy in the Night Sky?
First, to get vivid shots of the Milky Way Galaxy, you need to know where it will be in relation to what you’re wanting to shoot. This will change from month to month as it rotates around the sky. The galactic core, most frequently the target for night sky photographers, is also only visible in summer and fall months. This presents an extra challenge since this limits your window of opportunity. The other challenge is getting the Milky Way Galaxy above the Teton Mountains since the range presents a dramatic and iconic foreground below the magnificent night sky.
This window, however, winds up being even narrower. For most of the summer, the galactic core is in the southern night sky, yet the Teton Mountains and the most recognizable views are on the western horizon. This makes it extra challenging since this puts the core of the Milky Way above the Teton Mountains for only about a month or two: October and November. By then, the core is beginning to sink below the horizon, so catching it before it’s obscured by the peaks is even trickier, but it can be done.

Capturing the Milky Way with the Teton Mountains
By heading into the central or northern part of the park late in summer and into the fall season, you can still catch those iconic views with the range below the Milky Way. Some of the best vantage points will be along Highway 89 north of the Moose Junction. These include the Teton Point Turnout, the Glacier View Turnout, and the famous Snake River Overlook.
While it is possible to capture the Moulton Barns with the Milky Way alongside them, you won’t be able to capture the highest Teton peaks within the view. In this case, you’ll most likely be catching Buck Mountain and the peaks farther south.

Milky Way Options in Early Summer
So what if you’re visiting and the Milky Way is nowhere near the Teton Mountains? Not to worry! There are still plenty of options.
The most prominent eastern landmark, below where the Milky Way can be captured rising in June, is Sheep Mountain. Nicknamed, the Sleeping Indian, this giant peak towers over the landscape to the east, rivaled only by the nearby pyramid-shaped, Jackson Peak. Either makes for a great foreground element against the dazzling night sky. And while it doesn’t get quite the recognition of its western counterparts, it’s a highly beloved peak to the area.
If you’re wanting a shot of the Moulton Barns with the Milky Way, but the Milky Way is rising in the wrong direction, simply head to the other side of the barn. Granted, you won’t have majestic peaks behind it, but you will have the galactic core above it, which still creates a very powerful image.

Winter Night Sky
If you happen to be visiting outside of peak Milky Way Galaxy times, fret not! There are still plenty of great opportunities.
While the winter Milky Way isn’t quite as vivid or bright as the summer Milky Way, winter’s version is still visible and makes for a great subject to include in winter night shots. In addition, throughout much of the winter, it rises right above the Teton Mountains, adding a dynamic splash of stars to an already spectacular night sky.
Even without the Milky Way, plenty of other features are visible in the winter night sky. The most prominent, of course, is the Orion constellation. A highly recognizable target, this is easy to capture over the Teton Mountains in the later winter months. Our nearest galactic neighbor, the Andromeda Galaxy is also easy to find in the winter night sky. It makes for a nice inclusion into any night sky photo.
The added benefit to shooting in winter is that the snow reflects the starlight, making the landscape shine a little brighter than usual in photos. This can have a beneficial effect for high ISO shots. Regardless of the time of year, other phenomena you might be lucky enough to capture are northern lights, airglow, zodiacal light, and noctilucent clouds.

Conclusion
Regardless of when you visit, there’s always something in the night sky to photograph. The Milky Way is consistently on an impressive display in such a dark night sky, so capturing it is limited only by your imagination.
As mentioned, if you’d like some personal mentoring on capturing the Milky Way during your visit, feel free to reach out and book a private workshop with me! We’ll spend 3-4 hours exploring opportunistic vantage points from within the park, and I’ll be sharing expert knowledge and advice along the way.
Either way, feel free to reach out with any questions or comments!