Celestial Yosemite

This is a Yosemite awash in light delivered from the far reaches of space. This is a Yosemite rarely explored. This is Celestial Yosemite.

This captivating collection of astrophotography records the otherworldly beauty of Yosemite at night. The Milky Way stretches above world-famous features that appear utterly transformed after dark. Yosemite Valley glows beneath moonlit cliffs. Star trails stripe the sky over a snow-capped Half Dome. A brilliant blue and pink storm electrifies the vista from Olmsted Point. Rock climbers’ headlamps glimmer like fireflies on mighty El Capitan.

Dark nights—crucial not only for stargazers, but also for many plants and animals—have become increasingly rare on this urbanizing planet. Yosemite remains a sanctuary for starry skies, a place where inky nights are unimpeded by the glow of cities or highways. The ethereal elegance of Kristal Leonard’s work casts cosmic light onto the singular natural wonder that is Yosemite at night.