Celestial Yosemite by Kristal Leonard

Two-thirds of Americans cannot see the Milky Way from their backyards.

Yosemite National Park remains a sanctuary for the starry sky

Publisher: Yosemite Conservancy, yosemiteconservancy.org Publication date: May 201748 pagesPrint ISBN: 978-1-930238-76-3Price: $12.99 hardcoverFull-color photographs throughoutJune 21, 2017 - The ability to experience a dark sky illuminated only by starlight is rare. Our night skies are awash with light from many human-made sources. The result? Today, most people are cut off from the celestial bodies that inspired millennia of art, poetry, and worship.* Light pollution has also disrupted the natural cycles of many wild plants, and the migration, mating, and hunting habits of nocturnal animals have suffered.Yet, and its lasting impression has been captured in, a new book by landscape photographer Kristal Leonard. While anyone can step outside at night in Yosemite to experience the ethereal beauty—and fragility—of the dark, the camera sees more than the eye can behold. In Leonard’s gorgeous, full-color photographs, witness the Milky Way over tranquil Tenaya Lake, star trails emerging from behind Half Dome, and a moonbow before Yosemite Falls.allows anyone to take a little extraordinary night magic home.*“Two-thirds” statistic from, accessed May 24, 2017.Kristal Leonard is a visual artist specializing in landscape photography and astrophotography. She has worked extensively in Yosemite, California, her home for more than 17 years. Always fascinated with the night sky, she shares her photos of the night sky with a growing fan base and collectors alike. To see more of her work, visit Kristal at isnthatbeautiful.com Yosemite Conservancy inspires people to support projects and programs that preserve Yosemite and enrich the visitor experience.Source:Yosemite Conservancy