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Barnstable - Cape CodBarnstable 2010 Population: 1,850 (39,540 - includes all seven villages) |
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HYANNIS INN MOTEL
Our Prime location in the Center of Main Street Hyannis is the perfect setting for a memorable Cape Cod Vacation, which features a variety of guest rooms to accommodate couples & families. This fine family run Hotel is a great choice for active vacationers who want easy access to do and see everything the Cape has to offer. So once you arrive you may park your car and walk to: Quaint shops, boutiques, Art galleries, Restaurants, Harbor & Island Ferries to Nantucket & Martha’s Vineyard, JFK Museum, Melody Tent and the Hyannis Youth Community Center.
The Hyannis Inn offers a relaxed, friendly atmosphere and gracious hospitality, which is why “our” guests return time & time again..You’ll understand why after you’ve experienced for yourself the excellent facilities…. and after a day of shopping & sightseeing, relax in our Elbowroom Lounge or take a few laps in our Large heated Indoor Pool or tan yourself on the sundecks! The choice is yours…. We look forward to accommodating you & assisting you with insider tips as to: where to dine, what beach to go to, traveling tips & how to enjoy Cape Cod as much as we do!
473 Main St, Hyannis, MA
phone: 508-775-0255
map / details
| Understanding Milky Way Season on Cape Cod: A Guide for Night Photographers Saturday May 17, 2025 |
| If you've ever tried capturing the Milky Way over Cape Cod's lighthouses, beaches, or cranberry bogs, you've likely heard the phrase ?Milky Way Season.? But what does it really mean?and why does this magnificent band of stars only seem to show itself during certain times of the year?
What Is ?Milky Way Season??
?Milky Way Season? refers to the time of year when the Galactic Core?the bright, photogenic center of our galaxy?is visible in the night sky. For night photographers on Cape Cod and throughout the Northern Hemisphere, this season typically runs from late February through early October.
While the Milky Way is always overhead, the Galactic Core is not always visible. That's because the Earth's tilt and orbit around the sun determine when and where the core appears in the sky during the night hours.
It is important to note that often times photographers will use the terms ?Milky Way? and ?Galactic Core? interchangeably. However, this is incorrect as the highly-coveted core is a smaller component of the overall Milky Way. Another term you may hear is the ?galactic band' which is interchangeable.
An early season Milky Way appears more horizontally along the eastern horizon.
Why Does the Milky Way Rise at Different Times?
The core of the Milky Way rises and sets just like the sun and moon?but the timing changes with the seasons.
In early spring (February?March): The core rises in the southeast just before dawn. You'll need to be out shooting between 3 a.m. and sunrise. This is a great time to capture panorama shots and arcs as the galactic band is at its most horizontal alignment.
In late spring to midsummer (April?July): The core rises earlier?closer to midnight or even after sunset. These months offer the longest viewing windows and most favorable weather, making them prime time for Milky Way photography. This is my personal favorite part of the season because I prefer a vertical Milky Way. It aligns well with structures and landscape and also allows for portrait oriented compositions.
By late summer into early fall (August?October): The core becomes visible right after sunset but sets earlier each night. By October, it's already dipping below the horizon shortly after dark. Technically, it's been out most of the day and you're just seeing the last of it after sunset.
This shift means photographers must carefully track rise times and adjust their schedules throughout the year. More importantly, each month dictates a different set of locations that best align with the Milky Way.
How It Impacts Photography Planning on Cape Cod
Cape Cod's east- and south-facing coastlines offer excellent sightlines for Milky Way photography, but several planning considerations come into play:
1. Time of Night
You'll need to know when the core will be above the horizon?and how high it will rise. Apps like PhotoPills or PlanIt Pro can help forecast the best viewing windows. Be warned, the idea of ?the core? tricks photographers into thinking they cannot begin to photograph prior to its rise because there isn't enough there to shoot. This couldn't be further from the truth!
2. Moon Phase
A bright moon can wash out the Milky Way. Plan your shoots during new moons or when the moon has already set during your shooting window. More on this later.
A moonset from behind the camera provides just the right amount foreground light as the Milky Way rises at Stage Harbor. Residual moonlight will normally cast a blue tone into the sky.
3. Light Pollution and the Bortle Scale
Even on Cape Cod, light pollution from nearby towns can dull the sky. Stick to darker areas like Cape Cod National Seashore, Sandy Neck, or Wellfleet's ocean-facing beaches for the best results. The Surf Drive area in Falmouth can provide opportunities for the folks along the Upper Cape.
However, as summer transitions to fall, the core is only visible for a short time after sunset and is often buried in light pollution to the west.
Bay facing locations such as the Sandwich Boardwalk, Grays Beach, Rock Harbor and the inner arm of the Cape suffers from the most light pollution.
The Bortle Scale is a numeric rating system that assesses the light pollution at a given location with 1 being the best (or the darkest) and 9 being the worst (brightest.)
The darker areas of Cape Cod are generally rated at a level 4 which are very workable conditions. Hyannis is the worst at a level 6. The very best place you could go is the Highland Light area in Truro as this gets you to the area's lowest level at a 3. Just remember, photographing toward the west from here will reveal the light pollution of Provincetown. But it is clear sailing to the north and east.
The image below shows a ?heat map? of the estimated light pollution of the Cape Cod area with reds being the most severe and the blues being the most favorable.
4. Seasonal Access
Some locations on the Cape may have limited or seasonal access. Make sure your preferred shooting spots are open to the public, especially during off-season months.
Many beach parking lots in the area will close at 10:00pm and a gate is locked. Your best opportunity to enjoy nighttime beach photography lies across the National Seashore where most areas close at midnight but even then you can usually stick around with little trouble.
5. About That Moon
The very first thing you should be thinking about is what the moon phase will be on the night you plan to shoot. As previously mentioned, the moon can quickly obscure your view of the Milky Way even when you perceive it to be quite dim. For those of you on Cape Cod, here's a nifty resource that you should bookmark. You can also search for other locations.
https://moonphases.willyweather.com/ma/barnstable-county/cape-cod-national-seashore.html
Get Out There!
Milky Way Season is a rewarding time for night photographers on Cape Cod. Understanding how the Earth's movement impacts the visibility of the Galactic Core helps you anticipate the best nights for shooting?and ensures you don't show up with your tripod in July only to discover the Milky Way is already out of view by the time you're ready.
So mark your calendars, charge your batteries, and plan ahead?Cape Cod's skies are waiting.
See you out there, after dark. -T
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| *** NEWS BRIEFS *** Motorcyclist suffered ?serious bodily injury,? Bourne Police say? Friday May 16, 2025 |
| BOURNE, MASSACHUSETTS ? The Bourne Police Department posted the above photo (HN edits) of motorcycle vs. vehicle crash that happened in their town last evening. According to a statement, the ?Mid Cape Highway Connector? to Sandwich Road needed to be closed down while first responders worked the scene.
There were ?multiple injuries? with ?suspected serious bodily injury to the motorcycle operator. State troopers assisted with traffic control. The Cape Cod Accident Reconstruction Team responded to investigate. No further details available at this time?
IN OTHER NEWS:
The Sandwich Police Department is investigating a rollover crash involving one of their cruisers?
At around 9:15 a.m. yesterday morning ? a Sandwich Police officer could announced over the radio that he had been involved in a crash. The officer had been responding with lights and sirens to a reported overdose in East Sandwich, according to a Sandwich PD media statement.
The Sandwich PD media statement continues as follows:
?While passing through the intersection of Cotuit Road and Quaker Meeting House Road, a vehicle struck the Sandwich Police cruiser causing it to roll over. The Sandwich Fire Department responded and extricated the officer from the cruiser. The officer was transported to Cape Cod Hospital. The operator of the vehicle involved was evaluated by the fire department with no injuries and was not transported.
Accident Reconstruction and Barnstable County CIO responded. This accident remains under investigation.?
Quaker Meeting House northbound, to Cotuit Road needed to be temporarily closed while the crash reconstruction was performed. No further details available at this time?
[Paul Leidenfrost photo/ HN edits]
[HN NOTES & MULLINGS ON THE MATTER]
The 65-foot adult fin whale that washed up on Great Island last week is expected to be removed soon, today or in the days to come, according to a Yarmouth Department of Natural Resources source.
HN reported on the deceased whale earlier in the week. CLICK HERE for the earlier report entitled, ?WHAT REALLY CAUSED THIS 65 FOOT ADULT FIN WHALE TO DIE??
?A limited examination?
According to an earlier YDNR media statement, ?A limited examination, including biological sampling, was conducted to gather information and better understand the circumstances.? The YDNR was unable to confirm whether or not a full necropsy had been conducted. HN has also reached out to IFAW and it remains uncertain whether or not anyone has, or is planning on, conducting a full necropsy on the 80,000-to-100,000-pound animal. And the opportunity to study what happened to this whale will obviously disappear once it's disposed of.
According to online sources, including the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, ?Whale watching season on Cape Cod begins mid-April and runs through October,? and notes that fin whales, along with humpback and minke whales, are among the species commonly sighted during this period at Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, a key feeding ground. Which is important because the wind farm failure off Nantucket, involving a turbine blade failure at the Vineyard Wind project, occurred on July 13, 2024. The incident involved a GE Vernova-manufactured blade breaking during post-installation testing, scattering fiberglass and foam debris into the ocean and onto the beaches of Nantucket Sound. There's a good chance that the above fin whale was in local waters effected by the fiberglass and foam debris field, leading some to question whether this whale ingested fiberglass or harmful materials that slowly caused internal injuries in the following months.
According to online sources, fin whales are the second-largest whale species after blue whales. They can grow up to 90 feet and weigh between 80,000 to 100,000 pounds. They are one of 16 species of ?baleen whales,? with plates (or ?whalebone?) in their mouths to sieve plankton from the water. They can live up to 100 years and consume up to 1.8 metric tons of food daily. (According to Wikipedia article sources, ?Full physical maturity is attained between 25 and 30 years. Fin whales have a maximum life span of at least 94 years of age, although specimens have been found aged at an estimated 135?140 years.?)
The beached whale on Great Island presents a unique opportunity for biologists to learn whether debris from the wind farm failure harmed sea creatures in local waters. Again, there is currently no word on whether or not anyone has, or is planning on, conducting a full necropsy on this particular 80,000-to-100,000-pound animal that likely sieved hundreds of tons of plankton from local waters during the time following the Vinyard Wind blade failure debris field. There's also no word on whether or not anyone has collected samples of the whale's baleen plates, along with any other tissues it used to filter local waters for plankton?
HN will provide updates on whether or not a full necropsy has or will be conducted on this whale as soon as new information becomes available?
P.S. ? Today's Hytown Vignette is a brought to you by Thomas Dolby? [CLICK IT/CRANK IT! HEADPHONES ABSOLUTELY OBLIGATORY!]
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| Barnstable Police locate for missing woman Thursday May 15, 2025 |
| OSTERVILLE ? Update: About 3:45 PM, it was reported the missing woman had been found safe. Previous story: The Barnstable Police Department is currently looking for a missing person from the area of First Ave in Osterville. The woman has onset of Alzheimers without a cell phone and walked away from her home in Osterville [?]
The post Barnstable Police locate for missing woman appeared first on CapeCod.com. |
| Driver seriously injured after car vs bridge abutment in Barnstable Thursday May 15, 2025 |
| BARNSTABLE ? One person was seriously injured after their vehicle struck a bridge abutment in Barnstable. The crash happened on Mary Dunn Road at the Route 6 overpass about 5:50 AM Thursday morning. The driver was transported to Cape Cod Hospital under a trauma alert. Barnstable Police are reportedly investigating if the operator may have [?]
The post Driver seriously injured after car vs bridge abutment in Barnstable appeared first on CapeCod.com. |
| *** HN PHOTOS *** DRIVER BADLY HURT AFTER SLAMMING INTO BRIDGE ABUTMENT? [ANATOMY OF A SERIOUS CRASH SCENE] Thursday May 15, 2025 |
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BARNSTABLE, MASSACHUSETTS ? [HN PHOTO NOTES] ? A driver was badly hurt this morning when his vehicle left the roadway and slammed into a bridge abutment.
At around 5:45 p.m., Barnstable police and firefighters responded to Mary Dunn Road at the Route 6 overpass for a single-vehicle crash. EMTs encountered a 73-year-old male driver still inside a heavily damaged vehicle. The driver was reportedly unresponsive and not restrained by seat belts when first responders arrived, according to sources. The patient was then reported to be semi-conscious as the call progressed. According to sources, the patient claimed he had fallen asleep prior to the crash. The patient was complaining of significant pain and Cape Cod Hospital was placed on a trauma alert. The patient was reportedly in priority two condition upon being transported.
Barnstable Police completely shut down Mary Dunn Road while first responders worked the scene. A member of the sheriff's crime scene unit took photos of the crash. A BPD patrolman followed the Barnstable FD ambulance to CCH as the investigation continued. The BPD is investigating the cause of the crash. No further details available at this time?
P.S. ? Today's Hytown Vignette is a brought to you by Wayne Shorter? [CLICK IT/CRANK IT! HEADPHONES ABSOLUTELY OBLIGATORY!]
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| Yarmouth man arrested for trafficking over a kilo of cocaine Wednesday May 14, 2025 |
| HYANNIS ? From Barnstable Police: Over the past several months the Barnstable Police Department Detective Unit has been investigating individuals distributing Cocaine in Barnstable and the surrounding towns. As a result, 37 year old Italo Dumont was identified as a supplier of Cocaine on Cape Cod. On Tuesday May 13, 2025 the Barnstable Police Department [?]
The post Yarmouth man arrested for trafficking over a kilo of cocaine appeared first on CapeCod.com. |
| MAN ACCUSED OF TRAFFICKING OVER A KILO OF COKE ARRESTED IN HYANNIS, COPS SAY Wednesday May 14, 2025 |
| BARNSTABLE, MASSACHUSETTS ? According to a Barnstable Police media statement, their detective division has been conducting ongoing investigations into individuals allegedly distributing cocaine in Barnstable and surrounding towns in recent months.
According to the BPD media statement, 37-year-old ?Italo Dumont was identified as a supplier of Cocaine on Cape Cod.?
On Tuesday ? May 13, 2025 ? BPD detective and K-9 units partnered with the Massachusetts State Police Gang Unit, Cape & Island's State Police Detective Unit, Yarmouth Police Department, Barnstable County Sheriff's Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration Cape Cod Task Force to arrest Dumont in Hyannis.
Officers then executed a search warrant at Dumont's residence in Yarmouth. According to police, Dumont had over 85 grams of Cocaine on his person when he was taken into custody. The search warrant then yielded over a kilo (1000 grams) of Cocaine and large sum of U.S. Currency, according to the BPD media statement.
The BPD statement continues as follows:
?Dumont was transported to the Barnstable Police Department where he was booked and charged with trafficking a Class B substance, Cocaine, over 36 grams ? less than 100 grams, as well as trafficking a Class B substance, Cocaine, over 200 grams.
Dumont was held at the Barnstable Police Department on $100,000 cash bail and [was] scheduled to be arraigned in Barnstable District Court on Wednesday May 14, 2025.?
P.S. ? Today's Hytown Vignette is a brought to you by The Talking Heads? [CLICK IT/CRANK IT! HEADPHONES ABSOLUTELY OBLIGATORY!]
* The initial details contained in the above report are based on police radio transmissions and information on scene. The defendant is presumed to be innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. |
| Hyannis Announces Aesthetic Funds For Downtown Businesses Wednesday May 14, 2025 |
| HYANNIS ? The Barnstable Planning and Development Department has partnered with the Hyannis Main Street Business Improvement District to announce $50,000 in available funds for aesthetic improvements in Downtown Hyannis through the 2025 iteration of the Small Business Façade Improvement Grant Program. The program is intended to improve the look and quality of downtown Hyannis, [?]
The post Hyannis Announces Aesthetic Funds For Downtown Businesses appeared first on CapeCod.com. |
Next Barnstable Cape News Update at 9:30 AM EST
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