I Saw the Most Amazing Night Sky from a Submarine—Here’s How I Recreated It at Home

By rewqfrew rqwerq2

March 6, 2025

amazing night sky, night sky, starry night at sea

Some experiences never leave us. For this customer, the most unforgettable night sky wasn’t seen from a national park or an observatory—it was from the topside of a submarine, miles out at sea. What followed was a lifelong search to see that night sky again.

After years of stargazing, photography, and searching for truly dark skies, he finally found a way to bring that experience home—through a Night Sky Mural.

Since this testimonial is longer than most, I decided to turn it into a blog post to make it easier to read. Below is his story, in his own words.

(To make it easier to follow, I’ve added section headings—but everything else remains exactly as he shared it.)

A Night Sky Unlike Any Other (Submarine Experience)

Many years ago, I stood in the sail of a submarine at sea and saw a night sky unlike any other ever seen in my life. It was the first and only time I’d ever be in that position up in the sail. (I worked in engineering.)

There was much to see. The sea sometimes glowed at night at the bow of the sub, owing to some weird effect of sea creatures, though I don’t remember exactly why.

There was a pair of military-grade night vision doodads to play with. There were various friendly ships in the distance to look at. And, of course, there was the awe of being at sea while standing in the sail of a sub!

But all I could do—all I really wanted to do—was look up. The real awe lay above me. When you see it for the first time, you’ll remember it for the rest of your life.

Searching for That Feeling Again (Stargazing & Big Bend National Park)

In the years since, I’ve caught glimpses of that sky—high in the mountains of Colorado, in Moab, and in Death Valley—but nothing ever matched that first adventure at sea.

Later, I got into amateur stargazing and photography. But the night skies where I’ve lived have never been great—sometimes downright horrible—like in the Dallas metroplex. I wanted my kids to feel the same fascination with our little spot in the universe that I do, so I took them to see the galaxy in Big Bend National Park. The night sky there didn’t disappoint.

Discovering Night Sky Murals

When we got back from Big Bend, I first read about Night Sky Murals—that was a few years ago now. Jeff had been to Texas a few times, but things just never lined up—until this month. Then I got an email from Jeff, asking if I was still interested. I hadn’t planned on it, but I decided to take the plunge. If Jeff could capture even 1% of what it’s really like to experience the Milky Way and the other wonders of a dark night sky… it’d be worth it.

More Than Just Paint—Jeff’s Craftsmanship

Nothing could have prepared me for the finished product. I’m still stunned. I think Jeff actually captured more of what it’s really like.

“Nothing could have prepared me for the finished product. I’m still stunned.”

It’s nearly impossible to capture nature—much less in a “lifelike” way, much less on a ceiling-sized canvas, much less when the subject is the Universe itself.

I’d say it captures about 75% of the experience. The other 25%? Well, you’ll just have to know or find out for yourself. The crispness of the air, the smell of (wherever you are), the backdrop of mountains—those can’t be taken in with any form of art. (That’s the missing part.)

Seeing the Milky Way Every Night

This mural comes awfully damn close to what you see when you look up at a dark sky location. There’s just so much detail, so much to take in. Every time I look, I notice something new—the Pleiades (Seven Sisters), the Hyades, Aldebaran, the Golden Gate of the Ecliptic, Pollux in Gemini… and countless others. Just stunning.

Yes, there are things that aren’t time-of-year accurate in my mural—but I asked for them specifically. I wanted them included, regardless of timeframe.

I can look at it with or without my glasses on, and it gives the same kind of effect as the real thing. (If you wear glasses, you’ll know exactly what I mean.)

Jeff Knows His Stuff

Jeff knows his stuff. It’s obvious he’s mastered his craft over many years—and dare I say, he’s at the very peak of it.

I tested him—somewhat obscurely, I might add—on pigments and other technical details, including some recent advances in the ”glowies.” I’m a technical guy—a chemist and engineer with years of experience in my fields.

He knew way more than I do, no question about it. And it showed—he was subtle, didn’t over-explain, just very… sure of things, in the way only someone who truly knows can be. He humored me without being dismissive.

His techniques have matured to a level I honestly doubt anyone else in the world can replicate. And I’m not just saying that to be complimentary—I truly believe it.

You really should see it for yourself. I doubt you’ll be disappointed. It’s worth every penny.