Here's my local version of "dark skies", about a half hour to the west of the Western 'Burbs of Chitown. This is about where the law of diminishing returns sets in, as far as " dark sky" return on "westward travel" investment, so I've made myself happy with this spot, and I'm fairly pleased with this result, being a single exposure of 30 seconds at f/5.6 ( taken 11/14/2012.) It does show dust lanes, after all!
