At the distances involved the standard 50mm normal lens found on 35mm cameras is inadequate. The techniques called for in such circumstances are similar in some respects to those that astronomers use to photograph distant celestial objects. The ideal photograph is sharp and highly resolved. The principal impediments to obtaining the ideal are weather conditions, lighting conditions, and atmospheric haze. Wind is often excessive for telephotography between mid-autumn and early spring and snow may exist during that period, particularly at higher desert elevations.
Excessive heat can be troublesome during mid-summer.
Ideally one photographs after a cold front has passed through the area with a light rain, settling dust out of the air. However, such precise scheduling of photography to coincide with ephemeral weather conditions is often impractical. Rest assured that respectable results can still be obtained in the absence of a recent cold front. The ideal time of day to photograph is that time when the shadows are longest and the sun is not in front of you. For photography from both Tikaboo Peak and popular viewpoints of the Tonopah Test Range that time is shortly after sunrise.