Milky Way Over Longs Peak
The Milky Way passes to the west of Longs Peak (14,255 feet) in Rocky Mountain National Park.
This is a stitch of 12 images taken with the camera riding piggyback on the telescope for tracking. Tracking was done with PHD Software. Each of the 12 images is comprised of a stack of four 30 second exposures taken at ISO 1600 with the modified Canon 450D through the 50mm lens set at f/2.2. The light pollution glow from Denver in the lower left corner of the photo made it hard to match color and brightness between the shots - I'll have to try again, maybe with a light pollution filter. For the landscape, a separate set of photos were taken from a tripod at the same time and place and was overlayed into the shot. This was done to avoid motion blur caused by the telescope tracking with the stars.
Comments and faves
pathh moretti, NebraskaSC, johnchamilton, NickGarrison., and 153 other people added this photo to their favorites.
johnchamilton (24 months ago | reply)
This photo fills me with awe, Pat. Not just the scene itself, but the technique you've mastered to bring it to us. Outstanding!
SomewhereOutside (24 months ago | reply)
The Master! Sooo beautiful!
limawms (24 months ago | reply)
Excellent work of art.
Erik N Larsen (24 months ago | reply)
Definitely a worthwhile investment of all that time , superbly processed and perfectly composed.
Is this the "nifty fifty" or a more expensive version , I thought it had to be stopped down to like f/4 to make it work for stars?
Has to be some of your best work here Pat , really well done.
Francesco Littmann - 42 (24 months ago | reply)
Awesome!!!
Jared Hughey (24 months ago | reply)
Pat, this is just spectacular!! I'm in absolute awe.
Wily Fawlet (24 months ago | reply)
Very cool! Well done.
Catsbow (24 months ago | reply)
Wow. Pretty amazing.
wboland (24 months ago | reply)
Damn! Truly amazing image....
Grandpops Woodlice (24 months ago | reply)
That is quite amazing !!!! I have never seen anything quite like this before !!!!!! My hat is off.....
DavidHR (24 months ago | reply)
Even with the light pollution, it's a great image of the Milky Way! well done!
flipkeat (24 months ago | reply)
awesome shot..amazing to see.
gainesp2003 (24 months ago | reply)
Hi Erik, thanks for your comment! It was the Canon 50mm f/1.4 lens. It does get sharper and has less vignetting at f/4 than at f/2.2, but I just compromized between letting in lots of light and best image quality. When stitching together multiple exposures the small flaws are hidden to a certain extent. I did take a set of 4 shots at f/4 of the galaxy center here:
www.flickr.com/photos/33403047@N00/5720794715 /in/photostream
on the same night, so you can see the difference in detail. Part of that difference is the image resolution as they were uploaded at about the same size. Maybe I'll do a side-by-side comparison though - could be interesting.
If you are using an Astrodon filter such as a hydrogen alpha filter, then it is recommended to use f/4 or smaller.
Terry Hancock www.downunderobservatory.com (24 months ago | reply)
That is a really stunning image Pat, Congratulations
csnyder103 (24 months ago | reply)
Spectacular work Pat. Wow!
2lazy7 (24 months ago | reply)
I like the way this turned out with the fixed tripod shots for the landscape layered over the tracked image of the milky way. I'm going to have to try some of these this summer (if it ever stops raining and clears up). I ordered another adapter so I can put my old Canon FD lenses on my EOS body so we'll see if I can get that old 50mm lens (or the 24mm f/2.8) back in business. Nice shot! Gotta love anything with Long's in it too :)
JMelquist (24 months ago | reply)
incredible!
Meus Olhos - gracias!! (24 months ago | reply)
I pick this photograph to be on the cover of National Geographic
National Geographic: Are You Good Enough?</
peet-astn (24 months ago | reply)
stunning stuff.
SeannPatrick84 (24 months ago | reply)
Amazing, and truly visionary image.
icecubephoto - trying to catch up (24 months ago | reply)
Beautiful image- thanks for the details! I thought it looked a little richer than the standard wide-field, 6400, 30 second exposure.
Nick 1992 (24 months ago | reply)
Just Incredible, what tracking mount do you use?
gainesp2003 (24 months ago | reply)
Hi Nick,
I use an Orion Atlas mount, and track through a Celestron 9.25" scope with a 0.66X focal reducer on it. Tracking is done through a Celestron NexStar Imager and using PHD software.
kslaught21 (24 months ago | reply)
Wow, amazing image!
J.Montero1 (24 months ago | reply)
I pick this photograph to be on the cover of National Geographic
National Geographic: Are You Good Enough?
lalipuna (24 months ago | reply)
I pick this photograph to be on the cover of National Geographic
National Geographic: Are You Good Enough?
LeelooDallas (24 months ago | reply)
I pick this photograph to be on the cover of National Geographic
National Geographic: Are You Good Enough?
A Perry [deleted] (24 months ago | reply)
nice work pat
This photo was invited and added to the Nature's Power group.
haikus* (24 months ago | reply)
Félicitations!!
Cette Photo représente si bien le Pouvoir de la Nature
Le Pouvoir de la Nature
Congratulations!!
This shot illustrate perfectly Nature's Power
Fulvia S. (24 months ago | reply)
Félicitations!!
Cette Photo représente si bien le Pouvoir de la Nature
Le Pouvoir de la Nature
Congratulations!!
This shot illustrate perfectly Nature's Power
Creative Photography by Irene OFF/ON (24 months ago | reply)
Félicitations!!
Cette Photo représente si bien le Pouvoir de la Nature
Le Pouvoir de la Nature
Congratulations!!
This shot illustrate perfectly Nature's Power
olivier nyssens (24 months ago | reply)
magnifique
JEROME SLAGLE [deleted] (24 months ago | reply)
Amazing work!!!
MecaEPT (24 months ago | reply)
I've no words
Just awesomefantasticsuperb shot. Deepsky meeeting earth.
jimsc (24 months ago | reply)
Astronomically swell!
LEXPIX_ (24 months ago | reply)
Nicely done. The night sky has always intrigued me.
Sophie Riches Photography (24 months ago | reply)
This is probably one of the most beautiful photographs I've ever seen.
This photo was invited and added to the The Knight and his Princess (Admins invite only) P 1 - A/C 1 group.
uhx72 (24 months ago | reply)
Great work !
This awesome picture was seen in
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S Ty Photography (22 months ago | reply)
Pat, I have a Rebel T1i (Rebel 500D) and a 50mm prime lens - will that be able to capture the milky way just like you did? Also what does it mean by 'stacking' images?
kwsdurango (16 months ago | reply)
Great shot, really nicely composed and processed!
Giacomo Foti Photo (14 months ago | reply)
What modifications did you do to your 450d?
gainesp2003 (13 months ago | reply)
Hi Ita_Galf - I had the UV block filter removed and replaced with an Astrodon filter that allows more light in the infra-red wavelength through. You can get these from Hutech or from Hap Griffin, or now with the new Canon 60Da.
nina.polareuth (12 months ago | reply)
Wonderful, never saw apicture like this! Thanks for the explanation!
adventure-travel (5 months ago | reply)
This shot is truly out of this world! Amazing work!
Nick
Adventure Travel Photo of the Day