Milky Photos ❘ lookphotos

Mars (at left) and the Milky Way (at right) over a single tipi (with another under construction at back) at the Two Trees site at Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan, August 6, 2018. I placed a low-level warm LED light inside the tipi for the illumination.

13899449 - Mars (at left) and the Milky Way (at right) over a single tipi (with another under construction at back) at the Two Trees site at Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan, August 6, 2018. I placed a low-level warm LED light inside the tipi for the illumination.

The Rosette Nebula (aka NGC 2237) in Monoceros, an emission nebula and site of star formation in the Orion Arm of the Milky Way. The star cluster at the centre of the nebula is NGC 2244.

13899200 - The Rosette Nebula (aka NGC 2237) in Monoceros, an emission nebula and site of star formation in the Orion Arm of the Milky Way. The star cluster at the centre of the nebula is NGC 2244.

The summer Milky Way and centre of the Galaxy area in Scorpius and Sagittarius rising above the adobe lodges at the Painted Pony Resort in southwest New Mexico, March 14, 2013. This is a stack of 5 x 3.5 minute exposures at f/2.8 with the 24mm lens and Canon 5D MkII at ISO 1600, plus a layer of two exposures taken through the Softon filter for the star glows.

13899198 - The summer Milky Way and centre of the Galaxy area in Scorpius and Sagittarius rising above the adobe lodges at the Painted Pony Resort in southwest New Mexico, March 14, 2013. This is a stack of 5 x 3.5 minute exposures at f/2.8 with the 24mm lens and Canon 5D MkII at ISO 1600, plus a layer of two exposures taken through the Softon filter for the star glows.

The summer Milky Way rising late on a spring night over a fallow wheatfield in spring, 2013. Taken from home, May 6, 2013, with the Canon 5D MkII and Samyang 14mm lens at f/2.8 for a stack of 5 x 2.5 minute exposures at ISO 1600, all tracked on the iOptron Sky-Tracker. The ground is from one exposure. Taken from a latitude of +50° so Scorpius at right and Sagittarius right of centre are skimming the southern horizon. Taken from southern Alberta, Canada.

13898959 - The summer Milky Way rising late on a spring night over a fallow wheatfield in spring, 2013. Taken from home, May 6, 2013, with the Canon 5D MkII and Samyang 14mm lens at f/2.8 for a stack of 5 x 2.5 minute exposures at ISO 1600, all tracked on the iOptron Sky-Tracker. The ground is from one exposure. Taken from a latitude of +50° so Scorpius at right and Sagittarius right of centre are skimming the southern horizon. Taken from southern Alberta, Canada.

Mount Cephren at Lower Waterfowl Lake, in the light of the low waning Moon lighting the peaks but not the foreground. This is from the lakeside viewpoint on the Icefields Parkway in Banff National Park, Alberta. I shot this on a very clear night October 13, 2022. There was enough wind to ripple the water and blur any stellar reflections. The Milky Way is to the left of Cephren, but is being lost in the brightening moonlit sky.

13898858 - Mount Cephren at Lower Waterfowl Lake, in the light of the low waning Moon lighting the peaks but not the foreground. This is from the lakeside viewpoint on the Icefields Parkway in Banff National Park, Alberta. I shot this on a very clear night October 13, 2022. There was enough wind to ripple the water and blur any stellar reflections. The Milky Way is to the left of Cephren, but is being lost in the brightening moonlit sky.

Mars (bottom) and Saturn in conjunction at right, and the Milky Way at left, in deep blue twilight before the sky got filly dark, over the old corral of the 76 Ranch, in Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan, August 27/28, 2014. Antares and Scorpius are just behind the corral gate at right, Sagittarius is at left in the Milky Way. M6 and M7 open cluster are visible at left.

13898781 - Mars (bottom) and Saturn in conjunction at right, and the Milky Way at left, in deep blue twilight before the sky got filly dark, over the old corral of the 76 Ranch, in Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan, August 27/28, 2014. Antares and Scorpius are just behind the corral gate at right, Sagittarius is at left in the Milky Way. M6 and M7 open cluster are visible at left.

The tail of Scorpius, photographed with it high in the sky from Australia. The frame is oriented with the Milky Way running horizontally and the hook of the tail vertically.

13898580 - The tail of Scorpius, photographed with it high in the sky from Australia. The frame is oriented with the Milky Way running horizontally and the hook of the tail vertically.

An observer gazes skyward with his Dobsonian reflector telescope at the Saskatchewan Summer Star Party on August 9, 2018, in the Cypress Hills of southwest Saskatchewan, at the Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, a Dark Sky Preserve. The Milky Way shines to the south. Smoke in the sky obscures the horizon somewhat.

13898570 - An observer gazes skyward with his Dobsonian reflector telescope at the Saskatchewan Summer Star Party on August 9, 2018, in the Cypress Hills of southwest Saskatchewan, at the Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, a Dark Sky Preserve. The Milky Way shines to the south. Smoke in the sky obscures the horizon somewhat.

The open star cluster NGC 188, in Cepheus, one of the oldest such objects known, with an estimated age of 9 billion years. NGC 188 has lasted so long as it is well above the plane of the Galaxy near the North Celestial Pole, and so free of the disruptive tidal effects of the Milky Way.

13898480 - The open star cluster NGC 188, in Cepheus, one of the oldest such objects known, with an estimated age of 9 billion years. NGC 188 has lasted so long as it is well above the plane of the Galaxy near the North Celestial Pole, and so free of the disruptive tidal effects of the Milky Way.

A mosaic of the region around the Small Sagittarius Starcloud and Dark Horse dark nebula complex. The field takes in the Milky Way from the Lagoon Nebula at bottom to the Eagle Nebula at top left. In between from top to bottom are the Swan Nebula (M17), and the Small Sagittarius Starcloud (M24). Flanking the bright M24 starcloud are the large open clusters M23 (right) and M25 (left). At bottom left is the M22 globular star cluster. The prominent dark nebula at right is the large Pipe Nebula (B78) with the small Snake Nebula (B72) above it. The whole complex is visible to the naked eye as the D

13898305 - A mosaic of the region around the Small Sagittarius Starcloud and Dark Horse dark nebula complex. The field takes in the Milky Way from the Lagoon Nebula at bottom to the Eagle Nebula at top left. In between from top to bottom are the Swan Nebula (M17), and the Small Sagittarius Starcloud (M24). Flanking the bright M24 starcloud are the large open clusters M23 (right) and M25 (left). At bottom left is the M22 globular star cluster. The prominent dark nebula at right is the large Pipe Nebula (B78) with the small Snake Nebula (B72) above it. The whole complex is visible to the naked eye as the D

The well-known Double Cluster (aka NGC 884 and NGC 869) framed at upper right to include two of its companion star clusters, NGC 957 at upper left and Trumpler 2 at lower left. Dotted through the field of young blue stars are numerous aging yellow giant stars. And the gradation in sky colour from the clearer, bluer sky with more stars at right to the dustier, yellower sky and fewer stars at left is subtle but obvious here, from interstellar dust in this part of the Milky Way.

13898215 - The well-known Double Cluster (aka NGC 884 and NGC 869) framed at upper right to include two of its companion star clusters, NGC 957 at upper left and Trumpler 2 at lower left. Dotted through the field of young blue stars are numerous aging yellow giant stars. And the gradation in sky colour from the clearer, bluer sky with more stars at right to the dustier, yellower sky and fewer stars at left is subtle but obvious here, from interstellar dust in this part of the Milky Way.

Southern Milky Way from Atacama Lodge, Chile (latitude 23° S) taken March 15/16, 2010. Taken witn Canon 5D MkII (modified) and Canon L-Series 35mm lens at f/4 for stack of 4 x 6 minute exposures, plus stack of 2 x 6 minute with Kenko Softon filter for star glows.

13898109 - Southern Milky Way from Atacama Lodge, Chile (latitude 23° S) taken March 15/16, 2010. Taken witn Canon 5D MkII (modified) and Canon L-Series 35mm lens at f/4 for stack of 4 x 6 minute exposures, plus stack of 2 x 6 minute with Kenko Softon filter for star glows.

The Milky Way over the distant Prince of Wales Hotel from Driftwood Beach, in Waterton Lakes National Park, September 24, 2016. Being at the end of the season, the hotel is closed and dark. The bright star at centre is Altair in Aquila.

13897825 - The Milky Way over the distant Prince of Wales Hotel from Driftwood Beach, in Waterton Lakes National Park, September 24, 2016. Being at the end of the season, the hotel is closed and dark. The bright star at centre is Altair in Aquila.

The Zodiacal Light in the the late autumn evening sky from Arizona, overlooking the Chiricahua Mountains near Portal, AZ. The Zodiacal Light exends up from the horizon to the angled following the ecliptic. The summer Milky Way setting into the southwest extends up from the horizon to the right, running through the middle of the Summer Triangle stars. A satellite streaks across the Zodiacal Light, in a flaring path. I shot this from the field at Quailway Cottage.

13897563 - The Zodiacal Light in the the late autumn evening sky from Arizona, overlooking the Chiricahua Mountains near Portal, AZ. The Zodiacal Light exends up from the horizon to the angled following the ecliptic. The summer Milky Way setting into the southwest extends up from the horizon to the right, running through the middle of the Summer Triangle stars. A satellite streaks across the Zodiacal Light, in a flaring path. I shot this from the field at Quailway Cottage.

Orion and the winter stars and Milky Way over a mock-up inukshuk figure made of snow blocks, at the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, Manitoba. The human figure of the inukshuk mirrors the figure of Orion in the sky. This is a single expsoure with the 12mm full frame Rokinon fish-eye lens and Nikon D750. The inukshuk is painted with a white LDE headlamp.

13897504 - Orion and the winter stars and Milky Way over a mock-up inukshuk figure made of snow blocks, at the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, Manitoba. The human figure of the inukshuk mirrors the figure of Orion in the sky. This is a single expsoure with the 12mm full frame Rokinon fish-eye lens and Nikon D750. The inukshuk is painted with a white LDE headlamp.

Scorpius and Sagittarius rising, with Scorpius coming up on its side, as seen from New South Wales, Australia, April 2, 2016. Mars is the brightest object left of Antares in Scorpius, with fainter Saturn below the reddish pairing of Mars and its rival Antares. The cyan-colored blob at lower left above the trees is Comet Linear/252P, which passed close to Earth the previous month. Many nebulas and clusters are visible along the Milky Way around the Galactic Centre in Sagittarius, which is rising here.

13897449 - Scorpius and Sagittarius rising, with Scorpius coming up on its side, as seen from New South Wales, Australia, April 2, 2016. Mars is the brightest object left of Antares in Scorpius, with fainter Saturn below the reddish pairing of Mars and its rival Antares. The cyan-colored blob at lower left above the trees is Comet Linear/252P, which passed close to Earth the previous month. Many nebulas and clusters are visible along the Milky Way around the Galactic Centre in Sagittarius, which is rising here.

A mosaic of the region around the centre of the Milky Way in Sagittarius and Scorpius. The field takes in the Milky Way from the Cat's Paw Nebula at bottom edge to the Eagle Nebula at top left. In between from top to bottom are the Swan Nebula (M17), the Small Sagittarius Starcloud (M24), the Trifid and Lagoon Nebulas (M20 and M8) and the open clusters M6 and M7. The prominent dark nebula at right is the large Pipe Nebula (B78) with the small Snake Nebula (B72) above it. The whole complex is visible to the naked eye as the Dark Horse.

13897448 - A mosaic of the region around the centre of the Milky Way in Sagittarius and Scorpius. The field takes in the Milky Way from the Cat's Paw Nebula at bottom edge to the Eagle Nebula at top left. In between from top to bottom are the Swan Nebula (M17), the Small Sagittarius Starcloud (M24), the Trifid and Lagoon Nebulas (M20 and M8) and the open clusters M6 and M7. The prominent dark nebula at right is the large Pipe Nebula (B78) with the small Snake Nebula (B72) above it. The whole complex is visible to the naked eye as the Dark Horse.

The stars of Taurus, including the Pleiades, rising above Mount Kerkeslin, with Capella and Auriga at top left. Castor and Pollux in Gemini are among the trees at lower left. The winter Milky Way runs from Capella down to Gemini.

13897442 - The stars of Taurus, including the Pleiades, rising above Mount Kerkeslin, with Capella and Auriga at top left. Castor and Pollux in Gemini are among the trees at lower left. The winter Milky Way runs from Capella down to Gemini.

The stars of the northern sky over Castle Mountain in Banff National Park,Alberta. This was June 6,2023 on a very clear night,but bright with blue summer twilight at this latitude of 51° N in June. The W of Cassiopeia and the Milky Way are at right. Polaris is at top.

13999530 - The stars of the northern sky over Castle Mountain in Banff National Park,Alberta. This was June 6,2023 on a very clear night,but bright with blue summer twilight at this latitude of 51° N in June. The W of Cassiopeia and the Milky Way are at right. Polaris is at top.

A framing of the northern winter sky constellation of Gemini. the Twins The Messier star cluster M35 is at right,along with the emission nebulas IC 443 and NGC 2174. The twin stars of Castor (top) and Pollux are at left,but showing their colour difference here. The Milky Way runs down the right side of the frame making this area much brighter and richer than the sky at left.

13999153 - A framing of the northern winter sky constellation of Gemini. the Twins The Messier star cluster M35 is at right,along with the emission nebulas IC 443 and NGC 2174. The twin stars of Castor (top) and Pollux are at left,but showing their colour difference here. The Milky Way runs down the right side of the frame making this area much brighter and richer than the sky at left.

This is a panorama along the Milky Way framing the nebulosity and star clouds in Cygnus the Swan,taking in about 40° along the northern Milky Way.

13999099 - This is a panorama along the Milky Way framing the nebulosity and star clouds in Cygnus the Swan,taking in about 40° along the northern Milky Way.

A trio of Perseid meteors streaking from left to right away from the radiant point in Perseus off frame at left,and down the summer Milky Way in Cygnus and Lyra. The meteors display the characteristic transition from green to red along their ionization path. The framing includes the Summer Triangle stars,Deneb,Vega and Altair.

13998612 - A trio of Perseid meteors streaking from left to right away from the radiant point in Perseus off frame at left,and down the summer Milky Way in Cygnus and Lyra. The meteors display the characteristic transition from green to red along their ionization path. The framing includes the Summer Triangle stars,Deneb,Vega and Altair.

This is the region of the Milky Way that extends from southern Cygnus at top down into Vulpecula and Sagitta at bottom. Below centre is the Coathanger asterism,aka Brocchi's Cluster or Cr399. Above it is the blue reflection nebula Sharpless 2-83. The magenta emission nebula above and to the left is NGC 6820. A small red nebula above it is Sharpless 2-88. The bright star at upper right is Albireo in Cygnus.

13998294 - This is the region of the Milky Way that extends from southern Cygnus at top down into Vulpecula and Sagitta at bottom. Below centre is the Coathanger asterism,aka Brocchi's Cluster or Cr399. Above it is the blue reflection nebula Sharpless 2-83. The magenta emission nebula above and to the left is NGC 6820. A small red nebula above it is Sharpless 2-88. The bright star at upper right is Albireo in Cygnus.

The amazing area of the southern Milky Way in Carina and Crux, the brightest part of the Milky Way after the galactic core region. At right is the Carina Nebula, with the Southern Pleiades cluster, IC 2602, below it. The Football Cluster, NGC 3532, is at upper left of the Carina Nebula. At centre is the region of Lambda Centauri, with the star cluster NGC 3766, the Pearl Cluster, above the emission nebulosity. At left is the Southern Cross, with the dark Coal Sack at bottom left of the Cross, with thin tendrils extending to the right. To the left of Alpha Cruxis at the bottom of the Cross is t

13900602 - The amazing area of the southern Milky Way in Carina and Crux, the brightest part of the Milky Way after the galactic core region. At right is the Carina Nebula, with the Southern Pleiades cluster, IC 2602, below it. The Football Cluster, NGC 3532, is at upper left of the Carina Nebula. At centre is the region of Lambda Centauri, with the star cluster NGC 3766, the Pearl Cluster, above the emission nebulosity. At left is the Southern Cross, with the dark Coal Sack at bottom left of the Cross, with thin tendrils extending to the right. To the left of Alpha Cruxis at the bottom of the Cross is t

A Park interpreter poses for a scene in Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan, of stargazing with binoculars under the Milky Way on a dark moonless night. Grasslands is perfect for stargazing as it is a Dark Sky Preserve and the horizon is vast and unobstructed.

13900570 - A Park interpreter poses for a scene in Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan, of stargazing with binoculars under the Milky Way on a dark moonless night. Grasslands is perfect for stargazing as it is a Dark Sky Preserve and the horizon is vast and unobstructed.

Mars, the bright object at right, with Saturn to the left and Antares below Saturn, in Scorpius, all above Mt. Rundle, with the Milky Way at left. The area of the galactic centre in Sagittarius is just above the horizon.

13900041 - Mars, the bright object at right, with Saturn to the left and Antares below Saturn, in Scorpius, all above Mt. Rundle, with the Milky Way at left. The area of the galactic centre in Sagittarius is just above the horizon.

Jupiter (brightest), Saturn (to the left), and the Milky Way over the Saskatchewan River and the area of Howse Pass, on July 26, 2020. Mount Cephren is at left; the scene is framed to include Cephren. The nebulas and star clouds of the galactic centre area at right show up well on this very clear night. The bright Small Sagittarius Starcloud, aka M24, is most obvious, flanked by the star clusters M23 and M25 to the side, and the nebulas M17 and M16 above, and M8 and M20 below. The fuzzy globular cluster M22 is to the left of the large Lagoon Nebula, M8. Green airglow tints the sky.

13899645 - Jupiter (brightest), Saturn (to the left), and the Milky Way over the Saskatchewan River and the area of Howse Pass, on July 26, 2020. Mount Cephren is at left; the scene is framed to include Cephren. The nebulas and star clouds of the galactic centre area at right show up well on this very clear night. The bright Small Sagittarius Starcloud, aka M24, is most obvious, flanked by the star clusters M23 and M25 to the side, and the nebulas M17 and M16 above, and M8 and M20 below. The fuzzy globular cluster M22 is to the left of the large Lagoon Nebula, M8. Green airglow tints the sky.

The Sagittarius Milky Way area, around the centre of the Galaxy, over the trees and campsite at Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, Sasksatchewan. Taken August 17, 2012 at the Saskatchewan Summer Star Party. This is a composite of 6 exposures: all 2 minutes at f/2.8 and ISO 1600 with the Canon 5D MkII and Sigma 50mm lens, but 5 exposures were tracked and 1 exposure was untracked to prevent the ground from blurring. Ground is from the untracked exposure, sky is from the stack of 5 tracked exposures. All taken from the same location -- the ground is not faked onto a separate sky shot. The horizo

13899586 - The Sagittarius Milky Way area, around the centre of the Galaxy, over the trees and campsite at Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, Sasksatchewan. Taken August 17, 2012 at the Saskatchewan Summer Star Party. This is a composite of 6 exposures: all 2 minutes at f/2.8 and ISO 1600 with the Canon 5D MkII and Sigma 50mm lens, but 5 exposures were tracked and 1 exposure was untracked to prevent the ground from blurring. Ground is from the untracked exposure, sky is from the stack of 5 tracked exposures. All taken from the same location -- the ground is not faked onto a separate sky shot. The horizo

The summer Milky Way to the southwest over Victoria Glacier and Lake Louise in Banff National Park, Alberta on a moonless night, August 29, 2016. This was about midnight at the start of the night, and before a time-lapse sequence. A low-level aurora and likely airglow this night to the north added a general green cast to the sky, minimized to some extent here.

13899568 - The summer Milky Way to the southwest over Victoria Glacier and Lake Louise in Banff National Park, Alberta on a moonless night, August 29, 2016. This was about midnight at the start of the night, and before a time-lapse sequence. A low-level aurora and likely airglow this night to the north added a general green cast to the sky, minimized to some extent here.

A 360° "all-sky" panorama of the northern spring sky, taken when the North Galactic Pole was almost due south high in the sky, so we are looking up out of the plane of our galaxy. The Milky Way is visible but only as an arc low across the north, and on this night (April 27, 2022) an arc of a dim green and magenta aurora nicely coincided with the location of the Milky Way. The North Galactic Pole is located just left of the Coma Berenices star cluster below centre.

13899446 - A 360° "all-sky" panorama of the northern spring sky, taken when the North Galactic Pole was almost due south high in the sky, so we are looking up out of the plane of our galaxy. The Milky Way is visible but only as an arc low across the north, and on this night (April 27, 2022) an arc of a dim green and magenta aurora nicely coincided with the location of the Milky Way. The North Galactic Pole is located just left of the Coma Berenices star cluster below centre.

A composite of several exposures to stack images of five Geminid meteors into a wide view of the winter sky with Comet Wirtanen at upper right in Taurus, taken on December 12, 2018. The meteors are shooting away from the radiant point in Gemini near the bluish-white star Castor at left. The Milky Way runs vertically through the frame from Auriga at top to past Orion at bottom.

13899263 - A composite of several exposures to stack images of five Geminid meteors into a wide view of the winter sky with Comet Wirtanen at upper right in Taurus, taken on December 12, 2018. The meteors are shooting away from the radiant point in Gemini near the bluish-white star Castor at left. The Milky Way runs vertically through the frame from Auriga at top to past Orion at bottom.

The Milky Way over the old corral at the site of the 76 Ranch in the Frenchman Valley in Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan. I shot this Aug 26 on a perfect night, with aurora beginning to kick up but still low in brightness when I shot this so the sky was dark. The foreground is lit by starlight, by the aurora brightening in the north, and by the occasional flashes of spotlights from naturalists down the valley spotting for nocturnal ferrets. The green bands in the sky are from natural airglow.

13898902 - The Milky Way over the old corral at the site of the 76 Ranch in the Frenchman Valley in Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan. I shot this Aug 26 on a perfect night, with aurora beginning to kick up but still low in brightness when I shot this so the sky was dark. The foreground is lit by starlight, by the aurora brightening in the north, and by the occasional flashes of spotlights from naturalists down the valley spotting for nocturnal ferrets. The green bands in the sky are from natural airglow.

Galaxy and glacier! The Milky Way over glacier-fed Lake Louise and Victoria Glacier in Banff National Park, Alberta. The Scutum Starcloud is just above and setting over Victoria Glacier, accompanied by star clusters in Serpens and Ophiuchus. Some airglow tints the sky above the mountains green and magenta.

13898601 - Galaxy and glacier! The Milky Way over glacier-fed Lake Louise and Victoria Glacier in Banff National Park, Alberta. The Scutum Starcloud is just above and setting over Victoria Glacier, accompanied by star clusters in Serpens and Ophiuchus. Some airglow tints the sky above the mountains green and magenta.

The southern sky Milky Way rising over Timor Cottage, Coonabarabran, Australia, December 2012. This is a single image with an untracked camera, the Canon 60Da at ISO 3200 and 10-22mm lens at f/4 for 90 seconds.

13898338 - The southern sky Milky Way rising over Timor Cottage, Coonabarabran, Australia, December 2012. This is a single image with an untracked camera, the Canon 60Da at ISO 3200 and 10-22mm lens at f/4 for 90 seconds.

An image of the entire sky and summer Milky Way, from home in southern Alberta, from my backyard, on September 12, 2015. The night was clear but not that transparent, as some humidity and haze added more than usual horizon glows reflecting yellow light pollution. But there was no aurora, in a week filled with auroras every night. The prominent red nebula overhead is the North America Nebula in Cygnus. South is at bottom, west to the right.

13898053 - An image of the entire sky and summer Milky Way, from home in southern Alberta, from my backyard, on September 12, 2015. The night was clear but not that transparent, as some humidity and haze added more than usual horizon glows reflecting yellow light pollution. But there was no aurora, in a week filled with auroras every night. The prominent red nebula overhead is the North America Nebula in Cygnus. South is at bottom, west to the right.

A portrait of Orion and the northern winter Milky Way, on a February night, 2020. The Orion Nebula is the bright, overexposed pink glow below the Belt of Orion, while the curving arc of red is Barnard’s Loop, now thought to be a supernova remnant. The bright red glow at upper left is the Rosette Nebula. Red Betelgeuse was at its minimum then, at about the same brightness as Bellatrix to the right — Betelgeuse is usually about as bright as blue-white Rigel at lower right. However, Betelguese began to re-brighten in the nights after this.

13897663 - A portrait of Orion and the northern winter Milky Way, on a February night, 2020. The Orion Nebula is the bright, overexposed pink glow below the Belt of Orion, while the curving arc of red is Barnard’s Loop, now thought to be a supernova remnant. The bright red glow at upper left is the Rosette Nebula. Red Betelgeuse was at its minimum then, at about the same brightness as Bellatrix to the right — Betelgeuse is usually about as bright as blue-white Rigel at lower right. However, Betelguese began to re-brighten in the nights after this.

This captures the vertical sweep of the summer Milky Way over the foreground landscape of Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta. The image serves as a good illustration of the richness of objects, dark dust lanes and bright starfields along the Milky Way, from Sagittarius low in the south at bottom, to Cygnus at top. In between are Aquila and Scutum, with part of Ophiuchus at right. This was from latitude 50.5° North, where Sagittarius and the galactic centre are low in sky. The Summer Triangle stars of Deneb, Vega and Altair are at top.

13897654 - This captures the vertical sweep of the summer Milky Way over the foreground landscape of Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta. The image serves as a good illustration of the richness of objects, dark dust lanes and bright starfields along the Milky Way, from Sagittarius low in the south at bottom, to Cygnus at top. In between are Aquila and Scutum, with part of Ophiuchus at right. This was from latitude 50.5° North, where Sagittarius and the galactic centre are low in sky. The Summer Triangle stars of Deneb, Vega and Altair are at top.

The galactic centre region of the Milky Way in Sagittarius and Scorpius, over the upper field of the Texas Star Party, near Fort Davis, Texas, May 13, 2015. About 600 people gather here each spring for a star party under very dark skies near the MacDonald Observatory. Sagittarius is left of centre and Scorpius is right of centre with the planet Saturn the bright object at the top edge right of centre. The dark lanes of the Dark Horse and Pipe Nebula areas lead from the Milky Way to the stars of Scorpius, including Antares. The semi-circular Corona Australis is just clearing the hilltop at left

13897445 - The galactic centre region of the Milky Way in Sagittarius and Scorpius, over the upper field of the Texas Star Party, near Fort Davis, Texas, May 13, 2015. About 600 people gather here each spring for a star party under very dark skies near the MacDonald Observatory. Sagittarius is left of centre and Scorpius is right of centre with the planet Saturn the bright object at the top edge right of centre. The dark lanes of the Dark Horse and Pipe Nebula areas lead from the Milky Way to the stars of Scorpius, including Antares. The semi-circular Corona Australis is just clearing the hilltop at left

13828341 - Common long-eared bat (Eptesicus serotinus) flying at night with milky way on background, Spain

13810875 - USA, Colorado, San Juan Mountains. Milky Way and Red Mountain Peak

Arid landscape in front of a ridge of rock formations with the glow of the sunset on the horizon and stars and the Milky Way over a Joshua Tree (Yucca brevifolia); Joshua Tree National Park, California, United States of America

13883382 - Arid landscape in front of a ridge of rock formations with the glow of the sunset on the horizon and stars and the Milky Way over a Joshua Tree (Yucca brevifolia); Joshua Tree National Park, California, United States of America

13772723 - Milky Way Shines In The Night Sky Above A Dead Kookerboom Tree In Richtersveld National Park; South Africa

13777751 - Milky Way over a rock formation; Tres Cruces, Jujuy Province, Argentina

13772721 - Kookerboom Tree Under The Milky Way, Richtersveld National Park; South Africa

13771495 - Milky Way In The Night Sky; Grand Portage, Minnesota, United States Of America

13883950 - Quiver trees (Aloidendron dichotomum) and the Milky Way; Kunene Region, Namibia

The Milky Way over ancient bristlecone pines (Pinus longaeva) under the night sky; Bishop, Inyo county, California, United States of America

13883389 - The Milky Way over ancient bristlecone pines (Pinus longaeva) under the night sky; Bishop, Inyo county, California, United States of America

13883381 - The milky way in a starry night sky over a granite dome; Joshua Tree National Park, California, United States of America

13777685 - Milky way over a rock formation; Tres Cruces, Salta, Argentina

71413071 - Milky Way rising over Mt. Adams, Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Washington State.

71412629 - The Milky Way over Rose Valley, Los Padres National Forest, California USA

71412122 - Europe, France. Milky Way over Le Mont St. Michel landmark.

71411584 - The lights of climbers can be seen on the mountain as the Milky Way rises behind Mt. Rainier, Mt. Rainier National Park, Washington State.

USA, Washington State. Looking to the heart of the Milky Way (constellation Sagittarius), over the shoulder of Mt. Rainier from Sunrise. Mt. Rainier National Park, Washington.

71408813 - USA, Washington State. Looking to the heart of the Milky Way (constellation Sagittarius), over the shoulder of Mt. Rainier from Sunrise. Mt. Rainier National Park, Washington.

71387667 - The Milky Way over Thuringia, Marksuhl, Germany

71387659 - The Milky Way over the fields near Steinbach-Hallenberg, Thuringia, Germany

71422448 - Milky Way and silhouetted tree, near Ouray, Colorado

71422405 - USA, California, Pine Valley. Star trails of the Milky Way galaxy

71421800 - Africa, Namibia, Namib-Naukluft Park. Milky Way over lodge hut

71411581 - USA, Washington State. The Milky Way looms above Mt. Rainier and the White River at Mt. Rainier National Park near Sunrise.

71411129 - USA, California, Bishop. Milky Way over Sierra Nevada Range

71386439 - Tree silhouette in front of the starry sky, Milky Way over Germany, Hesse

71422048 - Canada, Manitoba, Milky Way Galaxy and starry night with white spruce in foreground

71422015 - Milky Way seen from Ohau, Mackenzie Country, Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand

71413374 - Milky Way, Westhavelland Star Park, Rübehorst, Havelland district, Brandenburg, Germany

71412673 - The Milky Way over Lizard Head Pass, Uncompahgre National Forest, Colorado, USA.

71422016 - Milky Way seen from Ohau, Mackenzie Country, Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand

71413129 - USA, Wyoming, Yellowstone National Park. Milky Way floats above a waterfall on the Firehole River in Yellowstone National Park.

71412628 - The Milky Way over Rose Valley, Los Padres National Forest, California USA

71412026 - Canada, Ontario, Sioux Narrows Provincial Park, Night sky with Milky Way.

71387686 - The Milky Way over the Berchtesgaden Alps

71387682 - A tree in a meadow near Steinbach-Hallenberg above the Milky Way, Thuringia, Germany

71413371 - Milky Way, starry sky, signposts in the Lüneburg Heath, Niederhaverbeck, Bispingen, Lower Saxony, Germany

71387649 - The Milky Way over Thuringia, Germany

71387610 - Lonely lit camper van, camper van at night under starry sky, milky way.

71413072 - The lights of climbers can be seen on the mountain as the Milky Way rises behind Mt. Rainier National Park, Washington State.

71387670 - The Milky Way over the fields near Rohr, Thuringia, Germany

71387654 - The Milky Way over Autobahn bridge near Schwarza, Rohr, Thuringia, Germany

71387650 - Milky Way over Chapel near Hofaschenbach, Hesse, Rhoen, Germany

71374985 - Panorama with starry sky and Milky Way over Inn Valley and Bavarian Alps, from Heuberg, Chiemgau Alps, Upper Bavaria, Bavaria, Germany

71370129 - Night sky with moon and Milky Way at Eibsee, view to Zugspitze, Werdenfelser Land, Bavaria, Germany

71362660 - Milky Way galaxy in the mountains in Raetikon, Vorarlberg, Austria, Europe

71353232 - Milky Way over Rosengartengruppe, Rosengarten, Dolomites, UNESCO World Natural Heritage Dolomites, South Tyrol, Italy

13822767 - Milky Way resumed on the Chapel at Monte Santa Croce, municipality of Vernazza, La Spezia province, Liguria district, Italy, Europe

13819804 - the milky way arches, near the iconic Cypresses of San Quirico d'Orcia, Siena province, Tuscany district, Italy, Europe

a hiker enjoys the sky under the arch of the milky way, near the abandoned military base of Giogo mountain, Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, municipality of Comano, Massa-Carrara province, Tuscany district, Italy, Europe

13819794 - a hiker enjoys the sky under the arch of the milky way, near the abandoned military base of Giogo mountain, Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, municipality of Comano, Massa-Carrara province, Tuscany district, Italy, Europe

71414308 - USA, California, Mojave Desert. An illuminated tent against a starry sky and the Milky Way.

71362967 - Starry sky and milky way in front of trees at early twilight, Lake Argyle, Western Australia, Australia

71362943 - Starry sky with the Milky Way and tree tops at Edith Falls, Northern Territory, Australia

71357790 - Milky Way in the harbor at night, Dagebüll, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

13832929 - Milky way over Namib desert; Namibia; Southern Africa

13832385 - Bare tree framing the silhouette of Pico Ruivo mountain under the Milky Way, Madeira, Portugal

13822773 - Milky way over the village of Tellaro, municipality of Lerici, La Spezia province, Liguria district, Italy, Europe

one person observes the milky way arches, near the iconic Cypresses of San Quirico d'Orcia, Siena province, Tuscany district, Italy, Europe

13819803 - one person observes the milky way arches, near the iconic Cypresses of San Quirico d'Orcia, Siena province, Tuscany district, Italy, Europe

13816400 - The Milky Way and night sky over Gwenfaens Pillar, Porth Saint, near Rhoscolyn, Anglesey, North Wales, United Kingdom, Europe

71414614 - The Milky Way rising above Mt. St. Helens, a active stratovolcano in Washington State, USA

71408820 - The lights of climbers can be seen on the mountain as the Milky Way rises behind Mt. Rainier National Park, Washington State.

Woman stands at Farrenpoint and shines with lamp on starry sky with Milky Way, Farrenpoint, Mangfall Mountains, Bavarian Alps, Upper Bavaria, Bavaria, Germany

71374983 - Woman stands at Farrenpoint and shines with lamp on starry sky with Milky Way, Farrenpoint, Mangfall Mountains, Bavarian Alps, Upper Bavaria, Bavaria, Germany

71419000 - USA, Washington State. Palouse Falls and the Milky Way. Palouse Falls State Park. Digital Composite.