A Celestial Spectacle: Milky Way and Moonset on the Oregon Coast

Last night, I had the incredible opportunity to witness a truly magical celestial event: the Milky Way arching across the sky, juxtaposed with the setting moon over the vast Pacific Ocean. The location? The serene Nehalem Bay State Park on the beautiful Oregon Coast.

I've always been captivated by sunsets, but this was my first time experiencing a moonset over the ocean. To my surprise, the moon, though much dimmer than the sun, painted the sky with a similar spectrum of colors. It was a subtle yet profound reminder of the dynamic interplay of light and shadow in our natural world.

As you can see in the image, the moonset is beautifully captured on the right side of the frame. The left side of the image is illuminated by the gentle glow of light pollution from a nearby town, adding a touch of terrestrial presence to this otherwise wild and cosmic scene.

This photograph was captured using my trusty Nikon D7500 with a Tokina 11-16mm lens. It's a single exposure, untracked, taken at 15 seconds, f/2.8, and ISO 3200.

The experience was humbling and awe-inspiring, a perfect blend of terrestrial beauty and cosmic wonder. It's moments like these that remind us of the incredible artistry of the universe.