Aurora Borealis Dancing Under the Milky Way: A Once-in-a-Lifetime Shot
Sometimes, the universe just puts on a show you can barely believe is real. This was one of those moments for me, a personal "once-in-a-lifetime" experience that I'm thrilled to share.
This past Thursday, I ventured out to the Rhön-region in Germany with a singular goal: to capture a sprawling 180° panorama of the winter Milky Way. The conditions were, frankly, perfect. A crystal-clear night, unburdened by light pollution, promised an incredible canvas of stars.
As I started reviewing my initial shots, I noticed a strange glow that I initially dismissed as a stray light source. But as I kept shooting, the unbelievable truth dawned on me – the Aurora Borealis, the Northern Lights, had decided to join the party! To have the chance to photograph the aurora alongside the Milky Way, and then to have it all come together in a high-resolution, 180° panorama, was simply astounding.
This finished panorama has quickly become my favorite image to date. It's a stunning gradient of cosmic colors: the vibrant green airglow on the left, the subtle white of the Gegenschein right in the center, and the shimmering, ethereal northern lights gracing the right side of the frame.
Technical Details:
Image Processing: HaRGB | Tracked | Stacked | Panorama/Composite
Sky:
- Camera: Sony Alpha 7 III
- Lens: Sigma 28-45mm f/1.8 at 28mm
- ISO: 1000 | Aperture: f/1.8 | Exposure: 4 x 40 seconds per panel
- Panorama: 21 Panels (7x3)
Foreground:
- Camera: Sony Alpha 7 III
- Lens: Sigma 28-45mm f/1.8 at 28mm
- ISO: 3200 | Aperture: f/1.8 | Exposure: 40 seconds (Focus stacked)
- Panorama: 14 Panels (7x2)
H-alpha:
- Lens: Sigma 65mm f/2
- ISO: 3200 | Aperture: f/2 | Exposure: 7 x 75 seconds
I'm incredibly proud of this shot and the story it tells. It’s a reminder of the sheer beauty and surprise that our night sky can hold. What are your thoughts on this celestial dance?
