My First Milky Way: Capturing the Galaxy from Groningen

There's a certain magic that happens when you turn your gaze towards the night sky, a humbling reminder of our place in the vast cosmos. For a long time, I've dreamt of diving into the world of astrophotography, but the opportunity to escape light pollution has been elusive. This past weekend, that changed, and I'm thrilled to share my very first attempt at capturing the majestic Milky Way!

This image was taken in the beautiful Lauwersmeer dark sky park in Groningen. The designation as a dark sky park means exceptionally low levels of light pollution, providing the perfect canvas for celestial observation and photography. It was an experience that truly ignited my passion for this incredible hobby.

Gear and Setup

For this endeavor, I utilized my trusty Sony a7iii camera paired with a GM 24mm f/1.4 lens. The wide aperture of the lens is crucial for gathering as much light as possible from faint celestial objects, and the 24mm focal length offers a great field of view for landscape astrophotography.

I'm eager to continue learning and exploring the techniques involved in astrophotography. The pursuit of capturing these incredible views of the universe is both challenging and immensely rewarding. Stay tuned for more adventures under the stars!