My First Tracked Pano: A Milky Way Arch Over Yosemite's North Dome

Last week, I embarked on an overnight trip to North Dome in Yosemite, and the experience was nothing short of spectacular. The night sky unveiled a spectacle of stars that I had never witnessed before, a sight that even this carefully crafted panorama struggles to fully convey.

This image is the result of a meticulously planned 9-image wide panorama. To achieve this level of detail, I captured two distinct sets of rows: one landscape row during the blue hour and two dedicated astrophotography rows.

The Gear and the Settings

For this shot, I used a Sigma 28mm f/1.4 lens paired with my astro-modified Canon R8. The core of the astrophotography was captured with settings that allowed for incredible light gathering:

• Exposures: 120 seconds per panel
• Aperture: f/2
• ISO: 800

These settings, combined with the astro-modified sensor, were crucial for capturing the faint details of nebulae and the Milky Way's core, including subtle reds from H-alpha emissions.

Understanding Tracked Panoramas

A common question I've received is about what a "tracked pano" entails. Essentially, each individual shot in the panorama is guided by a star-tracking mount. This mount compensates for the Earth's rotation, allowing for extended exposures – in this case, 120 seconds per panel – without introducing star trails. This technique enables the capture of significantly more light and detail compared to standard, untracked exposures. The final panorama is a composite of 18 separate 2-minute exposures, creating a vast and detailed vista.

Balancing the Foreground and the Sky

Achieving a balanced image with both a sharp foreground and a detailed night sky requires careful planning. The foreground, illuminated by the lingering twilight, was captured with:

• Exposure: 1/4 second
• Aperture: f/8
• ISO: 200

This exposure was taken about an hour after sunset, when enough ambient light remained to properly expose the landscape without the motion blur that would occur with longer exposures.

It was a truly rewarding night, pushing the boundaries of what's possible with astrophotography. I'm thrilled to share this glimpse of the cosmos with you all!