Southern Milky Way Paints the Sky Above Pulpit Rock, Victoria
Last night, a spontaneous trip to Cape Schanck yielded an unforgettable celestial display. The Southern Milky Way stretched across the heavens, a magnificent arc of starlight illuminating the iconic Pulpit Rock in Victoria, Australia. It was one of those rare nights where everything aligned for truly spectacular astrophotography.
The image beautifully captures the grandeur of our galaxy. Notably, both the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds are visible, two dwarf galaxies that orbit the Milky Way, appearing as faint smudges of light off to the side. Adding to the ethereal atmosphere, a subtle hint of green airglow can be seen low on the horizon, a faint emission from Earth's upper atmosphere.
The foreground is equally captivating, with the still rock pools at the base of Pulpit Rock acting as natural mirrors, reflecting the dazzling starry expanse above. This creates a stunning sense of depth and immersion in the scene.
This remarkable shot was captured using a Sony A7III camera paired with a Tamron 17-28mm lens set to an aperture of f/2.8. The long exposure of 20 seconds at ISO 5000 allowed for the capture of incredible detail and light from the distant cosmos.
It's always a rewarding experience to witness and share the beauty of the southern night sky, a testament to the vastness and wonder of the universe.
