Zodiacal Light Illuminates Canary Islands Observatories

This stunning panorama captures the elusive zodiacal light shimmering above the iconic telescopes of the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory on the island of La Palma. La Palma truly lives up to its reputation as a premier destination for stargazing, offering some of the clearest and darkest night skies in the world.

Understanding the Zodiacal Light

The zodiacal light is a faint, cone-shaped glow visible in exceptionally dark skies, far from the glare of city lights. It appears shortly after sunset or before sunrise, tracing the plane of our solar system. This beautiful phenomenon is caused by sunlight scattering off countless microscopic dust particles that permeate space. It is most easily observed during spring evenings and autumn mornings when the Earth's tilt makes it more prominent in our sky.

Celestial Companions and Astronomical Instruments

Within this breathtaking scene, you can spot two bright orange stars: Mars and Jupiter. Jupiter, appearing low on the horizon, adds to the grandeur of the celestial display. High above, the familiar pattern of the Big Dipper can be seen in the upper right corner. The presence of the telescopes from the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory serves as a reminder of humanity's ongoing quest to understand the cosmos.

The Art of Capturing the Night

This image is a meticulous creation, formed by a panorama of 15 shots for the sky and 10 for the foreground. The photographer utilized a Sigma ART 35mm lens to achieve this detailed capture.

Technical Details:

• Camera: Canon 6D
• Lens: Sigma ART 35mm
• Sky Shots: 15 images, ISO-4000, f1.8, 13 seconds each
• Foreground Shots: 10 images, ISO-5000, f1.8, 30 seconds each

For more of this astrophotographer's incredible work, be sure to check out their .