Milky Way Stargazer

Photographer: Jianfeng Dai
Country: China

In May 2020, atop Mount Gongga in Sichuan, China, a lone observer stands in the cool night air at high altitude. Looking up, they witness the grand arc of the Milky Way stretching across the sky, captured using a smartphone set to panorama mode. This image was taken far away from the city lights at an elevation of 4200 metres, where the quiet of the mountains accentuates the connection between Earth and the vast cosmos. Jupiter, a bright planet, can be seen alongside the central bulge of the Milky Way, while a subtle green airglow on the horizon adds an intriguing touch to the scene. The photograph receives an honourable mention in the category of Still images taken exclusively with smartphones/mobile devices.

Also see image in Zenodo: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10359720

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