Beautiful Night in the Atacama Desert

Photographer: Uwe Reichert
Country: Germany

Taken from San Pedro de Atacama, Chile, in June 2023, this time-lapse reveals the celestial ballet that unfolds as the Southern Cross takes its majestic journey across the sky, pointing the way to the South Celestial Pole around which the sky rotates, until it gracefully sets. The star-studded canvas showcases the grandeur of the Milky Way, adorned by the rotating Large and Small Magellanic Clouds swirling around the Southern Celestial Pole. The prominent constellations of Crux, Centaurus, Scorpius, and the former Argo Navis (Carina, Puppis, Vela) are also visible in this time-lapse that receives an honourable mention in the category of Time-lapse videos of the rotation of the Big Dipper or Southern Cross. The spectacle begins just after nightfall, capturing the radiant descent of Canopus, a beacon about to dip below the horizon. Throughout the sequence are the subtle presence of passing aeroplanes, fleeting headlights of cars, drifting clouds, and the ethereal airglow. At a stunning moment, a vivid meteor streaks across the sky, a breathtaking fireball briefly igniting the right lower corner around the 41-second mark. As the sequence progresses, the rising Moon elegantly illuminates the landscape, casting its glow upon an ancient tree trunk resting on the dry, dusty grounds of the Salar de Atacama. This captivating journey through the night skies concludes before the break of day, offering a glimpse into the celestial marvels that are woven into the nocturnal tapestry of San Pedro de Atacama.

Also see video in Zenodo: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10360177