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Showing posts with label National Park. Show all posts
Showing posts with label National Park. Show all posts

Saturday, October 4, 2025

Rainbow of the Milky Way and the Eternal Baobab — Tarangire, Tanzania

On the midnight of September 26, 2025, under the deep African sky, I captured one of the most surreal moments of light and life. The photograph — a 21-image panorama taken with my Canon EOS Ra and Canon EF 200 mm f/2.8L II USM lens (f/3.2, ISO 25 600, 15 s exposure) — reveals the Milky Way arcing like a celestial rainbow above a solitary baobab tree in Tarangire National Park, Tanzania.

Rainbow of the Milky Way and the Eternal Baobab - Tarangire National Park, Tanzania

This is a single-night image, stitched in Photoshop, but it carries the weight of millennia — both cosmic and earthly.


The Baobab: The Tree of Life

At the center of the frame stands the baobab (Adansonia digitata), often called the Tree of Life. Native to the dry savannas of sub-Saharan Africa, this extraordinary species grows in scattered populations across Tanzania, Madagascar, and parts of the Sahel. Baobabs can live for over 2 000 years — some carbon-dated specimens have reached 2 500 to 3 000 years old — silently witnessing the passing of generations, civilizations, and climates.

Baobab

Their immense trunks, often more than 10 meters in diameter, are actually natural reservoirs; a single tree can hold up to 120 000 liters of water within its fibrous tissue. In the dry season, elephants and baboons are sometimes seen peeling their bark to reach the moisture inside.

In African folklore, the baobab is a sacred symbol — a meeting of heaven and earth. Its branches, reaching skyward like roots, gave rise to legends that the gods planted it upside-down. Standing beside one beneath the Milky Way, the resemblance to a cosmic silhouette feels almost intentional.


Tarangire: The Quiet Heart of the Savanna

Located just south of the equator in northern Tanzania, Tarangire National Park is a sanctuary of vast plains, ancient river valleys, and herds of elephants. Its skies are among the clearest and darkest in East Africa, especially during the dry season from June to October.

That night, around midnight, the air was perfectly still. The southern Milky Way rose high overhead, and the galactic core shimmered in a curtain of color rarely visible to the naked eye.


The Airglow

The subtle green, red, and orange tones in the photo are not from city lights — they are natural airglow, an atmospheric phenomenon that occurs when molecules in the upper atmosphere (about 85–100 km up) emit faint light after being energized by the Sun during the day.

Contrary to popular belief, strong airglow is not limited to the poles; it is often most intense near the equator, where the upper atmosphere experiences greater gravity-wave activity and chemical recombination. Near-equatorial latitudes like Tarangire (~4° S) often produce beautifully structured bands of red (from oxygen at ~90 km) and green (from oxygen at ~95 km) that shimmer across the night sky — invisible to human eyes but captured vividly in long-exposure astrophotography.

What you see above the baobab, therefore, is not light pollution but the Earth itself glowing, whispering its quiet luminescence into the darkness.


A Meeting of Earth and Sky

This image is a meeting of contrasts: an ancient tree rooted in the soil of Africa, and a galaxy 100 000 light-years across suspended above it. Between them, a living, breathing layer of atmosphere paints the bridge — the airglow, the breath of our planet.


Under the Milky Way: A Night in Tarangire

Every color in the image tells a story:

  • Amber and red: oxygen recombining high above the equator.
  • Soft green: the pulse of Earth’s upper atmosphere.
  • Silver stars: the spiral arm of the Milky Way.
  • Dark silhouette: a 1 000-year-old baobab tree watching the cosmos turn.

In that moment, Tarangire was not just a national park — it was a reminder that the planet itself participates in the night sky.


Technical Notes

  • Camera: Canon EOS Ra (modified for astrophotography)
  • Lens: Canon EF 200 mm f/2.8L II USM
  • Settings: f/3.2 · 15 s · ISO 25 600
  • Panorama: 21 frames combined in Adobe Photoshop
  • Date: September 26, 2025
  • Location: Tarangire National Park, Tanzania (~4° S latitude)


Reflection

When I look at this photograph, I see time itself — the timeless patience of the baobab and the ceaseless motion of the stars. Both are survivors: one through endurance, the other through orbit.

Under that rainbow Milky Way, I realized that the Earth doesn’t just reflect the universe — it participates in it. The light that touched the baobab that night had traveled for tens of thousands of years, only to meet the glow of our own atmosphere.

Thursday, April 20, 2023

Night Sky over Great Sand Dunes National Park after snow storm

 Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, located in southern Colorado, is a unique and breathtaking destination that offers incredible opportunities for astrophotography. The park is home to the tallest sand dunes in North America, which rise over 750 feet high against the backdrop of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. 

With its remote location, low light pollution, and clear skies, Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is the perfect place for stargazing and capturing stunning photographs of the night sky.

As an avid amateur astrophotographer, I am always on the lookout for unique and breathtaking locations to capture in my photography. When I heard about the incredible natural beauty of Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, I knew that I had to visit and see it for myself.


Night Sky over Great Sand Dunes National Park after snow storm

Canon EOS Ra, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM Lens, f/2.8, ISO 25600, 13 sec. Post processing: Photoshop and Topaz AI.

This photo was done at midnight about 1 hour after a snowstorm had passed through the area. The snow on the dunes provided a striking contrast against the dark night sky, creating a dramatic and almost otherworldly atmosphere. 

One particularly interesting element in the photo is the air glow. Air glow is a natural phenomenon that occurs when atoms and molecules in the Earth's atmosphere emit light. This can create a soft, diffuse glow in the sky that is visible on the long-exposure photos. The green, yellow and red colors are the result of  emissions in the atmosphere.

The black clouds is visible on photo. It is another indicator of dark sky without light pollution.

It was a moment that I will never forget, and a photo that I will treasure for years to come. I feel so lucky to have been able to capture this photo, and I hope that it inspires others to get out there and explore the wonders of our natural world.


Wednesday, November 2, 2022

Rainbow Milky Way Joshua Tree National Park

Milky Way - panorama of 40 images. Canon EOS Ra, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, f/2.8;   ISO 25600, 4.8 sec


Rainbow Milky Way Joshua Tree National Park

 There is example of single photos for panorama:

Single photo 1 for Panorama

Single photo 2 for Panorama

Single photo 3 for Panorama

Single photo 4 for Panorama

After File > Automate > Photomerge


Panorama after Automate Photomerge


Thursday, October 20, 2022

Joshua Tree National Park Night Landscape

 Continue previous posts about my trip to  Joshua Tree National Park. 


Canon EOS Ra, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM Lens, f/2.8, ISO 25600, 3 sec, Panorama

Three Sisters and Milky Way Joshua Tree National Park

The park is located far from any major cities, which means that the night sky is incredibly dark and clear. On a clear night, visitors can see up to 15,000 stars, as well as the Milky Way and other celestial objects. The park even offers astronomy programs and events throughout the year.

Canon EOS Ra, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM Lens, f/2.8, ISO 25600, 3 sec, Panorama

Milky Way Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts, nature lovers, and photographers alike. One of the most unique and rewarding photography experiences in the park is astrophotography. With its clear skies and minimal light pollution, Joshua Tree is the perfect place to capture stunning images of the night sky.

Canon EOS Ra, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM Lens, f/2.8, ISO 25600, 3 sec

Night Landscape Joshua Tree National Park

Canon EOS Ra, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM Lens, f/2.8, ISO 25600, 3 sec

Night Sky Joshua Tree National Park

Canon EOS Ra, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM Lens, f/2.8, ISO 25600, 3 sec, Panorama

Joshua Tree and Milky Way

The Joshua tree is a member of the Agave family and is a type of yucca plant. It has a distinctive, spiky appearance, with thick, twisting branches that reach upwards of 40 feet tall. The tree's trunk is usually short and thick, and it has green, sword-shaped leaves that grow in clusters at the ends of its branches.

Canon EOS Ra, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM Lens, f/2.8, ISO 25600, 3 sec, Panorama

Sky and Earth Joshua Tree National Park


The Joshua tree is native to the Mojave Desert, which spans parts of California, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah. It is particularly well-adapted to the harsh desert environment, with long, deep roots that allow it to survive in dry, sandy soils. The tree can also tolerate extreme temperatures, from freezing winter nights to scorching summer days.

The Joshua tree is a unique and fascinating plant that is an important symbol of the Mojave Desert. Its distinctive appearance and cultural significance make it a beloved icon of the American West.

 

Monday, October 17, 2022

Joshua Tree National Park Astrophotography

 There are some photos from my trip to Joshua Tree National Park.

Joshua Tree National Park is one of the fantastic places to stargaze in the US! The reason it’s so dark is because the park is located in the High Desert—3000-6000 feet above sea level—far from any major cities, which create light pollution. 

The east side of the park is best for stargazing. There is very little light pollution there, since the closest major city to the east—Phoenix, Arizona—is about 300 miles away. Unfortunately, the south/west areas of the park get light pollution from nearby Palm Springs. 

Joshua Tree National Park Astrophotography

Canon EOS Ra, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM Lens, f/2.8, ISO 25600, 3 sec, Panorama of 8 photos

There is entrance to the park at nigh:

Joshua Tree National Park Entrance at Night

Canon EOS Ra, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM Lens, f/2.8, ISO 25600, 7 sec

Other entrance during the day:

Entrance to Joshua Tree National Park


Stargazing Area of Joshua Tree National Park

Sunset Joshua Tree National Park


Joshua Tree National Park at Night

Canon EOS Ra, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM Lens, f/2.8, ISO 25600, 9 sec


Joshua Tree National Park Night Landscape

Canon EOS Ra, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM Lens, f/2.8, ISO 25600, 25 sec


Saturday, October 15, 2022

Joshua Tree National Park Night Sky Festival 2022

 There are night photos from Joshua Tree National Park Night Sky Festival 2022.

Joshua Tree National Park Night Sky Festival Observatory

Joshua Tree National Park Night Sky Festival 1 

Joshua Tree National Park Night Sky Festival 2

Joshua Tree National Park Night Sky Festival 3

Joshua Tree National Park Night Sky Festival 4

Joshua Tree National Park Night Sky Festival 5

Joshua Tree National Park Night Sky Festival 6

Joshua Tree National Park Night Sky Festival 7

Joshua Tree National Park Night Sky Festival 8

Joshua Tree National Park Night Sky Festival 9

Joshua Tree National Park Night Sky Festival 10

Joshua Tree National Park Night Sky Festival 11

Joshua Tree National Park Night Sky Festival 12

Joshua Tree National Park Night Sky Festival 13

Joshua Tree National Park Night Sky Festival 14

Joshua Tree National Park Night Sky Festival 15

Joshua Tree National Park Night Sky Festival 16

Joshua Tree National Park Night Sky Festival 17


Thursday, October 13, 2022

Sky's The Limit Observatory

 There some photos of Sky's The Limit Observatory from my trip to Joshua Tree National Park. The observatory located outside of the park between the north entrance and the town of Twenty Nine Palms.


Sky's The Limit Observatory and Nature Center


Sky's The Limit Observatory and Nature Center at Night


Sky's The Limit Observatory Dome


Night Sky - Sky's The Limit Observatory

Sky’s the Limit Observatory in 29 Palms

Sky's The Limit Observatory near Joshua Tree National Park

Sky's The Limit Observatory at night



Monday, October 17, 2016

Different types of the Milky Way Night Landscape - Stair Sail and Arch

Let me introduce new classifications of the Milky Way. Of cause I am not serious, but give me chance, just look on the picture – different types of Milky Way Night Landscaping. On this collage you can see three types of Milky Way – Stair, Sail, and Arch. These three photos were done in Park Avenue at Arches National Park during the same night, just small changes location and it looks different!

Different types of the Milky Way Night Landscape Astrophotography - Stair Sail and Arch

Saturday, September 19, 2015

Utah Astrophotography and Astronomy - Bryce Canyon National Park - Milky Way



The entrance sign to Bryce Canyon National park has amazing location – especially under the Milky Way with green Airglow night sky. 

Utah Astrophotography and Astronomy - Bryce Canyon National Park - Milky Way
 Canon 60Da, Wide Angle EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, ISO-6400, F3.5; 30 sec

This photo got first place in AstronomyForum.net 3rd quarter 2015 competition in Nightscape Category
Astronomy Forum Winner 3rd Quarter 2015 Nightscape Category