This image captures a full arch of our galaxy — often called the Milky Way Rainbow. It is my first full-sky panorama of the Milky Way made with the Canon EOS Ra, and another step in testing the camera’s impressive astrophotography performance.
The Canon Ra handles high ISO extremely well, producing low-noise results even at ISO 20,000. Using short 5-second exposures helped avoid star trailing and made the 20-shot panorama quick to capture. A dedicated contrast-enhancing filter helped bring out the structure of the Milky Way, and the final image was created by stitching all frames together in Photoshop.
The foreground shows tall grass with a line of forest farther in the distance. A bit of light behind the camera softly illuminates the landscape, creating depth and atmosphere while preserving the natural nighttime look. Above the scene, the Milky Way forms a complete glowing arch across the sky — a true “rainbow” of our galaxy rising over Bethel and the Catskill region of New York.
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| Milky Way Rainbow Panorama Canon EOS Ra over Bethel Catskill NY - Astrophotography |
Technical details:
Canon EOS Ra • EF 16–35mm f/2.8L II USM • f/2.8 • 5 seconds • ISO 20,000
Panorama of 20 photos
About the Catskill Region
The Catskill Mountains, located in southeastern New York State, are known for their rugged forests, hiking trails, wildlife, and the protected Catskill Forest Preserve. The area offers some of the darker skies in the region, making it an excellent place for landscape astrophotography.
