Image of the Week

Rising Milky Way Core

Captured at the Gamkaberg Nature Reserve, Western Cape Province, South Africa.

 Canon EOS R5 with  a Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM lens @15mm.

4 images captured in the horizontal format and stitched vertically

ISO 6400. 10sec. at f/2.8. Exposure set manually.

The Milky Way was very well position in the early night sky. It stretched near- vertically from about South, South-west (SSW) to the northern horizon.  The core was virtually overhead. There was some local light pollution at the horizon which needed some post processing adjustment. The core is very clearly defined and you can see the Southern Cross and Pointers near the horizon. The small Magellanic Cloud is visible just below centre-left. The Large Magellanic cloud had not yet risen above the hill.  The spring flowers carpeted the immediate foreground.