My latest photograph was shot from atop California’s Santa Ynez Mountains on August 13, 2013. The band of the Milky Way galaxy is visible over a field of antennas while the full moon reflects off the Pacific Ocean. The halo of light in the center near the horizon is the city of Santa Barbara. To the left of the city, a red light from the top of a nearby mountain glows. The dots of light near the moon’s reflection are from oil rigs. If you look carefully, you’ll see a handful of streaks (i.e. planes, meteors, satellites) as well.
This view was stitched together from 16 separate 30-second exposures. About 180 degrees is subtended between the left and right while the top center was the sky’s zenith. As such, this image captures about one quarter of the entire sky. I was using a Nikon D7000 with a 11.0- 16.0 mm f/2.8 Tokina lens at a focal length of 11.0 mm. f/3.5; ISO 400; Gitzo tripod with Really Right Stuff ball head.
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