The night sky is an endless wonder and has long inspired photographers to capture its swirling beauty. For the past four years, Basel-based photographer Benjamin Barakat has been snapping gorgeous pictures of the night sky among stunning backdrops. Vibrant purples and electric oranges bring the Earth’s otherwise sleepy landscape to life. And now, he’s sharing his passion for this subject with others by showing them how to shoot their own astrophotography.

Travel is an important component of Barakat’s images. “Being half-Lebanese,” he tells My Modern Met, “my goal has been to explore the Middle East more and share awareness of the beautiful landscapes to encourage others to visit these places.” The country of Jordan is of particular interest to him, and he’s traveled to sites like Petra and Wadi Run.

“Petra is what first attracted me to Jordan,” he shares, “and it was a wish of mine to capture it under the night sky. Getting in during closing hours to one of the Seven Wonders of the World isn’t easy, so I had to build a relationship with the local Bedouin people to gain such access.”

Wadi Rum has dark skies that make it perfect for landscape photography. “I spent just over a year planning with locals to geotag all of the spots in my collection of images before capturing them all,” the photographer explains.

If you’d like to learn how to become an astrophotographer, Barakat will show you how. He has tours and workshops scheduled for 2023 that will take you to Egpyt, Bolivia, and more.

The night sky is an endless wonder and has long inspired photographers to capture its swirling beauty.

For the past four years, Basel-based photographer Benjamin Barakat has been snapping gorgeous pictures of the night sky among stunning backdrops.

Travel is an important component of Barakat’s images.

“Being half-Lebanese,” he tells My Modern Met, “my goal has been to explore the Middle East more and share awareness of the beautiful landscapes to encourage others to visit these places.”

The country of Jordan is of particular interest to him, and he’s traveled to sites like Petra and Wadi Run.

Benjamin Barakat: Website | Instagram | Facebook

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Benjamin Barakat.

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READ: Electrifying Astrophotography Captures Gorgeous Night Sky Over the Middle East

When photographer Josh Defibaugh climbed to the top of Vermont's Mount Mansfield, he was hoping for a successful night of photography. But he never could have imagined the incredible image he was about to take. Defibaugh was looking to capture the Milky Way, but his plans were upended by the presence of a SpaceX rocket.

At the time, Defibaugh was unaware that a rocket by the Elon Musk-run company had recently been launched. But, after carefully composing his shot, he suddenly saw a bright light shoot across his viewfinder.

“As the galaxy was on my mind, I saw this bright glow in the sky and thought, very briefly, that it was aliens,” Defibaugh tells My Modern Met. “And I was really excited to photograph it. But that thought wore off pretty quickly as I realized it was just another SpaceX rocket.”

Though he hadn't originally planned on sharing the photo, once he did, the image took on a life of its own. Personally, Defibaugh has mixed feelings about the photo.

“I hope people realize that the degradation of the night sky with satellites and light pollution is an ongoing problem. The Earth is getting anywhere from 2-6% brighter each year and Elon Musk has stated he plans to launch hundreds, if not thousands, of SpaceX rockets in the coming years. The effects of so many satellites in the night sky may not be apparent now, but they will be soon, not just for astrophotographers but for any looking up to the sky.”

SpaceX has steadily increased its number of launches each year. At the time of writing, there have been 54 launches in 2022, with 10 more scheduled before the end of the year. And if SpaceX hits its goal in 2023, it will hit 100 launches in a calendar year. In the past, the company has experimented with a special coating to darken its satellites, but with so many bodies in the sky, experts agree that light pollution will increase.

So while Defibaugh's image may look cool, it's also a reminder that these rockets can and will transform the night sky.

If you want to see more of Defibaugh's astrophotography, sans rocket, as well as his other creative projects you can follow his work on Instagram.

Josh Defibaugh: Website | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Josh Defibaugh.

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“Polaris Dream” by Nico Rinaldi.
Location: Murmansk Oblast, Russia
“I had dreamed about photographing the landscapes of Northern Russia for a long time, and this year it came true! There, you feel like you’re in the realm of snow monsters, in a landscape where the mountains and trees are dominated by ice and snow. That night, the Northern Lights put on an incredible show!
It was hard work to get to this place, since exploring this location and organizing logistics required a lot of time, effort, and the help of the friendly locals we found in our path. I only hope we can see the peace reestablished soon and re-connect with so many incredible people and landscapes on this planet.”

Winter is here and that means it's time to discover the best Northern Lights photos of 2022. Thanks to Capture the Atlas‘ annual Northern Lights Photographer of the Year awards, we're able to see these spectacular—and colorful—views of the Aurora borealis. This year there are more images than ever thanks to travel restrictions being lifted.

From the remote corners of the Arctic to the beaches of New Zealand, photographers traveled far and wide to chase the Northern Lights. The results are a visual testimony to the beauty of nature, with the sky's incredible green, pink, and yellow lights on full display.

This year, 25 photographers from 13 countries were singled out for their Northern Lights photography. When making a decision about who makes the cut, photographer and Capture the Atlas co-founder Dan Zafra always considers the quality of the image, the story behind the shot, and the overall inspiration that the photograph can provide.

Check out some of our favorites below and see the full gallery of winners on Capture the Atlas.

Here are some of the best Northern Lights photographs from 2022.

“Nugget Point Lighthouse Aurora” by Douglas Thorne.
Location: Nugget Point Lighthouse, New Zealand
“Nugget Point Lighthouse is on the eastern side of New Zealand’s South Island. It rests above the famous rocks, which were named by Captain Cook because they looked like pieces of gold. The lighthouse is set on a precipice, where the ocean meets the sky. From here, you can get panoramic views of the southern seas, so it’s a photographer’s dream location.
I arrived here early one autumn morning to capture the Milky Way rising above the lighthouse. It was an image that I’ve planned to capture for a long time. However, I was greeted by a surprise visitor. The Aurora Australis began to glow, its beams blooming over the ocean. I quickly changed my approach and got excited as flashes of yellow and red began to appear in my frame.
Eventually, the Milky Way and the Aurora began to synchronize harmoniously, resulting in this image. I love the leading lines and the way the Milky Way surrounds the Aurora. Mostly though, I love that this wasn’t the picture I planned. It reminds me that sometimes the best shots happen unexpectedly. You have to take risks and go exploring because you just never know what you might come across.”

“Captain Hook” by Mattia Frenguelli.
Location: Kirkjufell, Iceland
“This day will probably remain etched in my memory forever.
It’s difficult to explain with words since to fully understand it you had to be there. To take this photo, I had to stay focused while contemplating this immense spectacle of nature, trying to stay as calm as possible despite my strong emotions.
Unexpectedly, this was one of the most prominent displays of the Northern Lights in recent years, with a KP 6.33. This powerful solar explosion caused blackouts across India, (as the newspapers reported the following day), but paved the way for this beautiful light show.”

“Elves' House” by Asier López Castro.
Location: Stokknes, Iceland
“On my last trip to Iceland, I decided to try my luck in one of its most iconic locations, a magical place for any landscape photographer.
It snowed the day before, and the air mixed the fallen snow with the fine sand, making the textures on the ground incredibly beautiful. Then the sky did the rest.
The biggest problem in photographing this kind of scene is the limited information you get for the foreground since the exposure times are usually short (between 2 and 10 seconds) in order to capture the shape of the Aurora. That’s why I was forced to take pictures with different settings for the foreground and the sky.”

“Explosions of the Sky” by Kavan Chay.
Location: Taiari Beach, Otago, New Zealand
“New Zealand is really a special place for astrophotography. The skies are beautifully dark, and there are so many interesting landscape features to take in. Despite this, I’ve never managed to capture an Aurora shot with an interesting foreground element prior to this moment.
Unfortunately, the Aurora activity is not as consistent compared to other forms of astrophotography, so I had to be patient.
It was a cold night when the alerts and posts from other excited Aurora chasers popped up online. I sent a quick message to a few friends and went out to this spot. I ended up spending some time here with a friend as the lights put on a show, but the display kicked it up a notch once he left. With the whole beach to myself, no pesky lights from other people or cars, the perfect weather and strong beams… I really couldn’t have asked for anything better.
It’s this exact shot that made me addicted to chasing Auroras, and I’ve had the privilege of enjoying this sight many more times since then, with hopefully more of these moments to come.”

“Green Balls” by Jose D. Riquelme.
Location: Teriberka, Russia
“Last February, I took a trip to explore Northern Russia. The place was very inhospitable, but we had some spectacular encounters with the “Green Lady”.
I took this image in Teriberka at about -30ºC. At these temperatures, you can only leave your tripod in one position because it will freeze, and you won’t be able to get it up or down, and therein laid the challenge of finding the perfect composition.”

“The Fjord Guardian” by Filip Hrebenda.
Location: Lofoten Islands, Norway
“I took this photo last winter on the Lofoten Islands in Norway. I was supposed to fly home that day, but due to the heavy snowfall and avalanches on the road, I couldn’t get to the airport. I had to stay a few extra days in the area, so I used that time to explore and capture this photo.
It was a really cold night, but that didn’t deter me. Forecasts were reporting KP5 values, which would mean a bright Aurora if there were clear skies. At first, it was cloudy, but after a while, it cleared up and the Northern Lights appeared between the clouds. What a great night it was! It was worth staying there for a few more days.”

After two years of travel restrictions, photographers were finally able to travel widely to get their best photos of the Aurora borealis.

“Inception” by Giulio Cobianchi.
Location: Lofoten Islands, Norway
“These are the Arctic nights that leave you breathless!
I decided to spend that night up in the mountains with one of the most beautiful views of the Lofoten Islands. My goal was to photograph a “double Aurora & Milky Way arc”, to add to my Aurora collection. I had been planning this pano for a couple of years, and finally, all the elements aligned.
It wasn’t completely dark yet when I began to see the faint Milky Way in front of me. I hoped that in the next hour, a faint Aurora would appear on the opposite side, creating an arc that would fit perfectly into the composition, and so it was! What a night!
Under the Milky Way, you can see the Andromeda Galaxy in the middle of the two arcs. A shooting star acts as the cherry on top, and above a colorful Aurora, there is one of the most beautiful constellations, the Big Dipper! To the north, you can still see the light of the sun, which had recently gone below the horizon.”

“The Light Upon Kerlaugar” by Jannes Krause.
Location: Suðurland, Iceland
“I was lucky enough to witness a fantastic KP 8 display on my trip to Iceland back in October. Not only that, but it was also my first time experiencing and photographing the Northern Lights.
Originally my flight back home was scheduled to depart about 12 hours before this intense solar storm, but as soon as I saw the perfect weather and Aurora projections, I knew that I just had to change my plans and extend my trip by an additional day. Things finally came together, and I couldn’t be more pleased with the images I got.”

“Michigan Night Watch” by Marybeth Kiczenski.
Location: Point Betsie Lighthouse, Frankfort, Michigan
“Lady Aurora waits for no photographer or schedule. However, when I returned from Canada to Chicago, I was greeted by an Aurora forecast that was slated to be quite good (G1/G2 with a slight possibility of G3 conditions).
I decided to choose Point Betsie as my main location for this Aurora chase. I was greeted with quite heavy winds but a beautiful sunset and warm weather. It was super busy since it was a Friday, and there were good conditions for Auroras. It was fun to make some new friends, and we chatted while waiting for Lady Aurora to make an appearance.
Around 11:30pm, she made herself known. We cheered. We clapped. This is what makes all of it worth it! Afterward, we packed up and drove the three hours back to Martin, MI, to start work for the day. Ah, the life of an Aurora chaser!”

“Under a Northern Sky” by Rachel Jones Ross.
Location: Tombstone Mountain Range, Yukon Territory, Canada
“The northern sky is utterly fascinating.
We have all heard stories about the land of the Midnight Sun: in the summer, the sun doesn’t really set, and in the winter, nights are long with no sun, or very little sun at all. But there are also 3-4 days each month when the moon doesn’t set (circumpolar) and 3-4 days each month when it doesn’t rise!
Before I left, I checked the moon calendar, and I was a bit disappointed to see that my visit would coincide with a waxing gibbous approaching a full moon. But on closer investigation, there were four nights when the moon didn’t make it above the horizon, and I had dark nights for shooting the Aurora!”

Capture The Atlas: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Capture the Atlas.

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With the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), 2022 was a spectacular year for astronomy and astrophotography. Since the moment it was announced, both the scientific community and the public were excited about the new possibilities in space exploration that would come with this new telescope. In the end, the JWST exceeded expectations and gave us some incredible images of neighboring planets and far away galaxies.

From its first Deep Field image—which gave us a crystal clear view of galaxy cluster SMACS 0723—to a marvelous picture of auroras on Jupiter taken with its Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam), we've been privy to a visual feast of colors, shapes, and activity beyond the confines of our atmosphere. The photos taken by the JWST have challenged what we thought we knew about space while making us fall in love with it all over again every time.

As for independent astrophotographers, 2022 also brought some unique chances for them to take their craft to the next level. From Paul Cheyne's beautiful image of the Milky Way glittering over the famous Racetrack Playa in California's Death Valley to Dane Smith's one-in-a-lifetime picture of both the Milky Way and an eclipse within the same frame to Andrew McCarthy's collage of the phases of the last lunar eclipse of 2022, it's clear astrophotographers have been actively capturing and creating this past year.

As a reminder of how absolutely stellar 2022 has been for photographers and space lovers, scroll down and check out some of the best astrophotography of the year. (You can also click on each image to read more about it.)

With the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope, 2022 was a monumental year for astronomy and astrophotography.

Pillars of Creation

Photo: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI; J. DePasquale, A. Koekemoer, A. Pagan (STScI)

Tarantula Nebula

Photo: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Webb ERO Production Team

Spiral Galaxy NGC 628

Photo: NASA, ESA, CSA; image processing by Judy Schmidt (CC BY 2.0)

Butterfly Nebula

Photo: NASA/ESA/Hubble; image processing by William Ostling (APOD)

Jupiter's Auroras

Photo: NASA, ESA, CSA, Jupiter ERS Team; image processing by Judy Schmidt

Neptune (Clearest Image Ever Taken)

Photo: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI; image processing by Joseph DePasquale (STScI)

Eye of God

Photo: Connor Matherne (Website | Instagram)

Close-Up of Sun's Surface

Photo: NSO/AURA/NSF

Square-Shaped “Dust Shell” Ripple Rings

Photo: NASA, ESA, CSA, JWST, MIRI, ERS Program 1349; image processing by Judy Schmidt

Cartwheel Galaxy

Photo: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI

James Webb Space Telescope's First Deep Field

Photo: James Webb Space Telescope (NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI) (Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter)

As for independent astrophotographers, 2022 also brought some unique chances for them to take their craft to the next level.

Photo: Andrew McCarthy (Website | Instagram | Patreon | YouTube)

Photo: Andrew McCarthy (Website | Instagram | Patreon | YouTube)

Photo: Andrew McCarthy (Website | Instagram | Patreon | YouTube)

Photo: Dane Smith (Website | Instagram | Facebook)

Photo: Paul Cheyne (Website | Instagram)

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos.

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In his 10 years helping travelers discover the Northern Lights, guide Markus Varik had never seen anything quite like it. In early November, the sky in Tromsø, Norway, was illuminated with vibrant pink streaks. While Varik had seen pink auroras previously, they'd never been this strong. And Varik certainly knows his auroras, as he works as an aurora guide for Greenlander, a company in Tromsø that helps visitors experience the Northern lights.

Varik's photos of that evening show the intense color that fills the sky. While there are some traces of green, the majority of the night sky is filled with pink. This is because a strong solar storm on November caused a temporary crack in the Earth's magnetic field. This allowed solar wind to penetrate further than normal into the Earth's atmosphere. The green color we are used to seeing occurs when these solar winds stay at a higher altitude where oxygen atoms are abundant. These atoms, when heated by the solar wind, turn green.

But on this evening, the winds passed so low in the atmosphere that they reached a place where nitrogen is the primary element.  And when nitrogen atoms are excited, they emit a neon-pink glow. The moment left a lasting impression on Varik, who estimates that he's led over 1,300 tours to the area in the past decade.

“It’s super rare, almost never happens,” he tells My Modern Met. “This pink or purple, is by far my favorite color since you can perceive it pretty much the same with the naked eye, too. This was the strongest sight of pink I have ever witnessed in my whole life.”

It was a special evening for both Varik and his group, and is one that makes him remember to be grateful.

“When the Auroras give us a blessing to be able to experience this kind of phenomenon,” he says, “it always goes very spiritual to me. From one side you are dumbfounded and almost in shock, as your mind refuses to accept the amazing sight, which unfolds in front of your very eyes. On the other side, all this joy and gratitude pours inside you and really makes you appreciate everything you have in life.”

In early November, aurora guide Markus Varik experienced something magical in Tromsø.

Instead of the usual green, the night sky was filled with a vibrant pink aurora.

The unusual color was caused by a strong solar storm that caused a small hole in the Earth's magnetic field.

This allowed solar winds to penetrate deeper than normal into the Earth's atmosphere.

At that low altitude, the solar winds agitated nitrogen atoms, which then emitted a neon-pink glow.

The green color we associate with the Northern Lights is thanks to oxygen atoms, which are found higher in the atmosphere.

Greenlander Tromsø: Website | Facebook | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Markus Varik / Greenlander Tromsø.

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Astrophotographer Andrew McCarthy has us falling in love with our galaxy once again thanks to his incredible composite photo of the recent lunar eclipse. As always, McCarthy's work invites curiosity and asks us to remember just how incredible our universe really is.

Lunar eclipses typically happen just once or twice a year. In 2022, we were lucky enough to see two lunar eclipses—one on May 15 and the other on November 8. The event occurs when the Moon moves into the Earth's shadow. In order for this to happen, the Sun, Earth, and Moon need to be perfectly or very closely aligned. Not only that, but the Earth needs to sit between the Sun and the Moon and it must be a Full Moon.

When everything comes together for a full lunar eclipse, it's magic. As McCarthy's composite image shows, the Moon turns a mottled red-orange when in complete totality. This is because the Moon relies on the reflection of the Sun's rays to shine. With those rays covered up, its characteristic glow is gone. In its place, we see the rusty-colored hue because of indirect sunlight.

While the Earth completely blocks the Sun's rays from the Moon, there is still light that is coming through from behind Earth. This light gets bent and filtered through Earth's atmosphere so that only longer wavelengths of red and orange light reach the Moon. Thanks to a second photo McCarthy published during the lunar eclipse, which he called the most colorful one he's seen, we can really study the incredible effect this coloration has on our perception of the Moon.

“Every lunar eclipse, I hang out with my camera and watch the event with binoculars,” he writes. “Usually the visual experience, while incredible, isn't very colorful. This is because [the] color on dim objects tend[s] to not be easy to discern visually due to [the] limits of our eyes. This eclipse was somehow the exception, burning with a deep red with more saturation visually than past events. Those colors came through as an explosion of color on camera, which developed into this vivid image you see here.”

Both images are available for purchase via McCarthy's website. And you can follow along on Instagram to see more of his astrophotography.

Astrophotographer Andrew McCarthy recently took a photo of what he called the most colorful total lunar eclipse he's ever seen.

Andrew McCarthy: Website | Instagram | Patreon | YouTube 

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Andrew McCarthy.

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Growing up in southwest Florida, Nicholas D'Alessandro was always aware of the Space Program. But it wasn't until 2019, after selling the family business, that he had the time to invest in his passion for space photography. D'Alessandro even moved to Florida's Space Coast to be closer to the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. And years of honing his skills paid off when he was able to capture a SpaceX Falcon 9 in front of the full moon.

The image was captured on October 8 at Cape Canaveral during the SpaceX launch. To plan the photograph, D'Alessandro took advantage of software created by fellow rocket chaser Declan Murphy. The software lays any rocket launch trajectory over a map of the sky in real predictive time. This makes it possible for photographers like D'Alessandro to see what composition they can expect and to select the most optimal viewing position.

“On this last launch, I became aware that the Moon was increasingly more full and rising lower on the horizon with all clear weather as the days got closer to launch,” the photographer tells My Modern Met. “I checked the software and sure enough, there was a spot in Titusville where the shot could be achieved.”

As often happens with this type of photography, the shot almost didn't work out. The launch was canceled twice during a helium leak, and the third launch attempt was D'Alessandro's last chance to make the shot happen—as after that the full moon would have risen after the fourth launch attempt. Luckily, everything fell into place—including the weather—and D'Alessandro was able to get the image that he was after. And he wasn't alone in doing so.

The sounds of happy rocket photographers having days of hard work and planning finally pay off 🚀🌔 pic.twitter.com/HiJfgKAeP0

— Nicky D’Alessandro (@NickyXPhoto) October 10, 2022

“This third spot ended up on a private condo's pool deck, so proper permission had to be secured to shoot from the location as can often happen with such random yet precise locations,” he recalls. “To get the perfect lineup really does come down to a few yards one way or the other. Because of this, photographers that use the software for these kinds of shots will often find themselves running into each other in the field. There were actually seven to 10 other photographers at the location where I ultimately obtained the shot.”

The result is striking, with the fire from the Falcon 9's engine cutting across the Moon. As seen in a video that he published to Twitter, D'Alessandro had just seconds to take the photo before the rocket continued its journey. He hopes that people will see his work and realize that the space industry is accessible to anyone. Going from amateur rocket chaser to getting granted access to set up remote launch pad cameras on NASA and SpaceX missions in just 6 months, D'Alessandro certainly knows what he's talking about.

“It's been an amazing and unexpected journey. The incredible experiences I've been privileged to have through media access and the flood of new photography knowledge and techniques I see every day keeps me driving to always get better and always try something new at the next launch.”

You never know where the universe will take you if you just dive head first into the things you're passionate about.

Since 2019, Nicholas D'Alessandro has pursued his passion for rocket photography.

Check out more of his incredible images of NASA and SpaceX launches.

Nicholas D'Alessandro: Instagram | Twitter

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Nicholas D'Alessandro.

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With his latest photo of Jupiter, astrophotographer Andrew McCarthy continues to prove that you can snap incredible photos of outer space right from your backyard. The image is the clearest Jupiter photo that McCarthy has ever taken. In it, we can clearly see the Gas Giant's colorful stripes and Great Red Spot. It's a remarkable image that shows just how far McCarthy has come with his astrophotography since he began taking photos in 2017.

The final photo is the culmination of nearly 600,000 individual frames McCarthy shot over the course of two hours from his home base in Arizona. Using an 11-inch telescope and a color camera that he uses for deep space photography, McCarthy was able to come away with a unique look at the planet that is near and dear to him.

“Jupiter holds a special place in my heart, as it was the first object I spotted when I bought my first telescope and led me down this road to becoming an astrophotographer,” he tells My Modern Met.

McCarthy had long believed that a clear image of Jupiter wasn't in the cards due to his location. “I always thought my geography prevented me from taking particularly clear planetary pics. Only certain locations on Earth have a steady enough atmosphere to do it well. For that reason, when I had a night of terrific conditions, I was encouraged that I would be able to push the clarity of my images much further.”

The results that McCarthy obtained only prove that his instincts were correct. And since publishing his photo of Jupiter, he's continued to make strides in imaging our Solar System's largest planet. This includes some incredible timelapse images. In one, it's even possible to see Jupiter's moon Io transit the planet, and his most recent picture took advantage of the fact that Jupiter was just the closest it's been to Earth in 59 years.

As McCarthy continues to hone his craft and make strides in his astrophotography, we can only keep watching his Instagram to see what he'll publish next.

Watch Andrew McCarthy's stunning Jupiter timelapses.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

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A post shared by Andrew McCarthy (@cosmic_background)

Andrew McCarthy: Website | Instagram | Patreon | YouTube 

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Andrew McCarthy.

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Like any good astrophotographer, Brennan Gilmore is always waiting for the perfect moment to get the shot he's after. And last month's Jupiter opposition was the moment that he'd been waiting for. For just a few days, the gas giant was the closest it's been to Earth in 59 years, which allowed Gilmore to take a photo that had been a year in the making. Taken near Charlottesville, Virginia, we not only see Jupiter but also four of its moons rising up over a red barn.

The dazzling photo is the fruit of careful research and planning. Gilmore had attempted a similar shot a year ago, but didn't have the proper focal length to make the planet appear as more than a small dot in the sky. This time, he was ready.

“I began planning how to get the shot, using several apps like PlanitPro and Stellarium to find the exact spot from which I would need to shoot in order to frame the photo correctly,” he tells My Modern Met. “I scouted several potential locations on the correct line of sight axis, but all were on private property or blocked by trees or buildings. Finally, I found a vacant construction site where I could set up on the evening of the opposition of Jupiter—when the planet is at its brightest.”

Gilmore was familiar with the site, as he'd previously photographed the full moon rising behind the barn. But for all his careful planning, he wasn't entirely sure that he'd calculated everything correctly. As he was using a 2350mm focal length, he would only have seconds for the planet to move into the frame and for him to take the photo. If his calculations were off, there was no way that he would have been able to move his heavy equipment in time to get the photo.

Luckily, Gilmore's research paid off and as he saw the planet and its moons move into his viewfinder, he knew that he could breathe a sigh of relief. Just as he'd planned, Jupiter, Ganymede, Io, Europa, and Callisto were visible in the clear sky and he finally photographed an image that had been a year in the making. By capturing the moment above the barn, Gilmore also anchors this otherworldly view of the stars to our own planet.

“My favorite images marry the celestial with the terrestrial and remind viewers that our home on this planet is just a small part of a much larger, deeply interconnected cosmic system,” Gilmore shares. “Jupiter was the first planet of our solar system; its massive size and gravitational presence have a significant influence on Earth. Seeing the planet so seemingly close to a barn on our planet is hopefully a reminder of this correlation.”

See how Brennan Gilmore prepared to take his magnificent photo of Jupiter over a red barn.

 

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A post shared by Brennan Gilmore (@brennangilmorephoto)

Gilmore has previously used the barn as the setting for astrophotography.

Always on the lookout for great celestial events, he also recently photographed several planets in one night.

Brennan Gilmore: Website | Facebook | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Brennan Gilmore.

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READ: Photographer Captures Rare Sight of Jupiter and Four of Its Moons Rising Over a Red Barn

Photographer Paul Cheyne‘s creative juices start flowing a night. When the sun goes down, he sets out to take photographs in both urban and rural settings. During the pandemic, he became fascinated with astrophotography as he spent his time camping in the deserts of Southern California. It was on one of these excursions that he executed his first successful astrophotography shoot.

The resulting image, taken at the Racetrack Playa in California's Death Valley, shows the photographer staring up at a night sky filled with the Milky Way. The light from his headlamp makes a small pool of light on the ground, while the sky is full of stars. Shooting the foreground and background separately with his Nikon Z7 mirrorless camera, Cheyne then merged the photos in post-production for one seamless shot.

Racetrack Playa is an ideal setting for the photograph due to its isolated location. It can be a challenge to arrive at the scenic dry lake, which is nestled in the Death Valley National Park. But those who do will be rewarded, like Cheyne was, with skies free of light pollution that make it the ideal setting for astrophotography.

For Cheyne, the successful Milky Way shoot has inspired him to delve further into photographing the stars. Recently, he's begun using a star tracker mount, which allows his camera to move along with the Earth's rotation. This will allow him to take longer exposures without having to worry about star trails.

He hopes that his work will encourage others to also go out and explore the night sky. “When looking at my Racetrack Playa photograph, I hope the viewer becomes curious about the universe and how sublime it feels to lie under the stars and wonder about our place in the galaxy,” he tells My Modern Met. “If you ever make it out to the Racetrack Playa be sure to take your shoes off and walk around barefoot, trust me.”

Discover more of Cheyne's work, which covers a wide variety of subjects, on his website.

Paul Cheyne takes incredible photos of the night sky while camping throughout the deserts of Southern California.

Paul Cheyne: Website | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Paul Cheyne.

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READ: Dazzling Photo of the Milky Way Glitters Over Death Valley’s Famous Racetrack Playa