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2019 Sept. 25 ~ The Milky Way from Aquila to Sagittarius

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Photographed 4.5 km north of (13 km by road from) Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park (Ayers Rock), Northern Territory, Australia, between 23.30 and 23.49 CAST (Central Australia Standard Time)

* Observing site: Long. 131.07° E. | Lat. 25.22° S. | Elev. 501 m

* Altitude of centre of frame at time of exposures: ~76°

 

* Total exposure time: 12 minutes

* 50 mm focal length lens

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Description:

 

Part of our home galaxy, the Milky Way, runs from the constellation Aquila (The Eagle) at the left side to Sagittarius (the Archer) at right.

 

Dozens of star clusters, glowing clouds of pink-red ionized hydrogen gas, and foreground dark nebulae are strewn across this area of the sky. The centre of the Milky Way lies out of view to the right side.

 

The 12th brightest star of in the sky, Altair, is near the left edge of the frame, below centre.

 

All of what is shown in this image can also be seen from the northern hemisphere, but I wanted to photograph it from south of the equator as well, from which it can be viewed almost straight overhead.

 

For a version of this photo WITH LABELS, click on your screen to the RIGHT of the photo, or click here:

www.flickr.com/photos/97587627@N06/49278477912

 

Here is a photo of the gear that used for astrophotography on this trip:

www.flickr.com/photos/97587627@N06/49017804808

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Technical information:

 

Sigma 50 mm f/1.4 DG HSM ART Lens on Nikon D810a camera body, mounted on an iOptron CEM40 equatorial mount with a Kirk Enterprises ball head

 

Twelve stacked subframes - each frame:

ISO 2500; 1 minute exposure at f/4, 50 mm focal length, unguided (with LENR - long exposure noise reduction)

 

Subframes stacked in RegiStar;

Processed in Photoshop CS6 (brightness, contrast, levels, colour balance)

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Uploaded on December 26, 2019