A geological phenomenon transported this rock and etched the tracks visible on the dried lake bed before you. For years, scientists were baffled by the force capable of moving it across the valley. Then, in 2014, two scientists captured a time-lapse of the rocks in motion. They discovered that the rocks drift when thin ice panels, formed underneath them on cold winter nights, begin to melt under windy conditions.

Numerous such stones and tracks are found in this part of Death Valley National Park, aptly named Racetrack Playa. They become even more spectacular under one of the darkest skies in the country, offering a unique blend of geological mystery and celestial beauty. The phenomenon remains a fascinating natural puzzle, captivating both geologists and visitors alike.

The Badwater Salt Flats, located in Death Valley National Park, California, provide a stunning backdrop for capturing the Milky Way galaxy in all its splendor. In this panoramic image, the Milky Way stretches across the night sky, its billions of stars casting a soft glow over the surreal landscape of the salt flats. The still waters of the lake create a perfect mirror, reflecting the celestial spectacle above.

As one of the lowest points in North America, the Badwater Salt Flats offer unparalleled views of the night sky, free from light pollution and atmospheric disturbances. The Milky Way's intricate structure is on full display, with dark lanes of dust contrasting against the bright star clusters and nebulae. This image serves as a reminder of the beauty and majesty of the universe, captured in a single breathtaking panorama.

In a remarkable capture taken near the Lighthouse of Pelican Point, an abandoned shipwreck took center stage against the backdrop of the remote landscape. However, it was the captivating beauty of the Milky Way that truly stole the show. With the celestial band of the Milky Way arching across the night sky, this cosmic display unveiled the intricate structure of our galaxy, a stunning tapestry of stars, dust, and gas. As the Milky Way's faint glow illuminated the shipwreck, the scene became a fusion of science and art, reminding us of our place in the vast cosmos and the profound connections between the universe and the stories of human history

ge Description and Details : During this winter, I decided to photography the winter Milky Way from one of the highest passes in europe : the Agnel pass.During the winter, you can go to this pass on skis or on foot but not by car. I left at 2.30 p.m. from the bottom to climb the 700m of vertical drop over 9km to go skiing.I was alone at an altitude of 2700m. During the night, the temperature was -13°C without wind.I started to ski down around 11.00 p.m under the stars._________________DETAILS Canon 5D MKIII + Samyang lens 24mm f/1.4 on tripod.Sky : panorama of 31 photos.Each photo is a one shot (exposure : 13 seconds, f/2.8, ISO : 4000).Foreground : panorama of 16 photos. Each photo stacked of 4 images (exposure : 4 * 60 seconds, f/2.8, ISO : 4000).



Copyright: Jeff Graphy

I shot it with a Nikon D4 with a Tamron 15-30 f2.8.

Here the exif data:
F2.8
30"
15mm
iso10000

It's a single shot and post producted with Lightroom.

Copyright Information: Filippo Peruz Photography

Yesterday, I spent a beautiful night at this scenic lake with my buddy benjaminbarakat

Shortly before moon rise, I had captured all my planned shots and was ready to call it a night. While packing my gear, I noticed that the peaks started to glow in the light of the rising moon. Despite being tired from shooting two nights in a row, Benjamin and I decided to set up again and shoot a panorama of the lake in moonlight.

The result confirms an old photographers wisdom:
It is always worth to linger a bit longer.

EXIF:
20 panel panorama from fixed tripod.
Canon EOS 6D astro modified
Tamron 15-30mm f2.8
20 x 30s @ ISO6400

Copyright: Ralf Rohner

Over northern China, I was shooting the Cygnus region of the Milky Way, while we passed some active thunderstorms and due to the atmospheric activity, the ride was not very smooth. To get at least a few sharp exposures, I had to push my camera to a higher ISO setting than normal.

For once, this was a good thing, as it enabled me to capture some red sprites. These reddish flashes are a very fleeting phenomena, lasting only a few tens of milliseconds and the high ISO setting helped to make them visible.

Sprites occur in clusters above the troposphere at an altitude range of 50–90 km (31–56 mi). They were first photographed 31 years ago in 1989.

Riding high above the sprites are some deep red astronomical nebulas: North America Nebula, Pelican Nebula and the Gamma Cygni Nebula, belong to the constellation Cygnus, while the Elephant Trunk Nebula and the red Garnet Star are located in Cepheus.

To complete this celestial tour, the Andromeda Galaxy is hugging the horizon to the lower left of the sprited.


EXIF
Canon EOS 6D astro modified
Samyang 24mm f/1.4 @ f/2
Stack of 7 x 2.5s @ ISO 12800
Mount: Boeing 777-300ER

Copyright: Ralf Rohner

Taken on the Canary Islands

Used a D810 Nikon and 14-24mm 2.8 Nikon lenses

Copyright: Pablo Ruiz