The 2024 Summer Olympics have begun, and while all eyes are on the athletes, Paris is a stunning backdrop for the Games. If there was ever any doubt about that, just look at Greg Martin‘s incredible photo of the full moon rising into the center of the Olympic Rings that are hanging on the Eiffel Tower.

Martin works for the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as a Senior Producer and Digital Content Producer, and is the IOC President's Photographer. He took the image just a few days before the opening ceremonies. His colleague Ignacio Lagger, an astronomy enthusiast, alerted him to this unique photography opportunity.

“He has a vast knowledge when it comes to the movement of the Moon and its angles,” Martin tells My Modern Met. “Two days prior to us going to the Trocadero to capture the shot, Ignacio sent me a photo of the angle of the Moon in relation to the Eiffel Tower and alerted me to the possibility of us maybe getting the trifecta alignment!”

After arranging all the necessary permissions to gain access to the area, which is blocked off for the Games, Martin set up. At first, cloud cover looked like it was going to ruin the opportunity for this unique image, but his patience paid off, as a cloud disappeared just as the Moon came into view inside the central ring.

While Martin never anticipated that the photo would be viewed by more than friends and family, he's thrilled with the reception the image received after he shared it on Instagram.

“I think what has been great is how people have been very complimentary about the image. I never expected for a minute that it would have been shared wider than my friends and family, but I think that it was right place, right time with some planning.”

In the end, Martin's photo is a wonderful way to kick off the next two weeks of Olympic activity and a reminder that more special moments are ahead.

Just ahead of the Paris Olympics, Greg Martin captured a unique photo of the full moon rising into the Olympic Rings.

Greg Martin: Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Greg Martin.

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READ: Majestic Photo of the Full Moon Inside the Eiffel Tower’s Olympic Rings

For astrophotographer Soumyadeep Mukherjee, Kyrgyzstan is a gold mine. Last June, he mentored a workshop there, but found the country to be severely underrepresented in the field of astrophotography. Hoping to spread the word about the land's photographic potential, he set out to shoot some marvelous images against the many landscapes of Kyrgyzstan—a country that turned out to be astrophotography's best kept secret.

“Kyrgyzstan, undoubtedly, has some of the best natural landscapes in the world,” Mukherjee tells My Modern Met. “The barren lands, mountains, grasslands, canyons, it seemed like a package of landscapes. It gave us almost all the varieties one could ask for.” With little population density, the country has ample dark skies that, paired with some wonderful landscapes, make it the perfect location.

This winning combo made Mukherjee even more curious about the lack of photography coming out of Kyrgyzstan. “When I searched the internet for some sample images, I was able to find only a few,” he recalled. “A country that has so much potential for astrophotography has remained comparatively less explored.”

To Mukherjee, in terms of landscapes, Kyrgyzstan provides an all-in-one experience. “While we were traveling through the highways, on one side, we could see yellow-orange rough mountains and on the other side, vast grasslands,” he shares. “This was an experience I would never forget.” The experienced photographer even turned the humble yurts and a Yuri Gagarin statue into exciting companions to the swirling sky.

“If you love astrophotography and also like to travel and explore unforgettable landscapes, Kyrgyzstan should be on your bucket list,” Mukherjee says. “Kyrgyzstan has a very low population density which makes the country a heaven for finding dark skies. There are ample Bortle 1 and 2 regions around the country.”

Should you want to give it a go yourself, the photographer recommends spending at least seven to 10 days in the country—preferably in June or July—in order to enjoy and appreciate its vastness. “I hope that people start taking interest in visiting this country (along with other countries of central Asia) and explore its beauty.”

For astrophotographer Soumyadeep Mukherjee, Kyrgyzstan is a gold mine for his craft.

Hoping to show the potential of this country, he set out to shoot some marvelous images against the many landscapes of Kyrgyzstan.

Andromeda and green skyglow from Tash Rabat

Wide field Milky Way from Tash Rabat

“Kyrgyzstan, undoubtedly, has some of the best natural landscapes in the world,” Mukherjee tells My Modern Met.

North America Nebula rising at Barskoon Valley

“The barren lands, mountains, grasslands, canyons, it seemed like a package of landscapes. It gave us almost all the varieties one could ask for.”

Milky Way rising at Son-kul

Big Dipper at twilight

With little population density, the country has ample dark skies that, paired with some wonderful landscapes, make it the perfect location.

Andromeda rising at Barskoon Valley

Cygnus Arm risining at Tash Rabat

Rising Milky Way at Tash Rabat

Setting Rho Ophuchi at Barskoon Valley

“If you love astrophotography and also like to travel and explore unforgettable landscapes, Kyrgyzstan should be on your bucket list.”

Big Dipper above tents at Barskoon Valley

Milky Way rising behind Gagarin Statue

Soumyadeep Mukherjee: Instagram | Facebook

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Soumyadeep Mukherjee.

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READ: Astrophotographer Captures the Beauty of the Universe Against the Natural Landscapes of Kyrgyzstan

Portuguese astrophotographer Miguel Claro has once again captured the public's imagination with his magical imagery. This time, he took a detailed image of the International Space Station (ISS) as it transited the Sun. Traveling at an average speed of 17,500 miles per hour, the space station only takes a few seconds to move across the Sun. This makes the clarity of Claro's image all the more impressive.

“The fact that I could achieve this level of detail without stacking images, which is the typical technique used for solar imaging, but for the ISS, it is not possible to stack, so I developed a different processing method which worked pretty well, and I was surprised and very happy with the results,” Claro tells My Modern Met of his favorite part of this image.

Claro's work in solar photography often involves creating time lapses to show our star's motion. So, it is a special achievement for him to be able to create a single frame that captures this sense of motion. Many factors need to come together in order to have a clear shot of the Sun, from clear weather to a stable atmosphere, but with everything lined up and the right equipment in hand, Claro executed his vision.

“I hope that this image can give emotions that can transmit the beauty of the universe, and in this case, how spectacular the Sun is,” shares Claro. “But also our capacity to make huge achievements as humanity: work in teams, put politics aside, and build the largest manmade structure in space, the International Space Station, capable of carrying on board astronauts permanently, an incredible artificial satellite orbiting our planet.”

To have this piece of art in your home and support Claro's work as a freelance photographer, you can purchase fine art prints of the ISS transit online.

Astrophotographer Miguel Claro captured a detailed look at the International Space Station transiting the Sun.

Fine art prints of the exceptional photo are also available for sale.

Miguel Claro: Website | Facebook | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Miguel Claro.

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READ: ISS Crossing the Sun Is Captured in Spectacular Image Detailing Its Path

“Arctic Dragon” © Carina Letelier Baeza (Chile). Location: Raufarhöfn, Iceland
“This impressive aurora, which seemingly takes the form of a dragon, was the result of a geomagnetic storm (level G2) generated by a coronal mass ejection. The photo was captured at the Arctic Henge, which was one of the only places in Iceland with clear skies that night.”

Dazzling auroras, distant galaxies, and impressive celestial bodies have all found a home on the 2024 Astronomy Photographer of the Year shortlist. Organized by Royal Observatory Greenwich, the competition is a delight for anyone who loves gazing at the stars.

The respected competition always attracts top amateur and professional astrophotographers, and this year is no different. Over 3,500 images were submitted to this year's photo contest by photographers hailing from 58 countries. These images compete in nine categories, including one that honors young photographers.

One particularly impressive image shows a clear green aurora in Iceland. It appears like a dragon in the sky, spreading its wings over the Arctic Henge in the remote northern end of the island.

“This aurora panorama, which looks like a big dragon over the rock pyramids, was the result of a geomagnetic storm (level G2) generated by a coronal mass ejection earlier that day,” explains Chilean photographer Carina Letelier Baeza. “The result was intense red-greenish aurorae throughout the whole night. The location of the photo is the Arctic Henge, which has a rich cultural meaning for Icelanders, and was the only place in Iceland with clear skies that night.”

This taste of what's in store has only got us more excited about the winners of the competition, which will be revealed on September 12, 2024. For now, scroll down to see our favorite images from the shortlist and enjoy this glimpse of the stars—and beyond.

Here are our favorite photos from the 2024 Astronomy Photographer of the Year shortlist.

“A Whale Sailing the Sun” © Eduardo Schaberger Poupeau (Argentina). Location: Rafaela, Santa Fe, Argentina
“This image shows the details of the Sun’s surface. The photographer views the shape of the filament to the left of the disc as an immense plasma whale traversing the solar surface. Eduardo Schaberger Poupeau captured this photo by recording two videos (one for the disc and another for the prominences), each consisting of 850 frames.”

“Abandoned House” © Stefan Liebermann (Germany). Location: Garub, Namibia
“This image shows an abandoned house in the middle of the Namib Desert with the Milky Way rising above it. The sky was captured with a star tracker to lower the ISO. The veil of clouds and halos around the stars create a dreamlike effect.”

“A Night with the Valkyries” © Jose Miguel Picon Chimelis (Spain). Location: Hvalnesviti, Iceland
“A view of the Eystrahorn Mountain on the night of a KP7 storm (a strong geomagnetic storm that can cause aurorae and upset electrical power systems). The intensity of the storm resulted in the impressive range of colors in the sky.”

“Total Solar Eclipse” © Gwenaël Blanck (France). Location: Exmouth, Western Australia, Australia
“Gwenaël Blanck travelled to Australia in April 2023 to see the 62-second long total solar eclipse. In this collage he shows the corona and the pink chromosphere, the prominences and Baily’s beads, chinks of sunlight that shine through due to the Moon’s rugged landscape. The image is made of seven superimposed pictures, one overexposed for the background and six others for the chromosphere and prominences.”

“Serpentine” © Paul Haworth (UK). Location: Snettisham Beach, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, UK
“This image was taken at Snettisham Beach, famous for its vast tidal mudflats that attract migrating birds in staggering numbers. The foreground subject is a dilapidated jetty, which was built in the Second World War to allow gravel extracted from the nearby pits to be moved by boat. The curved channel in the mudflat mirrors the trailing stars.”

“The Galaxy Devourer” © ShaRa. Location: El Sauce Observatory, Río Hurtado, Chile
“CG4 (Cometary Globule 4) is a complex of nebulosity and dust with a very peculiar shape, located in the southern constellation of Puppis. The ‘head’ of the galactic worm has dimensions of about 1.5 light years. This image is the result of the work of a team of astrophotographers: they joined forces to rent the powerful Newtonian 500-mm telescope from Chilescope service, processing the raw files and then voted for the best images.”

“The Fire-Spitting Dragon” © Moritz Telser (Jersey). Location: Uttakleiv Beach, Lofoten, Norway
“The photographer was able to capture the aurora in motion when it turned into something resembling a dragon’s head on a clear night. Telser chose to use black and white to emphasise the contrast of the aurora against the dark sky.”

“M81, a Grand Design Spiral Galaxy” © Holden Aimar (USA), aged 14. Location: Brownstown, Michigan, USA
“M81, also known as Bode’s Galaxy, is about 11.75 million light years away in the constellation Ursa Major. It is one of the brighter galaxies in the night sky. In the image’s background, some Integrated Flux Nebula (IFN) can be seen. IFN is dust outside the Milky Way’s galactic plane that is illuminated only by the stars in the Milky Way.”

The winners of the astrophotography competition will be announced on September 12.

“Hunter’s Moon and the ISS” © Tom Glenn (USA). Location: San Diego, California, USA
“This image captures the International Space Station (ISS) in transit across October’s Full Moon, the Hunter’s Moon, approximately 12 hours after a partial lunar eclipse. The striking beauty of the Full Moon is on display, with its mix of rugged highlands, bright crater rays and darker maria.”

“The International Space Station Daytime Moon Transit” © Kelvin Hennessy (Australia). Location: Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
“This image shows the International Space Station (ISS) transiting the 51 percent illuminated Moon. The photographer initially struggled to find a suitable shooting location with clear skies along the very narrow transit corridor.”

“The Palette of the Himalayas” © Geshuang Chen (China). Location: Shigatse City, Xizang Province, China
“During the Spring Festival, the Sun and altostratus clouds acted together to create this huge corona, soaring above the Himalayas. The result is an enormous color palette above the snowy peaks.”

“A Milky Way Mimic” © Kevin Morefield (USA). Location: El Sauce Observatory, Río Hurtado, Chile
“NGC 6744 is thought to resemble our own Milky Way as it would be seen from 30 million light years away. The colours of this galaxy are those of the classic spirals: magentas of the emission nebulae, blues of the large young stars, yellows of the older stars and yellow-browns from the dust spiralling into the core. From Earth, NGC 6744 appears about two-thirds the size of the Full Moon.”

“Earth and Milky Way Galaxy Show” © Yoshiki Abe (Japan). Location: Aso City, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan
“Mount Aso in Kumamoto Prefecture is the collective name for the five peaks often called the ‘Five Mountains of Aso’. One of the peaks, Nakadake, has a volcanic crater that is still active. Abe wanted this image to show how the Milky Way has watched over activity on Earth since prehistoric times. This is a composite photograph with the foreground and sky photographed separately but without moving the tripod.”

“The Scream of a Dying Star” © Yann Sainty (France). Location: Oukaïmeden, Atlas Mountains, Morocco
“The Cygnus supernova afterglow is a popular object with astrophotographers, but the idea here was to take advantage of the high quality of the sky and the long exposure time to highlight details that are rarely seen, such as the outer envelope of the supernova remnant. The image’s name is a nod to The Scream, the famous painting by Edvard Munch, symbolizing the scream that continues to echo through space after the star’s death.”

“Observations at Night” © Jakob Sahner (Germany). Location: Roque de los Muchachos, La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain
“This image captures the Isaac Newton Telescope at the edge of the telescope facility on La Palma, in the Canary Islands. Moving the focus away from the centre of the Milky Way, Sahner explores other interesting areas of the galaxy such as the Cygnus region, seen in the top right of the image with its bright and vibrant star-forming regions. This photograph is a panorama created with a 135-mm lens which brings extreme depth to the shot.”

Astronomy Photographer of the Year: Website | Facebook | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to use photos by the Royal Observatory Greenwich.

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“Plane In Front Of Eclipse” by Ryan Spangenberg. First Place.

Millions turned out to watch April 8's North American solar eclipse, and Kolari Vision helped photographers safely capture images of the total eclipse. To celebrate the big event, Kolari ran its inaugural Solar Eclipse Photography Contest. Now, they've announced the winners and several exceptional honorable mentions.

Ryan Spangenberg won the competition with his unique image of a plane hugging the side of the total eclipse. Two incredible moments of totality by Keith Double and Justin Castel took home second and third place, respectively. For the honorable mentions, two standouts are cool composite images by both Joe Luther and Jonathan Sullivan that clearly show all the phases of the eclipse.

Kolari, known for its infrared filters and camera conversions, used the photo contest to educate the public about documenting such an event. Its 15-stop and 20-stop ND filters allow photographers to safely take photos of the solar eclipse without ruining their camera equipment.

ND filters work by reducing the amount of light that enters the camera lens without compromising the color or hue of the image. This makes them perfect for photographing eclipses. However, just because these filters keep cameras safe, it doesn't mean they are safe for the human eye.

“Do not look through the optical viewfinder on your DSLR camera when pointing it at the Sun, even when using an ND filter, and DO NOT look directly at the Sun through an ND filter,” Kolari warns. “These filters are not rated for your eyes, and your eyes will be damaged if you do this. However, it is perfectly safe to use live view or look through the EVF on a mirrorless camera.”

If you are looking for another eclipse opportunity, an annular eclipse will take place on October 2, 2024. It will be fully visible in South America and appear as a partial eclipse in North America.

Scroll down to see more winning solar eclipse photography and get ready to enter Kolari Vision's next photo competition. Its fourth biannual Infrared Photo Contest is now open for submissions.

Here are the winning images of Kolari Vision's Solar Eclipse Photography Contest.

“Dark Day” by Keith Double. Second Place.

“Moment Of Totality” by Justin Castel. Third Place.

“Total Eclipse Chrono” by Joe Luther. Honorable Mention.

“Eclipse IRChrome” by Jonathan Sullivan. Honorable Mention.

“The Diamond Rings” by Noah Cote / Noah Cote Photography. Honorable Mention.

“Phoenix” by Thomas Streiff. Honorable Mention.

“Solar Glow” by Travis Brooks. Honorable Mention.

“2024: An Eclipse Odyssey” by Mike Denison. Honorable Mention.

Kolari Vision: Website | Facebook | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Kolari Vision.

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Astrophotographer Andrew McCarthy is known for his ultra-high-definition photos of the Sun, and now he's focusing his equipment on an interesting detail of our star. AR3697 is a massive sunspot that has gotten a lot of attention lately, as it's the main cause of May's vibrant auroras. McCarthy has been tracking the sunspot from his backyard and put together some incredible time-lapses of its activity.

This region has been a hotbed of activity lately, with a flurry of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) causing a large geomagnetic storm. McCarthy has been taking advantage of the opportunity to capture the enormous solar flares, some the size of Jupiter, that have been a regular occurrence of late.

“Unlike most celestial objects, the Sun looks quite different from day to day, and is filled with exciting events like flares or coronal mass ejections,” the astrophotographer shares. “There's always something interesting to look at!”

Heading out at solar maximum over the course of five days, McCarthy has been able to share with the world just how mesmerizing the Sun's surface is. Each timelapse includes hours of activity, giving a clear view of the activity that's happening on the sunspot.

To see what will happen next, keep tuning into McCarthy's Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), where he shares his work and sometimes livestreams his creative process.

Astrophotographer Andrew McCarthy has been creating time-lapses of a large sunspot.

 

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A post shared by Andrew McCarthy (@cosmic_background)

This area of the Sun, known as AR3697, is responsible for sparking the massive aurora light show last month.

 

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A post shared by Andrew McCarthy (@cosmic_background)

 

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A post shared by Andrew McCarthy (@cosmic_background)

 

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A post shared by Andrew McCarthy (@cosmic_background)

Andrew McCarthy: Website | Instagram | X | Patreon | TikTok | YouTube

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Portuguese astrophotographer Miguel Claro flew halfway across the world to experience—and photograph—the Great North American Eclipse. Photographing an eclipse is already challenging, but Claro upped the difficulty level by deciding to produce an HDR photo of the spectacular event. This not only required detailed planning and technical precision but a bit of luck as well.

Claro spent months researching the best techniques for taking an HDR eclipse photo. HDR, which stands for high dynamic range, is a type of photography that requires multiple frames to capture all the highlights and shadows present in a scene. When merged together in post-production, they produce a crisp, high-contrast photo.

In order to get these results with an eclipse, Claro invested heavily in proper equipment, bringing six cameras and over 100 pounds of gear with him. He also carefully studied HDR eclipse photography by other astrophotographers and read up on the methods and techniques they employed. Claro's partner took on the task of mapping out the path of totality and figuring out the best place to take the image. The duo ended up settling on Texas, but even that took a turn due to the weather.

“We had to travel to Pearsall, in Texas, as planned, but the forecast was indeed terrible almost in the entire U.S., or at least where the path was located,” Claro recalls. “So after many hours driving from Dallas to Houston and then to Pearsall, with the rest of the week monitoring with several different models the evolution of the weather forecast, we have decided—even with a certain risk—that we needed to move back north, again, to be closer to Oklahoma. So, on the day before the eclipse, we had to drive back to Dallas for five or six hours, and on the morning of the eclipse, we did an extra two-hour drive to reach a small city called Clarksville in the northeast of Texas.”

After setting up his six cameras at a farm that gave him authorization, Claro waited for the big moment. Thankfully, whatever clouds were in the sky parted. “Like a miracle, just five minutes before totality starts, the sky cleared up where the Sun was located, and during the maximum, it was completely crystal clear, at least, for around 1 min and 30 seconds, calm and windless until the end,” he shares.

Once the big event was over, Claro had a new challenge. Post-production for an image like this, where the Sun, Moon, and stars all move differently, is quite tricky. As Claro really wanted to emphasize the beautiful whispy loops of the inner corona, he worked meticulously to align these faint details.

The final image is a triumph. It has not only given Claro immense personal satisfaction but is also proof that artistry, without any artificial enhancements, is still possible with a little time and effort. “Watching a Total Solar Eclipse, it’s so magical that it’s comparable to a spiritual inner experience,” he confesses.

While he hopes that his image will inspire others to pursue their own creative passions or to view a future eclipse, he's also allowing anyone to have a piece of the eclipse in their home. Claro is selling limited-edition fine art prints of his HDR eclipse photo in multiple sizes.

Astrophotographer Miguel Claro flew from Portugal to Texas to photograph the total solar eclipse.

He challenged himself to produce an HDR image that pulled out the details of the Sun's corona.

To bring his vision to life, he used a six-camera setup that weighed over 100 pounds.

Though cloudy weather threatened to derail his plans, the skies parted just as totality began.

The final result is a stunning image that is also available as a fine art print in Claro's shop.

Watch this video to see more of Claro's journey toward an HDR photo of the total eclipse.

Miguel Claro: Website | Facebook | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Miguel Claro.

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“A Clear Welcome” by Francesco dall'Olmo. Location: Laguna de los Tres, Patagonia, Argentina.
“This was the first photo I took in Patagonia. Contrary to expectations of cold, rain, and wind, our initial encounter with these landscapes was unusual: nearly three days of clear skies. Reaching the lagoon around 7 a.m., I immediately captured shots of the sky. Shortly afterward, I photographed the foreground, where twilight had already set in. This clear welcome gifted me with a rare photo of Fitz Roy framed by the Milky Way arch.”

For the seventh year, travel blog Capture the Atlas has celebrated our galaxy with its Milky Way Photographer of the Year collection. These 25 images of the Milky Way were singled out as exceptional examples of astrophotography and are awe-inspiring looks at the Milky Way.

The photographs, taken in 15 different countries—from the United States and Argentina to New Zealand and France—were selected from the more than 5,000 images submitted to this year's competition. Photographer Dan Zafra of Capture the Atlas curates the images, looking for photographs from both established and new photographers.

The final selection is not only beautiful but also inspirational. From remote locations in Patagonia to the snowy Alps of Slovenia, the stunning images demonstrate how creative astrophotographers can get with the Milky Way. Whether it's shown as an arch perfectly framing a mountain or accompanied by bands of colored light in the sky, it's incredible to see the diversity in our galaxy.

Scroll down to see 15 of our favorite images from the collection, and then head over to Capture the Atlas to see the full gallery.

The 2024 Milky Way Photographer of the Year includes images from 15 different countries.

“Mungo Dreamtime” by John Rutter. Location: Mungo National Park, NSW, Australia.
“This Mars-like landscape is the shores of Ancient Lake Mungo, housing the oldest human remains outside Africa—a significant site for all humankind. Its remote location grants it a Bortle 1 sky, allowing you to stand where the first Australians once did and gaze at the same sky they beheld 100,000 years ago. The beauty of the arid, wind-carved landscape and the untouched sky is only eclipsed by the rich history of this area.”

“Lightning Lake” by Tom Rae. Location: Aoraki, Mount Cook National Park, New Zealand.
“The Milky Way emerges from New Zealand’s highest mountain, Aoraki/Mount Cook, on a winter night—a shot I’ve longed to capture, knowing it would encapsulate the mountains and sky elements perfectly. In rare alpine weather conditions, I embarked on a journey up the glacial valley one night. Upon reaching the lake, the scene that unfolded made me feel like I had landed on another planet. This night, among many spent documenting this incredible part of the world, stands out for me.
It embodies the dedication, sleepless nights, and the fulfillment of completing my vision. The image features icebergs in the cyan-blue glacial lake, red airglow painting the sky, and the glow of billions of stars in the Milky Way—a glimpse into the vastness beyond.”

“Atmospheric Fireworks” by Julien Looten. Location: Dordogne, France.
“Last winter, I ventured to the foot of a medieval castle in France to capture the Milky Way’s “winter” arc. Alongside the stunning celestial vault, an exceptional airglow illuminated the sky, resembling multicolored clouds. This natural phenomenon occurs due to a chemical reaction in the upper atmosphere, emitting faint light known as chemiluminescence.
The panoramic view spans 180°, showcasing the entire Milky Way arc. From left to right: Sirius and the constellation of Orion, Mars, the Pleiades, the California Nebula, Cassiopeia, the double cluster of Perseus, and the Andromeda galaxy. Capturing this image required a large panorama of 40 exposures, totaling nearly an hour of exposure time using my Canon 6D Astrodon and Sigma 28mm f/1.4 lens.”

“Caradhras – Milky Way Arch Above Vrsic Pass” by Matej Mlakar. Location: Vrsic Pass, Slovenia.
“Vršič Pass is a high mountain pass across the Julian Alps in northwestern Slovenia. It is the highest pass in Slovenia, as well as the highest in the Eastern Julian Alps. It connects Upper Carniola with the Trenta Valley in the Slovene Littoral. One of those peaks is Prednje robičje (1941m), where this image was taken from. On Sunday afternoon, my friend Nino Frelih and I were still quite undecided about where to go.
I knew I wanted to capture probably the last winter Milky Way arch of the season above snow-covered peaks, and this location was a sort of last-minute idea while we were driving towards Vršič Pass. Sometimes it pays off to be a bit more spontaneous.”

Now in its seventh year, the collection is curated by travel blog Capture the Atlas.

“Blue Lagoon Under the Stars” by Yuri Beletsky. Location: Atacama Desert, Chile.
“I captured this view at one of the remote sites of the Atacama Desert in Chile. The Galactic Center was already shining high in the sky, with the Zodiacal light beautifully complementing it on the right. The blue color was as real as the stars in the sky, adding a touch of magic to the scene. It was an absolutely incredible experience!
In that moment, all I could do was capture the beauty unfolding before me. It served as a reminder of the wonderful sights that exist in the world and the endless beauty that can be found when we simply look up at the night sky. It was a moment that made me feel deeply connected to the world around me and the universe beyond.”

“Bluff Hut” by Rachel Roberts. Location: Mungo River Valley, West Coast, New Zealand.
“Sometimes, the best images come completely unplanned, which is precisely what happened on this trip to Bluff Hut, nestled in the Southern Alps on New Zealand’s South Island.
Only accessible by a challenging hike or helicopter flight, I had no intention of ending up here, as I had a different shoot planned at another hut. However, with weather closing in at my intended location and no backup plan, I trusted the chopper pilot to choose the best spot for clear skies that evening. Thankfully, he didn’t disappoint, and I was able to capture the Milky Way arching majestically over the hut from one of the darkest places on the planet.”

“Desert Bloom” by Marcin Zajac. Location: Goblin Valley State Park, Utah.
“Wildflowers blooming in front of a group of hoodoos called the Three Sisters in Goblin Valley State Park in Utah. The park, located in a remote corner of the Colorado Plateau and away from major urban centers, yields one of the darkest skies in the country.”

“Blooming Bottle Tree” by Rositsa Dimitrova. Location: Socotra Island, Yemen.
“Visiting Socotra was a dream come true – it had been at the top of my bucket list for a couple of years. The night sky in Socotra is categorized as Bortle 1 on the dark sky scale – the darkest you can possibly get. But it wasn’t just the dark skies – it was the alien-looking foregrounds that truly took my breath away. The gorgeous bottle trees of Socotra are especially beautiful in full bloom. They only bloom for a few weeks in February and March, and it’s a mesmerizing sight you want to experience again and again.
I was actually 11 weeks pregnant with my second child when I visited – I must admit that camping and shooting all night were not the most fatigue-friendly activities, but all the challenges were absolutely worth it. I’m now dreaming of taking my two daughters to Socotra one day – for an experience they will never, ever forget.”

“The Vanity of Life” by Mihail Minkov. Location: Wadi Rum Desert, Jordan.
“The concept behind this shot is to highlight the stark contrast between the vastness of the cosmos and the minuscule nature of humanity. The composition intentionally draws the viewer’s focus to a small figure, underscoring our insignificance in the grand scheme of the universe, while the majestic Milky Way core dominates the background.
Whenever I venture out to capture the night sky, I’m filled with a sense of humility and gratitude for my existence. It’s as if my problems diminish in comparison, and I’m reminded of the immense love I have for my family and the beauty of life itself, making everything else seem trivial.”

These images of our galaxy are sure to inspire.

“Mother Juniper” by Benjamin Barakat. Location: Jebel Shams, Oman.
“The wisdom of the juniper reveals itself in its aged roots, twisted and sculpted over millennia, enduring the ravages of time and countless obstacles. Amidst the ever-changing tides of time, one constant remains: its profound connection with the night sky and the Milky Way. Their paths intertwine and converge, culminating in a perfect alignment. In that fated instance, I found myself beneath the juniper’s boughs, gazing up at the cosmic dance above, capturing its essence in the stillness of the night.”

“The Lions Den” by Lorenzo Ranieri Tenti. Location: Atacama Desert, Chile.
“This image was captured during an adventurous night on the plateau of the Atacama Desert, a potentially dangerous area due to its designation as a mountain lion reserve.
After a whole afternoon of searching for compositions, I stumbled upon this remarkable mass of rocks adorned with tufts of grass, now burnt by the harsh environment.
The area was littered with bones of small animals and footprints of a significant size, indicating the presence of wildlife not typically associated with peaceful sheep. Spending the night there was admittedly a bit nerve-wracking, but the opportunity to photograph such beauty made it worthwhile. The Milky Way’s arch, in all its splendor, rises above the pristine landscape, creating a truly mesmerizing scene.”

“Lupine Dreams” by Brandt Ryder. Location: Eastern Sierra, California.
“Super blooms can be a once-in-a-lifetime event. An atmospheric river in the winter of 2023 had caused record amounts of moisture to fall in the Eastern Sierra mountains and the foothills surrounding this area. The result was one of the best wildflower or super blooms on record for the state.
In May of 2023, I spent a couple of days around the iconic town of Lone Pine, California, where the lupines in the foothills were just coming into peak bloom and the skies are notoriously dark. I knew I wanted to create an image that transported the viewer into a sea of purple flowers framed by the snow-covered Sierra and the Milky Way rising above.
Although this spot was special, it was the incredible panoply of color in the night sky that I captured on this night that really elevates this image. Every time I look back at this image, I can still smell those flowers, and I’m immediately transported to this special place and time spent with special people.”

“Rainbow Valley” by Baillie Farley. Location: Rainbow Valley Conservation Reserve, Northern Territory – Australia.
“My recent journey to the Central Australian Outback was an incredible experience, exposing me to the harsh vastness of the outback and some of the darkest southern night skies in the world. This image captures the breathtaking scene at Rainbow Valley Conservation Reserve, where the southern Milky Way gracefully spans above a remarkable formation of colorful sandstone rocks. This area exudes a unique charm, with its vibrant hues and stunning geological formations creating a mesmerizing landscape.

“The Tajinaste” by Maximilian Höfling. Location: Mirador El Tabonal Negro, Tenerife, Spain.
“My astro adventure on Tenerife was unforgettable. The Canary Islands, particularly Tenerife, offer ideal conditions for astrophotography. In the Teide National Park, situated at an altitude of around 2000 meters, clear skies are almost guaranteed, with lower clouds shielding city lights, minimizing light pollution.
My primary goal in astrophotography is to unveil the hidden beauty of the night sky beyond the visible stars. I’m especially passionate about showcasing our galaxy, the Milky Way, in all its glory. I believe this picture achieves that goal impressively, capturing the mesmerizing brilliance of the Milky Way against the pristine backdrop of Tenerife’s night sky.”

Capture The Atlas: Website | Instagram | Facebook 

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

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Architect Betul Turksoy is an accomplished astrophotographer who used her time and dedication to create an incredible image of a lunar analemma. For those of you who may not be familiar, an analemma shows the position of either the Sun or the Moon from a fixed point over the course of many weeks. The finished diagram looks like a figure eight and is quite hard to accomplish photographically due to the number of images needed.

In fact, the first analemma captured on film wasn't created until 1979. But the difficulty of the process doesn't intimidate Turksoy, who has created several solar and lunar analemmas. To capture the lunar analemma, Turksoy took photos throughout the lunar month, each day taking the picture 50 minutes and 29 seconds later than the previous one. Once blended together, the images show the Moon's wandering path due to the shape of its elliptical orbit.

The consistency and patience required to take all of the images is quite high and can hinder many photographers, but not Turksoy.

“One of the most challenging things when taking photographs is being able to be in that location every day at the shooting time,” she tells My Modern Met. “Combining photos is as important as shooting, and also difficult. It took a very long time—a few weeks—to combine the photos, but it was all worth it when I saw the results.”

The images, which were taken throughout July and August 2022, all come together beautifully, with the figure eight dancing over the city as the Sun sets. For her efforts, Turksoy was also singled out by NASA, which named the shot Astronomy Photo of the Day.

Betul Turksoy spent two months photographing the Moon to create this record of the lunar analemma.

Detail.

The photo shows the figure-eight shape created over the course of a lunar month.

Detail.

Betul Turksoy: Website | Instagram | X

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Betul Turksoy.

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Photo: surangastock/Depositphotos (Not a photo of the actual current event.)

When you think about viewing the Northern Lights, places like Iceland, Norway, and Alaska come to mind. But people living much farther south got a treat on Friday when a severe geomagnetic storm made the aurora visible across the United States, Europe, and even New Zealand as Southern Lights.

The internet began lighting up with incredible photos of the phenomenon, as many were amazed by what they witnessed. “Aurora Borealis? At this time of year? At this time of day? In this part of the country?” wrote an amazed X (formerly Twitter) user from Scotland.

So what is a geomagnetic storm, and why did it push this dazzling light show so far south?  The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) defines a geomagnetic storm as “a major disturbance of Earth's magnetosphere.” In this case, the disturbance was caused by explosions of plasma and magnetic fields from the Sun’s corona called coronal mass ejections (CMEs). Researchers saw at least seven CMEs on May 10 when NOAA released a geomagnetic storm warning.

The storm peaked on Friday evening when it reached an extreme level known as G5. This is the first time this has occurred since October 2023. Aside from sparking Northern Lights in unusual places, this type of storm can also disrupt satellites, power grids, and other means of communication.

The solar flares responsible for the storms come from a cluster of sunspots 17 times larger than Earth. The area started acting up last Wednesday and remained active over the weekend. If you couldn't see this aurora for yourself, keep scrolling to see some of the best images of the historic event. And, if you live in the United States, bookmark this aurora dashboard to see when they may be visible again.

An extreme geomagnetic storm made the Northern Lights visible in large parts of Europe and the United States.

– Comme si vous y étiez en accéléré !
Timelapse d'une heure – Mont Saint-Michel – Nuit du 10 au 11 Mai 2024
ℎ / Tous Droits Réservés#aurore #auroreboreale #france #northernlights #aurores #nuit pic.twitter.com/ipL1k9onGr

— Mathieu Rivrin – Photographies (@mathieurivrin) May 11, 2024

Strongest aurora in 20 years this evening.

This is the astounding view as far south as Switzerland a short while ago …on top of Jungfraujoch

via https://t.co/XN8jh4HhE1 pic.twitter.com/kQMxGYa6LE

— Matt Taylor (@MetMattTaylor) May 10, 2024

Here are some of our favorite photos of the auroras captured from around the web.

Netherlands

 

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A post shared by Albert Dros (@albertdrosphotography)

Canada – Banff National Park

 

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A post shared by Herry Himanshu (@herry.with.an.e)

United Kingdom

Incredible! ☀️️
The Solar geomagnatic storm triggered Northern Lights over the UK as we flew over London at mid night on Friday #solarstorm #Auroraborealis #aurora … pic.twitter.com/F4DoFsM0Cd

— Joseph Alsousou (@JosephAlsousou) May 11, 2024

England – Lake District National Park

 

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A post shared by ℝℕ ℍℝℕ (@martin_hornsey)

Ohio

 

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A post shared by Alex Farmer (@alexfarmerphoto)

Slovenia

 

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A post shared by DejanSLR (@dejanslr)

Tasmania

 

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A post shared by Sean O’ Riordan | Ireland (@seanorphoto)

Spain

 

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A post shared by David | Fotografía (@livetgn)

Colorado

Didn’t think this one was possible. Pikes Peak from Garden of the Gods. #Aurora pic.twitter.com/HQON5vJXdO

— Rob Hoff (@robhoffimagery) May 11, 2024

Italy

 

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A post shared by Shane Ware (@shanewarephoto)

Germany

 

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A post shared by Elbsandsteinbilder (@ricorichter_elbsandsteinbilder)

Arizona

 

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A post shared by Sean Parker Photography (@seanparkerphotography)

United Kingdom

 

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A post shared by James Loveridge Photography (@jamesloveridgephotography)

Switzerland

 

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A post shared by Valentina (@foto_valentina)

Ireland

 

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A post shared by Florian Walsh (@florian_walsh_photography)

The rare event even sparked some funny memes.

pic.twitter.com/b999HjCPS5

— Laura Lopez (@ohdearz) May 11, 2024

lmao, for anyone that needs a good meme #northernlights missed pic.twitter.com/clFwlspqZR

— kcprinters (@kcprinters) May 11, 2024

Anyone else miss the northern lights? pic.twitter.com/xZnJ3pq5mo

— Mr. Bigglesworth Memes (@Twitermytweet) May 11, 2024

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