Milky Way Stargazer

Honorable mention in the 2023 IAU OAE Astrophotography Contest, category Still images with smartphones-mobile devices: Milky Way Stargazer, by Jianfeng Dai.

In May 2020, atop Mount Gongga in Sichuan, China, a lone observer stands amidst the cool night air at high altitude. Looking up, they witness the grand arc of the Milky Way stretching across the sky, captured using a smartphone set to panorama mode. This image was taken far away from the city lights at an elevation of 4200 metres, where the quiet of the mountains accentuate the connection between Earth and the vast cosmos. Jupiter, a bright planet, can be seen alongside the central bulge of the Milky Way, while a subtle green airglow on the horizon adds an intriguing touch to the scene. The photograph receives an honourable mention in the category of Still images taken exclusively with smartphones/mobile devices.

Credit: Jianfeng Dai/IAU OAE (CC BY 4.0)