Sailing the Celestial Seas

Honorable mention in the 2023 IAU OAE Astrophotography Contest, category Still images with smartphones-mobile devices: Sailing the Celestial Seas, by Lucy Yunxi Hu.

In this black and white snapshot taken in April 2022 with a smartphone, a solitary boat rests on the shores of Lake Eucumbene, Australia, framed by the brilliant display of stars comprising the Milky Way. The prominent glow of the galactic centre stands out against the night sky, its intricate patterns of stars and nebulae casting a striking contrast. Each shimmering dot represents a distant sun, possibly orbited by uncharted planets, underscoring the vastness and complexity of our sprawling home galaxy. The photograph receives an honourable mention in the category of Still images taken exclusively with smartphones/mobile devices.

Credit: Lucy Yunxi Hu/IAU OAE (CC BY 4.0)