Swirling Summer Stars
This panoramic image of the night sky above the canyon was made over several hours from a location near Dragon Point. It is a two-row panorama, one for the landscape and one for the sky. The sky was assembled from eight 30-minute exposures spanning almost 360 degrees around the horizon. The long exposure time renders the stars as arcs and shows their apparent motion in different parts of the sky. The only star not showing motion is Polaris, the North Star. Polaris is closely aligned with the earth’s axis of rotation and represents the north celestial pole, which makes it appear like the stars are circling around it. The other end of the earth’s axis, the south celestial pole, is located in the sky of the southern hemisphere, which puts it below the southern horizon when viewed from the latitude of Black Canyon. Stars in the south appear to be circling this point in concentric arcs above the southern horizon. Stars located along the eastern and western points of the horizon appear to be traveling in straight lines with the flanking stars arcing in opposite directions. This panorama dramatically reveals the apparent motion of the stars throughout the entire sky in one image. The bright clouds above the western rim are lit by light from the nearby town of Delta, Colorado. Other interesting colors in the sky near the horizon are the result of other sources of light pollution revealed by the long exposure time. The pretty green and red color seen about 10 to 15 degrees above the horizon is the result of a natural phenomenon called air glow, an emission caused by chemical reactions between atmospheric gases. The reddish-brown smear at the left side of the picture is the Milky Way. This image was first published in the January 2015 issue of Sky & Telescope magazine.
The matted prints are signed on the print border so the signature will stay with the print if you ever change the mat. The framed pieces use a solid wood frame painted black with the wood grain showing through. The glazing is non-glare Acrylite, an art grade acrylic that is safe to ship. The prints themselves are made using the highest quality pigment inks and are guaranteed for life if displayed out of direct sunlight.
Other sizes and framed pieces available. Please call or e-mail to inquire.
Free shipping in the USA!
The matted prints are signed on the print border so the signature will stay with the print if you ever change the mat. The framed pieces use a solid wood frame painted black with the wood grain showing through. The glazing is non-glare Acrylite, an art grade acrylic that is safe to ship. The prints themselves are made using the highest quality pigment inks and are guaranteed for life if displayed out of direct sunlight.
Other sizes and framed pieces available. Please call or e-mail to inquire.
Free shipping in the USA!