Shoot the Milky Way

Just one of many projects to feature in a new guide to astrophotography by Adam Woodworth

- Adam Woodworth

The Milky Way is by far the most common night sky subject used in landscape astrophotography, and for good reason. The Galactic Core of the Milky Way is very big and bright. It will show up quite prominently, even in ultra-wide-angle lenses.

The rest of the Milky Way that arcs through the sky is also quite bright and makes a great subject for panoramas. There’s quite a bit of colour in the Milky Way from the stars and nebulae scattered throughout it, and the Galactic Core has an interesting texture caused by dust clouds that block light, creating dark areas – including the ‘Dark Horse’, so named because if you look at it from the right angle, it looks like the silhouette of a horse. The Galactic Core is sort of loosely used to mean the bright thick ‘bulge’ around the centre. It is this area that features in most Milky Way photos.

Even when the big, bright Galactic Core is not visible, the part of the Milky Way that is visible can still be used as an interesting subject. It’s fainter and has less dramatic punch, but it’s still beautiful.

The Milky Way works well with most focal lengths, from ultra-wide fisheye lenses to 24mm, 50mm, and even beyond. A longer focal length will isolate more of the Milky Way against your foreground subject, making the Milky Way appear very large. Night Sky Photography by Adam Woodworth, £24.99/$29.99. www.ilexinstant.com

KEY

1. The Eagle Nebula

2. The Omega Nebula

3. Thin passing cloud