20 Images stacked together using Starry Landscape Stacker. Color correction and other adjustments done in Photoshop.

Heavenly Fireworks: Lyrids Meteor Shower Dances with the Milky Way!

I trekked up to the Sams Knob summit which sits at an elevation of 6000ft along the Blue Ridge Parkway, in search of a celestial spectacle. While it wasn't peak wildflower season, the meadow was still filled with breathtaking blooms here and there. As the sun dipped below the horizon, the Blue Ridge Parkway gleamed with a deep blue hue, while the sky blazed with shades of ochre.

However, my true mission was to capture the elusive Galactic core, visible only after 3AM. The high-elevation breeze set in, sending a chill through my feet, but I waited patiently. Amidst all that, The Lyrids meteor shower lit up the night sky with stunning brightness, and with each shooting star, I made a wish.

At the stroke of 3, I set up my camera for a time-lapse shot, capturing every meteor that flew by. Each time a shooting star passed, I made another wish, hoping it would come true. The meteors danced across the Milky Way's sweeping arc, painting the sky with an otherworldly beauty.

As the night wore on, the meteor shower continued to dazzle until 5AM, when the clouds settled in and the sun began to rise. It was a night that I'll never forget - and this first image of the Milky Way season is a testament to the magic that can unfold when you look up at the night sky.