View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Amr Abdulwahab took this image of the Milky Way on July 8, 2022. Amr wrote: “Sahara el Beyda, the White Desert Protected Area, is a national park in Egypt, first established as a protected area in 2002. It is located in the Farafra depression, 28 miles (45 km) north of the town of Qsar El Farafra. Part of the park is in the Farafra Oasis (New Valley Governorate). The park is the site of large white chalk rock formations, created through erosion by wind and sand.” Thank you, Amr!
The summer Milky Way
Have you seen the summer Milky Way yet? For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, the summer Milky Way gives us a chance to look toward the galactic center, the thickest region of our home galaxy. If you haven’t taken the time to venture out under a dark sky to see it yet, time is running out. The areas of the Milky Way around Sagittarius and Scorpius will start dropping below the horizon. By winter, we’re looking away from the center of the galaxy at night and out toward rural regions, as it were.
But if you haven’t seen the summer Milky Way yet, don’t worry. Our photography friends at EarthSky have you covered. Enjoy this gallery of some of the many wonderful Milky Way photos recently submitted to us.
A photo gallery of our home galaxy
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Paul Schulz at Mt. Graham, Safford, Arizona, took this image of the Milky Way on August 29, 2022. Paul wrote: “I was a few miles up the Mt. Graham road to take images of Scorpius as it was setting over the horizon. While attending to a 2nd camera, I saw this white band streaking from above Sagittarius toward Scorpius. It took about 1-2 seconds to streak and then it broke up. I was so excited. I have seen these before and even captured some. This was a rare event that I saw it and imaged it.” Thank you, Paul!View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Jeremy Likness in Index, Washington, took this image of the Milky Way on August 29, 2022. Jeremy wrote: “Last night was an almost new moon and clear skies, so I drove to the nearby mountains seeking the Milky Way. This 30-second exposure reveals what I found!” Thank you, Jeremy!View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Terry Simmons in La Veta, Colorado, took this image on August 29, 2022. Terry said: “Hubby and I traveled higher into our subdivision last night. We arrived at the top of the road at sunset. When it got dark enough and planes were absent we started to take photos. The lens captures very much and we are pleasantly impressed. The photo shows the Spanish Peaks in the backdrop, and the yellow dot in the far bottom left corner is a single light on a nightstand in our upstairs north bedroom of our house! Hope you enjoy the photo as much as we enjoyed the night air and sky.” Thank you, Terry!
More summer Milky Way pics
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Paul Bacon took this image on August 26, 2022. Paul wrote: “The Milky Way looked grand from this dark site above Graeagle, California. I took this image while attending a star party put on by the Nevada County Astronomers Club in conjunction with the Plumas-Eureka State Park.” Thank you, Paul!View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Chuck Reinhart in Vincennes, Indiana, took this image of our Milky Way galaxy on August 23, 2022. Chuck wrote: “I merged 5 photos to make this panorama of the Milky Way.” Thank you, Chuck!
Three views from the Eastern Hemisphere
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Abdullah Salman in Faisalabad, Pakistan, took this image of the Milky Way on August 30, 2022. Abdullah wrote: “Gazing at the night sky is a fascinating experience. This time I went for capturing the hidden treasures that lie within the stars.” Thank you, Abdullah!View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Mohamed Farouk at Kottamia Astronomical Observatory in Egypt took this image of the galactic core on August 27, 2022. Thank you, Mohamed!View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Osama Fathi in Egypt took this image on August 6, 2022. Osama wrote: “Panorama of the Milky Way arch over the sand dunes of the Egyptian western desert near El Fayoum at the beginning of Perseid meteor shower. Taken over 3 nights (August 5-6-7, 2022). We captured more than 1,200 photos to get this number of meteors near the desert of El Fayoum.” Thank you, Osama!
Two views from Oregon
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Cecille Kennedy in Rocky Creek State Park, Oregon, took this image on August 28, 2022. Cecille wrote: “The Milky Way on a windy night by the Pacific Ocean. Sagittarius is visible lower left of the core of our galaxy. The tail of Scorpius is seen at the core’s lowest part on top of the pine tree.” Thank you, Cecille!View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Michael Skidmore in Ashland, Oregon, took this image on August 6, 2022. Michael wrote: “Long exposure of Milky Way toward galactic core. This is the first astrophotography on film I’ve been proud of … on expired film, no less!” Thank you, Michael!
Photos from Steve Price
Steve Price spends time in the Utah desert near his home, taking incredible images of the night sky. Here are some of the recent ones he’s shared with us.
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Steve Price in The Knolls, Utah, took this image on August 31, 2022. Steve wrote: “This session was totally solo. No one but me and some kind of critter not far away which kept making ruffling sounds. I never saw it. Maybe an owl hunting? Very quiet and peaceful.” Thank you, Steve!View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Steve Price in The Knolls, Utah, took this image on August 26, 2022. Steve wrote: “Somehow I got a wee bit heavy handed with the post processing on this image … just for grins.” Looks great. Thank you, Steve!View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Steve Price in The Knolls, Utah, took this image on August 27, 2022. Steve wrote: “This one caught a meteor! I didn’t see it happen as I was moving between 3 cameras constantly. The entire area is an ancient lakebed which dried up after leaking out to sea via Oregon. As I approached the site earlier in the evening at sunset, I could see a thick fog-like blanket of dust suspended around the stone outcroppings giving the place its name The Knolls.” Thank you, Steve!View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Steve Price in The Knolls, Utah, took this image on August 26, 2022. Steve wrote: “My camping neighbors on my left turned on their vehicle lights during this exposure. Whaddaya do? Make the most of it. Keep calm and keep shooting.” Thank you, Steve!
Bottom line: Enjoy these images of the summer Milky Way taken by friends of EarthSky. Have a great pic to share? Submit it to us!
Kelly Kizer Whitt has been a science writer specializing in astronomy for more than two decades. She began her career at Astronomy Magazine, and she has made regular contributions to AstronomyToday and the Sierra Club, among other outlets. Her children’s picture book, Solar System Forecast, was published in 2012. She has also written a young adult dystopian novel titled A Different Sky. When she is not reading or writing about astronomy and staring up at the stars, she enjoys traveling to the national parks, creating crossword puzzles, running, tennis, and paddleboarding. Kelly lives in Wisconsin.
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