{"id":57837,"date":"2024-04-25T07:42:21","date_gmt":"2024-04-25T07:42:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/f6986b62-15f3-46e7-938f-e9b5e749f56a"},"modified":"2024-04-25T10:10:01","modified_gmt":"2024-04-25T10:10:01","slug":"astrophotographer-captures-colourful-star-trails-over-pangong-lake-showing-earths-motion-in-space","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/rss_feed\/astrophotographer-captures-colourful-star-trails-over-pangong-lake-showing-earths-motion-in-space\/","title":{"rendered":"Astrophotographer captures colourful star trails over Pangong Lake, showing Earth’s motion in space"},"content":{"rendered":"

The night sky over Pangong Lake, with colourful star trails that show Earth’s rotation as it orbits the Sun. <\/p>

By Iain Todd\n <\/p>

Published: Thursday, 25 April 2024 at 07:42 AM<\/p>

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The night sky over Pangong Lake, or Pangong Tso is an astrophotographer’s dream.<\/p>

This dark-sky region in the Himalayas is well known for its starry nightscapes, far from the light pollution of major towns and cities.<\/p>

One astrophotographer, Amrinderjit ‘AJ’ Singh, was going through old images captured during a trip to photograph the starry night sky over Pangong Lake, and composed these images of star trails<\/a> above the crystal clear water.<\/p>

Star trails captured by Amrinderjit Singh, Pangong Lake. Equipment: Canon R mirrorless camera, Canon EF 50mm lens, 260x30s, ISO 800, f\/2.8. Click to expand.<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Star trails are long-exposure images that show the apparent motion of the stars in the night sky.<\/p>

Of course, when we see or record the stars moving across the night sky, it’s really an optical illusion.<\/p>

Perspective is everything.<\/p>

What we’re really seeing is Earth’s rotation on its axis, as our planet orbits the Sun. From our viewpoint, it looks like the stars are moving across the sky.<\/p>

In a long-exposure star trail image, the effect is sweeping, curved lines of colour, culminating in whole circles around the northern or southern celestial poles.<\/p>

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Star trails captured by Amrinderjit Singh, Pangong Lake. Equipment: Canon R mirrorless camera, Canon EF 50mm lens, 260x30s, ISO 800, f\/2.8. Click to expand.<\/figcaption><\/figure>

“I found something interesting in my saved data,” AJ says. “The mesmerizing dance of stars over Pangong Lake.<\/p>

“Pangong Lake is one of the highest saltwater lakes in the world, nestled at an altitude of 4,350 meters in the Himalayas.<\/p>

“As the night falls, it transforms into a celestial canvas, painted with streaks of yellow, blue, and pink, courtesy of the star trails swirling above.<\/p>

“Each streak represents the movement of Earth beneath the starlit sky, a silent yet profound reminder of our place in the cosmos.<\/p>

“Capturing this moment was a blend of patience and wonder, as I marvelled at nature’s masterpiece unfolding before my eyes.<\/p>

“Let this image remind us of the beauty and majesty that surrounds us, waiting to be explored.”<\/p>

See more of AJ’s work via his Instagram account amrinderjit31<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>

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Star trails captured by Amrinderjit Singh, Pangong Lake. Equipment: Canon R mirrorless camera, Canon EF 50mm lens, 260x30s, ISO 800, f\/2.8. Click to expand.<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Details<\/strong><\/h2>