609 second exposure.
Modified Canon Digital Rebel DSLR camera. 18mm - 55mm Canon lens; set at 18mm.
The Milky Way from the southern hemisphere during winter is unforgetable! Towards midnight during July and August, the Milky Way starts from the south-western horizon in Puppis, then passes through Vela and the rich star-fields of Carina and the Southern Cross, on through Centaurus and Norma, to the unrivaled richness of the galactic centre in Scorpius and Sagittarius, which are almost overhead. Passing Sagittarius, the Milky Way passes through Scutum and Aquila before reaching Cygnus, just above the northern horizon. From a dark site this vista is stunning, with the region around Scorpius and Sagittarius being so bright that it has sometimes been seen to cast shadows!
The above image shows the central regions of the Milky Way from Norma on the right through until just past Scutum on the left. It shows very well just how bright and wide the Milky Way is here.
