The galactic center of the Milky Way
The galactic center of the Milky Way rising over a tree. During the 30-sec exposure, the tree was illuminated from behind with a torch [flashlight]. This photo was taken in the Karijini National Park in Western Australia, a southern-hemisphere location where an absence of light pollution and a dry atmosphere offer perfect conditions to shoot the Milky Way.
[Third-place winner 2019 After Image photo contest.]
—Moritz Floess, 4th Physics Institute, University of Stuttgart