Dawn of the Nightglory

This image was on my mind for 5 years now - and happily came true this year as all conditions needed finally aligned:
New moon, fresh snow on the peaks for that extra glow, clear starry sky with few mid-level clouds and calm winds allowing for a perfect reflection.

One of the most spectacular views in the European Alps is the nighttime glory of the Mt. Blanc massif reflecting in Lac de Chésery with the Milky Way atop. After the passage of a summertime low pressure system plenty of freshly fallen snow lights up the jagged peaks while few mid-level clouds rush across the sky. The Milky Way rises just above the main summit of Mt. Blanc. The brightest part comprises the galactic centre with the star constellation Sagittarius in a distance of about 25000 lightyears. Sagittarius is brightly reflecting in Lac de Chésery revealing its blue spectral star color. The bright reddish Lagoon nebula is surrounded by dark interstellar dust clouds that block the light of the stars behind. The bright Milky Way of the Scutum constellation is visible at the top of the image. Most of the peaks of the Mt. Blanc massif are well above 13000 ft (4000 m). The huge peak to the left is L’Aiguille Verte (13524 ft, 4122 m) followed by the distant chain of Les Grandes Jorasses (13780 ft, 4200 m), the jagged peaks of the Aiguille des Grand Charmoz to Aiguille du Midi (12605 ft, 3842 m) and European Alps highest peak Mt. Blanc itself (15781ft, 4810 m).

August 2011

Canon 5D MkII, Rokinon 14 mm, f/2.8, static and dynamic exposure of 72 sec, ISO 1600, tripod, AstroTrac TT320 digital astronomical mount