“Chief’s Galaxy”

Location: Cape Kiwanda, Oregon. (2019)

During the beginning hours on July 4th, the galaxy celebrates with its constellation of stars in alignment with Haystack Rock in Pacific City, Oregon.

As fate would have it, the night of the new moon had only occurred two nights prior which meant the night sky was absent of the moon’s illumination.

The alignment of the galaxy (the core of which is predominantly visible during the summer months in the Northern hemisphere) with Haystack Rock (Chief Kiwanda) occurred at approximately 3:30 a.m. – only 2 hours prior to sunrise!

Because of the proximity to sunrise, there was enough light coming from the approaching sun to the east to illuminate the foreground just enough to make visible.

Light pollution from nearby Lincoln City is strongly visible to the left of the image, and a ship’s green light can be seen to the right. The planet Jupiter is also visible just above the cloud deck to the right of Haystack Rock.

Bioluminescent algae are visible to the lower right edge of the cape.

And there’s a streak of light from a satellite passing overhead.

So much happening in one photograph.

Nature’s fireworks.