Polish astrophotographer Marcin Rosadziński has been honored once more by NASA, with his photograph selected as the Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) on May 29. This prestigious platform showcases daily images of astronomical objects or landscapes, recognizing the world’s best astrophotography.
Explanation: What happens if you ascend this stairway to the Milky Way? Before answering that, let's understand the beautiful sky you will see. Most eye-catching is the grand arch of the Milky Way Galaxy, the band that is the central disk of our galaxy which is straight but distorted by the wide-angle nature of this composite image. Many stars well in front of the Milk Way will be visible, with the bright white star just below the stellar arch being Altair, and the bright blue star above it being Vega. The air glows green on the left, just above the yellow cloud deck. The featured image was taken last month on Portugal's Madeira Island in the North Atlantic Ocean. Oh, and what happens after you reach the top of these stairs and admire the amazing sky is, quite probably, that you then descend down the stairs on the other side. (APOD:2024 May 29 - Stairway to the Milky Way)
Rosadziński’s latest recognized photo features a staircase seemingly leading to the Milky Way, captured on Madeira Island, Portugal. The image, a panoramic composition of 14 panels, was a result of meticulous preparation and physical effort, as he navigated challenging terrain with heavy equipment.
Previous Recognition
This is the second time Rosadziński’s work has been featured by APOD, the first being on July 18, 2023. His earlier photograph depicted the Milky Way over the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory in La Palma.
Advice for Aspiring Astrophotographers
Rosadziński emphasizes that expensive equipment is not necessary to start astrophotography. A basic DSLR camera with a wide-angle lens is sufficient for beginners, with longer exposure times requiring additional stabilization tools.