05/24/2026
Double Milky Way Panorama (Click to see full image)
Multi-Row Panorama Blend
One of the most challenging night sky images I have attempted is my 2026 Double Milky Way Panorama. I first became aware of this type of image when Mihail Minkov (The Eyes of the Universe, Bulgaria) won Landscape Photographer of the Year in 2023. His image was astonishing, and it inspired me to create my own interpretation.
Captured in March 2026, this panoramic image showcases both the winter and summer regions of the Milky Way in a single composition. The bright galactic core rises on the left, rich with color and detail, while the softer and more subtle winter Milky Way stretches across the right side of the sky. A quiet marsh landscape, along with leading lines formed by the water and pathway, draws the viewer into the scene and grounds the vastness above. The image represents a full-night journey across our galaxy, revealing its contrasting beauty from horizon to horizon.
Because clear skies never aligned for an entire night, the image was created over multiple sessions. I captured the winter sky and foreground during the first session, then returned 36 hours later to photograph the summer Milky Way. The window to successfully capture both components is extremely narrow and requires precise timing, seasonal positioning, and favorable weather conditions. In 2026, March 17–20 provided the only viable opportunity to complete both panoramas needed for the final image.
In preparation, I spent several years learning how to photograph and process summer Milky Way arch panoramas. During that time, I successfully created panoramic images in Death Valley, California; the Drakensberg Mountains, South Africa; East Point Lighthouse, New Jersey; and Watoga State Park, West Virginia. However, I had never attempted a winter Milky Way arch.
I made two attempts at the double panorama — one in 2025 and another in February 2026 — and both were complete failures for a variety of reasons. Over time, I learned from those mistakes and spent more than a year researching an ideal location within two hours of my home, using PhotoPills to help plan the alignment. Although the sky quality averaged only Bortle 4, I chose not to travel to a darker location until I felt confident I could successfully execute the concept.
With guidance from Dan Zafra of Capture the Atlas, I was finally able to succeed. Dan provided invaluable instruction on how to prepare for and capture the image.
Summer Milky Way (left side) 9 images stitched pano
Date and Time: 3/20/26, 5:19 – 5:33 AM
EXIF: f/2.8, 6 sec, ISO 5000
Camera: Canon R5 Astro Modified
Lens: Canon RF15-35 mm F2.8 L IS USM
Winter Milky Way (right side) 10 image stitched pano
Date and Time: 3/18/26, 10:20 PM
EXIF: f/2.8, 8 sec, ISO 32400
Camera: Canon R5 Astro Modified
Lens: Canon RF16mm f 2.8 STM
Foreground 14 images stitched pano
Date and Time: 9 Images, 3/18/26 8:25 – 9:PM, 5 images, 3/18/26, 11:44 -11:58 PM
EXIF: F/2.8, 188 sec, ISO 6400
Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark III
Lens: Rokinon 14 mm
Sky
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