The Coronation of the Milky Way

This image highlights a fascinating interplay between the Milky Way and the northern lights—a composition I never expected to witness. While the Milky Way’s core remains hidden at these latitudes near the polar circle, the aurora borealis truly stole the show, culminating in a mesmerizing corona aurora display.

This final image is a composite of two photographs: a tracked and stacked capture of the Milky Way (mainly produced from exposures taken before the northern lights activity intensified) and a single short exposure of the aurora (captured during the initial appearance of the corona aurora).

Image Details:

• Milky Way: 95 x 1 min @ 24 mm, f/5.6, ISO 1600

• Aurora: 1 x 4 sec @ 24 mm, f/5.6, ISO 6400

• No calibration frames

• Camera: Canon R6 (stock)

• Lens: Canon RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM

• Mount: Skywatcher AZ GTI (EQ-modified)