A Milky Way Shadow at Loch Ard Gorge

As seen on Astronomy Picture of the Day stunning view of the Milky Way is captured in this ideal dark night at the coastline of Port Campbell National Park, Victoria, southeastern Australia. Have you ever seen the Milky Way’s glow create shadows? To do so, conditions need to be right. Clear sky that lets the long band of the Milky Way’s central disk can be seen. The surroundings must be completely dark, with no bright artificial lights visible anywhere. Next, the Moon cannot be anywhere above the horizon, or its glow will dominate the landscape. Last, the shadows can best be caught on long camera exposures. In the image foreground lies Loch Ard Gorge, named after a ship that tragically ran aground in 1878. The two rocks pictured are the remnants of a collapsed arch and are named Tom and Eva after the only two people who survived that Loch Ard ship wreck. A close inspection of the water just before the rocks will show reflections and shadows in light thrown by our Milky Way galaxy.