Astronomy wallpapers (10)

ESO's VLT reveals the Carina Nebula's hidden secrets.

The second of three images of ESO's GigaGalaxy Zoom project is a new and wonderful 340 megapixel vista of the central parts of our galactic home, a 34 by 20-degree wide image that provides us with a view as experienced by amateur astronomers around the world. Taken by Stephane Guisard, an ESO engineer and world-renowned astrophotographer, from Cerro Paranal, home of ESO's Very Large Telescope, this image directly benefits from the quality of Paranal's sky, one of the best on the planet. The image shows the region spanning the sky from the constellation of Sagittarius (the Archer) to Scorpius (the Scorpion). The very colourful Rho Ophiuchi and Antares region features prominently to the right, as well as much darker areas, such as the Pipe and Snake Nebulae. The dusty lane of our Milky Way runs obliquely through the image, dotted with remarkable bright, reddish nebulae, such as the Lagoon and the Trifid Nebulae, as well as NGC 6357 and NGC 6334. This dark lane also hosts the very centre of our Galaxy, where a supermassive black hole is lurking.

ESO/J. Emerson/VISTA. Acknowledgment: Cambridge Astronomical Survey Unit

Taken from the Hirschberg near Bad Hindelang, Germany.

Canon EOS Rebel T2i, Tokina AT-X Pro 11-16mm f/2.8 DX.

Photo settings: 11 mm.

Taken on a night with a full moon at Lake Wakatipu, near Queenstown, New Zealand. The view was crystal clear and very bright. So I went for a 30-second long exposure, ISO 400 at f/2.8. Made it almost look like daylight...

Adobe Photoshop.

Nikon D800, Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED.

Photo settings: 14 mm, f/2, 30 seconds, ISO 400.

Taken at Lake Wakatipu during my stay in New Zealand earlier this year. Enjoy!

Adobe Photoshop.

Nikon D800, Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED.

Photo settings: 14 mm, f/2, 30 seconds, ISO 200.

I stayed over the night on the Hirschberg near Bad Hindelang, Bavaria, Germany. At midnight when I arrived but the sky was full of clouds. However, at the moment I woke up (at 3 a.m.) it was completely clear. It was cold so I couldn't sleep. Finally it was absolutely worth it to stay there :) I want to dedicate this to my friend Melli :) I hope you like it!

Canon EOS 550D, Tokina AT-X 116 PRO DX AF 11-16mm f/2.8.

These are the stars over Acadia National Park in Maine. This photo was taken on March 6, 2012. I took 30 second exposures at f/4 and ISO 200 for about 3 hours, then I merged them together using a program called Startrails.

Canon EOS 7D, Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM.

Photo settings: f/4, 30 seconds, ISO 200.

A nearly full, waxing-gibbous phase of the Earth's moon. Shot on November 8th, 2011 from Hanover, New Hampshire.

Nikon D700, Shot at 1600mm, f/6.3, 1/250 second, ISO 200 with a Nikon D700 at prime focus.

Photo settings: 1,600 mm, 1/250 second, ISO 200.

Water, its the stuff of life.

Adobe Photoshop.