Light of the Universe

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Photographer:

Richard Taft

Location of Photo:

Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park, Pescadero, California

Date/Time of photo:

October 17, 2020 at 9:15 pm

Equipment:

Canon EOS Ra - Crop Mode, iso1600, 15 seconds, single exposure, and Sigma 20mm f/1.4 @ f/2.

Description:

I had planned to visit the Pigeon Point Light Station to photograph the Milky Way for some time, I'm told its the most photographed lighthouse by day or night in California. I arrived just after sunset and patiently waited while the central core of the Milky Way rotated into position alongside the light tower. The bright object on the left edge of the frame is Jupiter and that slight patch of red nebulosity just to the left of the chimney is the Lagoon Nebula, a favorite deep sky target for astrophotographers. The light flashes every ten seconds, the salt air mist diffuses the light beam and it appears to light up the universe!