Tuesday, May 13, 2025

The Rho Ophiuchi Cloud is a giant molecular cloud composed partly of bright ionized hydrogen and mostly of dark dust. It owes its name to the star that dominates the region in which it is located, ρ Ophiuchi, located three degrees north of Antares, in the constellation of Ophiuchus. The enormous quantity of stars that can be observed is due to the fact that we are in the direction of the galactic center. To realize this shot I planned a trip 400km from home, in Val d'Orcia (Tuscany) away from the strong light pollution present in Campania to the south. I used a very bright lens with an optimal focal length to capture the entire region. Since the galactic nucleus rises late at night at this time of year (around 1:00), this shot required quite a few hours of sleep but it was worth it!.