Star Trails Over Mauna Kea

This classic star trail image was obtained with a digital camera using the technique described in the March, 2004 Sky and Telescope magazine. Over 150 individual one-minute digital images were stacked in Photoshop to create this image. A first-quarter moon illuminated the surrounding landscape for the duration of the exposures. Timelapse sequence showing daytime clouds and inversion layer with Mauna Kea from Mauna Loa. Transitions into nighttime (moonlit) view showing northern startrails.