Like in Martian wonderland

On this image, taken on 9 April 2016 before dawn, the Milky Way arches over ALMA observatory – the largest ground astronomical observatory in the world, located in Chilean Chajnantor Plateau in 5040m (over 16400ft) altitude. Sky should be deeply dark, considering the altitude, however due to atmopsheric airglow it is not so far. In the scene, looking very similar like it was taken somewhere on Mars, some the 66 antenas are trying to reveal one of biggest secrets of the Universe, such as origin of stars, exoplanets and the Universe itself, in specific submillimetre part of electromagnetic spectrum. In fact, Mars is in the image as well – you can identify it as the brightest reddish “star” above the center of the Milky Way as it was close to its last opposition. The other reddish accompanion to Mars is red giant Antares. The biggest opposition of Mars will occur this year in July, Mars will be closest to Earth since 2003.

The little guy is me and I took this shot panoramaticaly so I was able to capture even myself on on fragment of the panorama. If you don’t see me, look directly to the column of the zodiacal light, and you find silhuette of person who feels exactly like Alice in the Wonderland. Used Canon 6D Baared IR modified, Samyang 24 mm, f2.0, ISO 10000, 52 singular 15s segment of panorama from tripod.