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by MARk GEE
Within the Aoraki Mackenzie
Dark Sky Reserve is the
Tasman Valley with its glaciar
and lake. It is located about
twenty miles from the Tekapo
Village, seen below. Mark
notes that this 305 megapixel
panoramic is made up of 42
photos stitched together to
create the final image.
“The Tasman Valley in the Aoraki/
Mount Cook National Park, New
Zealand, is an amazing place to
visit by day, but once night falls,
I can honestly say it’s one of the
most amazing night skies you
will ever see. I recently spend
a night under the stars there
above the glacier lake. It was a
spectacular view looking down
the valley, especially when the
Aurora Australis lit up the sky to
the south. The bright band of the
Milky Way spanned overhead from
east to west, and there were so
many shooting stars that night, I
lost count – it was certainly one
incredible night under the stars
to remember!”
(2015)
We had just finished the Dark Skies of Wonder Astrophotography workshop at Lake Tekapo when all
of the sudden this stunning arc of light formed low to the horizon to the south. It was the Aurora Australis
making an appearance, but somewhat unique, as the arc formation wasn’t really seen that much in the
southern hemisphere. I knew I had to get a photo of it, so jumped in my car to head to a location near Lake
Alexandrina where we had been shooting earlier in the night.
The location was perfect for the photo I had in mind. The Aurora was arcing behind the big old tree there,
and the Magellanic Clouds were also stunning in the night sky. I composed the scene in front of me, and
took the shot – this was certainly one night of astrophotography to remember...
and the Milky Way
AURORA AUStRALIS
Arc of Light