Submission – The galactic Center
The Heart of the Milky Way
My Inspiration and Discovery
I’m submitting my first-ever attempt at astrophotography, captured on the night of April 20, 2026, in Whitley City, Kentucky. Being my first time out, I didn't have a star chart or a specific plan; I simply pointed my phone at a "busy" and beautiful-looking patch of the sky near the Big South Fork and hoped for the best. I was stunned when the processing finished and I realized I had captured the heart of our galaxy.
Capture Method and Equipment
This was shot on a Samsung S24 Ultra using a static tripod. I used the Expert RAW Astrophoto mode for a 4-minute total integration. The phone’s internal stacking handled the alignment perfectly, allowing me to resolve deep-sky details like the Great Rift and various nebulae without any professional tracking gear or prior experience.
Post-Processing Workflow
After the capture, I performed the final development in Adobe Lightroom on PC. My goal was to maintain a natural look, so I focused on balancing the warm glow of the core against the dark dust lanes. I worked specifically to bring out the subtle pinks in the Lagoon and Trifid nebulae while keeping the star field sharp and realistic.
Technical Specifications
Photographer: Johnathan Wilks
Date/Location: April 20, 2026 | Whitley City, KY
Equipment: Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra
Mode Expert RAW (4-minute stack)
Software: Adobe Lightroom (PC)
by UmpireLow2615