Discover the Captivating Stories Behind 2024 Milky Way Photography’s Stunning Galactic Images
The best Milky Way images taken around the world.
It’s peak Milky Way season and all over the world astrophotographers are clamoring to capture magical shots of our galaxy.
Every year in late May, travel photography blog Capture the Atlas releases its collection of the 25 best new photos of the Milky Way. In 2024, the seventh edition of the compilation features mesmerizing images taken in far-flung locations in 15 countries. Each photograph on the list, selected from more than 5,000 overall entries, has its own unique story.
Viewing the Milky Way with maximum clarity requires a dark sky free from light pollution. All 25 photographers—representing 19 different nationalities—undertook special trips to achieve their shots; many braving cold temperatures at high altitudes and some even camping out for days. One thing each has in common, regardless of the place they traveled to, is the profoundly unforgettable experience they had witnessing the beauty of the Milky Way.
When curating the images, Capture the Atlas editor Dan Zafra assesses the quality of the image, the story behind the shot, and the overall inspiration it offers. Here are this year’s 25 best photographs that captured our grand galaxy in all its glory from 15 countries: the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Argentina, France, Switzerland, Spain, Italy, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Egypt, Oman, Yemen, and Jordan.
‘Lightning Lake’ by Tom Rae
Tom Rae had “longed to capture” the Milky Way from New Zealand’s highest mountain, Aoraki, in Mount Cook National Park, on a winter night.
Recalling the journey up the valley to reach the glacial lake, with the red, glowing sky above full of billions of stars, the photographer told Capture the Atlas that “the scene that unfolded made me feel like I had landed on another planet … a glimpse into the vastness beyond.”
‘The Vanity of Life’ by Mihail Minkov
