While exploring Rangdum during the day, we found this scenic spot tucked behind snow-covered peaks. On checking our apps, we realized the Milky Way core would rise right from behind those mountains. We marked the location and came back after dinner.

The night was calm and cold, with the soothing sound of the Suru River flowing nearby. Under a dark, clear sky, we quickly set up our gear.

As the Milky Way began to rise, it stretched beautifully across the sky. The high altitude and absence of light pollution made the stars incredibly vivid—several star clusters were visible to the naked eye.

To do justice to the scale of the scene, I captured it as a multi-image panorama, carefully stitched to show the entire Milky Way arch spanning across the icy valley and snowy peaks. It was one of those rare nights where everything aligned perfectly.

Gears Details
Sony α7 IV 
Sigma 24-70 DG DN f2.8 Art Lens
Leofoto LB75 Levelling base
Sunwayfoto DDP-64MX Indexing rotator
Leofoto VH-20 2-way head
Leofoto UL-02 Orientation bracket
Leofoto 365C tripod

Capture Details
13 Panels
1 Panel x 10 Seconds x 3 Frames
ISO 4000 | f2.8

Sky Condition: Clear 
Bortle 1.0 Skies
SQM Reading 21.97
Elevation: 13638 Feet
Location: Rangdum, Zanskar Valley, Ladakh

Processing Details
Stacked in Sequator
Stitched in Lightroom Classic
Processed in Photoshop