Behind This Once-In-a-Lifetime Photo of a Meteor Streaking by Andromeda

Perseid comet streaking across the night sky with Andromeda galaxy in the background.
© Jose Pedrero

Spanish photographer Jose Pedrero captured a superb night time sky picture final August that demonstrates the magic that may occur when expertise, preparation, and serendipity mix within the area.

Whereas the picture in query was captured within the early morning hours of August 12, 2023, it not too long ago landed on PetaPixel‘s radar, so we reached out to Pedrero to ask him in regards to the photograph.

A Magical August Night time

“On August 12, 2023, my wife, a colleague, and I ventured to Las Corbeteras de Pajaroncillo, within the province of Cuenca, Spain,” Pedrero tells PetaPixel over e mail. “This place is residence to wonderful rock formations, formed over time by the vagaries of the climate, giving rise to a sequence of distinctive landscapes.”

The photographers went on their nighttime journey to capture images of the annual Perseids meteor shower.

Multiple Perseid meteors against the night sky with a rock formation in the foreground
© Jose Pedrero

“Upon arriving on the website round 6 PM, we began on the lookout for the proper framing for one in every of my cameras, pointing it in direction of the constellation of Perseus in order that I might seize as many meteors as attainable whereas capturing constantly. Within the meantime, I took the chance to make use of my second digital camera to seize different night time views, together with the Milky Means,” Pedrero explains.

At round 1:45 AM, he arrange his Benro Polaris Star Tracker to {photograph} the Andromeda Galaxy.

“At 2:24 AM, one thing magical occurred,” Pedro says. “A robust Perseid crossed the sky proper in entrance of Andromeda.”

Pedrero explains that he used a Canon EOS R digital camera with an 85mm lens at f/2. His ISO was 800 and his white steadiness was set manually to three,900K. Because of his star tracker, the photographer can seize prolonged exposures at lengthy focal lengths, because the tracker intelligently follows a goal on the fee of the Earth’s rotation.

He captured many frames at 40 seconds every, and in one of many frames, the meteor shot by way of the body, leaving a superb inexperienced path in its method.

Perdero’s improbable picture was additionally featured on NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) on August 23, 2023.

He’s additionally shot different meteor showers, just like the latest Geminids meteor shower in December.

Extra from Jose Pedrero

Extra of Jose Pedrero’s night time sky pictures is available on Instagram, and the photographer and his crew shoot excellent portraits and wedding images.


Picture credit: All photos © Jose Pedrero



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