Temple of the Sun & Moon, with Milky Way, at the Vernal Equinox

[Bo Zarts]

Capitol Reef National Park, Utah - March 2026
©2026 Bo Zarts Studio

[Biophilic]

1. What an amazing photograph. It's gorgeous.

[mwmisses4289]

2. Beautiful!

[1WorldHope]

3. That has to be the best one I've seen from your collection.

It looks like a painting and I've never seen anything like that in my life. Do we live on the same planet? 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[JoseBalow]

4. Wow, that's great!

I would frame and hang that in my home.

[ultralite001]

5. Exquisite...

I want this on my wall as well…

Truly a masterpiece…

[niyad]

6. Simply magnificent, so ethereal. I don't know if everyone notices those

two lighter spots (bands, I would guess), in the outcroppings of that rock formation, look like eyes. And what looks like a horse rearing up, to the left, above the lighter cloud. And some of the temple guardians. Yes, of course I am weird!

Thank you so much for this truly amazing image.

[chowder66]

7. Gobsmacking. Can you see all of that with the naked eye?

[Jean-Luc]

17. Im wondering this as well

[Bo Zarts]

19. The sky was shot at ISO 3200 f/1.8 and 10 seconds (to avoid star trails) ..

Shortly thereafter, the foreground was shot at ISO 3200 f/1.8 and 120 seconds. Both images were merged in Adobe Lightroom. After merging, the foreground required a lot of lightening to make it work.

However, even in the moonless dark there was enough starlight to (barely) see the foreground. I shot these images with a Sony A7-R5 full-frame mirrorless camera and a Sigma 17-40 mm f/1.8 DC Art lens, on a very sturdy tripod. The Sigma lens is new, and I absolutely love it.

Once the "blue hour" started, at about sixty minutes before sunrise, it was a different ballgame. During "blue hour" I moved from national park land to nearby BLM land (Bureau of Land Management) where drone flying is legal, and forgot about the starry sky altogether to concentrate on the incredible geology and topography of the area. I'll probably post some of those drone (DJI Mini 5 PRO) shots later.

[chowder66]

20. Thanks. I really envy your art, skill and your eye.

[ultralite001]

25. Well done...

Thx for sharing the details...

[AZ8theist]

31. OK, since I recently purchased and started shooting with a Nikon mirrorless...

..you are my new favorite DUer!!

Anyway to see your collection?

Trying to educate myself on the intracacies of digital photography. It's daunting sometimes, but my thirst for knowledge overrides my doubts.

[Martin68]

8. I'd love to have that with enough definition to use for my desktop! Stunning!

[patphil]

9. That's stunning; as good as it gets.

Thank you Bo Zarts.

[MiHale]

10. Top of the charts...Zarts...hard to find words to describe...thank you.

[FemDemERA]

11. Amazing!

This is so stunningly beautiful! Thank you for sharing it.

[CapnSteve]

12. Wow.

I got my new (to me) Rokinon 12mm and went to Star Party 2025 and started trying to make night sky photos.

I have a long way to go...you are am inspiration!

[Exp]

13. Wow, that is really something! Great work! nt

[BeneteauBum]

14. Ethereal

Peace ☮️

[AllaN01Bear]

15. """

[Zorro]

16. Capitol Reef -- and that entire area of Utah -- is remarkable

For those who haven't ventured there, the rock formations are absolutely astonishing to see.

[IrishAfricanAmerican]

18. Bravo!

[Old Crank]

21. So that is what a skyful of stars looks like

Very nice, but here in Munich we are lucky to see some stars once in a while.

[3catwoman3]

22. Simply magical.

Mother Nature has the best special effects.

[stage left]

23. Thrilling!

[SusieCreamcheese]

24. Starry, Starry Night, indeed!

Astonishing! I can see the Milky Way from my front porch in rural New Mexico. It's up there folks, but most of us can't see it due to nighttime light pollution. Join Dark Sky International if you wish to help preserve the wonders of the night.

[Grumpy Old Guy]

26. Stunning shot Bo!

I have an astro trip coming up with the new moon this month. I can't wait.

[KPN]

27. Wow!

[calimary]

28. Just gorgeous!

What a shot!!!

[Hassler]

29. Beautiful. I first thought it was the Sun ans Moon

Pyramids in Mexico I visited in 1972. Beautiful regardless.

[AZ8theist]

30. HOLY SHIT THAT'S AN AMAZING PHOTO!!!

Nice work, there BZ!!!

[Alliepoo]

32. This has to be

One of the most beautiful photographs I’ve seen in my entire life.

[ZDU]

33. Stunning

Wow.

[ratchiweenie]

34. Fabulous!

[Borogove]

35. Damn, you are good, Bo. Do you mind if I use your photo in one my astronomy lectures?