The brilliant core of the Milky Way rises above the dramatic white cliffs of Aktau in Mangystau, Kazakhstan. The star clouds and dark dust lanes of our galaxy stretch high into the sky, revealing bright star-forming regions and glowing nebulae near the Galactic Center. The rocky foreground, softly lit by starlight, provides a stunning contrast to the vibrant celestial panorama above.

This image was created by stacking 20 light frames and 10 dark frames, captured with a Canon R6 to reduce noise and enhance faint detail. The result is a crisp and colorful view of the Milky Way’s central bulge from one of Kazakhstan’s most remote and otherworldly landscapes.