T h e  M i l k y  W a y  i n  3 0  s e c o n d s

Sagittarius and Mars (at middle right) are seen in a 30-second exposure from a stationary camera  at Custer State Park in South Dakota in August of 2001.  The film was Fuji 800 and the camera was a Nikon F3 and a 58mm f/1.2 lens. The lens gathers 40 percent more light than a 50mm f/1.4 lens. At this focal length, a photo taken in less than 30 seconds will not show any obvious star trails. If shot at f/4, the time needed for an equivalent exposure would be nearly 6 minutes!

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