Equatorial star trails

Star trail shots are difficult to take but very groovy when they turn out well. I got one at Crater Lake years ago, and the current edition of Conceptual Physical Science Explorations has an awesome one on its cover. (Star trails over Mono Lake? It doesn't get any better than that.)

Or does it?

But I digress. Astrophotographer Stéphane Guisard recently made this image.


It was taken at high altitude in Ecuador using a wide angle lens. Northern and southern hemisphere night skies race across the 10-hour exposure. Even a bright meteor gets in on the fun.

Hat tip: The Bad Astronomer