Star Trails Trace Grooves in the Night Sky

Photographing the movement of the stars takes time and patience, but a skilled photographer can capture the swirling heavens in a way the naked eye never could.

Star trails reflect the rotation of the Earth, showing how the stars seem to spin in concentric circles around a fixed point in the sky. Photographers who want to capture these trails take several short-exposure pictures over a period of days, weeks, or even months. The resulting pictures are unique, because the camera is able to capture subtle differences in chemical make-up and color that the human eye is unable to discern. Thus, the individual rings are far brighter and more varied than you might expect from simply looking up at the stars yourself.

Star Trails: Secret Paintings of the Night Sky [Environmental Graffiti]