May 28 – Milky Way Horizon – Split Rock State Park

The month of May is a wonderful time to view the Milky Way, with several hours of true darkness still available to capture this unforgettable celestial display. On clear nights from February through November, our solar system’s view of the galaxy slowly shifts across the sky from east to west. Here at Split Rock State Park, the Milky Way is one of my favorite places to photograph.

The bright, textured core in this image is the center of our galaxy, containing an estimated 100–400 billion stars, all orbiting a supermassive black hole known as Sagittarius A*. The Milky Way itself is considered an average-sized galaxy among billions in the universe.

Standing beneath this open sky, the noise of the day fades. In its place comes a sense of scale that humbles and steadies the heart. In the silence, you can’t help but feel it—Holy, Holy, Holy.

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.” — Psalm 19:1

The same God who set these stars in motion sees us here on this shoreline. Under a sky this vast, we are reminded that we are small—but never unseen.