SUMMARY
Gonzalo Javier Santile has achieved a career-defining moment by capturing the first photograph of a complete Milky Way arch over Argentina's Parque Provincial Ischigualasto, also known as Valle de la Luna. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a unique geological landscape shaped over 200 million years, preserving the only complete sequence of the Triassic Period on Earth. Santile used an astro-modified Nikon D750 with a wide-angle lens and star tracker, navigating the site with extreme care due to its fragility. His image was recognized in Capture the Atlas' 2026 Milky Way Photographer of the Year collection.
TAKEAWAYS
First complete Milky Way arch photographed over Argentina's Valle de la Luna.
The location is a UNESCO World Heritage Site significant for its Triassic Period geological record.
The photographer used an astro-modified DSLR, wide-angle lens, and star tracker.
The image was selected for Capture the Atlas' 2026 Milky Way Photographer of the Year.