A Spectacular Sky Over Van: The Milky Way and Andromeda Share One Frame

The Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies appeared in the same night sky above Bahçesaray, a mountainous district in Turkey’s Van province.

Away from city lights, thousands of stars could be seen with the naked eye. The mountain silhouettes added to the scene as the Milky Way passed behind the peaks and Andromeda rose above the summits.

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These are magnificent places. The nature is wonderful, and we can see thousands of stars with the naked eye.

Nature observer and Anadolu Underwater Research and Sports Association representative Dr. Cihan Önen recorded the observation. He said Bahçesaray’s natural landscape and night sky formed a distinctive whole, producing images that resembled postcards.

“These are magnificent places,” Önen said. “The nature is wonderful, and we can see thousands of stars with the naked eye.” He added that equipment revealed more detail in the mountains and allowed the team to capture both galaxies in greater detail. Önen said Bahçesaray offers visitors different views by day, with its natural scenery, and by night, with its star-filled sky.

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We witnessed the Milky Way passing behind the mountain on one side and the Andromeda Galaxy rising from the mountain peaks on the other, and we recorded them.