Author: Sundar Raman
Breathtaking Milky Way & Perseid Meteors over California
Milky Way over Little River, California, with a Perseid meteor streaking across the sky
Chefchaouen, Morocco: The Blue City
Story in progress Chefchaouen is one of Morocco’s most striking places, with its maze of blue-painted streets set against the Rif Mountains. I’m still shaping the full story, but this place already feels like a quiet, dreamlike pause in the middle of the journey.
Coming Soon
A little farther down the road, under quieter skies.We’re gathering moments from the journey — places, stars, and stories — and will share them here soon.
Among the Emperor Penguins of Antarctica — February 5
Seeing Emperor Penguins in Antarctica is an extraordinary privilege for Antarctic travelers. These remarkable birds live and breed on remote sea ice and ice shelves that are often difficult—or impossible—to reach. Even our expedition leader, after 26 seasons in Antarctica, had never seen this colony before. When another National Geographic ship alerted our captain to…
The Valley of the Kings, Egypt: Resting Place of the Immortals
Tucked into the cliffs on the west bank of the Nile, the Valley of the Kings lies at the heart of the Theban Necropolis, the vast burial ground of ancient Thebes. It was the main resting place of Egypt’s pharaohs during the New Kingdom more than 3,000 years ago. Archaeologists have uncovered more than sixty…
Milky Way over the Moroccan Sahara
Chasing the Milky Way in Sahara The camel ride from Merzouga to the Erg Chebbi dunes was pure adventure. I balanced my camera in one hand and my phone in the other while gripping the saddle — a juggling act that kept my heart racing as the dunes rose around me. After watching the sun…
Cairo, Egypt: History and Culture
Cairo is a captivating blend of ancient history and vibrant culture. The world‑renowned Egyptian Museum showcases priceless treasures of the pharaohs, while the bustling Khan el‑Khalili market immerses visitors in the sights, sounds, and aromas of traditional Egyptian life. Overlooking the city, the majestic Muhammad Ali Mosque offers stunning architecture and panoramic views. Adding to…
The Pyramids of Giza, Egypt: Built for Eternity
Standing before the pyramids of Egypt is like stepping into a time machine. Up close, their immense scale is humbling. Imagining the engineering complexity and the management of thousands of workers over more than 20 years to build a single pyramid left me in awe. Standing on the Giza Plateau Khufu’s Great Pyramid Built between…
Rare Comet PANSTARRS —2013
Comet PANSTARRS (C/2011 L4) was discovered in June 2011 by the Pan-STARRS survey telescope on Haleakala, Hawaii, and became a memorable evening-sky visitor in March 2013. Believed to have arrived from the distant Oort Cloud, it traveled inward from the far outer Solar System before passing closest to the Sun on March 10, 2013. PANSTARRS…
Remarkable Jupiter – 2006
Jupiter photographed through a manually guided 1200 mm Dobsonian telescope with a Canon T3i.
