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 melt into the horizon from the crest of the sands, we reached the campsite, where a warm dinner and the rhythmic music of the local Berbers welcomed us into the night.

As the sky deepened into darkness, I slipped away from the camp, walking about fifteen minutes into the open desert to escape the light pollution. I’ll admit, the thought of insects and scorpions lurking in the sand at night kept me on edge with every step. But the payoff was worth it: for Milky Way Morocco photography, this was the perfect setting. The sky was so clear the galaxy seemed close enough to touch — a dream for anyone chasing astrophotography in the Sahara. This shot is a panorama stitched from twenty individual photos.

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