Stunning space photograph captures the majestic Andromeda Galaxy floating in a sea of faint, glowing nebulae |

Image credit: Miguel Claro

On a quiet hilltop in Portugal, beneath one of Europe’s darkest skies, a photographer has captured extra than simply a galaxy. He’s captured a dream, 5 years in the making.
Miguel Claro, a famend astrophotographer and science communicator based mostly in Lisbon, has unveiled his newest cosmic masterpiece: a breathtaking deep-space portrait of the Andromeda Galaxy (M31), surrounded by wisps of glowing crimson gasoline and a sea of stars. Taken from the Dark Sky Alqueva Observatory in Cumeada, this picture isn’t simply a scientific feat, it’s a deeply private journey by time, space, and keenness.

Started in 2020, achieved in 2025 — A dream that took 5 years

Claro first tried to photograph Andromeda enveloped in faint hydrogen clouds again in 2020, utilizing a DSLR digital camera. “That image stayed with me,” he displays. “It whispered that there was more to be seen, more to be told.”
Inspired by latest scientific discoveries, together with a newly recognized oxygen-III (OIII) emission arc close to Andromeda, Claro returned to the galaxy. This time, he got here with new tools, refined expertise, and a imaginative and prescient formed by years of expertise.

How do he photograph gentle invisible to the bare eye

He spent 80 hours accumulating gentle from the heavens, utilizing a particular dual-band filter to detect Ha and OIII emissions, ionised gases invisible to the bare eye. His objective was bold: to disclose not solely Andromeda’s well-known spiral construction but in addition the delicate veil of glowing hydrogen gasoline surrounding it, and even perhaps the elusive OIII arc.
Though the arc proved too faint for his present setup, the picture nonetheless gives a profound glimpse into the galaxy’s setting. OIII alerts reveal potential planetary nebulae hidden inside its arms. The result’s a hauntingly lovely celestial scene, a swirling galactic metropolis glowing softly amidst clouds of cosmic mist, framed by stars of each color.

Image credit: Miguel Claro

What makes this picture extra than simply a scientific achievement

What makes this challenge resonate isn’t simply the astronomical achievement, however the emotional undertone. “This image is my way of connecting Earth and sky,” Claro says. “Of showing that beauty exists far beyond our planet, and yet, it’s deeply human to want to reach for it.”
Claro’s photograph, now obtainable as high quality artwork prints, is greater than wall decor. It’s a dialog starter, a reminder of the mysteries above, and a tribute to perseverance. Through trials, technical challenges, and lengthy nights underneath chilly skies, he has managed to show scientific information into one thing poetic.
His work not solely bridges the hole between artwork and science, but in addition brings the cosmos a little nearer to these of us who spend our nights trying up in marvel. “I hope when people look at this image, they feel part of something vast and beautiful,” he says. “Because we are.”