Mon Feb 03 09:12:02 UTC 2025: ## Indian Astronomer Captures Breathtaking Time-Lapse of Earth’s Rotation
**Hanle, Ladakh –** Indian astronomer Dorje Angchuk has achieved a remarkable feat, capturing a stunning time-lapse video showcasing the Earth’s rotation against the backdrop of the Ladakh night sky. Shot from the Indian Astronomical Observatory in Hanle, the footage vividly demonstrates our planet’s movement with the Milky Way appearing stationary.
Angchuk, the engineer-in-charge at the observatory, overcame numerous challenges to produce the video. Initially aiming for a full 24-hour time-lapse showing the transition from day to night, he faced difficulties with equipment in the harsh, cold conditions, including battery drain and malfunctions. After four nights of persistent effort, utilizing a motion tracker and mobile controls, he successfully captured the seamless sequence. Post-processing required careful cropping to address inconsistencies in framing.
The project, inspired by a request to create an educational resource for students, initially intended to focus on the Orion constellation. However, its high position in the sky proved problematic. Angchuk encourages viewers to experience the final video in loop mode and full screen to fully appreciate the Earth’s movement against the static stars. He hopes his work will help students better understand Earth’s rotation. The video is available on his Twitter account [@dorje1974](https://twitter.com/dorje1974).
First Piper 