Indian astronomer shares Stunning footage of Earth's Rotation from Ladakh

Indian Astronomer Captures Stunning Time-Lapse of Earth's Rotation (Image: @dorje1974/X)

Indian astronomer Dorje Angchuk has recorded a stunning time-lapse video. It beautifully captures Earth's rotation from Ladakh's remote landscapes. The video offers a rare perspective of how the planet moves.

Angchuk, an engineer at the Indian Astronomical Observatory, aimed high. His goal was to create a full 24-hour time-lapse. It would showcase the smooth transition between day and night.

Overcoming Technical Challenges

Creating the time-lapse was not an easy task. The extreme cold in Ladakh drained his camera batteries quickly. Angchuk also faced storage issues and timer malfunctions. Capturing the constellation Orion added another challenge due to its high position.

A Day in Motion Capturing Earths RotationThe stars remain still, but Earth never stops spinning. My goal was to capture a full 24-hour time-lapse, revealing the transition from day to night and back again. @IIABengaluru @asipoec (1/n) pic.twitter.com/LnCQNXJC9R
Dorje Angchuk (@dorje1974) January 31, 2025

After four nights of effort, he managed to record the footage. He used a tracker for motion and mobile controls for exposure. Post-processing required further adjustments for a seamless result.

A Project to Inspire Students

The time-lapse was created to help students understand Earth's rotation. Angchuk shared that viewing it in loop mode enhances the experience. He hopes this video will inspire interest in astronomy.

His dedication highlights Ladakh’s incredible night sky. It also reminds us that Earth is always in motion, even if we don’t feel it.