From Smog to Stars: How Clean Air Transformed Night Sky Photography
For Tianjin-based astrophotographer Yang Jing, capturing the Milky Way used to feel like a mission to Mars. A decade ago, smog in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region often obscured celestial views, forcing enthusiasts to trek to remote areas like Inner Mongolia. \"We’d chase windy nights like they were concert tickets,\" Yang recalls.
But the script has flipped since 2014’s coordinated environmental efforts. PM2.5 levels plummeted from 106 µg/m³ in 2013 to 37 µg/m³ by 2022 – creating a photographer’s paradise. \"Now I sometimes capture Orion’s Belt right from my suburban backyard,\" Yang says, having logged 100+ celestial events in 2022 alone.
More Than Meteor Showers
Beyond documenting Geminid showers, Yang’s lens now reveals distant nebulae and galaxies. Her journey mirrors the region’s ecological revival: \"Mountains regrew their emerald coats, rivers polished their mirrors.\" As air clarity improves, Yang’s expanding portfolio includes technical astrophotography tutorials, hoping to inspire a new generation of sky watchers.
\"Every clear night feels like the universe texting us a love letter,\" she laughs. With regional green initiatives continuing, both scientists and stargazers predict even brighter nights ahead.
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\"We’d chase windy nights like they were concert tickets,\" Yang recalls.
\"Now I sometimes capture Orion’s Belt right from my suburban backyard,\" Yang says, having logged 100+ celestial events in 2022 alone.
As air clarity improves, Yang’s expanding portfolio includes technical astrophotography tutorials, hoping to inspire a new generation of sky watchers.
