Star trails over the illuminated Pilatus Kulm at night
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Star trails over the Pilatus summit

March 7, 2026

Image description

Long exposure of star trails over the illuminated Hotel Pilatus Kulm. The night sky stretches over the prominent mountain massif of Pilatus near Lucerne.
Date taken
March 7, 2026
Resolution
5'184 × 3'888 px (20.2 MP)
Shutter speed
2 s
Aperture
f/2
ISO
1600
Focal length
12 mm

Photography tips

How this image was taken

In this shot, the combination of a 12 mm wide-angle focal length and an open aperture of f/2 allows for high light intake, while ISO 1600 provides the necessary sensitivity at night. The 2-second exposure captures the motion of the stars above the Pilatus.

  • Choose the lowest possible f-stop number to capture sufficient light under challenging night conditions.
  • Use a wide focal length to include both the expansive night sky and the architectural details of the mountain summit.
  • Adjust the ISO sensitivity to balance image noise while ensuring enough detail remains visible in the dark scenery.

More from this gallery

More from Pilatus

Night panoramic view from Mount Pilatus over the illuminated city and the starry sky Night shot of Pilatus Kulm with starry sky and illuminated buildings The illuminated summit of Mount Pilatus at night under a starry sky The summit area of Mount Pilatus surrounded by clouds and fog in soft light The summit of Mount Pilatus near Lucerne emerging from a dense layer of fog The mountain massif of Pilatus in Central Switzerland, embedded between dense cloud layers The summit of Mount Pilatus near Lucerne emerging partially from thick cloud layers The peaks of Mount Pilatus emerging from a dense layer of clouds Water tower of the Chapel Bridge on the Reuss river with Mount Pilatus in the background Detailed view of the snow-covered rock formations of the Pilatus peak in the evening light Winter landscape with the snow-covered mountain ridge of Pilatus in Central Switzerland View across the Reuss river to the city of Lucerne with the snow-covered Mount Pilatus in the background