Amazing Milky Way images captured over Cornwall

The Milky Way arching over cliffs and the sea, like a rainbow, with a sandy beach in the foreground.Image source, Lee Nuttall
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The Milky Way was photographed on a clear moonless night near Penzance

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Stunning images of the Milky Way have been captured over the Cornish coast by an amateur photographer.

Lee Nuttall, 52, was on holiday in West Cornwall from his home in the Midlands, when he managed to take the pictures at Porthgwarra beach near Penzance.

He said he spent time researching the location before waiting for a clear night and a new moon.

Most of all, he said, he was helped by the light pollution-free skies over west Cornwall.

A view looking out to sea from a clifftop, with the Milky Way stretching up from the horizon.Image source, Lee Nuttall
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Lee Nuttall researched the best location to photograph his images

"It's one of the darkest places in the UK," Mr Nuttall said.

"There's just nothing there - it's just blackness, you know, once you look out to sea.

"And yeah, the Milky Way looks fantastic.

"A lot of people say that you have quite a lot of cloudy skies and a bit of rain in Cornwall, so it's quite a rarity to get clear skies especially.

"I had three nights in a row while I was down there, so it was a bit of a bonus really."

The Milky Way rising above a sandy cove with a small rowing boat in the foreground and cliffs on either side.Image source, Lee Nuttall
Image caption,

Lee Nuttall was surprised his photographs of the Milky Way have become so popular

Mr Nuttall posted the images onto social media and said he was surprised how popular they have become.

He said: "I put them on a local Facebook page.

"Obviously it went viral on there, and a lot of people, you know obviously liked it, and commenting on it and all that, saying how fantastic they were."

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