Easter Island

Here is a collection of night sky photographs from Easter Island 2200 miles off the coast of Chile. The Island of Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island, is a polynesian island located approximately 2100 miles off the coast of Chile in the southeastern Pacific Ocean. The island has been made famous by the Moai, the stone statues you see pictured below. Some of these Moai weighing in at 82 tons, reached a height of 32 ft. Most the of the Moai were carved by the Rapu Nui people between 1100 - 1680 CE. The photographs of Easter Island pictured below were taken by Wally Pacholka on his trip to Easter Island in March of 2011. He was able to capture Anakena Beach at night with the Milky Way dancing across the sky while the 7 Moai stand tall below. Wally Pacholka was also able to capture Tongariki, Rano Raruku crater, The Rano Kau Volcanic crater, as well as the Navel of the world.