23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Wildlife
Serpent Beneath the Stars

Beneath the glowing arc of the Milky Way, a snake glides silently across the sands, illuminated by a faint beam of light. The desert night stretches endlessly above, speckled with countless stars, while the snake’s winding form on the dunes mirrors the cosmic patterns in the sky. This striking image captures the harmony between earth and cosmos, where the quiet resilience of desert life meets the infinite grandeur of the universe.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 09.2025
Date Uploaded: 09.2025
Photo Location: Jaisalmer, India
Camera: NIKON D850
Copyright: © AVILASH GHOSH