Stunning time-lapse captures Milky Way over Syria's Palmyra ruins

A breathtaking timelapse has captured the Milky Way passing over the ancient ruins of Palmyra in Syria, offering a rare glimpse of cosmic beauty above a site scarred by conflict.

Once hailed as the “Bride of the Desert,” Palmyra was a vibrant caravan city linking East and West. It is among six Syrian sites inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage list, all of which have endured varying degrees of destruction during the nation’s 13-year civil war.

In 2015, fighters from the Islamic State group occupied Palmyra, demolishing temples, columns, and irreplaceable relics, leaving much of the ancient city reduced to rubble. The new footage juxtaposes the silent resilience of the ruins with the timeless motion of the stars, symbolizing endurance amid devastation.

For historians and dreamers alike, the video is a poignant reminder that while wars scar civilizations, the night sky continues its eternal journey above. The dazzling sweep of the Milky Way, filled with countless stars, gas clouds, and cosmic dust, has long inspired myth and wonder. Seen above Palmyra’s shattered stones, it evokes humanity’s smallness against the universe’s vast canvas, reminding viewers that even in destruction, beauty and eternity endure.