Night skies around the world, from Iran to California, captured in stunning photographs - Daily Mail

Gorgeous images of night skies around the world have been captured by photographer Morteza Safataj - and some of the sensational snaps took a year to plan.

Safataj has shot photos across Iran and scouted the perfect Milky Way locations to make the night sky pop across national parks in Texas, Oregon, Arizona, New Mexico and California.

'Then I plan the trip for the next year and go to the spot during the day and scout the area to find the perfect composition using a night sky application that shows where, and at what time, the Milky Way will be visible. .

A stunning composition of the night sky, in which the Milky Way and the moon can be seen, taken at Big Bend National Park in Texas.

Safataj says of his night sky photography: 'With today's technology we are able to capture night sceneries that we would never see with the naked eye'.

Safataj revealed that despite the potential frustrations, he finds night sky photography exciting.

Safataj ventured out to snap a starry night sky in Crater Lake National Park, Oregon, after a fresh blanket of snow

LEFT: Safataj often shoots at Big Bend National Park in Texas, which he has called one of the 'largest, darkest, most remote parks'

A windmill silhouetted against a glittering night sky at Big Bend National Park in Texas. Safataj says of his work: 'Combining technology with my artistic vision enabled me to show the beauty of our planet earth under the Milky Way galaxy that most people won't get a chance to see'

Along with night skies, weddings are another one of Safataj's specialities - he runs a wedding photography business

Pictured, a long-exposure photo taken at Big Bend National Park in Texas

The night sky glitters above the Rio Grande River at Big Bend National Park in Texas, while Safataj can be seen setting up his photography gear