it is ;-)

The time-lapse sequence was taken with the simplest equipment that I brought to the star party. I put the Canon EOS-5D (AA screen modified to record hydrogen alpha at 656 nm) with an EF 15mm f/2.8 lens on a weighted tripod. Exposures were 20 seconds at f/2.8 ISO 1600 followed by 40 second interval. Exposures were controlled by an interval timer shutter release (Canon TC80N3). Power was provided by a Hutech EOS203 12v power adapter run off a 12v deep cycle battery. Large jpg files shot in custom white balance were batch processed in Photoshop (levels, curves, contrast, Noise Ninja noise reduction, resize) and assembled in Quicktime Pro. Editing/assembly was with Sony Vegas Movie Studio 9.

Same question I had...

sciencecenter.net/hutech/canon/index.htm

There's a filter in front of the sensor, inside the camera.
That filter limits the wavelengths that reach the sensor.
Replace that filter, and you get an excellent, but specialized, astrophotography camera.

The stock anti-alias (AA) filter blocks a range of red wavelengths so the camera will render desireable skin tones. 656 nm is one of those wavelengths that also is emitted by emission nebula (star forming gas nebula). The replacement filter permits passage of 656 nm so that emission nebula can be recorded.

Thank you, William, for the very detailed and clear technical explanation. I take it then that what the camera captured with the replacement filter installed was not exactly as was visible to the naked eye?

Contrast and brightness have been increased to make the Milky Way more stunning in the video. However, standing in the field at the Texas Star Party with dark-adapted eyes with the Milky Way overhead is a very stunning experience. Many first-time observers remark that the rising of the Milky Way looks like storm clouds coming in over the horizon. When the Milky Way is overhead it casts shadows. You can hold your hand up and move it around and see the shadow move around on the ground in front of you. It is a moving experience the first time you see the Milky Way that brightly in the sky. Fort Davis, Texas is at 5,000 feet altitude with very dark and transparent skies.

wow, if you're serious, then this is amazing. I could've sworn this was fake

Yeah, I'd like to know as well - perhaps it highlights some molecules

The galactic center contains billions of light emitting stars and emission nebula in addition to a black hole and other astronomical entities that are obscured by dust clouds. Astronomers use infrared and long wavelenth detectors to "see" structures that aren't detectable through dust clouds despite the abundant visible light being emitted from the same general area from our vantage point in our solar system.