NASA’s October 15 Astronomy Picture of the Day is titled The Milky Way over Manhattan. The photographers used near-infrared imaging, where many common city light sources are much dimmer, while stars remain visible. The result is an unexpected view of the galaxy above a famously bright urban skyline.
This is a great photography lesson about choosing a different part of the spectrum rather than merely pushing exposure or contrast in editing software. It also shows why the apparent impossibility of a shot may depend on the sensor and filter rather than the location.
What to do: Open the original NASA image and inspect how the skyline and stars are balanced. Then look up what an infrared-converted camera or near-infrared filter would require before attempting anything similar; normal camera gear will not automatically reproduce the result.
Before you go further: This is a specialized capture technique, not proof that an ordinary phone can photograph the Milky Way over Midtown. The point is to understand the method and enjoy the image.