A colorful Moontrail above S. Miguel island – Azores

In this full star/moon trail, we can see the different colors from each type of star. This scene captured in Miradouro de Santa Iria – Azores, shows a long exposure (integration) starting at the nautical twilgiht until the moonset behind a the cloudy sky, reflecting the light pollution coming from Ribeira Grande, as well from Lagoa and Ponta Delgada. The strong small path near the moon in the top edge of the image, belongs to planet Jupiter.

Azores, is one of the two autonomous regions of Portugal, composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the North Atlantic Ocean, is located about 1,360 km west of continental Portugal, about 880 km (550 mi) northwest of Madeira, and about 1,925 km southeast of Newfoundland.There are nine major Azorean islands and an islet cluster, in three main groups. These are Flores and Corvo, to the west; Graciosa, Terceira, São Jorge, Pico, and Faial in the centre; and São Miguel, Santa Maria, and the Formigas Reef to the east. They extend for more than 600 km and lie in a northwest-southeast direction.

The vast extent of the islands defines an immense exclusive economic zone of 1,100,000 km2 (420,000 sq mi). The westernmost point of this area is 3,380 km (2,100 mi) from the North American continent. All the islands have volcanic origins, although some, such as Santa Maria, have had no recorded activity since the islands were settled. Mount Pico, on the island of Pico, is the highest point in Portugal, at 2,351 m. The Azores are actually some of the tallest mountains on the planet, measured from their base at the bottom of the ocean to their peaks, which thrust high above the surface of the Atlantic.

Canon 60Da – ISO1000; 24mm at f/2.8; Exp. 15 secs. in 02/05/2014. Sum of 314 images taken between 22:47 and 00:17 AM. Total time integration of 79 minutes.