La Palma Dark and Light

In this single image, captured in a height of 2,200 meters from the sea level, and above the clouds, we can see the central region of the Milky Way rich in gas and emission nebulae. Above the clouds and near the horizon is visible part of Caldera de Taburiente, a very large volcanic crater with about 10 km across. At the right side of the image, lies the “orange” star Antares, from Scorpius constellation. The picture was taken in Pico de La Cruz, La Palma, Canary Island. This picture shows the contrast between the excellent quality of the sky for astronomy  in the Canaries – which is determined and protected by a Sky Law – and the effect of light pollution,  coming from the city lights of Santa Cruz de La Palma, visible through a hole in the clouds in Caldera.

| Canon 60Da – ISO2000; 24mm at f/2; Exp. 20 secs. in 26/09/2013 at: 22h52 AM