Solar Chromosphere Featuring a Large Prominence 6,5 Times Larger than Earth
Captured on May 25, 2020, from my backyard near Dark Sky® Alqueva region, Portugal, around noon with a Solar Ha telescope – at the wavelength of Hydrogen-Alpha, the high-resolution image features a gigantic solar prominence visible in great detail around the sun´s limb due to an exceptional seeing conditions (very good atmospheric stability). As in average the solar disc has a diameter of 1,391,000 km, we can determine that the large prominence could reach around 83,000 km high, which means 6,5 times larger than our planet Earth with a diameter of 12,742 km. The image also shows spicules and supergranulation in the surface of the Sun. Granules, as well as sunspots, appear in a layer we call the Photosphere (sphere of light). Being from this same surface that emerges all the light we visually see, leaving our star, it is involved in the Chromosphere (sphere of color), which is the place where we can observe solar Prominences, where Solar Flares do occur. Our Sun is composed of 73% Hydrogen, 25% Helium and 2% from heavier elements. The image is also featuring other smaller prominences spread around the solar limb, in the Chromospher. To see the full report sequence with close-up shots of the large prominence, and time laspe video, click here.
PT: Captada em 25 de maio de 2020, a partir do meu terraço perto da região do Dark Sky® Alqueva, Portugal, por volta das 12h00 com um telescópio Solar Ha – no comprimento de onda do Hidrogénio Alfa, a imagem de alta resolução apresenta uma gigantesca promeminência solar visível em grande detalhe ao redor do limbo do sol, graças a condições de seeing excepcionais (excelente estabilidade atmosférica). Como em média o disco solar tem um diâmetro de cerca de 1.391.000 km, podemos determinar que esta proeminência é de facto gigante podendo atingir cerca de 83.000 km de altura, o que significa 6,5 vezes maior que o nosso próprio planeta Terra com um diâmetro de 12.742 km. A imagem também mostra a superfície supergranulada do Sol e repleta de espículas. Os grânulos assim como as manchas solares, aparecem numa camada a que chamamos a Fotosfera (esfera de luz). Sendo desta mesma superfície que emerge toda a luz que vemos sair visualmente da nossa estrela, está envolta na Cromosfera (esfera de cor), sendo o local onde podemos observar Filamentos de Gás e Protuberâncias Solares, ou Proeminências, regiões onde ocorrem as chamadas “explosões solares”. O nosso Sol é composto por 73% de Hidrogénio, 25% de Hélio e 2% de elementos mais pesados. A imagem revela ainda outras pequenas protuberâncias que se espalham à volta do limbo solar, na cromosfera. Para ver o report completo com imagens em close-up da grande proeminência visível nesta fotografia e uma sequência vídeo em time lapse, clique aqui.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
LUNT LS100T Ha | AZ-HEQ5GT | ASI178MC | Stack of 250 frames for each single image, captured in very good seeing conditions (average of 1″ arcs) from Dark Sky® Alqueva territory, Portugal.
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Portrait of a Great Solar Prominence
Captured on May 25, 2020, from my backyard near Dark Sky® Alqueva region, Portugal, around UT 14:42 with a Solar Ha telescope – at the wavelength of Hydrogen-Alpha, the high-resolution image features a gigantic solar prominence visible in great detail around the sun´s limb due to an exceptional seeing conditions (very good atmospheric stability). As in average the solar disc has a diameter of 1,391,000 km, we can determine that the large prominence could reach around 83,000 km high, which means 6,5 times larger than our planet Earth with a diameter of 12,742 km. To see the full report sequence, with full disc image and time laspe video, click here.
PT: Captada em 25 de maio de 2020, a partir do meu terraço perto da região do Dark Sky® Alqueva, Portugal, às 14:42 (UT) com um telescópio Solar Ha – no comprimento de onda do Hidrogénio Alfa, a imagem de alta resolução apresenta uma gigantesca promeminência solar visível em grande detalhe ao redor do limbo do sol, graças a condições de seeing excepcionais (excelente estabilidade atmosférica). Como em média o disco solar tem um diâmetro de cerca de 1.391.000 km, podemos determinar que esta proeminência é de facto gigante podendo atingir cerca de 83.000 km de altura, o que significa 6,5 vezes maior que o nosso próprio planeta Terra com um diâmetro de 12.742 km. Para ver o report completo, com o disco solar integral e uma sequência vídeo em time lapse, clique aqui.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
LUNT LS100T Ha | AZ-HEQ5GT | ASI178MC | Stack of 250 frames for each single image, captured in very good seeing conditions (average of 1″ arcs) from Dark Sky® Alqueva territory, Portugal.
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Buy a Fine Art Print or Wall Decor of this Image – Make your order Now!
You can choose the best style of print do you preffer to decorate in a fashion way your walls. Metal Prints with durable and vivid colors, Acrylic, Canvas or the highest quality Gallery Print – a 6 colour UV direct printing on acrylic glass (2mm) including light colours and reinforced by an aluminium dibond plate (3mm). Those type of Prints can highlight the final work in an artistic way, showing the photograph as a piece of art. I work with two high quality specialized Labs in US and in Europe, using Kodak Professional Endura Premier Metallic papers and Fujifilm Crystal Archive DP II Professional. You can select the image above or freely navigate to more than 800 photographs available in my gallery – each one with their own story and magic – and choose the photograph you would love to have in your home or office.
How to Order – Simple and easy, just “copy and paste” the link of this page or the image you choosed and fill it in the form below, with the size you want and any detail you wish to include on the message, like your country, name and postal address. Free Shipping included to all prints (except frames). For US and Europe the delivery is 4-8 working days, while to Portugal and Spain is normally 2-6 working days. After submitting the order through the form, I will contact you for the payment method (Paypal available or bank transfer) and with other questions related to your print(s) or requests. Once payment is confirmed, your order is shipped within 24h. In case you wish, I can send you separtely with no additional cost, a postcard autographed and numbered of the same image you have just bought, as a seal and proof of art work authenticity from the author. Let me know what is your wish.
High Resolution Image and Video Shows a Gigantic Solar Prominence in Motion
Captured on May 25, 2020, from my backyard near Dark Sky® Alqueva region, Portugal, with a Solar Ha telescope – at the wavelength of Hydrogen-Alpha, the high-resolution image features a gigantic solar prominence visible in great detail around the sun´s limb due to an exceptional seeing conditions (very good atmospheric stability). The sequence of close-up captures were taken between UT 13h41 and UT 16h00 (Universal Time) when the seeing was more stable to help reveal very interesting changes in shape, intensity and detail, with minor eruptive prominences appearing around the limb. The full disc image, captured around noon, also shows the large prominence visible at the right northern edge of the Sun. As in average the solar disc has a diameter of 1,391,000 km, we can determine that the large prominence could reach around 83,000 km high, which means 6,5 times larger than our planet Earth with a diameter of 12,742 km. To see a comparison with NASA images taken by SDO – Solar Dynamics Observatory, at approximately the same time and date, take a look here.
PT: Captada em 25 de maio de 2020, a partir do meu terraço perto da região do Dark Sky® Alqueva, Portugal, com um telescópio Solar Ha – no comprimento de onda do Hidrogénio Alfa, a imagem de alta resolução apresenta uma gigantesca promeminência solar visível em grande detalhe ao redor do limbo do sol, graças a condições de seeing excepcionais (excelente estabilidade atmosférica). A sequência de captações em close-up foi feita entre UT 13h41 e UT 16h00 (Tempo Universal), nos momentos de maior estabilidade astmosférica, para assim permitir revelar mudanças muito interessantes na forma, intensidade e detalhe da grande protuberância, assim como das pequenas proeminências eruptivas que aparecem e desaparecem rapidamente ao redor do limbo. A imagem completa do disco, captada por volta do meio-dia, também mostra a grande proeminência visível no contorno direito norte do sol. Como em média o disco solar tem um diâmetro de cerca de 1.391.000 km, podemos determinar que esta proeminência é de facto gigante podendo atingir cerca de 83.000 km de altura, o que significa 6,5 vezes maior que o nosso próprio planeta Terra com um diâmetro de 12.742 km. Para ver uma comparação com as imagens da NASA obtidas pelo SDO – Solar Dynamics Observatory, aproximadamente à mesma data e hora, clique aqui.
To help reveal the prominence flames in motion, I made a time lapse compiling 27 shots processed, each one as result of a stack of the best 250 frames from each raw video. The final result is a 2K high resolution time lapse movie from the images captured between UT 13h41 and UT 16h00. Due to vimeo algorithms it may shows a little compression, which is not visible in the .mov master file. Don´t forget to put to sound on.
PT: Para ajudar a revelar as chamas da proeminência em movimento, fiz um time lapse compilando 27 captações processadas, cada uma como resultado de um stack dos melhores 250 frames de cada vídeo raw. O resultado final é um filme time lapse de alta resolução de 2K a partir das imagens captadas entre UT 13h41 e UT 16h00. Devido aos algoritmos do vimeo, o video poderá mostrar alguma compressão, que não é visível no ficheiro master original .mov. Não se esqueça de colocar o som ligado.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
LUNT LS100T Ha | AZ-HEQ5GT | ASI178MC | Stack of 250 frames for each single image, captured in very good seeing conditions (average of 1″ arcs) from Dark Sky® Alqueva territory, Portugal.
Blessing the Christmas Kiss of Jupiter and Saturn
Captured during the nautical twilight few days before the great conjunction, near Alqueva lake, at Dark Sky® Alqueva reserve, the image shows a Crescent Moon featuring a beautiful Earthshine, while planets Jupiter and Saturn were getting closer and closer preparing to “merge” into a single bright star in the sky, at a distance of only 0,1º (6 arc minutes) apart on the night of 21 st December 2020. Below is my shadow enjoying and blessing the planets Christmas kiss. The last conjunction so well visible with naked eye was 800 year ago.
PT: Captada perto do Lago Alqueva, no Dark Sky® Alqueva, durante o Crepúsculo Náutico e alguns dias antes da grande conjunção, a imagem mostra uma lua crescente que exibe um intenso earthshine enqunato os planetas Júpiter e Saturno se aproximam cada vez mais, preparando-se para se “fundirem” em uma única estrela bilhante no céu, a apenas de 0,1 graus de distância (6 minutos de arco), na noite de 21 de Dezembro 2020. Em baixo, está a minha silhuta humana enquanto apreciava o momento e de braços abertos abençoava o beiijo planetário neste espírito natalício. A última conjunção tão bem visível a olho nu foi há 800 anos atrás.
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How to Order – Simple and easy, just “copy and paste” the link of this page or the image you choosed and fill it in the form below, with the size you want and any detail you wish to include on the message, like your country, name and postal address. Free Shipping included to all prints (except frames). For US and Europe the delivery is 4-8 working days, while to Portugal and Spain is normally 2-6 working days. After submitting the order through the form, I will contact you for the payment method (Paypal available or bank transfer) and with other questions related to your print(s) or requests. Once payment is confirmed, your order is shipped within 24h. In case you wish, I can send you separtely with no additional cost, a postcard autographed and numbered of the same image you have just bought, as a seal and proof of art work authenticity from the author. Let me know what is your wish.
The Christmas Kiss of Jupiter and Saturn
Captured during the twilight of 21st December 2020, in a green field lit by the moonlight near Alqueva lake, at Dark Sky® Alqueva reserve, the image shows the greatest conjunction in 800 years, with planets Jupiter and Saturn shinning so close that they appear to merge into a single bright star in the sky, being at a distance of only 0,1º (6 arc minutes) apart, they were really celebrating the winter solstice with a Christmas kiss. The last conjunction so well visible with naked eye was in the year 1226. Some have suggested that these two planets in conjunction could be the legendary Star of Bethlehem followed by three Magi, or wise men, guiding them about 2,000 years ago to find the newborn baby Jesus in the little town of Bethlehem.
PT: Captada ao Crepúsculo de 21 de Dezembro de 2020, num campo verde e iluminado pelo luar junto ao Grande Lago Alqueva, no Dark Sky® Alqueva, a imagem mostra a maior conjunção dos últimos 800 anos, com os planetas Júpiter e Saturno tão próximos um de outro que se parecem fundir em uma única estrela bilhante no céu. Encontrando-se apenas a uma distância de 0,1º (6 minutos de arco), parecem celebrar o Solstício de Inverno com um beiijo natalício. A última conjunção tão bem visível a olho nu foi no ano de 1226. Alguns têm sugerido que estes dois planetas em conjunção poderiam ser a lendária Estrela de Belém seguida pelos três Reis Magos, ou homens sábios, há cerca de 2.000 anos atrás para encontrar o recém-nascido Jesus na pequena cidade de Belém.
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Buy a Fine Art Print or Wall Decor of this Image – Make your order Now!
You can choose the best style of print do you preffer to decorate in a fashion way your walls. Metal Prints with durable and vivid colors, Acrylic, Canvas or the highest quality Gallery Print – a 6 colour UV direct printing on acrylic glass (2mm) including light colours and reinforced by an aluminium dibond plate (3mm). Those type of Prints can highlight the final work in an artistic way, showing the photograph as a piece of art. I work with two high quality specialized Labs in US and in Europe, using Kodak Professional Endura Premier Metallic papers and Fujifilm Crystal Archive DP II Professional. You can select the image above or freely navigate to more than 800 photographs available in my gallery – each one with their own story and magic – and choose the photograph you would love to have in your home or office.
How to Order – Simple and easy, just “copy and paste” the link of this page or the image you choosed and fill it in the form below, with the size you want and any detail you wish to include on the message, like your country, name and postal address. Free Shipping included to all prints (except frames). For US and Europe the delivery is 4-8 working days, while to Portugal and Spain is normally 2-6 working days. After submitting the order through the form, I will contact you for the payment method (Paypal available or bank transfer) and with other questions related to your print(s) or requests. Once payment is confirmed, your order is shipped within 24h. In case you wish, I can send you separtely with no additional cost, a postcard autographed and numbered of the same image you have just bought, as a seal and proof of art work authenticity from the author. Let me know what is your wish.
Solar Chromosphere in Great Activity
Recently the Sun as featured a small group of sunspots belonging to the new Solar cycle 25, indicating a new growing cycle of its activity. The image captured from my backyard last December 3, 2020 around non with a Solar Ha telescope – at the wavelength of Hydrogen-Alpha – reveals an active surface showing three Active Regions named AR2790, AR2786 and AR2785. Near the sunspots (here seen as white dots due to the inversion) is also visible some plages (visible here as bown dark areas). The image also shows in great detail, spicules and supergranulation in the surface of the Sun. Granules, as well as sunspots, appear in a layer we call the Photosphere (sphere of light). Being from this same surface that emerges all the light we visually see, leaving our star, it is involved in the Chromosphere (sphere of color), which is the place where we can observe gas filaments visible on the image and solar Prominences, where Solar Flares do occur. With a diameter of 1,392,000 km, our Sun is composed of 73% Hydrogen, 25% Helium and 2% from heavier elements. The image is also featuring many prominences spread around the solar limb, in the Chromospher.
PT: Indiciando um novo ciclo crescente da sua actividade (ciclo Solar 25) a imagem que captei no passado dia 3 de Dezembro de 2020 por volta do meio-dia com um telescópio Solar Ha – no comprimento de onda do Hidrogénio Alfa – revela uma superfície muito activa mostrando três Regiões Activas nomeadas de AR2790, AR2786 e AR2785. Perto das manchas solares (aqui vistas como pontos brancos devido à inversão) também são visíveis algumas “praias solares”, regiões brilhantes na cromosfera situadas próximo das manchas (vistas na imagem como áreas escuras devido à inversão). A imagem também mostra a superfície supergranulada do Sol e repleta de espículas em grande detalhe. Os grânulos assim como as manchas solares, aparecem numa camada a que chamamos a Fotosfera (esfera de luz). Sendo desta mesma superfície que emerge toda a luz que vemos sair visualmente da nossa estrela, está envolta na Cromosfera (esfera de cor), sendo o local onde podemos observar Filamentos de Gás como os que são visíveis na imagem e Protuberâncias Solares, ou Proeminências, regiões onde ocorrem as chamadas “explosões solares”. Com um diâmetro de 1.392.000 km, o nosso Sol é composto por 73% de Hidrogénio, 25% de Hélio e 2% de elementos mais pesados. A imagem captada a partir do meu terraço, revela assim uma série de intensas protuberâncias que se espalham à volta do limbo solar, na cromosfera.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
LUNT LS100T Ha | AZ-HEQ5GT | ASI178MC | Stack of 200 frames in very good seeing conditions (1 arcs). Alentejo, Portugal.
Andromeda Galaxy Immersed in Clouds of Glowing Ionized Hydrogen
With approximately 220,000 light-years across, Andromeda is the largest galaxy of the Local Group, which also contains the Milky Way, the Triangulum galaxy, and about 30 other smaller galaxies. The large spiral galaxy comprises dark dust lanes in its spiral arms, traced by blueish hues of reflected starlight and a yellowish bright center. Inspired by Rogelio´s work (RBA) while capturing and describing for the first time this strange cirrus dust of faint reddish light surrounding Andromeda, the image features a long exposure of RGB light combined with Ha emission, to show the colorful field of faint glowing ionized hydrogen gas where the galaxy seems to be immersed in. I was surprised that despite this faint clouds, all the galaxy shape has a strong emission visible with Ha 7nm filter. These clouds formations visible in the foreground, belongs to our own Milky Way, as well as the several distinct colorful stars which surrounds the diffuse spiral shape. While its spiral arms stand out in visible light images, the arms look like rings in the GALEX ultraviolet views. Being sites of intense star formation, the rings have been interpreted as evidence that Andromeda collided with its smaller neighbouring elliptical galaxy M32 more than 200 million years ago. M32 is also visible as the bright circular diffuse shape on the right side of the core. M110, a dwarf elliptical galaxy visible above M31, is also a satellite of the Andromeda Galaxy. Captured in Cumeada Observatory from Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, Reguengos, Portugal.
PT: Com aproximadamente 220.000 anos-luz de diâmetro, Andrómeda é a maior galáxia do Grupo Local, que também contém a Via Láctea, a galáxia do Triângulo e cerca de 30 outras galáxias menores. A grande galáxia espiral compreende faixas de poeira escura nos seus braços espirais, traçados por tonalidades azuis que reflectem a luz das estrelas e um centro brilhante amarelado. Inspirada no trabalho de Rogelio (RBA) ao captar e descrever pela primeira vez esta estranha poeira cirrus de luz avermelhada que envolve Andrómeda, a imagem mostra várias horas de exposição na faixa da luz visível RGB, combinada com a emissão Ha, para permitir assim revelar o brilho ténue de gás hidrogénio ionizado onde a galáxia parece estar imersa. Fiquei surpreso que, apesar dessas nuvens muito ténues, toda a forma da galáxia tem uma forte emissão visível com o filtro Ha 7nm. Essas formações de nuvens visíveis em primeiro plano, pertencem à nossa própria Via Láctea, assim como as várias estrelas coloridas distintas que envolve a forma espiral difusa. Enquanto seus braços espirais se destacam em imagens de luz visível, os braços parecem anéis quando vistos no ultravioleta através do GALEX (Galaxy Evolution Explorer ). Sendo locais de intensa formação estelar, os anéis têm sido interpretados como evidência de que Andromeda colidiu com sua menor galáxia elíptica vizinha M32, há mais de 200 milhões de anos. M32 também é visível como a forma difusa circular brilhante no lado direito do núcleo da M31. M110, uma galáxia elíptica anã visível acima de M31, é também um satélite da galáxia de Andromeda. Captado a partir do Observatório Oficial do Dark Sky® Alqueva, na Cumeada, Reguengos, Portugal.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
Taka FSQ-106ED + QE-Reducer (f/3,6) – EM200 auto-guided | Nikon D850 modified | ISO1000 – Exp. 300 sec. x 31 + Exp. 15 sec. x 29 + Exp. 30 sec. x 27 lights | | ISO3200 – Exp. 600 seconds x 42 Ha 7nm | Total integration of 10h (87 Lights: 176 minutes + 42 Ha: 420 minutes). Processing on PixInsight 1.8.8-6 and Photoshop CC 2021. Cumeada Observatory from Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, Reguengos de Monsaraz..
Andromeda Galaxy Shinning in Visible Light
Homo is the genus that includes modern humans and their close relatives, originals habitants of planet Earth.The genus is estimated to be between 1.5 and 2.5 million years old. At approximately the same time, in space, the light from our neighboring galaxy Andromeda M31, has departed from the point in space where it is located, in the constellation of Andromeda. While the light from this source was travelling in the cold vacum of space at the speed of light, for the long journey of 2.5 million years, here in our planet, we have been evolved from the Homo Habilis up to the point where we have the necessary technology to construct powerful telescopes, giving us the capability to observing, studying, photographing and understanding the wonders of the vast Universe. Besides the huge distances, Andromeda galaxy is the nearest spiral galaxy to our Milky Way. With approximately 220,000 light-years across, Andromeda is the largest galaxy of the Local Group, which also contains the Milky Way, the Triangulum galaxy, and about 30 other smaller galaxies. This colorful scene shows the arms and core of Andromeda immersed in several distinct stars that surrounding the diffuse spiral shape, are actually stars from our own galaxy, the Milky Way, well visible in front of M31. To see Andromeda immersed in clouds of faint glowing ionized hydrogen gas, click here. While its spiral arms stand out in visible light images, the arms look like rings in the GALEX ultraviolet views. Being sites of intense star formation, the rings have been interpreted as evidence that Andromeda collided with its smaller neighboring elliptical galaxy M32 more than 200 million years ago. M32 is also visible as the bright circular diffuse shape on the right side of the core. M110, a dwarf elliptical galaxy visible above M31 (landscape version), is also a satellite of the Andromeda Galaxy. Captured in Cumeada Observatory from Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, Reguengos, Portugal.
PT: Homo é o género que inclui os humanos modernos e seus parentes próximos, habitantes originários do planeta Terra. Este Género está estimado entre 1,5 e 2,5 milhões de anos. Aproximadamente ao mesmo tempo, no espaço, a luz da nossa galáxia vizinha Andromeda M31, partiu do ponto onde está localizada, na constelação de Andromeda. Enquanto a luz desta fonte viajava no vácuo frio do espaço à velocidade da luz, durante a longa jornada de 2,5 milhões de anos que nos separa, aqui no nosso planeta, evoluímos do Homo Habilis até ao ponto actual em que temos a tecnologia necessária para construir telescópios poderosos, dando-nos a capacidade de observar, estudar, fotografar e compreender as maravilhas do vasto universo. Apesar destas distâncias enormes, a galáxia de Andromeda é a galáxia espiral mais próxima da nossa galáxia, a Via Láctea. Com cerca de 220.000 anos-luz de diâmetro, Andromeda é a maior galáxia do Grupo Local, que também contém a Via Láctea, a galáxia de Triângulo, e cerca de 30 outras galáxias menores. A imagem mostra os braços e o núcleo de Andromeda imerso em várias estrelas distintas que circundam a sua forma espiral difusa. Estas estrelas são na verdade estrelas da nossa própria galáxia, a Via Láctea, visíveis em frente à M31 em pano de fundo. Para ver uma imagem de Andrómeda imersa no brilho ténue das núvens de gás hidrogénio ionizado, clique aqui. Enquanto seus braços espirais se destacam em imagens de luz visível, os braços parecem anéis quando visto no ultravioleta através do GALEX (Galaxy Evolution Explorer ). Sendo locais de intensa formação estelar, os anéis têm sido interpretados como evidência de que Andromeda colidiu com sua menor galáxia elíptica vizinha M32, há mais de 200 milhões de anos. M32 também é visível como a forma difusa circular brilhante no lado direito do núcleo da M31. M110, uma galáxia elíptica anã visível acima de M31 (versão deitada), é também um satélite da galáxia de Andromeda. Captado a partir do Observatório Oficial do Dark Sky® Alqueva, na Cumeada, Reguengos, Portugal.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
Taka FSQ-106ED + QE-Reducer (f/3,6) – EM200 auto-guided | Nikon D850 modified | ISO1000 – Exp. 300 sec. x 31 + Exp. 15 sec. x 29 + Exp. 30 sec. x 27 lights | Total integration of 87 Lights: 176 minutes. Processing on PixInsight 1.8.8-6 and Photoshop CC 2021. Cumeada Observatory from Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, Reguengos de Monsaraz..
Blueish Iris Nebula Involved in a Colorful Field of Interstellar Dust
Lying at a distance of 1,300 light-years in the rich constellation of Cepheus, involved among faint and dark interstellar dust is the blueish Iris nebula also knwon as NGC 7023. Strong blue light from the bright young star SAO 19158 is reflected by the surounding dust, while the brown tint visible on dark grainy dust comes partly from the conversion of some invisible ultraviolet radiation into red light, a phenomemon also known as photoluminescence. The blueish dust visible on this colorful starryfield span about six light-years. Captured from Cumeada Observatory, official headquarter of Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, Reguengos de Monsaraz, Portugal.
PT: Localizada a uma distância de 1.300 anos-luz na rica constelação Cefeu, envolvida entre poeira interestelar ténue e escura, está a nebulosa azulada Íris, também conhecida como NGC 7023. A forte luz azul da jovem estrela SAO 19158 é refletida pela poeira circundante, enquanto a tonalidade castanha avermelhada visível na poeira granulada escura vem em parte da conversão de alguma radiação ultravioleta invisível em luz vermelha, um fenómeno também conhecido como fotoluminescência. A poeira azulada visível neste colorido campo estrelado abrange cerca de seis anos-luz de distância. Captado a partir do Observatório da Cumeada, Sede Oficial do Dark Sky@ Alqueva, Reguengos de Monsaraz, Portugal.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
Taka FSQ-106ED + Extender-Q 1.6x – EM200 auto-guided | Nikon D810a | ISO2500 – Exp. 360 seconds x 79 lights | Total integration of 79 Lights: 474 minutes. Processing on PixInsight 1.8.8-6 and Photoshop CC 2021. Cumeada Observatory from Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, Reguengos de Monsaraz.
Brown, Blue and Golden Colors from Trifid of the North
The image shows the colorful nebula knwon as the Trifid of the North, NGC1579, located at about 2,100 light-years away in the constellation Perseus, has 3 light-years across. Featuring dark dust lanes, golden and bluish stars, is reflecting starlight to produce beautiful blue reflection nebulosity. Embedded behind the golden-orange scattered light of NGC1579, is also a massive and extremely young star. Captured in Cumeada Observatory from Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, Reguengos, Portugal.
PT: Captada a partir do Observatório Oficial do Dark Sky® Alqueva, na Cumeada, a imagem revela a colorida nebulosa Trífida do Norte, NGC 1579, localizada a cerca de 2.100 anos-luz de distância na constelação de Perseu, tem 3 anos-luz de diâmetro. Apresentando faixas de poeira escura, estrelas douradas e azuis, está a reflectir a luz das estrelas que se encontram por detrás para produzir uma bela nebulosa de reflexão azul. Embutida atrás da luminosidade laranja-dourada que se dispersa na NGC1579, está também uma estrela massiva e extremamente jovem.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
Nikon D810a | GSO RC8 F/8 1624mm – Ritchey-Chrétien Astrograph Carbon Fiber| ISO2500 – Exposures 420 seconds x 41 lights | Mount EQ8 Pro |Total integration of 41 Lights: 286 minutes (4,7h). Processing on PixInsight 1.8.8-6 and Photoshop CC 2020. Cumeada Observatory from Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, Reguengos de Monsaraz, Portugal.
Summer Triangle Rises above Anta de Zedes Dolmen in Dark Sky® Vale do Tua
The newest territory of Dark Sky® Vale do Tua, in northern part of Portugal, has been certified as Starlight Tourist Destination, being an amazing place to stargaze is also one of the best spots to enjoy archeoastronomy. The image feature a dolmen entitled Anta de Zedes, where in the background is possible to enjoy the Summer Triangle and the path of a rising Milky Way.
PT: Na região mais a norte de Portugal encontramos o Dark Sky® Vale do Tua, recentemente certificado como Destino Turístico Starlight, é um local incrível para observar as estrelas e um dos melhores locais para desfrutar da arqueoastronomia. A imagem mostra em primeiro plano um dolmen intitulado Anta de Zedes, enquanto ao fundo é possível apreciar o Triângulo de Verão a nascer e revelando o caminho brilhante da Via Láctea.
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Stars of Scorpius Rising above Anta de Zedes Dolmen
Captured in the newest territory of Dark Sky® Vale do Tua, in northern part of Portugal – a new certified Starlight Tourist Destination – is one of the best spots to enjoy archeoastronomy. The image feature a dolmen entitled Anta de Zedes, where in the background is possible to enjoy a rising Milky Way while the brightest and colorful stars of scorpius constellation are shining on the right center. To highlight the color temperature I used in front of the lens a fog filter which gives more diffusion on those stars, something that also can naturally happen when we have high thin clouds on the sky or some fog above the horizon.
PT: Captado no Dark Sky® Vale do Tua, o mais recente Destino Turístico Starlight certificado no Norte de Portugal, é um dos melhores locais para desfrutar da arqueoastronomia. A imagem revela um dolmen intitulado Anta de Zedes, onde ao fundo é possível apreciar uma ascensão da Via Láctea enquanto as estrelas mais brilhantes e coloridas da constelação de Escorpião, brilham no centro direito. Para destacar a temperatura de cor das estrelas, foi usado na frente da lente um fog filter que permite aumentar a difusão nessas estrelas, algo que também pode acontecer naturalmente quando temos nuvens altas e finas no céu ou alguma neblina acima do horizonte.
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Largest Secular Holm Oak in Portugal with Milky Way, Andromeda and Planet Mars
Featuring the largest secular holm oak in Portugal which was also elected in 3rd place as the European Tree of the Year in 2019, the image shows Andromeda galaxy rising above the huge tree while planet Mars was shining in orange near the right horizon. In the opposite direction, faint light from Milky Way galaxy is visible up to North America nebula, top edge of this vertical panorama. This beautiful tree has their roots in the enchanting region of Mértola in Dark Sky® Alqueva certified territory.
PT: Revelando a maior azinheira secular de Portugal, que também foi eleita em 3º lugar como a Árvore Europeia do Ano de 2019, a imagem mostra a galáxia de Andrómeda erguendo-se acima da enorme árvore do Monte Barbeiro, enquanto o planeta Marte brilhava em laranja perto do horizonte direito. Na direção oposta, a luz fraca da Via Láctea abre caminho até à nebulosa da América do Norte, no extremo superior deste panorama vertical. Esta bela árvore tem as suas raízes na encantadora região de Mértola no território certificado do Dark Sky® Alqueva..
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ISS Crosses the Sky above Prehistoric Paintings of Pala Pinta Rock Shelter
The image reveals a starry trailed sky while the International Space Station ISS was crossing the background sky in front of Pala Pinta rock shelter in Alijó, in the newly created Dark Sky Vale do Tua. Experts believe that this paintings can date back to the Chalcolithic (Copper Age), and they invoke the real sighting of a comet, thus being able to constitute the oldest human record of an astronomical event of this type. According to an article published in May 2014 issue of National Geographic Portugal, “the search for a suspicious comet constituted Tiago Pessoa’s master’s work. Accepting Paulo Lima’s conjectures as valid and based on the orbital parameters of comets known, mathematically reversed their orbits, taking into account the window of the firmament that can be seen from the shelter, and identified more than a thousand comets that would pass through there, in the defined chronological interval: from 5500 BC to year 0 – an extended period due to the inexistence of a reference date for the paintings. “Excluding those where there is no information about their absolute magnitudes (brightness), I reached 680 comets. Finally, I identified four suspects: the comet Kowal-Vavrova, visible under the sky from the shelter for 59 days in 1421 BC, comet Biela, visible for 63 days in 2365 BC, comet Väisälä 1 visible for 61 days in 3784 BC and comet P / 2004 VR8 which, en among all, is the one whose trajectory is most similar to that inferred from the paintings of the shelter that will have remained visible for 143 days in 4626 B.C. ”, says Tiago Pessoa.” However, it could have been one of these four comets, but may also have been another that we do not know or that is even extinct. Currently, the thesis has been proposed that the engravings allude to the real sighting of a comet.
PT: A imagem revela um céu estrelado arrastado enquanto a Estação Espacial Internacional ISS cruza o céu em frente ao abrigo rupestre de Pala Pinta, em Alijó, no recém criado Dark Sky Vale do Tua. Especialistas acreditam que estas gravuras poderão remontar ao Calcolítico (Idade do Cobre), e que as mesmas fazem a invocação ao real avistamento de um cometa, podendo assim constituir o mais antigo registo humano de um evento astronómico deste tipo. De acordo com um artigo publicado na edição de Maio de 2014, na revista National Geographic Portugal, “a procura de um cometa suspeito constituiu o trabalho de mestrado de Tiago Pessoa. Aceitando como válidas as conjecturas de Paulo Lima e baseando-se nos parâmetros orbitais dos cometas conhecidos, reverteu matematicamente as suas órbitas, tendo em conta a janela do firmamento que se avista do abrigo, e identificou mais de mil cometas que por aí transitariam no intervalo cronológico definido: de 5500 a.C. ao ano 0 – um período alargado em virtude da inexistência de uma datação de referência para as pinturas. “Desses, excluindo aqueles onde não há informação sobre as suas magnitudes absolutas (brilho), cheguei a 680 cometas. Identifiquei, por fim, quatro suspeitos: o cometa Kowal-Vavrova, visível sob o céu do abrigo por 59 dias em 1421 a.C., o cometa Biela, visível por 63 dias em 2365 a.C., o cometa Väisälä 1 visível por 61 dias em 3784 a.C. e o cometa P/2004 VR8 que, entre todos, é aquele cuja trajectória mais se assemelha à inferida a partir das pinturas do abrigo que se terá mantido visível por 143 dias em 4626 a.C.”, refere Tiago Pessoa.” No entanto, apesar de pode ter sido um destes quatro cometas, também poderá ter sido outro que não conhecemos ou que até já se encontre extinto. Actualmente, já foi proposta a tese de que as gravuras aludem ao real avistamento de um cometa.
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1h Rotation of Planet Mars
Captured on 29th October 2020 from Dark Sky® Alqueva Observatory, when Mars was still close, the final image compiless thousands of frames and a time lapse sequence of about 60 minutes. The left image with the South Polar Cap facing down, shows many interesting albedo features like Chryse Planitia in the top and below the blueish cloud system visible above the North Pole. In center, is an extensive land mass called Margaritifer Terra and on the right, the plateau of Meridiani Planum with the large crater Schiaparelli (close to the orange large area). The left terminator is also spread with blueish clouds and haze. The right image features the South Polar Cap at the top.
PT: Captada dia 29 de Outubro de 2020 a partir do Observatório Dark Sky® Alqueva, na Cumeada, enquanto Marte ainda se encontrava relativamente próximo, a imagem final compila milhares de frames e uma sequência time lapse de cerca de 60 minutos. A imagem à esquerda, com a Calote Polar Sul voltada para baixo, revela muitas características de albedo interessantes como Chryse Planitia, no topo, e logo abaixo de um sistema azulado de nuvens que circundam a região polar norte. No centro, está uma extensa massa de terra chamada Margaritifer Terra e à direita, o planalto de Meridiani Planum com a grande cratera Schiaparelli (próximo à região desértica alaranjada). No terminador esquerdo, é possível ver alguma neblina azul. A imagem à diretia, mostra a Calota Polar Sul no topo.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
Camera ASI174MC | Celestron C14| ZWO ADC | Barlow 4x Televue Powermate. Processing on AutoStakkert, Registax 6, WinJupos, and Photoshop CC2021. Cumeada Observatory from Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, Reguengos de Monsaraz.
Galactic Arm and Greenish Air Glow above Steppe Golden Fields from Dark Sky® Alqueva in Mértola
Captured on a steppe field from the wonderful region of Mértola in Dark Sky® Alqueva, and featured as NASA’s APOD – Astronomy Picture of the Day the image shows the arch of Milky Way shining high in the Sky. Summer Triangle highlights the center of the image, with blueish Vega in the top. At the left side – in the beginning of the Milky Way – a bright elliptic and diffuse dot is the light coming from Andromeda Galaxy and below, near the greenish horizon involved in airglow and some thin high clouds, shines an orange dot, it’s not a star, but the close planet Mars in opposition. In the opposite direction of this large field of view – right edge of the picture – lies planets Saturn and Jupiter against the dusty core of our Milky Way Galaxy.
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Planet Mars in Opposition Revealing a Detailed Surface
Captured during the midnight of October 13th from Dark Sky® Alqueva Observatory, when Mars has reach its opposition, the final image compiles 6 Derotated sequences of thousands of frames with an average of good to very good Seeing conditions. Being so far, the most detailed image I´ve captured of a planet, is featuring a lot of nice details on the surface of the Red Planet. The left image shows the South Polar Cap on the top, and below are the extensive land mass like Terra Sirenum and Terra Cimmeria (left and right), flat volcanic plains such as Amazonis Planitia and Elysium Planitia (orange areas), as well as the site where MSL Rover Curiosity has landed in 2012, in Gale crater (large dark arm near the right edge, which extends to the orange area). In the opposite direction close to the left terminator, a circular shape is featuring the largest known volcano and tallest mountain in the Solar System, Olympus Mons. Above it, the left limb is spread with clouds and haze above the volcanic region where is located Ascraeus, Tharsis and Arsia Mons. On the right, is visible an annotated version with North at the top.
PT: Captada por volta da meia-noite de dia 13 de Outubro a partir do Observatório do Dark Sky® Alqueva, na Cumeada, na altura em que Marte atingiu a Oposição, a imagem compreende 6 sequências de milhares de frames em condições de Seeing estável, a muito bom. Sendo até agora a imagem mais detalhada que tive oportunidade de captar de um planeta, apresenta vários detalhes interessantes que se conseguem identificar na superfície do Planeta Vermelho. A imagem da esquerda mostra o Calote Polar Sul no topo, e abaixo extensas massas de terra intituiladas Terra Sirenum e Terra Cimmeria (esquerda e direita), planícies vulcânicas como Amazonis Planitia e Elysium Planitia (área laranja), bem como o local onde o MSL Rover Curiosity pousou em 2012, na cratera Gale (braço escuro próximo ao limbo direito, que se estende até à área laranja). Na direção oposta, perto do Terminador esquerdo, uma forma circular revela o maior vulcão e a montanha mais alta conhecida do nosso Sistema Solar, o Monte Olympus. Acima deste, na zona central do limbo esquerdo, é possível ver uma grande cobertura de nuvens e neblina acima da região vulcânica onde estão localizados Ascraeus, Tharsis e o Monte Arsia. À direita, é visível uma versão legendada com o Pólo Norte na topo.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
Camera ASI174MC | Celestron C14| ZWO ADC | Barlow 2,5x Televue Powermate. Processing on AutoStakkert, Registax 6, WinJupos, and Photoshop CC2020. Cumeada Observatory from Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, Reguengos de Monsaraz.
The Meaning of Life – Alone Under the Stars I Find My Inner Self
Alone under the stars….this is where I find time to be with myself while enjoying what I love to do. Under the stars I can relax enough to start listen the inner voice inside…the one we deeply know to have a straight and intimate connection with the higher forces that rules the Universe. It’s under the stars where we can find a clear and peaceful channel free of mind interferences…to let the wisdom of nature grow and shine…from our Hearts, straightaway to our Minds.
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The Mesmerizing Experience of Living Under the Stars
Being under a truly starry sky like Dark Sky® Alqueva is a mesmerizing experience that can change your life forever….such as the way of thinking, or going even further and help you understand what is your purpose in life…your personal mission on Earth as a human being. But which one of us would have the courage to change the comfort of your fixed houses and daily stability, for a life outside under the nature….not fearing all the unexpected adventures that can happen every day and every time ? I confess myself that a motorhome is not exactly my dream or type of life I would choose, but if I had one single opportunity to enjoy at naked eye a magnificent view of the Milky Way like the one I captured on this photo…I would change my mind in a millisecond!! As indeed…our home, is our Galaxy. Below is available a large vertical panorama.
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The Colorful Region of NGC 6559 in Sagittarius
Being part of the same molecular cloud complex as Lagoon Nebula, but located to east-northeast of M8, this star field region is rich in diversity. The field shows a red glowing emission nebulas from hydrogen gas, dark absorption nebulas, as well as blue reflection nebulas of dust, surrounded by the stars that has been formed from them. At the center of the scene is visible IC 1274 and IC1275, both circular red HII regions separated by a rim of blue reflection nebulosity featured above the large dark nebula B91. On the upper right corner (all the indication regards the portrait version) are clouds rich in hot glowing gas, being NGC 6559 the brightest reddish section. The blue nebula visible is reflecting light from a group of massive blue stars. Small Dark nebulas B302 and B303 are surrounding the brightest star located just to the upper left of NGC 6559, which spans about 3 light years and likely has a common history with the Lagoon Nebula. The complex lies about 5000 light-years away toward the constellation of Sagittarius. According to Nasa, “first massive stars formed from the dense gas will emit energetic light and winds that erode, fragment, and sculpt their birthplace. And then they explode. The resulting morass can be as beautiful as it is complex. After tens of millions of years, the dust boils away, the gas gets swept away, and all that is left is a naked open cluster of stars.” All this complex is involved by a large open cluster known as Cr 367.
PT: Pertencendo ao mesmo complexo de núvens moleculares da Nebulosa da Lagôa, mas localizado a Este-nordeste de M8, esta região estelar é rica em uma grande diversidade de objectos de céu profundo. Este campo de visão captado a partir do Observatório Oficial do Dark Sky® Alqueva, na Cumeada, revela assim uma variedade entre nebulosas de emissão brilhantes vermelhas de gás hidrogénio, nebulosas de absorção escuras, bem como nebulosas de reflexão azul, rodeadas pelas estrelas que se formaram a partir de algumas destas nebulosas. No centro deste cenário cósmico são visíveis os objectos IC 1274 e IC1275, ambos regiões HII vermelhas circulares, aparentemente “interrompidas” por uma extremidade de nebulosidade de reflexão azul que se apresenta acima da grande nebulosa escura B91. No canto superior direito (todas as indicações se referem à versão vertical – em formato de retrato) estão núvens ricas em gás quente brilhante, sendo NGC 6559 a seção avermelhada mais brilhante. A nebulosa azul visível está refletindo a luz de um grupo de grandes estrelas azuis. Pequenas nebulosas negras como B302 e B303 ecircundam a estrela mais brilhante localizada logo acima e à esquerda de NGC 6559, a nebulosa que se estende por cerca de 3 anos-luz e provavelmente tem uma história comum com a nebulosa da lagoa. O complexo fica a cerca de 5.000 anos-luz de distância em direção à constelação de Sagitário. De acordo com a Nasa, “as primeiras estrelas massivas formadas a partir do gás denso emitirão luz energética e ventos que erodem, fragmentam e esculpem seu local de nascimento. E então explodem. O pântano resultante pode ser tão bonito quanto complexo. Depois de dezenas de milhões de anos, a poeira evapora, o gás é varrido e tudo o que resta é um aglomerado aberto de estrelas. ” Todo esse complexo está envolvido por um grande aglomerado aberto conhecido como Cr 367.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
Nikon D810a | GSO RC8 F/8 1624mm – Ritchey-Chrétien Astrograph Carbon Fiber| ISO2500 – Exposures between 386 and 486 seconds x 14 lights | Mount EQ8 Pro |Total integration of 14 Lights: 96 minutes. Processing on PixInsight 1.8.8-6 and Photoshop CC 2020. Cumeada Observatory from Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, Reguengos de Monsaraz, Portugal.
A Moon Glory and a Brocken Spectre Shinning above Dark Sky® Vale do Tua
Featured as OPOD – Optics Picture of the Day, the image reveals a starry landscape scene from the viewpoint of Ujo and overlooking to the extensive Tua valley and the current reservoir on a moonlit foggy night, while the Waning Moon was laying down behind the mountains, creating a ringed Moon Glory and a Brocken Spectre shadow, as seen on lower center left of this wide panoramic scene. Resembling an iconic saint’s halo, a Glory happens in rare occasions, when the moonlight is interacting with the tiny water droplets that compose mist or clouds. Consisting in one or more concentric rings successively dimming, in which each is red on the outside and bluish towards the centre, it is centered on the antilunar point, coinciding with the shadow of the observer’s head. Since this point is by definition diametrically opposed to the moon’s position in the night sky, it always lies below the observer’s horizon when the moon is up. When viewed from a mountain, glories are often seen in association with a Brocken spectre, also called Mountain spectre, the apparently enormously magnified shadow, cast when the moon or sun is low, on clouds below the mountain on which the viewer is standing. The name derives from the Brocken, the tallest peak of the Harz mountain range in Germany. Captured from Dark Sky® Vale do Tua, recently certified as an International Starlight Tourist Destination located in the northern part of Portugal.
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A Wide Milky Way Scene Above the Golden Fields of Alentejo
A wide vertical panorama shows the golden colors of Alentejo farms, in the darkest skies of Mértola in Dark Sky® Alqueva territory, a perfect scenario to enjoy the beauty of the night nature, with the Milky Way immersed in a deep silence only achievable under true darkness. Saturn and Jupiter are the brightest “stars” shining at the left edge.
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A Bright Perseids Meteor Crossing the Heart of Milky Way Galaxy
Captured from @montimerso Skyscape Country House, in Dark Sky® Alqueva, the image features a bright meteor from Perseids meteor shower which crossed the heart of Milky Way galaxy. Seen in a greenish-orange color, shortly shined above the observatory dome from the rural hotel. Below is a timelapse sequence of the entire scene.
PT: Captada a partir do @montimerso Skyscape Country House, nos céus do Dark Sky® Alqueva, a imagem revela um meteoro brilhante pertencente à chuva de meteoros das Perseidas que cruzou assim o coração da Via Láctea. Visível numa cor laranja-esverdeada, brilhou repentinamente acima da cúpula do observatório que se encontra disponível para os clientes deste hotel rural. Abaixo é possível ver uma sequência timelapse.
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Perseids Meteor Shower Scratching Andromeda Galaxy above Montimerso in Dark Sky® Alqueva
Captured during an event with @darkskyalqueva and @montimerso Skyscape Country House, with a picnic under the stars to enjoy the Perseids meteor shower, the image features a composite of 11 bright meteors which crossed the sky during a two hours sequence of consecutive exposures. Luckily, one of the meteors fired near Andromeda Galaxy, the faint oblong shape seen in the upper right corner. In the middle of these scene feeling like a small sky party, is also visible the faint path of “winter Milky Way” with the Heart and Soul nebula shinning near the Double Cluster of Perseus, not far from the Radiant, the single point in the night sky where all these shooting stars seems to appear.
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Perseids Shooting Stars as Seen from Montimerso Skyscape Countryhouse
Captured during an event with @darkskyalqueva and @montimerso Skyscape Country House, with a picnic under the stars to enjoy Perseids meteor shower, the image features a composite of 2 bright meteors which crossed the sky during just a few minutes. They can appear from anywhere in the sky, but as the Radiant is located in Perseus constellation looking to East or Northeast can give good results.
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Colorful Stars from Ursa Major Shinning Above Lake Alqueva
A night scene captured in Amieira, near the lake Alqueva, Dark Sky® reserve, shows the brightest stars which forms the asterism of Big Dipper. Shinning in the upper left side of the image with subtle differences in hue, are visible the colorful stars Alkaid, Mizar-Alcor, Alioth, Megrez, Phecda, Merak and Dubhe, the main stars that are composing the constellation of Ursa Major, also known as the Great Bear. Probably the easiest constellation recognisable in night time, it also features a noticeable difference in their star colors. The bluish has the hottest temperature, while white stars are at a medium temperature. The orange-red stars are the coldest stars which can be found in the night sky.
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Da Vinci Glow Revealed in a High Dynamic Range of a Crescent Moon
Featured as Nasa´s APOD – Astronomy Picture of the Day image shows an High Dynamic Range photo of a Crescent Moon, showing in a detailed way the Da Vinci Glow, as well as revealing the bright side of the Moon full of craters with its disk 22,6% directly illuminated by the Sun. Described and drawn for the first time by the great Leonardo Da Vinci about 500 years ago on his book Codex Leicester, Leonardo da Vinci explained the phenomenon known as Earthshine in the early 16th century, when he realised that both Earth and the Moon reflect sunlight at the same time. Light is reflected from the Earth to the Moon and back to the Earth as earthshine. On the bright side is possible to see in the upper part, craters like Hercules and Atlas, while a bit below the lunar Terminator (line dividing light and shadow) is crossing the large Posidonius crater which also marks in the beginning of Mar Tranquilitatis, the place where the last Apollo mission (17) as landed. Below are also visible Mare Crisium, Mare Fecunditatis and Mare Nectaris.
PT: Destacada como Nasa´s APOD – Astronomy Picture of the Day a imagem de Alta Gama Dinâmica (HDR) revela uma lua crescente exibindo de forma detalhada o brilho de Da Vinci, onde simultaneamente é possível observar o lado mais brilhante repleto de crateras, enquanto o disco se encontrava 22,6% directamente iluminado pelo sol. Descrito e desenhado pela primeira vez pelo grande Leonardo Da Vinci há cerca de 500 anos em seu livro Codex Leicester, Leonardo da Vinci explicou o fenómeno conhecido como Earthshine no início do século XVI, quando percebeu que tanto a Terra quanto a Lua refletiam a luz solar ao mesmo tempo. A luz é refletida da Terra para a Lua e volta para a Terra com Earthshine. No lado mais brilhante, é ainda possível distinguir na zona superior, crateras como Hércules e Atlas, enquanto um pouco abaixo o Terminador lunar (linha que divide luz e sombra) cruza a grande cratera Posidonius, que também marca no início do Mar Tranquilitatis, a local onde aterrou a última missão da Apollo (17). Abaixo, são também visíveis os Mare Crisium, Mare Fecunditatis e Mare Nectaris.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
The photo comprises 15 shots at a speed of 1/250s exposure to reveal the bright side in detail, plus 14 shots of 1,60s exposure to reveal Da Vinci glow. The total of 29 pictures were taken in sequence mode at an ISO1250 on 25/06/2020. Taka FSQ-106ED – EM200 auto-guided | Nikon D810a. Cumeada Observatory from Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, Reguengos de Monsaraz.
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Comet Neowise in Motion above Pampilhosa da Serra – Photo and Time Lapse
The image shows Comet Neowise C/2020 F3 with his long tail visible durinig nautical twilight while it was setting above Pampilhosa da Serra mountain range, territory of Dark Sky Aldeias do Xisto, central region of Portugal. The comet has become so bright that can be seen easily with unaided eye from a dark sky location. Below is a time lapse sequence comprising in 10 seconds, 1h30 minutes of its movement along with the stars.
PT: A imagem revela o cometa Neowise C/2020 F3 com a sua longa cauda visível durante o crepúsculo náutico enquanto este se deitava acima das montanhas da Pampilhosa da Serra, em território do Dark Sky Aldeias do Xisto, centro de Portugal. O cometa ficou tão brilhante que pode ser visto facilmente a olho nu, a partir de uma zona com céu relativamente escuro. Em baixo é possível ver uma sequência time lapse que revela em 10 segundos, cerca de 1h30 minutos do seu movimento juntamente com as estrelas.
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Comet Neowise Shining Bright Under Nautical Twilight in Pampilhosa da Serra
The image shows Comet Neowise C/2020 F3 with his long tail visible durinig nautical twilight while it was setting above Pampilhosa da Serra mountain range, territory of Dark Sky Aldeias do Xisto, central region of Portugal. The comet has become so bright that can be seen easily with unaided eye from a dark sky location.
PT: A imagem revela o cometa Neowise C/2020 F3 com a sua longa cauda visível durante o crepúsculo náutico enquanto este se deitava acima das montanhas da Pampilhosa da Serra, em território do Dark Sky Aldeias do Xisto, centro de Portugal. O cometa ficou tão brilhante que pode ser visto facilmente a olho nu, a partir de uma zona com céu relativamente escuro.
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Stargazing with Binoculars the Wonderful view of Comet Neowise
The image shows a stargazer enjoying a wonderful celestial view while observing with binoculars Comet Neowise C/2020 F3. The picture reveals its long blueish ion tail made by ionized gas – gas energized by ultraviolet light from the Sun and pushed outward by the solar wind – faintly visible at the left side of the comet while it was setting above Tua Valley, territory of Dark Sky Vale do Tua, in northern part of Portugal. The image is a panorama of 4 single shots captured at the end of Nautical Twilight on 16th July 2020. The comet has become so bright that can be seen easily with unaided eye from a dark sky location.
PT: Na imagem é possível ver um observador a desfrutar de uma bela visão celestial através de binóculos do cometa Neowise C/2020 F3. A fotografia revela a sua longa cauda de iões azulada composta por gás ionizado – gás este energizado pela luz ultravioleta do Sol e empurrado para fora pelo vento solar – subtilmente visível no lado esquerdo do cometa enquanto este se deitava acima do Vale do Tua, no território Dark Sky Vale do Tua, região norte de Portugal. A imagem é resultado de um panorama de 4 disparos únicos captado no final do Crepúsculo Naútico a de 16 de julho de 2020. O cometa ficou tão brilhante que pode ser visto facilmente a olho nu, a partir de uma zona com céu relativamente escuro.
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Comet Neowise Featuring Synchronic Bands, Green Coma and Bluish Ion Tail
The image shows a close-up view of Comet Neowise C/2020 F3 featuring a detailed view of Synchronic bands, also known as “striae,” these bands are dividing the comet’s dust tail into linear regions of greater and lesser density. According to Spaceweather, “Synchronic bands have been seen in comet tails for centuries, yet only recently have astronomers begun to understand what they are. The turning point came in 2007 when European and NASA spacecraft observed the formation of striae in Comet McNaught (C/2006 P1). The process starts when a chunk of comet detaches itself from the nucleus. Boulder-sized chunks fragment into smaller and smaller pieces, a cascade shaped into long streamers by solar radiation pressure”. Also visible in this portrait sky scene captured with a telephoto lens of 140mm and tracked with a portable mount Vixen Polarie, is a long blueish ion tail made by ionised gas – gas energised by ultraviolet light from the Sun and pushed outward by the solar wind. Travelling at a speed of 231 000km/h, the comet orbits the sun every 6,800 to 7,000 years. Neowise is currently at about 111 million kilometres away from Earth, while featuring a 5km in diameter green head of diatomic carbon (C2) – gas fluorescing in sunlight which is producing the coma’s green color. Captured on 17th July 2020 from Pampilhosa da Serra, territory of Dark Sky Aldeias do Xisto, central region of Portugal.
PT: A imagem mostra um close-up do cometa Neowise C / 2020 F3, revelando uma visão detalhada das bandas sincrónicas, também conhecidas como “estrias”, faixas que vão dividindo a cauda de poeira do cometa em regiões lineares de maior e menor densidade. De acordo com Spaceweather, “bandas sincrónicas são vistas nas caudas de cometas há séculos, mas apenas recentemente os astrónomos começaram a entender este fenómeno e a sua natureza. O ponto de viragem ocorreu em 2007, quando as sondas europeias e da NASA observaram a formação de estrias no cometa McNaught (C / 2006 P1). O processo começa quando um pedaço de cometa se desprende do núcleo. Pedaços do tamanho de pedregulhos se fragmentam em pedaços cada vez menores, uma cascata moldada em longas serpentinas pela pressão da radiação solar “. Também visível neste retrato celeste captado com uma lente de 140mm e com uma montagem portátil Vixen Polarie, encontra-se uma onga cauda de iões azulada composta por gás ionizado – gás este energizado pela luz ultravioleta do Sol e empurrado para fora pelo vento solar. Viajando a uma velocidade de 231 000 km / h, o cometa orbita o sol a cada 6.800 a 7.000 anos. Actualmente, o Neowise está a cerca de 111 milhões de quilômetros da Terra, apresentando uma cabeça verde de carbono diatómico (C2) com 5km de diâmetro – gás fluorescente à luz solar e que está a produzir a cor esverdeada da Cabeleira ou Coma do Cometa. Captado em 17 de Julho de 2020 na Pampilhosa da Serra, território do Dark Sky Aldeias do Xisto, região central de Portugal.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
Nikon D850 modified | 140mm f/3.2| ISO1600 – Exp. 30 seconds x 35 Lights| Vixen Polarie Portable Mount |Starry Sky Stacker and Photoshop CC 2020. Dark Sky Aldeias do Xisto, Pampilhosa da Serra, central region of Portugal.
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Comet Neowise Featuring his Bright Ion Tail above Tua Valley in Dark Sky Vale do Tua
The image shows Comet Neowise C/2020 F3 with his long blueish ion tail made by ionized gas – gas energized by ultraviolet light from the Sun and pushed outward by the solar wind – faintly visible at the left side of the comet while it was setting above Tua Valley, territory of Dark Sky Vale do Tua, in northern part of Portugal. The image is a panorama of 4 single shots captured at the end of Nautical Twilight on 16th July 2020. The comet has become so bright that can be seen easily with unaided eye from a dark sky location.
PT: A imagem revela o cometa Neowise C/2020 F3 com a sua longa cauda de iões azulada composta por gás ionizado – gás este energizado pela luz ultravioleta do Sol e empurrado para fora pelo vento solar – subtilmente visível no lado esquerdo do cometa enquanto este se deitava acima do Vale do Tua, no território Dark Sky Vale do Tua, região norte de Portugal. A imagem é resultado de um panorama de 4 disparos únicos captado no final do Crepúsculo Naútico a de 16 de julho de 2020. O cometa ficou tão brilhante que pode ser visto facilmente a olho nu, a partir de uma zona com céu relativamente escuro.
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Comet Neowise Featuring a Bluish Ion Tail as Seen above Dark Sky® Alqueva Lake
The image shows Comet Neowise C/2020 F3 with his blueish ion tail made by ionized gas – gas energized by ultraviolet light from the Sun and pushed outward by the solar wind – faintly visible at the left side of the comet while it was rising. The image is a stack of 4 single shots to help reveal the faint ion tail captured during predawn of yesterday 12th July above Alqueva lake, in Monte Juntos, territory of Dark Sky® Alqueva, in Alentejo, Portugal. The comet has become so bright that can be seen with unaided eye, although, it starts to be visible from now on after the sunset and during the nautical twilight. Is always preferable to enjoy the view with a pair of binoculars or a telephoto lens. Below is a time lapse sequence taken in the same night but with a different setup.
PT: A imagem revela o cometa Neowise C/2020 F3 com a sua cauda de íons azulada composta por gás ionizado – gás este energizado pela luz ultravioleta do Sol e empurrado para fora pelo vento solar – subtilmente visível no lado esquerdo do cometa enquanto este se elevava no horizonte Nordeste. A imagem é resultado de um stack de 4 disparos únicos para ajudar a revelar a ténue cauda de íons captada durante a madrugada de 12 de julho, acima do lago Alqueva, em Monte Juntos, território do Dark Sky® Alqueva, no Alentejo, Portugal. O cometa ficou tão brilhante que pode ser visto a olho nu, embora comece a ser visível a partir de agora após o pôr do sol e durante o crepúsculo naútico. É sempre preferível apreciar a vista com um par de binóculos ou lentes telefoto. Em baixo é possível ver outro um time lapse captado na mesma noite, mas com outro setup.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
Nikon D850 modified | 70mm f/2.8| ISO2500 – Exp. 8 seconds | Vixen Polarie Portable Mount |Stack of 4 images. Captured from fields of Dark Sky® Alqueva
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Close-up View of Comet Neowise Against a Colorful Predawn Sky
This image shows a close-up view of Comet Neowise C/2020 F3, when it was rising against the colorful predawn sky from Dark Sky® Alqueva territory, on 10th July 2020. Neowise is featuring a long and beautiful difuse tail. The comet has become so bright that can be seen with unaided eye, although, is always preferable to enjoy the view with a pair of binoculars or a telephoto lens.
PT: A imagem revela um close-up do cometa Neowise C/2020 F3, durante a madrugada de 10 de julho enquanto este brilhava em pano de fundo contra as cores do céu crepuscular. Este viajante interplanetário brilha intensamente, exibindo uma longa cauda difusa. O cometa ficou tão brilhante nos últimos dias, que pode agora ser visto a olho nu, embora seja sempre preferível recorrer a um par de binóculos ou a tele-objectivas para registar este espectáculo celeste incrível.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
Nikon D850 modified | 200mm f/4.5| ISO2500 – Exp. 6 seconds x 15 lights | Vixen Polarie Portable Mount |Total integration of 15 Lights: 1,5 minutes. Processing on PixInsight 1.8.8-4 and Photoshop CC 2020. Captured from fields of Dark Sky® Alqueva
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Comet Neowise above Alqueva Fields of Cork Trees – Photo & Time Lapse
This single image shows Comet Neowise C/2020 F3 rising during predawn of 10th July above the golden fields of Dark Sky® Alqueva, in Alentejo, with the hilltop village of Monsaraz visible in the background. The interplanetary traveller is shinning in the left side of this morning twilight landscape with a bright long tail visible. The comet has become so bright that can be seen with unaided eye, although, is always preferable to enjoy the view with a pair of binoculars or a telephoto lens. Below is a time lapse sequence showing the the motion of the comet in the background sky during one hour.
PT: A imagem captada num disparo único revela o cometa Neowise C/2020 F3, durante a madrugada de 10 de julho enquanto se elevava acima dos campos dourados do Dark Sky® Alqueva, no Alentejo, com a vila de Monsaraz visível no topo da colina em pano de fundo. Este viajante interplanetário brilha assim intensamente no lado esquerdo deste retrato crepuscular, exibindo uma longa cauda difusa mas bem visível. O cometa ficou tão brilhante nos últimos dias, que pode agora ser visto a olho nu, embora seja sempre preferível recorrer a um par de binóculos ou a tele-objectivas para registar este espectáculo celeste incrível. Abaixo é possível ver uma sequência time lapse com o movimento do comet contra o céu de fundo, durante aproximadamente uma hora.
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How to Order – Simple and easy, just “copy and paste” the link of this page or the image you choosed and fill it in the form below, with the size you want and any detail you wish to include on the message, like your country, name and postal address. Free Shipping included to all prints (except frames). For US and Europe the delivery is 4-8 working days, while to Portugal and Spain is normally 2-6 working days. After submitting the order through the form, I will contact you for the payment method (Paypal available or bank transfer) and with other questions related to your print(s) or requests. Once payment is confirmed, your order is shipped within 24h. In case you wish, I can send you separtely with no additional cost, a postcard autographed and numbered of the same image you have just bought, as a seal and proof of art work authenticity from the author. Let me know what is your wish.
Comet Neowise above the Golden Fields of Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve
This single image shows Comet Neowise C/2020 F3 rising during predawn of 10th July above the golden fields of Dark Sky® Alqueva, in Alentejo, with the hilltop village of Monsaraz visible in the background. The interplanetary traveller is shinning in the left side of this morning twilight portrait with a bright long tail visible. The comet has become so bright that can be seen with unaided eye, although, is always preferable to enjoy the view with a pair of binoculars or a telephoto lens.
PT: A imagem captada num disparo único revela o cometa Neowise C/2020 F3, durante a madrugada de 10 de julho enquanto se elevava acima dos campos dourados do Dark Sky® Alqueva, no Alentejo, com a vila de Monsaraz visível no topo da colina em pano de fundo. Este viajante interplanetário brilha assim intensamente no lado esquerdo deste retrato crepuscular, exibindo uma longa cauda difusa mas bem visível. O cometa ficou tão brilhante nos últimos dias, que pode agora ser visto a olho nu, embora seja sempre preferível recorrer a um par de binóculos ou a tele-objectivas para registar este espectáculo celeste incrível.
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You can choose the best style of print do you preffer to decorate in a fashion way your walls. Metal Prints with durable and vivid colors, Acrylic, Canvas or the highest quality Gallery Print – a 6 colour UV direct printing on acrylic glass (2mm) including light colours and reinforced by an aluminium dibond plate (3mm). Those type of Prints can highlight the final work in an artistic way, showing the photograph as a piece of art. I work with two high quality specialized Labs in US and in Europe, using Kodak Professional Endura Premier Metallic papers and Fujifilm Crystal Archive DP II Professional. You can select the image above or freely navigate to more than 800 photographs available in my gallery – each one with their own story and magic – and choose the photograph you would love to have in your home or office.
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Milky Way Scene above the Official Observatory of Dark Sky® Alqueva in Cumeada Village
The image shows a wide mosaic scene of the Official Dark Sky® Alqueva Observatory as seen from inside to outside. Located in the small village of Cumeada, near Reguengos city, in Alentejo, Portugal, the area comprises a recovered building with some history from an old primary school adapted to receive two roll-off roof observatories equipped with cutting-edge telescopes for visual astronomical observations and for astrophotography purposes. Dark Sky@ Alqueva, was since 2011 the First Starlight Tourism Destination in the World and one of the first to successfully implement and develop the concept known as Astrotourism, being awarded in 2019 with a “Tourism Oscar” from World Travel Awards, as Europe´s Responsible Tourism Award 2019. A dedicated team is permanently making large efforts to change minds, sensitising the problem of light pollution and trying along with authorities to improve the quality of the night sky and life in all forms, to achieve a better street illumination. As result, Cumeada village has only 70 street lights, all of them directly pointing to the ground, using low power and a color temperature of 2700 kelvin. The ideia of Astrotourism, is not to create a total blackout on the villages or cities, but instead is to showing a positive impact on society inspiring the will of travelling for a major purpose. With this measures, is possible to respect the night sky and all the surrounding needs from locals, while enjoying the comfort of modernity such as good restaurants and rural hotels to rest, as well as wonderful night activities which is can be held under a pristine and protected sky, such as stargazing with naked eye or telescopes. This complex mosaic shows in the background the beautiful summer arch of Milky Way galaxy above the village and Observatory, revealing that is possible to clearly distinguish the Milky Way arch in all of its splendour, as well as the street itself, roads and surroundings, meaning that people can feel secure and peaceful at the same time. This procedure had a huge impact in the night sky quality that is constantly monitored with a Sky Quality Meter registering an average measurement of SQM: 21.40 mag/arcsec^2.
PT: A imagem revela uma ampla cena em mosaico do Observatório Oficial Dark Sky® Alqueva, visto de dentro para fora. Localizado na pequena vila de Cumeada, perto da cidade de Reguengos, no Alentejo, Portugal, a área compreende um edifício histórico recuperado de uma antiga escola primária do Estado Novo, adaptado para receber dois observatórios de tecto retráctil equipados com telescópios de ponta para observações astronómicas visuais e para fins de astrofotografia. O Dark Sky @ Alqueva, desde 2011, foi o Primeiro Destino Starlight do Mundo e um dos primeiros a implementar e desenvolver com sucesso o conceito denominado Astroturismo, tendo sido premiado em 2019 com um “Oscar do Turismo” nos aclamados World Travel Awards, como “Europe´s Responsible Tourism Award 2019″. Uma equipa dedicada está permanentemente a fazer grandes esforços para mudar as mentes, sensibilizando o problema da poluição luminosa e tentando junto das autoridades competentes, melhorar a qualidade do céu noturno e da vida em todas as suas formas, para obter assim uma iluminação mais saudável e eficiente das ruas públicas. Como resultado, a vila de Cumeada possui apenas 70 luminárias, todos elas apontando directamente para o solo, usando pouca energia e uma temperatura de cor de 2700 kelvin. A ideia do astroturismo não é criar um blackout total nas aldeias ou cidades, mas sim mostrar um impacto positivo na sociedade, inspirando a vontade de viajar para um objetivo maior. Com estas medidas, é possível respeitar o céu noturno e todas as necessidades dos habitantes locais, enquanto se desfruta do conforto da modernidade, com bons restaurantes e hotéis rurais para descansar, além de actividades noturnas maravilhosas que podem ser realizadas sob um céu pristino e agradável, como observar as estrelas a olho nu ou com telescópios. Este mosaico complexto mostra em pano de fundo o belo arco de verão da Via Láctea acima da vila e do Observatório, revelando que é possível distinguir claramente o arco da Via Láctea em todo o seu esplendor, bem como a própria rua, as estradas e arredores, o que significa que as pessoas podem se sentir seguras e em paz ao mesmo tempo. Este procedimento teve um enorme impacto na qualidade do céu noturno da região da sede, que é constantemente monitorizado com um Medidor da Qualidade do Céu (SQM) registando uma medida média de SQM: 21,45 mag/arcsec^2.
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A Goat and the Summer Triangle Announces the Arrival of Summer Sky
Captured close to the morning Twilight from Pampilhosa da Serra – in the heart of a new starlight destination created in center of Portugal, called Dark Sky Aldeias do Xisto – the image shows in the foreground a piece of art made by Eduardo Teodoro with the silhouette of a Charnequeira goat, an autochthonous goat breed from the Schist Villages. The real animal has a reddish brown fur with curved horns and has been accompanying locals since immemorial times. As a symbiotic relationship between man, animal and the night environment, the silhouette is featured against a starry sky between the stars of Summer Triangle with Deneb (Cygnus), Vega (Lyra) and Altair (Aquila) shining in the background sky with the path of Milky Way visible above the hills, announcing the arrival of summer sky in the northern hemisphere.
PT: Captada recentemente na Pampilhosa da Serra, no coração de um novo destino Starlight criado no centro de Portugal, chamado Dark Sky Aldeias do Xisto, a imagem revela em primeiro plano uma obra de arte feita por Eduardo Teodoro com a silhueta de uma Cabra Charnequeira, uma raça caprina autóctone das Aldeias do Xisto. O animal real tem uma pelagem castanha avermelhada e cornos inclinados, tendo companhado os habitantes locais desde tempos imemoriais. Como uma relação simbiótica entre homem, animal e o ambiente noturno, a silhueta é apresentada contra um céu estrelado entre as estrelas do triângulo de Verão, com Deneb (constelação do Cisne), Vega (constelação da Lira) e Altair (constelação da Águia) brilhando em pano de fundo contra o caminho da Via Láctea visível acima das colinas, anunciando a chegada do céu de verão ao hemisfério norte.
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How to Order – Simple and easy, just “copy and paste” the link of this page or the image you choosed and fill it in the form below, with the size you want and any detail you wish to include on the message, like your country, name and postal address. Free Shipping included to all prints (except frames). For US and Europe the delivery is 4-8 working days, while to Portugal and Spain is normally 2-6 working days. After submitting the order through the form, I will contact you for the payment method (Paypal available or bank transfer) and with other questions related to your print(s) or requests. Once payment is confirmed, your order is shipped within 24h. In case you wish, I can send you separtely with no additional cost, a postcard autographed and numbered of the same image you have just bought, as a seal and proof of art work authenticity from the author. Let me know what is your wish.
Blue Horsehead Nebula and Rho Ophiuchi Cloud Complex in a Colorful Deepsky Scene
The image features a wide view of Blue Horsehead Nebula IC 4592 and Rho Ophiuchi Cloud Complex, one of the most colourful nebulas in space and the closest star-forming regions to the Solar System, at an estimated distance of 460 light years. These interstellar clouds of gas and dust contain both red emission nebulas and blue reflection nebulas. The dark brown regions are caused by dust grains, born in young stellar atmospheres, which effectively block light emitted behind them. The lower area of the image features many dark absorption nebulas. The dark cloud known as “Dark River”, it can be identified as the brown dust lane connected to Antares, and spans about 100 light years in direction of the central band of our Milky Way Galaxy. The distant globular cluster M4 is just seen above the red supergiant star Antares, one of the brighter stars in the night sky, though it lies far behind the colourful cloud complex, at a distance of some 7,000 light-years.
PT: A imagem apresenta uma visão ampla da nebulosa Blue Horsehead IC 4592 e do complexo de nuvens Rho Ophiuchi, um dos complexos nebulosos mais coloridos do espaço e uma das regiões de formações de estrelas mais próximas ao sistema solar, localizado a uma distância estimada de 460 anos-luz, estas nuvens inter-estelares de gás e poeiras contêm nebulosas de emissão (vermelhas) e nebulosas de reflexão (azul). As regiões a castanho escuro são causadas por grãos de poeira, nascidos em atmosferas estelares jovens, que efetivamente bloqueiam a luz emitida por detrás delas. A região inferior da imagem apresenta ainda muitas nebulosas de absorção escuras. A nebulosa escura conhecida como “Dark River”, pode ser identificada como a banda de poeira castanha que está conectada à região de Antares e que se estende por 100 anos-luz de distância em direcção à banda central de nossa Galáxia, a Via Láctea. O aglomerado globular M4 pode ser visto nesta imagem, à esquerda da estrela super gigante vermelha Antares, uma das estrelas mais brilhantes do céu noturno, este aglomerado está no entanto bem atrás do complexo colorido, a uma distância de cerca de 7.000 anos-luz.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
Nikon D850 modified | Sigma Art 105mm set to f/2,5| ISO1600 – Exp. 60 seconds x 81 lights | Mount AZHEQ5 Pro |Total integration of 81 Lights: 81 minutes. Processing on PixInsight 1.8.8-4 and Photoshop CC 2020. Cumeada Observatory from Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, Reguengos de Monsaraz.
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You can choose the best style of print do you preffer to decorate in a fashion way your walls. Metal Prints with durable and vivid colors, Acrylic, Canvas or the highest quality Gallery Print – a 6 colour UV direct printing on acrylic glass (2mm) including light colours and reinforced by an aluminium dibond plate (3mm). Those type of Prints can highlight the final work in an artistic way, showing the photograph as a piece of art. I work with two high quality specialized Labs in US and in Europe, using Kodak Professional Endura Premier Metallic papers and Fujifilm Crystal Archive DP II Professional. You can select the image above or freely navigate to more than 800 photographs available in my gallery – each one with their own story and magic – and choose the photograph you would love to have in your home or office.
How to Order – Simple and easy, just “copy and paste” the link of this page or the image you choosed and fill it in the form below, with the size you want and any detail you wish to include on the message, like your country, name and postal address. Free Shipping included to all prints (except frames). For US and Europe the delivery is 4-8 working days, while to Portugal and Spain is normally 2-6 working days. After submitting the order through the form, I will contact you for the payment method (Paypal available or bank transfer) and with other questions related to your print(s) or requests. Once payment is confirmed, your order is shipped within 24h. In case you wish, I can send you separtely with no additional cost, a postcard autographed and numbered of the same image you have just bought, as a seal and proof of art work authenticity from the author. Let me know what is your wish.
Disk Sequence of a Reddish Moonrise Against Earth Shadow and Belt of Venus
A countryside scene captured from Juromenha inside Dark Sky® Alqueva territory and facing to Spain, shows a disk sequence of a reddish moonrise over the hills of Spanish horizon on 5 June 2020. Even being partially eclipsed due to a Penumbral lunar eclipse – happening when the Moon passes through Earth’s faint outer shadow – during the nautical twilight is difficult to notice this faint shadow on the moon´s disk, although, a second photo shows a related phenomenon visible almost every day known as the Earth’s shadow. This shadow is visible in the opposite half of the sky to the sunset or sunrise, and is seen right above the horizon as a dark blue band. Immediately above, where the evening air is still lit, glows a pink band called the anti-twilight arch, also known as “Belt of Venus”, and is caused by backscattering of refracted sunlight due to fine dust particles high in the atmosphere..
PT: Um cenário rural captado a partir de Juromenha dentro do território Dark Sky® Alqueva e voltado para Espanha, revela uma sequência do disco lunar avermelhado sobre as colinas do horizonte espanhol em 5 de junho de 2020. Já nascendo parcialmente eclipsada devido a um eclipse lunar Penumbral – que ocorre quando a Lua atravessa a fraca sombra externa da Terra – durante o crepúsculo náutico é difícil perceber essa sombra fraca projectada no disco da lua, no entanto, um fenémeno relacionado pode ser visível quase todos os dias. Conhecido como “Earth Shadow” ou sombra da Terra. Essa sombra é visível na metade do céu oposta ao pôr do sol, ou ao nascer do sol. É visível logo acima do horizonte como uma faixa azul escura. Imediatamente acima, onde o ar da tarde ainda está iluminado, brilha uma faixa rosa chamada arco anti-crepuscular, também conhecido como “Cinturão de Vénus”, e é causada pelo retroespalhamento da luz solar refractada devido a finas partículas de poeira na atmosfera!
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You can choose the best style of print do you preffer to decorate in a fashion way your walls. Metal Prints with durable and vivid colors, Acrylic, Canvas or the highest quality Gallery Print – a 6 colour UV direct printing on acrylic glass (2mm) including light colours and reinforced by an aluminium dibond plate (3mm). Those type of Prints can highlight the final work in an artistic way, showing the photograph as a piece of art. I work with two high quality specialized Labs in US and in Europe, using Kodak Professional Endura Premier Metallic papers and Fujifilm Crystal Archive DP II Professional. You can select the image above or freely navigate to more than 800 photographs available in my gallery – each one with their own story and magic – and choose the photograph you would love to have in your home or office.
How to Order – Simple and easy, just “copy and paste” the link of this page or the image you choosed and fill it in the form below, with the size you want and any detail you wish to include on the message, like your country, name and postal address. Free Shipping included to all prints (except frames). For US and Europe the delivery is 4-8 working days, while to Portugal and Spain is normally 2-6 working days. After submitting the order through the form, I will contact you for the payment method (Paypal available or bank transfer) and with other questions related to your print(s) or requests. Once payment is confirmed, your order is shipped within 24h. In case you wish, I can send you separtely with no additional cost, a postcard autographed and numbered of the same image you have just bought, as a seal and proof of art work authenticity from the author. Let me know what is your wish.
Reddish “Eclipsed” Full Moon Rising above Spain
A countryside scene captured from Juromenha inside Dark Sky® Alqueva territory and facing to Spain, shows a reddish moonrise over the hills of Spanish horizon on 5 June 2020. Even being partially eclipsed due to a Penumbral lunar eclipse – happening when the Moon passes through Earth’s faint outer shadow – during the nautical twilight is difficult to notice this faint shadow on the moon´s disk, although, a second photo shows a related phenomenon visible almost every day known as the Earth’s shadow. This shadow is visible in the opposite half of the sky to the sunset or sunrise, and is seen right above the horizon as a dark blue band. Immediately above, where the evening air is still lit, glows a pink band called the anti-twilight arch, also known as “Belt of Venus”, and is caused by backscattering of refracted sunlight due to fine dust particles high in the atmosphere..
PT: Um cenário rural captado a partir de Juromenha dentro do território Dark Sky® Alqueva e voltado para Espanha, revela um nascer de uma lua cheia avermelhado sobre as colinas do horizonte espanhol em 5 de junho de 2020. Já nascendo parcialmente eclipsada devido a um eclipse lunar Penumbral – que ocorre quando a Lua atravessa a fraca sombra externa da Terra – durante o crepúsculo náutico é difícil perceber essa sombra fraca projectada no disco da lua, no entanto, um fenémeno relacionado pode ser visível quase todos os dias. Conhecido como “Earth Shadow” ou sombra da Terra. Essa sombra é visível na metade do céu oposta ao pôr do sol, ou ao nascer do sol. É visível logo acima do horizonte como uma faixa azul escura. Imediatamente acima, onde o ar da tarde ainda está iluminado, brilha uma faixa rosa chamada arco anti-crepuscular, também conhecido como “Cinturão de Vénus”, e é causada pelo retroespalhamento da luz solar refractada devido a finas partículas de poeira na atmosfera!
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Buy a Fine Art Print or Wall Decor of this Image – Make your order Now!
You can choose the best style of print do you preffer to decorate in a fashion way your walls. Metal Prints with durable and vivid colors, Acrylic, Canvas or the highest quality Gallery Print – a 6 colour UV direct printing on acrylic glass (2mm) including light colours and reinforced by an aluminium dibond plate (3mm). Those type of Prints can highlight the final work in an artistic way, showing the photograph as a piece of art. I work with two high quality specialized Labs in US and in Europe, using Kodak Professional Endura Premier Metallic papers and Fujifilm Crystal Archive DP II Professional. You can select the image above or freely navigate to more than 800 photographs available in my gallery – each one with their own story and magic – and choose the photograph you would love to have in your home or office.
How to Order – Simple and easy, just “copy and paste” the link of this page or the image you choosed and fill it in the form below, with the size you want and any detail you wish to include on the message, like your country, name and postal address. Free Shipping included to all prints (except frames). For US and Europe the delivery is 4-8 working days, while to Portugal and Spain is normally 2-6 working days. After submitting the order through the form, I will contact you for the payment method (Paypal available or bank transfer) and with other questions related to your print(s) or requests. Once payment is confirmed, your order is shipped within 24h. In case you wish, I can send you separtely with no additional cost, a postcard autographed and numbered of the same image you have just bought, as a seal and proof of art work authenticity from the author. Let me know what is your wish.
The Virgo Cluster Featured as A Question Mark “?” Shape of Galaxies
The image features a Question Mark “?” shape of galaxies at a distance of 48 million light-years away from Earth, where lies the Virgo Cluster. This collection of more than a thousand galaxies located in the constellation of Virgo, forms the heart of the larger Virgo Supercluster from which the Local Group containing our own Milky Way galaxy belongs. Close to the lower left center edge lies the gigantic elliptical galaxy M87, while at the right side is visible a smoothly curved line of galaxies known as Markarian´s Chain, which also include another enormous elliptical galaxy M86 and M84, seen in the picture as a faint circular shape close to the bottom. In the top edge of this photo and the “Question Mark (?)” is also visible from left to the right, colorful galaxies M90, M91 and M88.
PT: A imagem revela um conjunto de galáxias que parece estar disposta na forma de um “Ponto de Interrogação (?)” e a uma distância de 48 milhões de anos-luz da Terra, onde fica o chamado Aglomerado de Virgem. Esta colecção de mais de mil galáxias localizadas na constelação de Virgem, forma o coração do maior superaglomerado de Virgem, do qual pertence o Grupo Local que contém a nossa própria galáxia, a Via Láctea. Perto do centro esquerdo inferior da imagem, encontra-se a gigantesca galáxia elíptica M87, enquanto no lado direito é visível uma linha de galáxias suavemente curvada, conhecida como a Cadeia de Markarian, que também inclui outra enorme galáxia elíptica a M86 e M84, vistas na fotografia como duas manchas circulares grandes e difusas. No extremo superior desta foto e do “ponto de interrogação (?)”, também é visível da esquerda para a direita, as galáxias coloridas M90, M91 e M88.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
Taka FSQ-106ED – EM200 auto-guided | Nikon D850 modified | ISO2500 – Exp. 240 seconds x 30 lights | Total integration of 30 Lights: 120 minutes. Processing on PixInsight 1.8.8-4 and CC 2020. Cumeada Observatory from Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, Reguengos de Monsaraz.
Triangulum Galaxy M33 Featuring Pinkish Hydrogen Clouds Spread Along the Arms
Located in the constellation of Triangulum at a distance of 3 million light-years away from Earth, lies Messier 33. The Triangulum Galaxy, is a beautiful large face-on spiral galaxy with a diameter of 50,000 light-years, being the third-largest member of our Local Group of galaxies, which includes Andromeda Galaxy M31 and our own Milky Way with his companions, the Magellanic Clouds. This cluster os galaxies belongs to a much larger super-cluster known as the Virgo cluster. Due to their interactions, velocities, and proximity, scientists suspect that M33 could be a satellite of Andromeda Galaxy M31. The image shows pinkish ionised hydrogen clouds (HII regions), spread along the spiral arms of Triangulum Galaxy. These giant HII regions are some of the largest known stellar nurseries. NGC 604, is the largest star forming region with its glowing hydrogen gas visible in the upper right center of the galaxy.
PT: Localizada na constelação do Triângulo, a uma distância de 3 milhões de anos-luz da Terra, fica a M33. A Galáxia do Triângulo é uma grande galáxia espiral com um diâmetro de 50.000 anos luz, sendo o terceiro maior membro do nosso Grupo Local de galáxias, que inclui a galáxia de Andrómeda M31 e a nossa própria Via Láctea com as suas companheiras, Nuvens de Magalhães. Este aglomerado de galáxias pertence a um super aglomerado muito maior, conhecido como o aglomerado de Virgem. Devido às suas interações, velocidades e proximidade, os cientistas suspeitam que a M33 possa ser um satélite da galáxia de Andrómeda M31. A imagem revela nuvens rosadas de hidrogénio ionizado (regiões HII), espalhadas ao longo dos braços espirais da galáxia do Triângulo. Essas regiões gigantes HII são alguns dos maiores berços estelares conhecidos. NGC 604 é assim a maior região de formação estelar, com o seu gás de hidrogénio a brilhar visível no centro superior direito da galáxia.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
Taka FSQ-106ED – EM200 auto-guided | Nikon D810A | ISO2500 – Exp. 240 seconds x 37 lights | Total integration of 37 Lights: 150 minutes. Processing on PixInsight 1.8.8-4 and CC 2020. Cumeada Observatory from Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, Reguengos de Monsaraz.
The Divine Creation of Milky Way Direclty Released by God´s Hand
La Mano Del Desierto is a beautiful piece of art made by Chilean sculptor Mario Irarrázabal, of an 11 meters hand that stands above the desert and where the fingers seems to touch the stars. On this particular panorama rotated 90º degrees clockwise, this Milky Way is featured like the most recent divine´s creation, directly released by God´s hand. Small Magellanic cloud is shinning between the fingers in the top left corner. Located at about 70 km south of Antofagasta, the sculpture made of iron and concrete stands alone in the desert at an altitude of 1100 meters above the sea level.
PT: La Mano Del Desierto é uma bela obra de arte feita pelo escultor chileno Mario Irarrázabal, de uma Mão de 11 metros que se destaca acima do deserto e onde os dedos parecem tocar as estrelas. Neste panorama em particular, girado 90º no sentido horário, a Via Láctea é apresentada como a mais recente criação divina, lançada directamente pela mão de Deus. A Pequena Núvem de Magalhães brilha entre os dedos, no canto superior esquerdo da imagem. Localizada a cerca de 70 km a sul de Antofagasta, a escultura feita de ferro e concreto, destaca-se como uma imponente presença solitária no meio do deserto, a uma altitude de 1100 metros acima do nível do mar.
Twilight above the Prehistoric Paintings of Pala Pinta Rock Shelter Invoke the Real Sighting of a Comet
The image reveals a nautical twilight with the Orion constellation in the background, seen from the Pala Pinta rock shelter in Alijó, in the newly created Dark Sky Vale do Tua. Experts believe that this paintings can date back to the Chalcolithic (Copper Age), and they invoke the real sighting of a comet, thus being able to constitute the oldest human record of an astronomical event of this type. According to an article published in May 2014 issue of National Geographic Portugal, “the search for a suspicious comet constituted Tiago Pessoa’s master’s work. Accepting Paulo Lima’s conjectures as valid and based on the orbital parameters of comets known, mathematically reversed their orbits, taking into account the window of the firmament that can be seen from the shelter, and identified more than a thousand comets that would pass through there, in the defined chronological interval: from 5500 BC to year 0 – an extended period due to the inexistence of a reference date for the paintings. “Excluding those where there is no information about their absolute magnitudes (brightness), I reached 680 comets. Finally, I identified four suspects: the comet Kowal-Vavrova, visible under the sky from the shelter for 59 days in 1421 BC, comet Biela, visible for 63 days in 2365 BC, comet Väisälä 1 visible for 61 days in 3784 BC and comet P / 2004 VR8 which, en among all, is the one whose trajectory is most similar to that inferred from the paintings of the shelter that will have remained visible for 143 days in 4626 B.C. ”, says Tiago Pessoa.” However, it could have been one of these four comets, but may also have been another that we do not know or that is even extinct. Currently, the thesis has been proposed that the engravings allude to the real sighting of a comet.
PT: A imagem revela o crepúsculo náutico com a constelação de Orion em pano de fundo, visto a partir do abrigo rupestre de Pala Pinta, em Alijó, no recém criado Dark Sky Vale do Tua. Especialistas acreditam que estas gravuras poderão remontar ao Calcolítico (Idade do Cobre), e que as mesmas fazem a invocação ao real avistamento de um cometa, podendo assim constituir o mais antigo registo humano de um evento astronómico deste tipo. De acordo com um artigo publicado na edição de Maio de 2014, na revista National Geographic Portugal, “a procura de um cometa suspeito constituiu o trabalho de mestrado de Tiago Pessoa. Aceitando como válidas as conjecturas de Paulo Lima e baseando-se nos parâmetros orbitais dos cometas conhecidos, reverteu matematicamente as suas órbitas, tendo em conta a janela do firmamento que se avista do abrigo, e identificou mais de mil cometas que por aí transitariam no intervalo cronológico definido: de 5500 a.C. ao ano 0 – um período alargado em virtude da inexistência de uma datação de referência para as pinturas. “Desses, excluindo aqueles onde não há informação sobre as suas magnitudes absolutas (brilho), cheguei a 680 cometas. Identifiquei, por fim, quatro suspeitos: o cometa Kowal-Vavrova, visível sob o céu do abrigo por 59 dias em 1421 a.C., o cometa Biela, visível por 63 dias em 2365 a.C., o cometa Väisälä 1 visível por 61 dias em 3784 a.C. e o cometa P/2004 VR8 que, entre todos, é aquele cuja trajectória mais se assemelha à inferida a partir das pinturas do abrigo que se terá mantido visível por 143 dias em 4626 a.C.”, refere Tiago Pessoa.” No entanto, apesar de pode ter sido um destes quatro cometas, também poderá ter sido outro que não conhecemos ou que até já se encontre extinto. Actualmente, já foi proposta a tese de que as gravuras aludem ao real avistamento de um cometa.
Iceland Portrait of a Green Aurora Display above Seljalandsfoss Waterfalls
The image features a green aurora display above Seljalandsfoss waterfalls, captured on my trip to Iceland during a surprisingly active night at the end of October 2019. Even being in what is known as a Solar Minimum, sometimes our Star can surprise us. First contact with the gaseous material would start on October 24th and would last for the next 3 or 4 days. The solar wind stream has sparked beautiful greenish auroras that could be seen over Iceland during that period, fortunately, thanks to a clear sky forecast and some aurora chasing done it by car, I could manage to show them on a still single photo captured above Seljalandsfoss waterfalls.
PT: A imagem revela uma aurora verde intensa brilhando acima da cascata de Seljalandsfoss, captada numa viagem recente à Islândia durante uma noite surpreendentemente activa no final de Outubro de 2019. Mesmo estando no que é conhecido como “Mínimo Solar”, às vezes a nossa Estrela pode surpreender-nos. O primeiro contacto com o material gasoso começaria em 24 de Outubro e duraria nos 3 a 4 dias seguintes. A corrente de vento solar proporcionou assim belas auroras esverdeadas brilhantes que podiam ser vistas sobre a Islândia durante esse período, felizmente, graças a uma previsão de céu limpo e algumas viagens de carro pelo país à procura do melhor momento, foi possível registar esta aurora, acima da cascata de Seljalandsfoss.
Hyades and Pleiades Shinning in The Colorful Dusty Field of Taurus
A wide field view of the winter sky shows a duet of open clusters involved in the faint dust from Taurus constellation. In the bottom of this deep sky scene captured with a Sigma Art 105 mm lens and comprising almost 5h of exposure, to reveal the faintest nebulosity which seems to surround this rich area of the sky, Pleiades or Seven Sisters (M45) is shinning as an open cluster containing hot and young stars. The blue nebulosity that surrounds the cluster, is a reflection nebula scattering the blue starlight. The cluster contains about 1,000 stars, of which more than a dozen can be seen with the unaided eye during winter time in the Northern Hemisphere. Spread along the scene and most evident near the right edge of the image, are visible dusty dark clouds from Taurus Molecular Cloud, which are obscuring and blocking the light behind it. On the left top corner, is shinning another beautiful and colourful open cluster known as Hyades or Melotte 25. Is believed to be 790 million years old and is comprised of 100 stars, formed at the same time and located 150 light-years away. On the top of the cluster, the brilliant red-giant star Aldebaran (Alpha Tauri), is the brightest star in the field, but not belonging to the cluster. Aldebaran is located at only 65 light-years away and lies in front of the cluster along the same line of sight. Captured from Cumeada Observatory, official headquarter of Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, Reguengos de Monsaraz, Portugal.
PT: Uma amplo campo dos céus de inverno, revela um dueto de aglomerados abertos envolvidos na poeira subtil da constelação de Touro. Neste cenário de céu profundo captado com uma lente Sigma Art 105mm e que contempla quase 5 horas totais de exposição, para permitir revelar toda a nebulosidade mais ténue que parece envolver esta enriquecida região do céu, as Pleiades ou Sete Irmãs (M45) brilham como um aglomerado de estrelas aberto contendo estrelas muito jovens e quentes. A nebulosidade azul que envolve o aglomerado é uma nebulosa de reflexão, que espalha assim a luz azul das estrelas que se encontram na região. O aglomerado contém cerca de 1.000 estrelas, das quais uma dezena pode ser apreciada a olho nu durante o inverno no Hemisfério Norte. Espalhadas ao longo da imagem e mais evidentes perto da extremidade direita da imagem, são visíveis nuvens de poeira escura pretencentes à Nuvem Molecular do Touro, que estão obscurecendo e bloqueando a luz por detrás dela. No canto superior esquerdo, brilha outro belo e colorido aglomerado aberto, conhecido como Hyades ou Melotte 25. Acredita-se que tenha 790 milhões de anos e é composto por 100 estrelas formadas ao mesmo tempo e localizadas a 150 anos-luz de distância. No topo do aglomerado, a estrela gigante vermelha Aldebaran (Alpha Tauri) é a estrela mais brilhante de todo este campo, mas não pertence ao aglomerado. Aldebaran está localizada a apenas 65 anos-luz de distância e fica em frente do aglomerado ao longo da mesma linha de visão. Captada a partir do Observatório da Cumeada, Sede Oficial do Dark Sky@ Alqueva, Reguengos de Monsaraz, Portugal.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
Sigma Art 105mm set to f/2,5 + Nikon D810a | ISO800 – Exp. 100 seconds x 161 lights | Montagem AZHEQ5 Pro |Total integration of 161 Lights: 268 minutes. Processing on PixInsight 1.8.8-4 and Photoshop CC 2020. Cumeada Observatory from Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, Reguengos de Monsaraz.
Little Owls Breeding Against a Golden Supermoon
Captured during the full moon of March – called the Worm Moon – was indeed the first supermoon of the year 2020. Despite this interesting moment, which normally happens when the full moon coincides with its perigee, the single image reveals an out of focus moonrise in the background sky, while in the foreground two little Owls are visible in the branches of a naked tree during the twilight. The little Owl (Athene noctua) is a small nocturnal bird which inhabiting the temperate and warmer regions of Europe, being one of the nocturnal bird species more common to watch in Mértola, Dark Sky® Alqueva territory, Portugal. This Owls becomes more vocal at night as the breeding season approaches in late spring, and a pair may call in duet. During an assignment to photograph nocturnal birds in this territory and accompanied by a specialist guide Helder Cardoso (from Birds & Nature Tours), I had the unique and mesmerising chance to capture the real moment when they start to mate with the male on top of the female, while the wings were in motion and against a golden moonrise. In some other shots, we also can enjoy one little Owl flying while the other was standing in the top of the tree. The little Owl is also associated with the Greek goddess Athena and the Roman goddess Minerva, representing wisdom and knowledge. A little Owl with an olive branch appears on a Greek tetradrachm coin from 500 BC. I also did a short real time vídeo (not a timelapse) with the moon slowing moving in the background sky, while the silhouette of two Owls are visible in the branches.
PT: Captada durante a lua cheia de março – apelidada de Worm Moon – foi a primeira superlua do ano 2020. Apesar desse momento interessante, que normalmente acontece quando a lua cheia coincide com o perigeu, a imagem resultante de um disparo único, revela o nascer de uma lua desfocada em pano de fundo, enquanto as atenções recaem no primeiro plano onde dois mochos-galegos são visíveis nos galhos de uma árvore despida, durante o crepúsculo náutico. O mocho-galego (Athene noctua) é a ave de rapina nocturna mais fácil de observar e que habita as regiões temperadas e quentes da Europa, sendo uma das espécies de aves noturnas mais comuns em Mértola, no território do Dark Sky® Alqueva, Portugal. Este pequenos mochos tornam-se mais vocais à noite, à medida que a estação de reprodução se aproxima, no final da primavera, e um par pode vocalizar em dueto. Em missão fotográfica num trabalho para captar as aves noturnas mais comuns deste território e acompanhado pelo guia especializado Helder Cardoso (Birds & Nature Tours), tive a chance única e fascinante de registar o momento real em que eles começaram a acasalar com o macho por cima da fêmea, enquanto as asas estavam em movimento e contra um nascer de uma Lua Cheia dourada. Ficaram ainda registados outros momentos distintos desta noite, com um mocho-galego em pleno voo enquanto a sua cara metade esperava pacientemente no topo da árvore. O mocho também está associada à deusa grega Atena e à deusa romana Minerva, representando sabedoria e conhecimento. Uma pequeno mocho com um ramo de oliveira está representado numa moeda grega de Tetradrachm (500 aC). Por fim, é ainda possível ver um pequeno vídeo em tempo real (não um timelapse) com a lua se movendo lentamente em pano de fundo, enquanto a silhueta de dois mochos-galegos é visível nos galhos de uma árvore.
Above is a short video and below a close-up view
From a Foggy Twilight into a Starry Night over Picos de Europa
A time lapse scene captured in June 2015 during an expedition to Picos de Europa National Park, in Northern Spain, reveals a short video sequence starting with a foggy twilight and a cloudy night after a thunderstorm, finishing with a starry view with the Milky Way above the mountain range. On the ground is visible a lonely chalet located in the middle of the high mountains. Without electricity, only a few lights are powered by a gasoline generator being switched off after midnight. The movie intends to shows the effect of light pollution even with a few lights, revealing the range of the light glow while scattered with the fog, showing how a pristine sky like that can fade out in a question of seconds, if we will not taking care properly..
PT: Este time lapse captado em Junho de 2015 durante uma expedição ao Parque Nacional Picos de Europa, no norte da Espanha, revela uma sequência vídeo que se inicia com um crepúsculo em torno do nevoeiro e transitando para uma noite de neblina após uma curta tempestade de relâmpagos, terminando assim com uma vista estrelada da Via Láctea acima desta cordilheira espanhola. Na paisagem ímpar, é visível um chalet solitário localizado no meio das montanhas altas e rochosas. Sem eletricidade, apenas algumas luzes são alimentadas por um gerador de gasolina que é todas as noites desligado após a meia-noite. O filme pretende mostrar o efeito da poluição luminosa – que mesmo com pouca iluminação exterior – revela o alcance do glow luminoso reflectido enquanto este se dispersa pelo nevoeiro, mostrando como um céu pristino como este, se pode desvanecer em questão de segundos se não tomarmos as devidas precauções para o proteger.
A Galactic Profile Scene of Our Own Milky Way Galaxy as Seen from the Darkest Skies of Atacama and Alqueva
A wide panoramic view comprising single exposures between 15 and 25 seconds, captured from the southern hemisphere dark skies of Atacama Desert, in Chile, and northern hemisphere dark skies of Alqueva, in Portugal, reveals a galactic profile scene of our own Milky Way galaxy. At a distance of 26,000 light-years from the dusty core, this panorama is covering approximately 239º from edge to edge. With a visible diameter of about 100,000 light-years and 2,000 light-years thick, is the second-largest galaxy in the Local Group. ESA’s Gaia mission, a dedicated project to accurately map the Milky Way in three dimensions, it is giving us new data and the most detailed map of our galactic home ever made from space, and has been refining our knowledge about this incredible spiral cosmic spaceship. On this large view captured from our planet Earth, we can see above the center bulge obscured by interstellar dust, the bright light of planet Jupiter. Beyond that, glowing nebulae, dark dust clouds and crowded starfields are all spread along the fertile galactic plane. While the lower left view of this panorama shows our neighbour spiral galaxy of Andromeda, located at approximately 2.5 million light-years from us – knowing that one day they will probably collide or mixing together – on the upper right side of the Milky Way arm, another apparently bright light belongs not to a star, but to Omega Centauri, the largest globular cluster in the Milky Way, with a diameter of roughly 150 light-years. On the left side of the image, the well know summer triangle is very well visible, being formed by Vega (in Lyra) – the brightest star above the left galaxy arm – and Deneb (in Cygnus), visible close to the eye-catching red emission North America Nebula, while Altair star (from Aquila) is visible below the arm and “towards” the galaxy core.
PT: Uma ampla vista panorâmica com exposições únicas entre 15 e 25 segundos, captadas a partir dos céus escuros do hemisfério sul no deserto de Atacama, no Chile, e a partir dos céus escuros de Alqueva no hemisfério norte, em Portugal, revela um cenário do perfil galáctico da nossa própria galáxia, a Via Láctea. A uma distância de 26.000 anos-luz do núcleo empoeirado, este panorama cobre aproximadamente 239º de ponta a ponta. Com um diâmetro visível de cerca de 100.000 anos-luz e 2.000 anos-luz de espessura, é a segunda maior galáxia do Grupo Local. A missão Gaia da ESA, um projeto dedicado a mapear com precisão a Via Láctea em três dimensões, fornece novos dados e o mapa mais detalhado do nosso lar galáctico já alguma vez feito a partir do espaço, e aprimorando o nosso conhecimento sobre esta incrível nave espacial cósmica espiralada. Nesta visão panorâmica de larga escala, captada a partir do nosso planeta Terra, podemos ver acima do bojo (zona de poeira central) obscurecido pela poeira interestelar, a luz brilhante do planeta Júpiter. Mais além, nebulosas brilhantes, nuvens escuras de poeira e campos estelares ricos, espalham-se pelo fértil plano galáctico. Enquanto a vista inferior esquerda deste panorama mostra a galáxia espiral vizinha de Andrómeda, localizada a aproximadamente 2,5 milhões de anos-luz de nós – sabendo que um dia estas provavelmente colidirão ou se misturarão – no lado superior direito do braço da Via Láctea, outra luz aparentemente brilhante se destaca, não pertencendo a uma estrela, mas sim a Omega Centauri, o maior aglomerado globular da Via Láctea, com um diâmetro de aproximadamente 150 anos-luz de diâmetro. No lado esquerdo da imagem, o conhecido triângulo de verão encontra-se bem destacado, sendo formado por Vega (Lyra) – a estrela mais brilhante acima do braço esquerdo da galáxia – e Deneb (Cygnus), visível próximo da charmosa nebulosa de emissão vermelha América do Norte, enquanto a estrela Altair (Aquila) é visível abaixo do braço e “em direção” ao núcleo da galáxia.
A Close-up of the Galactic Center
Below is a close-up view of the Galactic Center with an annotated version which reveals the main deep sky objects. Read the entire photo article here.
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The Sun Surface Revealed in Hydrogen-Alpha
Recently the Sun as featured a small group of sunspots belonging to the new Solar cycle 25, indicating a new growing cycle of its activity. The image captured from my backyard last April 19th, 2020 with a Solar Ha telescope – at the wavelength of Hydrogen-Alpha – reveals an apparently calm surface, devoid of sunspots. However, thanks to an exceptional seeing (very good atmospheric stability) it was possible to register the granulated surface of the Sun in great detail. These granules, as well as sunspots, appear in a layer we call the Photosphere (sphere of light). Being from this same surface that emerges all the light we visually see, leaving our star, it is involved in the Chromosphere (sphere of color), which is the place where we can observe gas filaments and solar Protuberances, or Prominences, where Solar Flares do occur. With a diameter of 1,392,000 km, our Sun is composed of 73% Hydrogen, 25% Helium and 2% from heavier elements. The image thus reveals a large prominence visible on the left side of the disc (imagining a clock, it would be where it marks 9h) and other small prominences spread around the solar limb, in the Chromosphere.
PT: Embora o Sol tenha revelado recentemente um pequeno grupo de manchas pertencentes ao novo ciclo Solar 25, indiciando um novo ciclo crescente da sua actividade, a imagem que captei no passado dia 19 de Abril com um telescópio Solar Ha – no comprimento de onda do Hidrogénio Alfa – revela uma superfície aparentemente calma, desprovida de manchas solares. Contudo, graças a um seeing excepcional (muito boa estabilidade atmosférica) foi possível registar com grande detalhe a superfície granulada do Sol. Estes grânulos assim como as manchas solares, aparecem numa camada a que chamamos a Fotosfera (esfera de luz). Sendo desta mesma superfície que emerge toda a luz que vemos sair visualmente da nossa estrela, está envolta na Cromosfera (esfera de cor), sendo o local onde podemos observar Filamentos de Gás e Protuberâncias Solares, ou Proeminências, é a região onde ocorrem as chamadas “explosões solares”. Com um diâmetro de 1.392.000 km, o nosso Sol é composto por 73% de Hidrogénio, 25% de Hélio e 2% de elementos mais pesados. A imagem captada a partir do meu terraço, revela assim uma protuberância grande visível à esquerda (imaginando um relógio estaria onde marca as 9h) e outras pequenas proeminências que se espalham à volta do limbo solar, na cromosfera.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
LUNT LS100T Ha | AZ-HEQ5GT | ASI178MC | Stack of 200 frames in very good seeing conditions (1 arcs). Alentejo, Portugal.
A lonely tree, the Stratovolcano Licancabur and the Outstanding Presence of Milky Way
Even in a remote desert we can find beautiful lonely trees like this one, which stands close to the outstanding presence of Milky Way as seen from San Pedro de Atacama, in Chile. In the background landscape, near the horizon where the Milky Way rises, is visible one of my favorites stratovolcanos in the world, Licancabur, located near the border with Bolivia, has 5916 meters.
PT: Mesmo num deserto remoto, podemos encontrar belas árvores solitárias, como esta que se destaca à esquerda da notável presença da Via Láctea, vista a partir de San Pedro de Atacama, no Chile! Ao fundo, próximo do horizonte onde nasce a Via Láctea é visível um estratovulcão, o Licancabur, localizado próximo à fronteira com a Bolívia, tem 5916 metros de altura.
An Abstract View of our Home Galaxy as Seen from the Distant Planet Earth
A single frame partially features our home galaxy, the Milky Way, full of bright emission nebulae visible in red/violet hues. Located high in the sky in the Southern Hemisphere, was framed between the branches of some trees from a small village in Atacama Desert, called San Pedro de Atacama, in Chile. Without the beauty of our Milky Way, the darkness of the night would be Scary.
PT: A imagem é o resultado de um disparo único, onde é possível ver uma pequena fracção da nossa galáxia, a Via Láctea, repleta de nebulosas de Our emissão brilhantes visíveis em tons de vermelho / violeta. Localizada bem alto no céu a partir do hemisfério sul, foi captada entre os galhos de algumas árvores de uma pequena vila no deserto do Atacama, chamada San Pedro de Atacama, no Chile. Sem a presenção da Via Láctea, a escuridão da noite, seria assustadora.
Aurora Display Above Seljalandsfoss Cliffs – Photo and Timelapse
The image shows an aurora display of different color hues above Seljalandsfoss cliffs, in Iceland, filled with small frozen waterfalls scattered along the edge of the cliff. The imagem was captured during a surprisingly active night at the end of October 2019. A short time lapse sequence is also showing these very fast auroras dancing above this quiet place, while the Ursa Major constellation is setting in the background sky.
PT: A imagem revela uma cortina de auroras boreais de diferentes intensidades e cores, que brilham acima do penhasco rochoso e repleto de pequenas cascatas geladas, em Seljalandsfoss, na Islândia. A imagem foi captada durante uma noite surpreendentemente activa no final de Outubro de 2019. Em baixo, um pequeno vídeo time lapse, revela o movimento rápido destas auroras dançando acima deste lugar pacífico equanto a Ursa Maior se deita em pano de fundo.
Hurricane Leslie Arriving in Alqueva´s Starry Night – Photo and Time Lapse
Back in 13th October 2018, this winter scene features the stormy night of Leslie hurricane, captured just few minutes before starting the worst winds and strong rain we had in a long time. Leslie was the strongest cyclone we had in Portugal after 1842. While in the background sky we can appreciate a starry view, in the foreground is visible a small and peaceful lagoon from the rural hotel Naveterra, in Alandroal, located in the northern part of Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve. Below is visible a short video time lapse sequence, while the Milky Way is setting behind the moving clouds.
In the Darkness of Space Shines a Waxing Gibbous Moon Featuring a Bright Surface Full of Craters
When the Moon in its orbital movement around Earth is more than 50,1 % illuminated the by sunlight, starts the intermediate phase called Waxing Gibbous Moon. Waxing means that it is getting bigger and bigger while Gibbous is related to the shape, which is less than the full circle of the Moon when it is Full, but larger than the semicircle shape of the Moon when it is at Third Quarter. The image above captured on April 3, 2020, shows a beautiful moon immersed in the darkness of empty space. At this time, 75% of its disk was directly illuminated by the sunlight while featuring a bright surface spread with craters of all sizes, physical memories from lunar impacts of ancient times. Copernicus, a crater with 96,1km in diameter, can be seen at the low left center located in the flat dark area of Mare Insularum. In the opposite busy side – at the low right area – white stripes are radiating across the southern lunar highlands, coming from the 85 kilometre wide crater Tycho. This stacked result comprises 21 single shots captured from Cumeada Observatory in Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, which also can show that the moon is more then a grey body as it is normally perceived by our human eye, revealing a subtle coloration of a grey-blueish tint, regarding its chemical constitution.
PT: Quando a Lua em seu movimento orbital ao redor da Terra se encontra mais que 50,1% iluminada pela luz do sol, inicia-se a fase intermédia chamada Waxing Gibbous Moon ou Lua Crescente Gibosa. Waxing significa que está a ficar cada vez maior, enquanto Gibbous está relacionado com a forma que apresenta, que é menor que o círculo completo da Lua quando está Cheia, mas maior que a forma semicircular da Lua quando está no Quarto Crescente. A imagem acima captada em 3 de Abril de 2020, revela uma lua imersa na escuridão do espaço vazio. Nesse momento, 75% de seu disco estava directamente iluminado pela luz solar, apresentando uma superfície brilhante repleta de crateras de todos os tamanhos, memórias físicas dos impactos lunares dos tempos remotos. Copernicus, uma cratera com 96,1 km de diâmetro, pode ser vista no centro esquerdo inferior, localizada na área plana e escura do Mare Insularum. No lado oposto mais salpicado de crateras – na área inferior direita – faixas esbranquiçadas espalham-se de forma raiada pelas terras altas lunares do sul, vindas da cratera Tycho, com 85 quilómetros de diâmetro. A imagem é o resultado de um stack que compreende 21 fotos individuais captadas a partir do Observatório da Cumeada, Sede Oficial do Dark Sky® Alqueva, e que mostra assim que a lua é mais do que um corpo cinzento, como é normalmente percebido pelo olho humano, revelando uma sutil coloração de um matiz cinza-azulado, relacionado com a sua constituição química.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
Nikon D850 modified | GSO RC8 F/8 1624mm – Ritchey-Chrétien Astrograph Carbon Fiber| ISO800 – Exp. 1/1000 seconds. Stack of 21 single frames. Cumeada Observatory from Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, Reguengos de Monsaraz.
Corona Venus – Not a Virus, but a Beautiful Show Visible in Front of Pleiades Star Cluster
The image shows a Venus Corona visible while the planet was transiting the Pleiades star cluster M45 as seen from Dark Sky® Alqueva Observatory on April 3, 2020. A Corona, is produced by the diffraction of light from either the Sun, the Moon or some bright planets by individual small water droplets and sometimes tiny ice crystals of a cloud. Pleiades is an open star cluster containing middle-aged, hot B-type stars located in the constellation of Taurus. It is among the nearest star clusters to Earth and is the cluster most obvious to the naked eye in the night sky. The cluster contains 1,000 stars, of which more than a dozen can be seen with the unaided eye. The celestial entity has several meanings in different cultures and traditions.
The blue nebulosity that surrounds the cluster is a reflection nebula – visible in the last image below, captured without the moon glow. The cluster is dominated by hot blue and extremely luminous stars that have formed within the last 100 million years, and are located 391 light-years away according to measurements made by the Hipparcos satellite. The named members of the Pleiades and their magnitudes are: Pleione – 5.2 | Atlas – 3.8 | Alcyone – 3.0 | Merope – 4.3 | Electra – 3.8 | Celaeno – 5.4 | Taygeta – 4.4 | Maia – 4.0 | Sterope – 5.9.
The last deep sky image – below – is a composite of frames captured on April 3, 2020 while Venus was in conjunction with Pleiades with the presence of the Moon, plus data collected in 2016 with the same equipment, to help revealing a deeper view of all the faint dust surrounding the cluster.
PT: A imagem revela o Planeta Vénus envolto numa Corona, enquanto este transitava sobre o enxame de estrelas Pleiades, ou Sete Irmãs (Messier 45 ou M45) no dia 3 de Abril de 2020. A Corona é produzida pela difração da luz do Sol, da Lua ou de alguns planetas brilhantes, por pequenas gotículas de água, ou por vezes, por minúsculos cristais de gelo presentes nas nuvens da atmofesra. As Pleiades são um aglomerado de estrelas aberto contendo estrelas de meia-idade, tipo B quentes, localizadas na constelação do Touro. Está entre os aglomerados de estrelas mais próximos da Terra e é o aglomerado mais óbvio a olho nu no céu noturno. Este cluster, contém cerca de 1000 estrelas das quais mais de uma dúzia podem ser vistas a o olho nu para um observador experiente e com boa acuidade visual. Este objecto celeste tem vários significados em diferentes culturas e tradições.
A nebulosidade azul que circunda o cluster – visível na imagem de baixo sem a presença da Lua – é uma nebulosa de reflexão. O cluster é dominado por estrelas azuis quentes e extremamente luminosas que se formaram nos últimos 100 milhões de anos e estão localizadas a 391 anos-luz de distância da Terra de acordo com as medições feitas pelo satélite Hipparcos. As principais estrelas das Plêiades e suas magnitudes aparentes são: Pleione – 5.2 | Atlas – 3,8 | Alcyone – 3.0 | Merope – 4.3 | Electra – 3.8 | Celaeno – 5.4 | Taygeta – 4.4 | Maia – 4.0 | Sterope – 5,9
A imagem de céu profundo- disponível no fim da página – é o resultado de um composto de exposições captadas em 3 de abril de 2020, enquanto Vénus se encontrava em conjunção com as Pleiades na presença da Lua crescente, e imagens captadas em 2016 sem a presença da Lua e com o mesmo equipamento, para permitir assim revelar uma visão mais profunda de toda a poeira envolvente ao redor deste aglomerado.
Above is a time lapse short sequence showing the formation of the Corona, around Venus. Below a deep sky view with the presence of moon glow. For more details, visit the original post of the deep field.
Technical details regarding the image above | Detalhes Técnicos em relação à imagem acima
Taka FSQ-106ED + Extender-Q 1.6x – EM200 auto-guided | Nikon D810A | ISO2500 – Exp. 300 seconds x 15 lights + ISO3200 – Exp. 210 seconds x 10 lights + ISO2500 – Exp. 270 seconds x 13 lights plus 4 additional shots captured on April 3, 2020| Total integration of 38 + 4 Lights: 2h48 minutes. Processing on PixInsight 1.8 and CS6 + CC 2020. Cumeada Observatory from Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, Reguengos de Monsaraz.
Planet Venus Transiting The Pleiades Star Sluster Revealed in a Deep Blue Dusty Field
The images shows planet Venus transiting in front of Pleiades star cluster, seen as an extra bright star over the Seven Sisters (Messier 45 or M45) on April 3, 2020. Pleiades is an open star cluster containing middle-aged, hot B-type stars located in the constellation of Taurus. It is among the nearest star clusters to Earth and is the cluster most obvious to the naked eye in the night sky. The cluster contains 1,000 stars, of which more than a dozen can be seen with the unaided eye. The celestial entity has several meanings in different cultures and traditions.
The blue nebulosity that surrounds the cluster is a reflection nebula. The cluster is dominated by hot blue and extremely luminous stars that have formed within the last 100 million years, and are located 391 light-years away according to measurements made by the Hipparcos satellite. The named members of the Pleiades and their magnitudes are: Pleione – 5.2 | Atlas – 3.8 | Alcyone – 3.0 | Merope – 4.3 | Electra – 3.8 | Celaeno – 5.4 | Taygeta – 4.4 | Maia – 4.0 | Sterope – 5.9.
The image above is a composite of frames captured on April 3, 2020 while Venus was in conjunction with Pleiades with the presence of the Moon, plus data collected in 2016 with the same equipment, to help revealing a deeper view of all the faint dust surrounding the cluster.
PT: A imagem revela o Planeta Vénus transitando sobre o enxame aberto de estrelas, Pleiades, no passado dia 3 de Abril de 2020, como se de uma estrela extra se tratasse no meio das “Sete Irmãs”, como é popularmente designado, sendo que é tecnicamente conhecido por Messier 45 ou M45. As Pleiades são um aglomerado de estrelas aberto contendo estrelas de meia-idade, tipo B quentes, localizadas na constelação do Touro. Está entre os aglomerados de estrelas mais próximos da Terra e é o aglomerado mais óbvio a olho nu no céu noturno. Este cluster, contém cerca de 1000 estrelas das quais mais de uma dúzia podem ser vistas a o olho nu para um observador experiente e com boa acuidade visual. Este objecto celeste tem vários significados em diferentes culturas e tradições.
A nebulosidade azul que circunda o cluster é uma nebulosa de reflexão. O cluster é dominado por estrelas azuis quentes e extremamente luminosas que se formaram nos últimos 100 milhões de anos e estão localizadas a 391 anos-luz de distância da Terra de acordo com as medições feitas pelo satélite Hipparcos. As principais estrelas das Plêiades e suas magnitudes aparentes são: Pleione – 5.2 | Atlas – 3,8 | Alcyone – 3.0 | Merope – 4.3 | Electra – 3.8 | Celaeno – 5.4 | Taygeta – 4.4 | Maia – 4.0 | Sterope – 5,9
A imagem é o resultado de um composto de exposições captadas em 3 de abril de 2020, enquanto Vénus se encontrava em conjunção com as Pleiades na presença da Lua crescente, e imagens captadas em 2016 sem a presença da Lua e com o mesmo equipamento, para permitir assim revelar uma visão mais profunda de toda a poeira envolvente ao redor deste aglomerado.
Below is a time lapse short sequence showing the formation of the Corona, around Venus.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
Taka FSQ-106ED + Extender-Q 1.6x – EM200 auto-guided | Nikon D810A | ISO2500 – Exp. 300 seconds x 15 lights + ISO3200 – Exp. 210 seconds x 10 lights + ISO2500 – Exp. 270 seconds x 13 lights plus 4 additional shots captured on April 3, 2020| Total integration of 38 + 4 Lights: 2h48 minutes. Processing on PixInsight 1.8 and CS6 + CC 2020. Cumeada Observatory from Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, Reguengos de Monsaraz.
Whirlpool Galaxy M51 Immersed in a Wide Field of Faint Galaxies in Canes Venatici
Located near the boundaries of constellation Canes Venatici, close to Ursa Major, at a distance of about 31 million light-years away from us, lies the Galaxy M51. Also known as Whirlpool Galaxy, it´s an interacting spiral galaxy, with 60 thousand light-years in diameter which has a smaller companion with an intriguing shape, named NGC 5195. The main galaxy of this duet, is featuring detailed and colorful spiral arms with dust lanes, which seems to interact with its small companion galaxy (at left on the landscape view, or up, in the portrait version) creating a faint tidal of debris that seems to spread while vanishing in space. On the portrait view (version below), in the lower right corner is visible a small faint shape belonging to another galaxy, NGC5169, and further up, another one, IC4263. Very close to NGC5195 (above on the portrait one) is visible an even “smaller” galaxy, IC4277 while in the right top corner of the image we can see PGC91291featuring a magnitude of +16.84. But how many faint galaxies do you think that can be seen in this field ? I found at least 10, being the faintest one near magnitude +17.62 (PGC2300341). But there are probably may more waiting for your patience, so instead of playing on finding “Wally”, give yourself a chance and try to see how many more distant galaxies you can spot. Captured from Cumeada Observatory, official headquarter of Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, Reguengos de Monsaraz, Portugal.
PT: Localizada próximo dos limites da constelação de Canes Venatici, perto da Ursa Maior, a uma distância de cerca de 31 milhões de anos-luz de distância, fica a Galáxia M51. Também conhecida como Whirlpool Galaxy, é uma galáxia espiral interagente, com 60 mil anos-luz de diâmetro, que possui uma companheira menor e com uma forma intrigante e peculiar, chamada NGC 5195. A galáxia principal deste dueto, apresenta braços espirais detalhados e coloridos, com faixas de poeira escura, e que parecem interagir com a companheira de viagem mais pequena (à esquerda na versão da imagem horizontal, ou acima, na versão da imagem vertical), criando uma leve maré de detritos que parecem espalhar-se enquanto desaparecem suavemente no espaço profundo. Na vista de retrato (vertical), no canto inferior direito é visível uma pequena forma oval de brilho fraco pertencente a outra galáxia, NGC5169, e mais acima, uma outra, a IC4263. Muito perto da NGC5195 (acima, na versão de retrato) é visível uma galáxia ainda “menor”, a IC4277, enquanto no canto superior direito da imagemé possível ver a PGC91291, apresentando uma magnitude de + 16,84. Mas quantas galáxias fracas o leitor acha que podem ser vistas neste campo? Eu encontrei pelo menos 10, sendo a mais fraca perto da magnitude + 17,62 (PGC2300341). Mas provavelmente há mais à espera, pelo que se for paciente, em vez de tentar encontrar “Wally”, dê a si mesmo uma chance e tente ver quantas galáxias mais distantes você consegue identificar. Captada a partir do Observatório da Cumeada, Sede Oficial do Dark Sky@ Alqueva, Reguengos de Monsaraz, Portugal.
Nikon D810a | GSO RC8 F/8 1624mm – Ritchey-Chrétien Astrograph Carbon Fiber| ISO2500 – Exp. 426 seconds x 26 lights | Mount EQ6 Pro |Total integration of 26 Lights: 184 minutes. Processing on PixInsight 1.8.8-5 and Photoshop CC. Cumeada Observatory from Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, Reguengos de Monsaraz, Portugal.
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Betelgeuse Featuring Pickett’s Bell Dark Ring with Lambda Orionis and Rosette Nebula
A wide angle view pointing deep into the region of the sky near Orion constellation, reveals the faint dark nebulosity which seems to spread between Barnard´s Loop nebula, located on the left edge, Lambda Orionis nebula, as seen in the bottom, and Rosette nebula, shinning in to top right corner. All of these objects are red emission nebulae featuring colorful red-violet hues from the glowing hydrogen gas, but what highlights the image center, is the red supergiant star Betelgeuse. Surrounded by a faint dark ring with the shape of a Bell, this dark ring also known as “Pickett’s Bell”, was noticed for the first time by astrophotographer Tom Pickett in 2015. This strange bell shaped object was not listed nowhere, so Tom just called it the “Pickett’s Bell”. The blue bright star in the left corner, is Bellatrix, and Meissa, is the star shinning in the center of Lambda Orionis, both belonging to Orion constellation. Captured from Cumeada Observatory, official headquarter of Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, Reguengos de Monsaraz, Portugal.
PT: Uma visão grande angular do espaço profundo em torno da constelação de Orion, revela uma fraca nebulosidade escura que se parece espalhar por entre as nebulosas Barnard´s Loop, localizada na lateral esquerda da imagem, assim como Lambda Orionis, na parte inferior, e a nebulosa da Roseta, que brilha intensamente no canto superior direito. Todos estes objetos são nebulosas de emissão que apresentam os tons coloridos e característicos – vermelho-violeta – proveninentes do gás hidrogénio, mas o que se destaca no centro desta imagem, é a estrela supergigante vermelha Betelgeuse. Cercada por um leve anel escuro com a forma de um sino, esse anel escuro é também conhecido como “Pickett’s Bell”, foi notado pela primeira vez pelo astrofotógrafo Tom Pickett em 2015. Este objeto estranho em forma de sino não constava assim de nenhuma lista ou catálogo oficial, então o Tom deu-lhe o nome de “Sino de Pickett”. A estrela azul brilhante no canto esquerdo é Bellatrix e Meissa, é a estrela que brilha no centro de Lambda Orionis, ambas pertencentes à constelação de Orion. Captado a partir do Observatório da Cumeada, Sede Oficial do Dark Sky@ Alqueva, Reguengos de Monsaraz, Portugal.
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Sigma Art 105mm set to f/2,8 + Nikon D810a | ISO1000 – Exp. 87 seconds x 27 lights | Montagem HEQ5 Pro |Total integration of 27 Lights: 39 minutes. Processing on PixInsight 1.8.8-4 and Photoshop CC 2020. Cumeada Observatory from Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, Reguengos de Monsaraz.
Milky Way Shines in a Mountain Scene Over Picos de Europa
A panoramic scene captured in June 2015 during an expedition to Picos de Europa National Park, in Northern Spain, reveals a perfect “half circle” of Milky Way touching the Zenith. While on the ground is visible a lonely chalet located in the middle of the mountains, in the top center of the sky, a bright star is shinning in blue hues. Vega, from Lyra constellation, is forming an asterism well know as the “Summer Triangle” with stars Deneb (from Cygnus) and Altair (from Aquila). At the left side – in the beginning of the Milky Way – an oblong and diffuse shape belongs to Andromeda Galaxy while in the opposite direction of the sky, the core of Milky Way galaxy is well positioned above the horizon featuring the colorful cosmic dust which comprises many deep sky wonders like emission nebulae, dark or reflection nebulae, as well as many globular star clusters.
PT: Uma ampla imagem panorâmica captada em Junho de 2015 durante uma expedição ao Parque Nacional Picos de Europa, no Norte da Espanha, revela um perfeito “semicírculo” da Via Láctea tocando o Zénite. Enquanto na paisagem terrestre é visível um chalet solitário localizado no meio das montanhas, no centro do céu uma estrela brilhante reluz em tons de azul. Vega, da constelação Lyra, forma assim um asterismo conhecido como “Triângulo do Verão”, com as estrelas Deneb (de Cygnus) e Altair (de Aquila). No lado esquerdo – no início da Via Láctea – uma forma oblonga de luz difusa pertence à galáxia de Andrómeda, enquanto na direção oposta do céu, o núcleo da nossa Via Láctea está bem posicionado acima do horizonte, apresentando o colorido pó cósmico que compreende muitas maravilhas do céu profundo, como nebulosas de emissão, nebulosas escuras ou de reflexão, bem como enxames globulares de estrelas longínquas.
A Panoramic Scene Shows a Greenish Aurora Arch Over Kirkjufellsfoss Waterfalls
This panoramic scene features a green aurora arch above Kirkjufellsfoss frozen waterfalls, captured on my trip to Iceland during a surprisingly active night at the end of October 2019. The solar wind stream has sparked beautiful greenish auroras that could be seen over Iceland during a few days. While on the ground we could see the colorful aurora display reflected on the icy water, the background sky revelas on the upper left edge, the shinning presence of our Milky Way Galaxy.
PT: A imagem panorâmica revela um cenário idílico com uma arco de aurora verde intenso brilhando acima da cascata de Kirkjufellsfoss, captada numa viagem à Islândia durante uma noite surpreendentemente activa no final de Outubro de 2019. A corrente de vento solar proporcionou assim um espectáculo de auroras brilhantes que puderam ser vistas sobre a Islândia durante vários dias consecutivos. Enquanto no solo se podem observar as coloridas luzes boreais reflectidas na água calma e gélida, o céu de fundo revela na extremidade superior esquerda, a presença brilhante de nossa galáxia, a Via Láctea.
Winter Milky Way Shines above a Green Field from Serra d´Ossa
A night scene captured from a green landscape field in Serra d´Ossa, Redondo, Dark Sky® Alqueva, shows an arched path of faint light from the winter Milky Way full of deep sky objects visible as a pale diffuse red/violet colors. From left to right, we can find Sirius, the brightest star in the entire celestial sphere and at the right side, the reddish emission coming from Rosette and Orion Nebula, with Lambda Orionis, Barnard´s Loop, Horse Head and M42 visible. In center of the image, Hyades open cluster are close to Pleiades, or the seven sisters, a small group of bright blueish stars. Immediately above Pleiades, we can find California nebula, a red emission nebula like Heart and Soul nebula, located in the end of Milky Way arm, very close to tree on the right. While Andromeda galaxy is setting behind a small tree in the middle of the image, stars from Ursa Major are shinning near the right edge of this panorama.
PT: Um cenário nocturno captado a partir de um campo verde em plena paisagem da Serra d´Ossa, no Redondo, Dark Sky® Alqueva, mostra o caminho arqueado e ténue da Via Láctea invernal, cheia de objectos do céu profundo visíveis com tonalidades difusas vermelho/violeta. Da esquerda para a direita, podemos encontrar Sirius, a estrela mais brilhante em toda a esfera celeste, seguindo-se a emissão avermelhada proveniente da nebulosa da Roseta e de Orion, onde ainda se destacam alguns objectos como Lambda Orionis, Barnard´s Loop, Horse Head e M42. No centro da imagem, o aglomerado aberto de Hyades fica perto das Pleiades, ou as popularmente designadas Sete Irmãs, um pequeno grupo de estrelas jovens e brilhantes de tonalidade azulada por ainda se encontrarem muito quentes. Imediatamente acima das Pleiades, podemos encontrar a nebulosa da Califórnia, uma nebulosa de emissão avermelhada. De características similares, e visível já quase no final do caminho de luz que representa o braço da Via Láctea, encontram-se a nebulosa do Coração e da Alma, quase a tocar no árvore da direita. Enquanto a Galáxia de Andrómeda se põe por detrás de uma pequena árvore no centre da imagemn, as estrelas da Ursa Maior brilham junto à extremidade direita deste panorama.
A Wind Tower Stands High Like the Wings of an Angel Against the Winter Sky
Using the power of wind as one of the many natural free resources available in our rich Planet to create renewable energy in a sustainable way, also reveals a wisdom choice as humankind. This is only one of the ways to help climate changes, and prevent our planet to reach a saturation point of no return, regarding other scarce resources as oil or gas. Captured recently from Pampilhosa da Serra, in the heart of a new starlight destination created in center of Portugal, called Dark Sky Aldeias do Xisto, the image shows Winter sky wonders like Orion surrounded by its red emission of Hydrogen-Alpha, as well as the young blueish star cluster of Pleiades, all of them shining below the huge propeller of this Wind Tower. One of the many available in the mountains of Pampilhosa. Standing high like the wings of an angel, this turbine has stopped suddenly during my shot. Ironically due to facing the strong wind gusts of 110Km/h, a security measure of these sky monsters.
PT: Usar o poder do vento como um dos muitos recursos naturais gratuitos disponíveis no nosso rico Planeta Terra, para criar energia renovável de uma forma sustentável, revela uma escolha sábia por parte do Homem. Essa é apenas uma das muitas formas possíveis de ajudar no processo das alterações climáticas e impedir que nosso Planeta atinja um ponto de saturação sem retorno, em relação a outros recursos escassos, como o petróleo ou gás. Captada recentemente na Pampilhosa da Serra, no coração de um novo destino Starlight criado no centro de Portugal, chamado Dark Sky Aldeias do Xisto, a imagem mostra as maravilhas do céu de inverno com a constelação de Orion envolta na emissão avermelhada proveniente do hidrogénio-alfa, ou o jovem aglomerado de estrelas azuis Pleiades brilhando abaixo da enorme hélice da Torre Eólica. Esta, é apenas uma das muitas Torres disponíveis nas montanhas da Pampilhosa. Quase a tocar o céu, elegante e imponente como se das asas de um anjo se tratasse, esta turbina parou subitamente durante o meu disparo. Ironicamente, devido ao facto de enfrentar as fortes rajadas de vento de 110 km / h, uma medida de segurança destes monstros do céu.
Gengenschein, Airglow and Winter Milky Way above Zêzere River
Captured recently from Pampilhosa da Serra, in the heart of a new starlight destination created in center of Portugal, called Dark Sky Aldeias do Xisto, the image shows the winter arch of our Milky Way galaxy shining above the mountains of Pampilhosa, while in the top left a Gengenschein phenomenon is visible as the faint light behind the Beehive star cluster, located in the antisolar point, is the backscatter of sunlight by the interplanetary dust. In the left edge, bands of reddish airglow are visible above the curved arm of Zêzere river..
PT: Captada recentemente na Pampilhosa da Serra, no coração de um novo destino Starlight criado no centro de Portugal, chamado Dark Sky Aldeias do Xisto, a imagem revela o arco de inverno da nossa galáxia, a Via Láctea, brilhando sobre as montanhas da Pampilhosa, enquanto no canto superior esquerdo é visível o fenómeno Gengenschein. Trata-se de uma emissão de luz muito ténue perceptível atrás do aglomerado de estrelas da Colmeia, localizado no ponto anti-solar, é a retro dispersão da luz solar pela poeira interplanetária. Na margem esquerda, faixas de airglow avermelhado são visíveis acima do braço curvo do rio Zêzere.
Christmas Tree and Cone Nebula in a Colorful Cloud of Glowing Gas
Featured as NASA´s APOD – Astronomy Picture of the Day the image shows a reddish skyscape scene from Monoceros constellation. A wide cloud complex of glowing hydrogen gas located at about 2,700 light-years away from us, and mixed with interstellar clouds of dark dust. Near the center image, an active star forming region features the Cone Nebula NGC2264 (LDN 1613), a dark absorption nebula with 7 light-years in length. Distinctively shaped by energetic stellar winds produced by hot and young stars recently created inside the nebula, over the course of time, only the densest portions from the original molecular cloud will remain intact and may could give form to new stars and planets. Close to it, the blue-white supergiant star S Monocerotis is the brightest star shinning in the field of a blue reflection nebulae, powered by it´s ultraviolet light and the other hot young blue stars in the Christmas Tree Cluster. These group of colorful stars in NGC2264 are forming a triangular tree shape, which the cume is the star HD 47887 that lies near the Cone head. The Fox Fur Nebula is an emission nebula which seems to partially cross in front of the blue reflection nebula at the central region of the picture. Captured from Cumeada Observatory, official headquarter of Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, Reguengos de Monsaraz, Portugal.
PT: Destacada como NASA´s APOD – Astronomy Picture of the Day a imagem revela um cenário celeste de céu profundo a partir da constelação de Monoceros, o Unicórnio, um complexo de nuvens de gás hidrogénio avermelhado e brilhante, localizado a cerca de 2.700 anos-luz de distância de nós e misturado com nuvens interestelares de poeira escura. Perto do centro da imagem, uma região activa na formação de estrelas apresenta a Nebulosa do Cone NGC2264 (LDN 1613), uma nebulosa de absorção escura com 7 anos-luz de comprimento. Distintamente moldado por ventos estelares energéticos produzidos por estrelas quentes e jovens criadas recentemente dentro da nebulosa, ao longo do tempo, apenas as porções mais densas da nuvem molecular original permanecerão intactas e poderão vir a dar forma a novas estrelas e planetas. Perto dela, a estrela super-gigante branca-azulada S Monocerotis, é a estrela mais brilhante que se destaca no campo de uma nebulosa de reflexão azul, alimentada por sua luz ultravioleta e pela luz reflectida das estrelas jovens azuis e quentes do aglomerado da Árvore de Natal. Este grupo de estrelas coloridas do aglomerado NGC2264 apresenta assim uma disposição em forma de árvore triangular, cujo cume é a estrela HD 47887 situada perto da cabeça do Cone. A Nebulosa de Pele de Raposa é uma nebulosa de emissão que parece sobrepôr-se parcialmente em frente à nebulosa de reflexão azul, na região central da imagem. Captado a partir do Observatório da Cumeada, Sede Oficial do Dark Sky@ Alqueva, Reguengos de Monsaraz, Portugal.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
Taka FSQ-106ED + Extender-Q 1.6x – EM200 auto-guided | Nikon D810a | ISO2500 – Exp. 240 seconds x 20 lights | ISO4000 – Exp. 731 seconds x 8 Ha 7nm | Total integration of 20 Lights + 8 Ha : 177 minutes. Processing on PixInsight 1.8.8-4 and Photoshop CC 2020. Cumeada Observatory from Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, Reguengos de Monsaraz.
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A Strong Zodiacal Light and Winter Milky Way Shines above Pampilhosa da Serra
Captured recently from Pampilhosa da Serra at the end of twilight, in the heart of a new starlight destination created in center of Portugal, called Dark Sky Aldeias do Xisto, the image shows the strongest Zodiacal Light I´ve ever photographed – which could be even seen with naked eye – as a very very faint diffuse light coming from the region where planet Venus was located in the western sky. The zodiacal light is a faint light beam that extends along the ecliptic plane, where they are the constellations of the Zodiac. It is caused by the scattering of sunlight in cosmic dust particles that can be found scattered all over the Solar System. Following the faint shape which crossed almost the entire vertical panorama comprising 4 still images, and will end up on the Pleiades blueish star cluster. Above it, a beautiful winter Milky Way was arching and shining near the Zenith, featuring winter deep sky wonders like California nebula (on the top right of Pleiades) or the Heart and Soul reddish nebulosity in the right edge of the image. Below the deep sky pair, an oblong diffuse shape is also visible, belonging to our neighbour Galaxy of Andromeda. On the ground, between the mountain range of Pampilhosa, curving channels from the lake of Santa Luzia dam, are reflecting the strong light of Venus, as well as the less colorful hues from the end of nautical twilight.
PT: Captada recentemente na Pampilhosa da Serra ao final do crepúsculo, no coração de um novo destino Starlight criado no centro de Portugal, chamado Dark Sky Aldeias do Xisto, a imagem mostra a Luz Zodiacal mais forte que já tive oportunidade de fotografar até hoje e que podia ser vista a olho nu, como uma luz difusa muito fraca, proveniente da região ocidental do céu onde o planeta Vénus se encontrava. A luz Zodiacal é um feixe de luz fraca que se estende ao longo do plano da eclíptica, onde estão as constelações do zodíaco. É causada pela dispersão da luz solar nas partículas de poeira cósmica que se podem encontrar espalhadas um pouco por todo o Sistema Solar. Seguindo a emissão ténue que atravessa quase todo o panorama vertical, composto por 4 imagens estáticas, encontramos o aglomerado de estrelas jovens, quentes e azuladas, Pleaides (M45). Acima deste, uma bela Via Láctea de inverno arqueada brilhava perto Zénite, apresentando as maravilhas do céu profundo como a nebulosa da Califórnia (no centro superior, à direita das Pleiades) ou a nebulosidade avermelhada do Coração e da Alma, no extremo direita da imagem. Abaixo deste par de céu profundo, também é visível uma forma difusa oblonga, pertencente à nossa vizinha Galáxia de Andrómeda. Na paisagem, por entre a cordilheira de Pampilhosa, canais em curva pertencentes ao lago da barragem de Santa Luzia, reflectem a forte luz de Vénus, bem como os tons suvamente esb