Galactic Arm and Greenish Air Glow above Steppe Golden Fields of Mértola – All Sky and VR 360º Scene
Captured on a steppe field from the wonderful region of Mértola in Dark Sky® Alqueva, an all sky and 360º Virtual Reality scene, features the arch of Milky Way shining high in the Sky. Summer Triangle highlights the center of the image, with blueish Vega near the top. At the upper half right side – in the beginning of the Milky Way – a bright elliptic and diffuse dot is the light coming from Andromeda Galaxy. The greenish horizon is surrounded and involved in airglow and some thin high clouds. Located at one o´clock shines an orange dot, it’s not a star, but the close planet Mars in opposition. In the opposite horizon of this large circular field – left upper edge of the all sky scene – lies planets Saturn and Jupiter against the dusty core of our Milky Way Galaxy. Below is available a Virtual Reality 360º image, which you can experience in full resolution using your desktop, or smartphone with gyroscope. A great “in loco” experience can be achieved if you wear a VR glasses.
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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.
A Medieval Cosmic Portal With Straight Access to the Summer Triangle
Using some “sci fi” imagination, this vertical mosaic of single images shows what could be the entrance of a cosmic portal, with straight access to the Summer Triangle. The image shows the stairs of Noudar Castle tower, a medieval fortress located between the Múrtega and the Ardila rivers, in Barrancos, most eastern part from Dark Sky® Alqueva territory, Portugal. Its construction was finished in 1307, during the reign of Don Dinis. The place was chosen because of its natural defences, easy access and the closeness of a water spring of excellent quality. This fortress was very important for border defence against the kingdom of Castile during the early 14th Century. Above the tower walls, lies a well known asterism called Summer Triangle and shinning against the magnificent dusty path of our Milky Way galaxy. At centres top, a pink/red emission from North America Nebula (NGC7000) glows near Deneb star (from Cygnus constellation). Below and near the right edge, shines the bluish star Vega, (from Lyra constellation) which is forming a perfect triangle with star Altair (from Aquila constellation), visible very close to the top tower.
PT: Usando um pouco da imaginação “sci fi”, este mosaico vertical de single frames mostra o que poderia ser a entrada de um portal cósmico, com acesso directo ao Triângulo de Verão. A imagem revela a escadaria da torre do Castelo de Noudar, uma construção medieval situada entre os rios Múrtega e Ardila, em Barrancos, na parte nordeste do território Dark Sky® Alqueva, Portugal. A sua construção terminou em 1307, durante o reinado de D. Dinis. O local foi escolhido devido às suas defesas naturais, fácil acesso e proximidade de uma nascente de água de excelente qualidade. Esta fortaleza medieval foi muito importante para a defesa da fronteira contra o reino de Castela no início do século XIV. Acima das muralhas da torre, encontra-se um asterismo conhecido como Triângulo de Verão, brilhando contra a magnífica presença da nossa galáxia, a Via Láctea. No topo central, é visível uma emissão rosa-avermelhada pertencente à Nebulosa da América do Norte (NGC7000) que brilha perto da estrela Deneb (constelação do Cisne). Abaixo e próxima à lateral direita, brilha a estrela azulada Vega, (da constelação Lira) que forma assim um triângulo perfeito com a estrela Altair (da constelação da Águia), visível ao centro e muito perto do topo da torre.
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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.
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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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.
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.
BUY THIS PRINT | COMPRAR ESTA IMPRESSÃO
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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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 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.
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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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, the image features 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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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 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 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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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.
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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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.
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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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.
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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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.
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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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.
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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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.
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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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.
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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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.
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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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.
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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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.
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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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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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.
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
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.
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.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
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.
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.
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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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.
Spaghetti Nebula – A Faint Reddish Supernova Remnant
A deep sky wide field view, captured in H-alpha and visible light (RGB) shows the extremely faint and large supernova remnant, Simeis 147 or Sharpless 2-240. Also known as Spaghetti Nebula, it is located near the border between the constellations of Taurus and Auriga, at a estimated distance of 3,000 light-years away from Earth. Spaning for more than 3 degrees across the sky, the reddish emission bubble from ionized hydrogen, features a debris cloud with a detailed complex of intricate filaments with about 150 light-years distance from edge to edge. The stellar explosion of this supernova may has occurred 40,000 years ago, lefting behind a spinning neutron star, known as pulsar PSR J0538+2817. Another small ionized HII nebula, SH2-242 (LBN 826) can be seen shinning in the lower right corner of the image. Captured from Cumeada Observatory, official headquarter of Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, Reguengos de Monsaraz, Portugal.
PT: Uma visão ampla de céu profundo captada em H-alfa e luz visível (RGB), mostra o que resta de uma supernova remanescente extremamente fraca e grande, catalogada como Simeis 147 ou Sharpless 2-240. É também conhecida como Nebulosa do Espaguete, está localizada perto da fronteira entre as constelações de Touro e Auriga, a uma distância estimada de 3.000 anos-luz da Terra. Estendendo-se por mais de 3 graus no céu, a bolha de emissão avermelhada do hidrogénio ionizado apresenta uma nuvem de detritos com um complexo detalhado de filamentos intricados com cerca de 150 anos-luz de distância, de ponta a ponta. A explosão estelar desta supernova pode ter ocorrido há cerca de 40.000 anos, deixando para trás uma estrela giratória de neutrões, conhecida como pulsar PSR J0538 + 2817. Outra pequena nebulosa HII ionizada, SH2-242 (LBN 826) pode ser vista brilhando em tons de vermelho no canto inferior direito 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 + QE-Reducer (f/3,6) – EM200 auto-guided | Nikon D850 modificada | ISO1600 – Exp. 120 seconds x 25 lights | ISO4000 – Exp. 600 seconds x 21 Ha 7nm | Total integration of 25 Lights + 21 Ha : 260 minutes. Processing on PixInsight 1.8.8-3 and Photoshop CC 2020. Cumeada Observatory from Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, Reguengos de Monsaraz.
A Galactic Arch is Featuring the Summer and Winter Parts of Milky Way above a Dead Tree
A starry night scene captured at the end of Summer season from Natural Park of Noudar, in Dark Sky Alqueva territory, shows a mosaic image of a galactic arch above a dead tree. The arch itself is featuring from left to right, a “Summer Milky Way” which is gradually disappearing in the western horizon due to the time of the year. While in the opposite direction of the arch, in the Eastern sky, the “Winter Milky Way” is start to appearing with Auriga and Taurus constellation shinning bright. While stars from Summer Triangle are getting low – left side of the sky, the blueish star cluster of Pleiades is gradually getting high, as seen on the right side of the image.
Orion in the Winter Sky and the Story Behind the Fainting Star Betelgeuse
Captured few months ago during one of my private workshops, the image reveals a lonely stargazer enjoying the most beautiful constellation of the winter sky, Orion, as seen from one of the landscapes of Dark Sky® Alqueva territory. Many amateur and professional astronomers since last October have been reporting a decrease in brightness of the yellow/orange star Betelgeuse giving space for some speculation that the star is about to explode. According to a recent article on National Geographic, decades of photometric data show that Betelgeuse brightens and dims in cycles, with one notable cycle vacillating on a roughly six-year timescale, and another rising and falling every 425 days. Scientists suspects that the red supergiant Betelgeuse is dramatically dimmer now because two of its cycles are overlapping at minimal brightness. Although, we also know that star will most likely explode within the next million years, or perhaps Betelgeuse has already exploded and we have not yet seen it happen. But if by chance it happens in our current living time on Earth, for sure, it will be the most astonishing astronomy event of all times. When Betelgeuse will turn into a Supernova, exploding and die, will be briefly visible as brighter as the full moon before vanishing from our night sky forever.
A Moonlight Scene Shows Ursa Major above Alqueva Lake
A moonlight scene captured in Campinho village, near the lake Alqueva from Dark Sky® reserve, shows the brightest stars that are composing the well known asterism of Big Dipper or Ursa Major. Probably the easiest constellation recognisable in night time, are normally used as a starting point, from beginners to experienced stargazers, to help localize and identify the northern star, also known as Polaris.
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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.
Heart and Soul Nebula – A Cosmic Wonder as Seen from Alqueva
A deep sky wide field view, captured in H-alpha and visible light (RGB) shows the Heart and Soul nebula shinning brightly in the reddish hues from energized hydrogen. Both of them located in the night sky region of Cassiopeia, at about 6,000 light years away from us, are deisgnated as IC 1805 and IC 1871 (left and right side of the image) and together span roughly 300 light years. The beautiful Heart Nebula featuring the shape of a human heart has in the center an open cluster of stars known as Melotte 15, containing a few bright stars nearly 50 times the mass of our Sun.
PT: Uma visão de céu profundo, captada em H-alfa e luz visível (RGB) mostra a nebulosa do Coração e da Alma, brilhando intensamente nos tons avermelhados do hidrogénio energizado. Ambos localizadas na região do céu noturno de Cassiopeia, a cerca de 6.000 anos-luz de distância de nós, são oficialmente designadas de IC 1805 e IC 1871 (lado esquerdo e direito da imagem) e juntos abrangem aproximadamente 300 anos-luz. A fascinante Nebulosa do Coração, exibindo a forma de um coração humano, tem no seu centro um aglomerado aberto de estrelas conhecido como Melotte 15, contendo algumas estrelas brilhantes, aproximadamente 50 vezes a massa do nosso Sol.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
Taka FSQ-106ED + QE-Reducer (f/3,6) – EM200 auto-guided | Canon 6D modificada | ISO1600 – Exp. 150 seconds x 46 lights | ISO2500 – Exp. 360 seconds x 24 Ha 7nm | Total integration of 46 Lights + 24 Ha : 259 minutes. Processing on PixInsight 1.8.8-3 and Photoshop CC 2020. Cumeada Observatory from Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, Reguengos de Monsaraz.
The Path of a Winter Earthshine – Photo and Time Lapse
A still composition shows an Earthshine time lapse sequence with the path of a Crescent Moon captured at the end of nautical twilight, after an unusual – hot for the season – crystal clear day not so expected during the winter time, perhaps related with global warming and climate changes, when the Moon was setting behind a hill full of trees from the fluvial beach of Amieira, in Dark Sky® Alqueva territory, Portugal. The intensity of Earthshines could vary throughout the year, as they are connected with the Albedo of Earth, the incident light that is reflected to space by the surface of our planet and reaches the Moon. This impressive phenomenon known as Earthshine, was described and drawn for the first time, by the talented Leonardo Da Vinci about 500 years ago on his book Codex Leicester. Below is available a short time lapse footage of this sequence. At the end of the video, a cumulative trailed sequence shows the path of the moon moving in reverse mode.
PT: Uma composição estática revela uma sequência de lapso de tempo de um Earthshine lunar com o rasto de uma Lua Crescente visível no final do Crepúsculo Náutico, após um dia incomum – quente e cristalino para a estação do ano – pouco expectável durante o inverno, talvez relacionado com o aquecimento global e mudanças climáticas, quando a Lua se punha por detrás de uma colina cheia de árvores da praia fluvial de Amieira, no território do Dark Sky® Alqueva, Portugal. A intensidade dos Earthshines pode variar ao longo do ano, pois está relacionada com o Albedo da Terra, a luz incidente que é refletida para o espaço pela superfície do nosso planeta e chega assim à superfície da Lua. Este impressionante fenómeno conhecido como Earthshine, foi descrito e desenhado pela primeira vez pelo talentoso Leonardo Da Vinci há cerca de 500 anos atrás, no seu livro Codex Leicester. Em baixo está disponível um vídeo time lapse durante o pôr-da-lua. No final deste, uma sequência cumulativa revela o rasto da lua em modo reverso.
Winter Lunar Earthshine Aligned with Planet Saturn
The image reveals an Earthshine of a Crescent Moon captured at the end of nautical twilight, when the Moon was in conjuction with planet Saturn. Only separated by 3º, the planet is visible as a yellowish star on the right edge of the image, above a hill with trees from fluvial beach of Amieira, in Dark Sky® Alqueva territory, Portugal.
PT: A imagem revela um Earthshine Lunar na fase de Quarto Crescente, captado durante o Crepúsculo Náutico, quando a Lua se econtrava em conjunção com o planeta Saturno. Apenas separado por 3º, Saturno é a estrela amarelada visível no canto direito da imagem, acima da colina com árvores pertencente à praia fluvial da Amieira, região do Dark Sky® Alqueva, Portugal.
A Golden Beaver Moon Rises above the Fields of Dark Sky® Alqueva
The image features a golden Full Moon rising in the landscape of Alandroal, in Dark Sky® Alqueva, with a single shot captured after the end of Mercury transit in front of the Sun, just few hours before the Moon is being officially Full. The fields of Alandroal in Alentejo, are full of Olive, Cork and Holm Oak trees, as well as sloping terrains providing beutiful scenarios for this kind of compositions. The Full Moon of November, is also known as the Beaver Moon. According to timeandate scource, “the Full Moon for November is named after beavers because this is the time they become particularly active building their winter dams in preparation for the cold season. The beaver is mainly nocturnal, so they keep working under the light of the Full Moon”.
PT: A imagem revela uma Lua cheia dourada a nascer acima da característica paisagem alentejana do Alandroal, no Dark Sky® Alqueva, captada com um disparo único após o final do trânsito de Mercúrio em frente ao Sol, a poucas horas da Lua estar oficialmente cheia. Os campos do Alandroal estão repletos de oliveiras, sobreiros e azinheiras, e desníveis de terreno que proporcionam cenários perfeitos para este tipo de composições. A Lua Cheia de Novembro, também é conhecida como a Lua do Castor. De acordo com a fonte timeandate, “a Lua Cheia de Novembro tem o nome de “castores”, porque é o momento em que eles se tornam particularmente activos na construção de suas represas de inverno em preparação para a estação fria. O castor é principalmente noturno, daí continuar trabalhando sob a luz fraca da Lua cheia”.
The Colorful Planetary Nebula Dumbbell M27
Captured in visible light, the image features the Dumbbell Nebula M27, a large and bright planetary Nebula and located at about about 1,200 light-years away in the constellation of Vulpecula. On July 12, 1764, it was discovered for the first time by french astronomer Charles Messier. On the center of the Nebula, lies an extremely hot white dwarf shinning at a magnitude of 13.5, being the largest known white dwarf, it illuminates the interstellar gas cloud with 2.5 light-years across. According to Nasa, the nebula forms as the star’s outer layers are expelled into space, with a visible glow generated by atoms excited by the dying star’s intense but invisible ultraviolet light. Captured in Cumeada Observatory from Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, Reguengos de Monsaraz, Portugal.
PT: Captada na banda da Luz Visível, a imagem revela a Nebulosa Dumbbell M27, uma nebulosa planetária grande e brilhante localizada a cerca de 1.200 anos-luz de distância na constelação de Vulpecula. Em 12 de julho de 1764, foi descoberta pela primeira vez pelo astrónomo francês Charles Messier. No centro da nebulosa, encontra-se uma anã branca extremamente quente brilhando com uma magnitude de 13,5, sendo a maior conhecida até hoje do seu género, ilumina assim a nuvem de gás interestelar com 2,5 anos-luz de diâmetro. Segundo a Nasa, a nebulosa forma-se à medida que as camadas externas da estrela são expelidas para o espaço, com um brilho visível gerado por átomos excitados pela luz ultravioleta, intensa, mas invisível, da estrela que está a morrer gradualmente. A imagem foi captada a partir do Observatório Oficial do DarK Sky® Alquvea, na Cumeada, em Reguengos, Portugal.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
Nikon D810a | GSO RC8 F/8 1624mm – Ritchey-Chrétien Astrograph Carbon Fiber| ISO2500 – Exp. 240 seconds x 14 lights + Exp. 160 seconds x 19 lights | Mount EQ6 Pro | Total integration of 33 Lights: 106 minutes. Processing on PixInsight 1.8.7 and Photoshop CC. Cumeada Observatory from Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, Reguengos de Monsaraz, Portugal.
A Mystic Cocoon in Space Surrounded by a Colorful Cluster of Stars
The image shows the colorful and diffuse Cocoon nebula (IC 5146), an emission and reflection nebula divided by several dark lanes, and immersed in an open star cluster known as Collinder 470. The Nebula is a compact star-forming region, showing inside the glowing red-violet hydrogen gas, a newly developing star cluster surrounded by the blue dust-reflected starlight along the nebula edges. In the center, a bright star is shinning since a hundred thousand years ago. With approximately 15 light-years wide, it is located at about 4000 light years away towards the northern constellation of Cygnus. The nebula, lies at the end of a long dark tail made of clouds of cold dust in interstellar space, known as Barnard 168 (partially visible from the upper left side) which seems to surround the cluster in the Cocoon.
PT: A imagem nova que partilho hoje, captada a partir do Observatório Oficial do Dark Sky® Alqueva, na Cumeada, revela a nebulosa colorida e difusa do Casulo (IC 5146), uma nebulosa de emissão e reflexão, dividida por várias faixas escuras e imersa em um aglomerado de estrelas aberto, conhecido como Collinder 470. A nebulosa é uma região compacta de formação de estrelas, dentro do gás de hidrogénio incandescente visível na imagem em tom vermelho-violeta, é visível um aglomerado de estrelas recém-desenvolvido e envolto pela luz azul refletida pelas estrelas ao longo das extremidades da nebulosa. No centro, uma estrela brilha intensamente desde há cerca de cem mil anos atrás. Com aproximadamente 15 anos-luz de largura, está localizado a cerca de 4000 anos-luz de distância em direção à constelação do Cisne. A nebulosa situa-se no final de uma longa cauda escura de poeira fria do espaço interestelar, conhecida como Barnard 168 (parcialmente visível do lado superior esquerdo) que parece cercar o aglomerado no casulo.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
Nikon D810a | GSO RC8 F/8 1624mm – Ritchey-Chrétien Astrograph Carbon Fiber| ISO2500 – 240 seconds x 14 lights | Mount EQ6 Pro |Total integration of 14 Lights: 56 minutes. Processing on PixInsight 1.8.7 and Photoshop CC. Cumeada Observatory from Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, Reguengos de Monsaraz, Portugal.
Nostalgia – A Mesmerizing View that Can be Lost Forever
With the Summer ending in Northern Hemisphere, it’s time to say goodbye to our Milky Way, at least to the brightest colorful dusty heart of our galaxy. For those of us who loves spending entire nights outside watching and enjoying the night sky, it can leads to a feeling of Nostalgia, but its just a matter of time regarding the natural motion of our planet orbiting the sun, and you know that you will get back again to this amazing views within six months. Although, if we not take care and face the increasing light pollution as a serious problem of nowadays, in a near future, a vision like that could be only achieved through a photograph of a remote reality, leading to a permanent lost of the night sky, as it has to be… beautiful starry and deeply dark!.
PT: Com o verão a terminar no Hemisfério Norte, é hora de dizer adeus à nossa Via Láctea, pelo menos ao coração poeirento e colorido que “jaz” no centro da galáxia. Para aqueles de nós que adoram passar noites inteiras ao relento e apenas a contemplar o céu noturno, este adeus pode levar a um sentimento de Nostalgia ou numa singular palavra portuguesa, Saudade! Mas será apenas uma questão de tempo decorrente do movimento natural do nosso planeta em orbtia do sol, até podermos voltar a ter acesso novamente a estas vistas incríveis, numa expectável espera de cerca de seis meses. No entanto, se não tomarmos as devidas precauções e encararmos a crescente poluição luminosa como um grave problema dos dias de hoje, em um futuro próximo, uma visão como essa só poderá ser alcançada através da fotografia de uma realidade remota, levando a uma perda permanente do céu noturno, como supostamente deveria ser… lindamente estrelado e profundamente escuro!
Counting Satellites Before You Fall Asleep – Time Lapse
A short time lapse sequence, shows a big window where we can enjoy the wonders of the night time while lying down in the bed. Before you fall asleep, instead of counting sheeps, you can try to count the dozens of satellites that are crossing our night skies each minute. Looking carefully to each square of the image, and you will notice them like thiny pixels flying fast! Give yourself a try.
PT: Uma sequência curta de time lapse, mostra uma grande janela onde podemos apreciar as maravilhas da noite enquanto estamos deitados na cama. Antes de adormecer, em vez de contar carneiros, pode tentar contar as dezenas de satélites que cruzam o céu noturno a cada minuto. Olhando atentamente para cada quadrado de vidro da imagem, é possívell reconhecer os satélites como que pequenos pixels voando rápido! Experimente encontrá-los você mesmo.
Astrophotography Workshops with Miguel Claro – While Sharing Knowledge, Have Fun and Enjoy a Wonderful Night Sky
Sharing knowledge and learning something we love to do, is one of the best pleasures in the world! Specially, when doing it with a wonderful and kind group of enthusiastic participants, that shares the same passion about the shooting the night sky. The image features a group photo with my students at the end of my workshop of astrophotography, presented in Natural Park of Noudar, in Barrancos, located in the award winning @darkskyalqueva reserve, Portugal. Behind us is standing the core of our galaxy. If you would like to join one of my WORKSHOPS, for groups or as a Private experience, please visit my page Workshops and contact me for more informations.
PT: Partilhar o conhecimento ou aprender algo que gostamos de fazer é um dos melhores prazeres do mundo! Especialmente, se o fizermos com um grupo maravilhoso e simpático de entusiásticos participantes, que partilha dessa mesma paixão e fascínio por fotografar os encantos do céu noturno. A imagem revela uma foto de grupo com meus alunos captada no final do meu workshop anual de astrofotografia, apresentado no Parque de Natureza de Noudar, em Barrancos, localizado na premiada reserva Dark Sky® Alqueva, em Portugal. Atrás de nós está o núcleo da nossa galáxia, a Via Láctea. Se gostaria de participar num dos meus workshops, e aprender tudo sobre a fotografia nocturna e as téncias mais avançadas, seja numa experiência de grupo ou como um workshop Privado one-to-one, visite minha página WORKSHOPS e entre em contato comigo para obter mais informações.
Sharing Knowledge and Learning is One of the Best Pleasures in the World
Sharing knowledge and learning something we love to do, is one of the best pleasures in the world! The image features the silhouette of one of my students @joao_rosario_godinho during a workshop of astrophotography, presented in Campinho village, located in the award winning @darkskyalqueva reserve, Portugal. While he is standing against the background core of our own galaxy, – the Milky Way – a white light that shines in the same direction belongs to a giant planet, Jupiter, which reached the Opposition during June month. If you would like to join one of my WORKSHOPS, for groups or as a Private experience, please visit my page Workshops and contact me for more informations.
PT: Partilhar o conhecimento ou aprender algo que gostamos de fazer é um dos melhores prazeres do mundo! A imagem revela a silhueta de um dos meus alunos @joao_rosario_godinho durante um workshop de astrofotografia na vila de Campinho, localizada na premiada reserva @darkskyalqueva, em Portugal. Enquanto o João prepara a sua câmara – num contra-luz provocado pelo brilho da Via Láctea – é visível uma luz branca que se destaca contra o coração galáctico. Essa luz pertence a um gigante gasoso, o Magnífico Júpiter, que no passado mês de Junho atingiu a Oposição, altura mais favorável para o fotografar e observar. Se gostaria de participar num dos meus workshops, e aprender tudo sobre a fotografia nocturna e as téncias mais avançadas, seja numa experiência de grupo ou como um workshop Privado one-to-one, visite minha página WORKSHOPS e entre em contato comigo para obter mais informações.
A Lunar Scene to Comemorate 50 years of Moon Landing
On this day 20 July, but 50 years ago and on board of Apollo 11 mission, two Nasa Astronauts were making “a small step for man, but a giant leap for mankind”. After successfully landing, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin were prepared to make the first walk ever, on the surface of “another world”, the Moon. This lunar panoramic landscape scene, could be the view from a spaceship flying over the moon, although, it was captured here on Earth from inside the Official Observatory of Dark Sky Alqueva, in Cumeada, Portugal. Showing a lot of interesting features from the south pole of the moon, we can highlight at the right center of the photo, Longomontanus crater with 145.5km and above it, near the terminator, an even big crater, Clavius, with 230.8km in diameter.
PT: Neste dia 20 de julho, mas há 50 anos atrás e a bordo da missão Apollo 11, dois astronautas da Nasa preparavam-se para dar “um pequeno passo para o homem, mas um grande salto para a humanidade”. Depois de pousar com sucesso na superfície do nosso satélite, Neil Armstrong e Buzz Aldrin estavam preparados para fazer a primeira caminhada alguma vez realizada, na superfície de “outro mundo”, a Lua. Esta cena panorâmica lunar, poderia ser a visão a partir de uma cápsula espacial a sobrevoar a lua, no entanto, foi captada aqui da Terra a partir do Observatório Oficial do Dark Sky® Alqueva, na Cumeada, Portugal. Revelando muitas caracteríticas e detalhes interessantes do pólo sul da lua, podemos destacar no centro à direita da foto, a cratera Longomontanus com 145,5 km e acima dela, já perto do terminador (zona de transição entre a sombra e a luz), uma cratera ainda maior, Clavius, com cerca de 230,8 km de diâmetro.
Planet Jupiter and Europa Moon from Cumeada Observatory at Dark Sky Alqueva Headquarters
The image reveals some details on Planet Jupiter as seen on June 17th at 01h20 UTC, from Cumeada Observatory, headquarters of Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, Portugal. The image also shows the presence of Europa moon, visible at the left side of the planet.
PT: A imagem revela o gigante gasoso planeta Júpiter visível a 17 de Junho de 2019 à 01h20 UTC, captado a partir do Observatório da Cumeada, sede da Reserva Dark Sky® Alqueva, a imagem revela ainda a presença da lua Europa, visível à esquerda do planeta.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
Camera ASI224MC | Meade LX200 ACF GPS 12″| ZWO ADC | Barlow 2x Televue Powermate | Captured in Color and IR 685nm filter | Average sum of 2000 frames for each sequence, using about 19 minutes of De-rotation. Processing on AutoStakkert, Registax 6 and Photoshop CC. Cumeada Observatory from Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, Reguengos de Monsaraz.
Learning How to Photograph the Night Wonders of the Summer Sky
The image shows the Arch of Milky Way while a group of photographers and stargazers are enjoying the wonders of the summer sky in the Northern Hemisphere, Campinho, in Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve. High in the sky, we can see a “blue bright” star with an apparent magnitude of 0,0 called Vega, serving as a middle reference in the magnitude system chart created for the first time in 150 B.C.E, by the greek astronomer Hipparchus. Vega, from Lyra constellation, is forming an asterism well know as the “Summer Triangle” with stars Deneb (from Cygnus) and Altair (from Aquila) located in the center of the image. Below Deneb, a bright red emission nebula known as North America, is visible in violet hues, while in the opposite direction of the sky, the core of Milky Way galaxy is featuring many more red emission nebulae coming from deep sky objects like Lagoon, Trifid or Eagle nebula. Above Sagittarius constellation and against the galactic dusty center, Jupiter is shinning bright as a white light. Following the same line we can find the red supergiant star Antares, from Scorpius constellations. Above the horizon in the right center, is shinning the Lord of the Rings, planet Saturn. Located in Portugal, Dark Sky® Alqueva reserve was the First Starlight Tourism Destination in the World, being awarded in 2019 with a “Tourism Oscar” from World Travel Awards, as Europe´s Responsible Tourism Award 2019.
PT: A imagem mostra o Arco da Via Láctea enquanto um grupo de fotógrafos e observadores de estrelas aprecia as maravilhas do céu de verão no Hemisfério Norte, a partir do Campinho, na reserva Dark Sky® Alqueva. No alto do céu, é possível ver uma estrela azulada e brilhante com uma magnitude aparente de 0.0, de nome Vega. Serve como uma referência intermédia na tabela do sistema de magnitudes criado pela primeira vez no ano 150 A.C, pelo astrónomo grego Hiparco. Vega, da constelação de Lyra, forma um asterismo conhecido como o “Triângulo de Verão” com as estrelas Deneb (Cisne) e Altair (da Águia), localizadas no centro da imagem. Abaixo de Deneb, uma nebulosa de emissão vermelha brilhante conhecida como nebulosa North America, é visível em tons violeta, enquanto na direção oposta do céu, o núcleo da Via Láctea apresenta muitas nebulosas de emissão vermelha, provenientes de objetos do céu profundo como as nebulosas da Lagoa, Trifid ou a nebulosa da Águia. Acima da constelação de Sagitário e contra o centro galáctico de poeira cósmica, Júpiter brilha intensamente como uma luz branca. Seguindo a mesma linha, podemos encontrar a estrela supergigante vermelha Antares, da constelação do Escorpião. Acima do horizonte no centro direito, podemos encontrar o apelidado “Senhor dos Anéis”, o planeta Saturno. Localizada em Portugal, a reserva Dark Sky® Alqueva foi o primeiro destino do mundo, a receber a certificação da Fundação Starlight, tendo sido premiado em 2019 com um “Oscar do Turismo” nos World Travel Awards, como Europe´s Responsible Tourism Award 2019.
Rho Ophiuchi – A Wonderful Cosmic Cloud
The image features a close-up view of 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. From the lower right corner, many dark absorption nebulas extends from the central band of our Milky Way Galaxy. Connecting the Pipe Nebula to the colourful region near bright star Antares, is a dark cloud known as “Dark River”, it can be identified as the brown dust lane connected to Antares, and spans about 100 light years. The distant globular cluster M4 is just seen at the left of 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: Nesta imagem é possível ver a brilhante estrela alaranjada Antares da constelação do Escorpião, no meio do complexo de 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 trás delas. No canto inferior direito, muitas nebulosas de absorção escura se estendem da banda central de nossa Galáxia, a Via Láctea, conectando a “Pipe Nebula” à região colorida perto da estrela brilhante Antares. Esta nebulosa escura é conhecida como “Dark River”, pode ser identificada como a banda de poeira castanha escura que está conectada à região de Antares e que se estende por 100 anos-luz de distância. 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
Canon 6D modificada | 200mm f/4| ISO1600 – Exp. 105 seconds x 67 lights | Montagem EM-200 |Total integration of 67 Lights: 117 minutes. Processing on PixInsight 1.8.6 and Photoshop CC 2019. Cumeada Observatory from Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, Reguengos de Monsaraz.
Planet Jupiter with GRS and Io Moon from Cumeada Observatory at Dark Sky Alqueva Headquarters
Planet Jupiter and the Great Red Spot (GRP) visible in the left side of the Jovian disc, as seen on April 28th at 04h13 UTC, from Cumeada Observatory, headquarters of Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, Portugal. The image also reveals the presence of Io moon, visible at the left side of the planet.
PT: O planeta Júpiter e a Grande Mancha Vermelha (GRS) visível no lado esquerdo do disco Joviano no passado dia 28 de Abril às 04h13 UTC, captado a partir do Observatório da Cumeada, sede da Reserva Dark Sky® Alqueva, a imagem revela ainda a presença da lua Io, visível à esquerda do planeta.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
Camera ASI174MC | Meade LX200 ACF GPS 12″| ZWO ADC | Barlow 2x Televue Powermate | Average sum of 2000 frames for each sequence, using about 12 minutes of De-rotation. Processing on AutoStakkert, Registax 6 and Photoshop CC. Cumeada Observatory from Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, Reguengos de Monsaraz.
Our Time Machine at the New Official Dark Sky® Alqueva Observatory in Cumeada
The official Dark Sky® Alqueva Observatory and headquarters, located in Cumeada – a small village near Reguengos de Monsaraz – is equipped with cutting-edge telescopes for solar and astronomical purposes. With a totally new design after being re-built and expanded in 2019, a roll-off roof observatory shows an open window to the Universe, providing a one life experience under the stars that you can´t skip! If you didn´t try it yet, you must include it as a priority on your bucket list. From observing the planets up to looking at the craters on the moon, everything is possible under an unpolluted sky with the guidance of a professional astronomer from Dark Sky® Alqueva. On moonless nights, you can dive deeper in the sky with your own eyes, embarking on a cosmic journey among nebulae, galaxies and the swarms of stars which rise above us in one of the finest skies in the world.
PT: O Observatório e Sede Oficial Dark Sky® Alqueva, localizado na Cumeada – uma pequena aldeia perto de Reguengos de Monsaraz – está equipado com telescópios de ponta para fins solares e astronómicos. Com um design totalmente novo, depois de ter sido reconstruído e expandido em 2019, um observatório de tecto retráctil mostra uma janela aberta para o Universo, proporcionando “a experiência de uma vida” sob um céu estrelado, algo que você não devia perder! Se ainda não tentou, inclua já esta experiência única como uma prioridade a realizar na sua “bucket list”. Desde observar os planetas até olhar as crateras na Lua, tudo é possível sob um céu não poluído, com a orientação de um astrónomo profissional do Dark Sky® Alqueva. Nas noites sem lua, você pode mergulhar mais fundo no céu com seus próprios olhos, embarcando em uma jornada cósmica entre nebulosas, galáxias e enxames de estrelas que se erguem acima de nós, num dos melhores céus do mundo.
Stargazing Inside the New Official Dark Sky® Alqueva Observatory in Cumeada
The official Dark Sky® Alqueva Observatory and headquarters, located in Cumeada – a small village near Reguengos de Monsaraz – is equipped with cutting-edge telescopes for solar and astronomical purposes. With a totally new design after being re-built and expanded in 2019, a roll-off roof observatory shows an open window to the Universe, providing a one life experience under the stars that you can´t skip! If you didn´t try it yet, you must include it as a priority on your bucket list. From observing the planets up to looking at the craters on the moon, everything is possible under an unpolluted sky with the guidance of a professional astronomer from Dark Sky® Alqueva. On moonless nights, you can dive deeper in the sky with your own eyes, embarking on a cosmic journey among nebulae, galaxies and the swarms of stars which rise above us in one of the finest skies in the world.
PT: O Observatório e Sede Oficial Dark Sky® Alqueva, localizado na Cumeada – uma pequena aldeia perto de Reguengos de Monsaraz – está equipado com telescópios de ponta para fins solares e astronómicos. Com um design totalmente novo, depois de ter sido reconstruído e expandido em 2019, um observatório de tecto retráctil mostra uma janela aberta para o Universo, proporcionando “a experiência de uma vida” sob um céu estrelado, algo que você não devia perder! Se ainda não tentou, inclua já esta experiência única como uma prioridade a realizar na sua “bucket list”. Desde observar os planetas até olhar as crateras na Lua, tudo é possível sob um céu não poluído, com a orientação de um astrónomo profissional do Dark Sky® Alqueva. Nas noites sem lua, você pode mergulhar mais fundo no céu com seus próprios olhos, embarcando em uma jornada cósmica entre nebulosas, galáxias e enxames de estrelas que se erguem acima de nós, num dos melhores céus do mundo.
Full Dome Startrail from Inside the Official Dark Sky® Alqueva Observatory in Cumeada
The official Dark Sky® Alqueva Observatory and headquarters, located in Cumeada – a small village near Reguengos de Monsaraz – is equipped with cutting-edge telescopes for solar and astronomical purposes. With a totally new design after being re-built and expanded in 2019, a roll-off roof observatory shows an open window to the Universe, providing a one life experience under the stars that you can´t skip! If you didn´t try it yet, you must include it as a priority on your bucket list. From observing the planets up to looking at the craters on the moon, everything is possible under an unpolluted sky with the guidance of a professional astronomer from Dark Sky® Alqueva. On moonless nights, you can dive deeper in the sky with your own eyes, embarking on a cosmic journey among nebulae, galaxies and the swarms of stars which rise above us in one of the finest skies in the world. The image features a startrail as result of a sequence of shots taken with a full dome fish-eye lens, from inside the Observatory, in Cumeada.
PT: O Observatório e Sede Oficial Dark Sky® Alqueva, localizado na Cumeada – uma pequena aldeia perto de Reguengos de Monsaraz – está equipado com telescópios de ponta para fins solares e astronómicos. Com um design totalmente novo, depois de ter sido reconstruído e expandido em 2019, um observatório de tecto retráctil mostra uma janela aberta para o Universo, proporcionando “a experiência de uma vida” sob um céu estrelado, algo que você não devia perder! Se ainda não tentou, inclua já esta experiência única como uma prioridade a realizar na sua “bucket list”. Desde observar os planetas até olhar as crateras na Lua, tudo é possível sob um céu não poluído, com a orientação de um astrónomo profissional do Dark Sky® Alqueva. Nas noites sem lua, você pode mergulhar mais fundo no céu com seus próprios olhos, embarcando em uma jornada cósmica entre nebulosas, galáxias e enxames de estrelas que se erguem acima de nós, num dos melhores céus do mundo. A imagem revela uma visão full dome de um startrail captado com uma lente fish-eye a partir do Observatório da Cumeada.
Chasing Milky Way from Inside the New Official Dark Sky® Alqueva Observatory in Cumeada
The official Dark Sky® Alqueva Observatory and headquarters, located in Cumeada – a small village near Reguengos de Monsaraz – is equipped with cutting-edge telescopes for solar and astronomical purposes. With a totally new design after being re-built and expanded in 2019, a roll-off roof observatory shows an open window to the Universe, providing a one life experience under the stars that you can´t skip! If you didn´t try it yet, you must include it as a priority on your bucket list. From observing the planets up to looking at the craters on the moon, everything is possible under an unpolluted sky with the guidance of a professional astronomer from Dark Sky® Alqueva. On moonless nights, you can dive deeper in the sky with your own eyes, embarking on a cosmic journey among nebulae, galaxies and the swarms of stars which rise above us in one of the finest skies in the world.
PT: O Observatório e Sede Oficial Dark Sky® Alqueva, localizado na Cumeada – uma pequena aldeia perto de Reguengos de Monsaraz – está equipado com telescópios de ponta para fins solares e astronómicos. Com um design totalmente novo, depois de ter sido reconstruído e expandido em 2019, um observatório de tecto retráctil mostra uma janela aberta para o Universo, proporcionando “a experiência de uma vida” sob um céu estrelado, algo que você não devia perder! Se ainda não tentou, inclua já esta experiência única como uma prioridade a realizar na sua “bucket list”. Desde observar os planetas até olhar as crateras na Lua, tudo é possível sob um céu não poluído, com a orientação de um astrónomo profissional do Dark Sky® Alqueva. Nas noites sem lua, você pode mergulhar mais fundo no céu com seus próprios olhos, embarcando em uma jornada cósmica entre nebulosas, galáxias e enxames de estrelas que se erguem acima de nós, num dos melhores céus do mundo.
Full Dome View from the Official Dark Sky® Alqueva Observatory in Cumeada
The official Dark Sky® Alqueva Observatory and headquarters, located in Cumeada – a small village near Reguengos de Monsaraz – is equipped with cutting-edge telescopes for solar and astronomical purposes. With a totally new design after being re-built and expanded in 2019, a roll-off roof observatory shows an open window to the Universe, providing a one life experience under the stars that you can´t skip! If you didn´t try it yet, you must include it as a priority on your bucket list. From observing the planets up to looking at the craters on the moon, everything is possible under an unpolluted sky with the guidance of a professional astronomer from Dark Sky® Alqueva. On moonless nights, you can dive deeper in the sky with your own eyes, embarking on a cosmic journey among nebulae, galaxies and the swarms of stars which rise above us in one of the finest skies in the world. The image features a single shot captured with a full dome fish-eye lens.
PT: O Observatório e Sede Oficial Dark Sky® Alqueva, localizado na Cumeada – uma pequena aldeia perto de Reguengos de Monsaraz – está equipado com telescópios de ponta para fins solares e astronómicos. Com um design totalmente novo, depois de ter sido reconstruído e expandido em 2019, um observatório de tecto retráctil mostra uma janela aberta para o Universo, proporcionando “a experiência de uma vida” sob um céu estrelado, algo que você não devia perder! Se ainda não tentou, inclua já esta experiência única como uma prioridade a realizar na sua “bucket list”. Desde observar os planetas até olhar as crateras na Lua, tudo é possível sob um céu não poluído, com a orientação de um astrónomo profissional do Dark Sky® Alqueva. Nas noites sem lua, você pode mergulhar mais fundo no céu com seus próprios olhos, embarcando em uma jornada cósmica entre nebulosas, galáxias e enxames de estrelas que se erguem acima de nós, num dos melhores céus do mundo. A imagem revela uma visão full dome captada com uma lente fish-eye.
Our Cosmic Temple – Official Dark Sky® Alqueva Observatory in Cumeada
The official Dark Sky® Alqueva Observatory and headquarters, located in Cumeada – a small village near Reguengos de Monsaraz – is equipped with cutting-edge telescopes for solar and astronomical purposes. With a totally new design after being re-built and expanded in 2019, a roll-off roof observatory shows an open window to the Universe, providing a one life experience under the stars that you can´t skip! If you didn´t try it yet, you must include it as a priority on your bucket list. From observing the planets up to looking at the craters on the moon, everything is possible under an unpolluted sky with the guidance of a professional astronomer from Dark Sky® Alqueva. On moonless nights, you can dive deeper in the sky with your own eyes, embarking on a cosmic journey among nebulae, galaxies and the swarms of stars which rise above us in one of the finest skies in the world.
PT: O Observatório e Sede Oficial Dark Sky® Alqueva, localizado na Cumeada – uma pequena aldeia perto de Reguengos de Monsaraz – está equipado com telescópios de ponta para fins solares e astronómicos. Com um design totalmente novo, depois de ter sido reconstruído e expandido em 2019, um observatório de tecto retráctil mostra uma janela aberta para o Universo, proporcionando “a experiência de uma vida” sob um céu estrelado, algo que você não devia perder! Se ainda não tentou, inclua já esta experiência única como uma prioridade a realizar na sua “bucket list”. Desde observar os planetas até olhar as crateras na Lua, tudo é possível sob um céu não poluído, com a orientação de um astrónomo profissional do Dark Sky® Alqueva. Nas noites sem lua, você pode mergulhar mais fundo no céu com seus próprios olhos, embarcando em uma jornada cósmica entre nebulosas, galáxias e enxames de estrelas que se erguem acima de nós, num dos melhores céus do mundo.
Official Dark Sky® Alqueva Observatory in Cumeada Has a New Design in 2019
The official Dark Sky® Alqueva Observatory and headquarters, located in Cumeada – a small village near Reguengos de Monsaraz – is equipped with cutting-edge telescopes for solar and astronomical purposes. With a totally new design after being re-built and expanded in 2019, a roll-off roof observatory shows an open window to the Universe, providing a one life experience under the stars that you can´t skip! If you didn´t try it yet, you must include it as a priority on your bucket list. From observing the planets up to looking at the craters on the moon, everything is possible under an unpolluted sky with the guidance of a professional astronomer from Dark Sky® Alqueva. On moonless nights, you can dive deeper in the sky with your own eyes, embarking on a cosmic journey among nebulae, galaxies and the swarms of stars which rise above us in one of the finest skies in the world.
PT: O Observatório e Sede Oficial Dark Sky® Alqueva, localizado na Cumeada – uma pequena aldeia perto de Reguengos de Monsaraz – está equipado com telescópios de ponta para fins solares e astronómicos. Com um design totalmente novo, depois de ter sido reconstruído e expandido em 2019, um observatório de tecto retráctil mostra uma janela aberta para o Universo, proporcionando “a experiência de uma vida” sob um céu estrelado, algo que você não devia perder! Se ainda não tentou, inclua já esta experiência única como uma prioridade a realizar na sua “bucket list”. Desde observar os planetas até olhar as crateras na Lua, tudo é possível sob um céu não poluído, com a orientação de um astrónomo profissional do Dark Sky® Alqueva. Nas noites sem lua, você pode mergulhar mais fundo no céu com seus próprios olhos, embarcando em uma jornada cósmica entre nebulosas, galáxias e enxames de estrelas que se erguem acima de nós, num dos melhores céus do mundo.
Horsehead Nebula in a Colourful Field of Gas and Stars
The image features a field of colorful gas surrounded by bright stars, reflection nebulae and dark nebulosity, as part of the much more larger Orion Molecular Cloud Complex. Located at approximately 1500 light-years aways from us, Barnard 33, also known as the Horsehead Nebula, is a dark cloud made of opaque dust with a shape of a head horse, that stands in front of the bright red emission nebula IC 434. In the lower left of the horse, a blueish reflection nebula – NGC 2023 – reflects blue light from the nearby stars. Below Alnitak, the brightest star on the left side of the image that belongs to the Hunter´s belt of Orion, is visible in a skinny hues, the Flame Nebula or NGC 2024, an yellow-orange tinged nebula full of small dark filaments of cosmic dust.
PT: Captada a partir do Observatório da Cumeada, sede oficial do Dar Sky® Alqueva, a imagem revela um campo de gás colorido cercado por estrelas brilhantes, nebulosas de reflexão e nebulosidade escura, como parte do extenso Orion Molecular Cloud Complex. Localizada a aproximadamente 1500 anos-luz de distância de nós, Barnard 33, também conhecida como a Nebulosa Cabeça de Cavalo, é uma nuvem escura feita de poeira opaca que aparenta ter o formato de cabeça de cavalo, situada em frente à brilhante nebulosa de emissão vermelha IC 434. No canto inferior esquerdo do cavalo, uma nebulosa azulada de reflexão – NGC 2023 – reflecte a luz azul das estrelas próximas. Abaixo de Alnitak, a estrela mais brilhante no lado esquerdo da imagem e que pertence ao Cinturão de Orion “O Caçador”, é visível em tons de pele a Nebulosa da Chama ou NGC 2024, uma nebulosa tingida de amarelo-laranja cheia de pequenos filamentos escuros de poeira cósmica.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
Taka FSQ-106ED + Extender-Q 1.6x – EM200 auto-guided | Nikon D810a | ISO2500 – Exp. 180 seconds x 45 lights | Total integration of 45 Lights: 135 minutes. Processing on PixInsight 1.8.6 and Photoshop CC. Cumeada Observatory from Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, Reguengos de Monsaraz.
In the Solitude of Space
The image reveals a Waning Crescent Moon captured on the 2nd day of February 2019, just few minutes after ending an occultation of planet Saturn which is visible in the upper right edge of the moon, as a white-yellow pale oblong dot. The image was captured from a rural hotel called Nave Terra, located in Alandroal, in Dark Sky® Alqueva territory, Portugal..
PT: A imagem revela uma Lua em Quarto Minguante captada a 2 de fevereiro de 2019, poucos minutos depois de terminar uma ocultação do planeta Saturno, visível no canto superior direito da lua como um ponto oblongo pálido de tonalidade amarela-esbranquiçada. A imagem foi captada a partir do hotel rural Nave Terra, localizado no Alandroal, região do Dark Sky® Alqueva, Portugal.
Close-up View of a Waning Crescent Moon near Planet Saturn and Titan Moon
The image reveals a strong Earthshine of the Waning Crescent Moon captured during the nautical twilight on the 2nd day of February 2019, just few minutes after ending an occultation of planet Saturn which is visible in the upper right edge of the moon, as a white-yellow pale oblong dot. The “faint star” visible very close to the planet, is Titan, the well known moon of Saturn. The image was captured from a rural hotel called Nave Terra, located in Alandroal, in Dark Sky® Alqueva territory, Portugal..
PT: A imagem revela um forte Earthshine Lunar na fase de Quarto Minguante, captado durante o Crepúsculo Náutico de dia 2 de fevereiro de 2019, poucos minutos depois de terminar uma ocultação do planeta Saturno, visível no canto superior direito da lua como um ponto oblongo pálido de tonalidade amarela-esbranquiçada. O pequeno ponto de luz visível muito perto do planeta, é Titan, uma das luas mais conhecidas do planeta Saturno. A imagem foi captada a partir do hotel rural Nave Terra, localizado no Alandroal, região do Dark Sky® Alqueva, Portugal.
A Lunar Earthshine Close to Planet Saturn and Titan
The image reveals a strong Earthshine of the Waning Crescent Moon captured during the nautical twilight on the 2nd day of February 2019, just few minutes after ending an occultation of planet Saturn which is visible in the upper right edge of the moon, as a white-yellow pale oblong dot. The “faint star” visible very close to the planet, is Titan, the well known moon of Saturn. The image was captured from a rural hotel called Nave Terra, located in Alandroal, in Dark Sky® Alqueva territory, Portugal..
PT: A imagem revela um forte Earthshine Lunar na fase de Quarto Minguante, captado durante o Crepúsculo Náutico de dia 2 de fevereiro de 2019, poucos minutos depois de terminar uma ocultação do planeta Saturno, visível no canto superior direito da lua como um ponto oblongo pálido de tonalidade amarela-esbranquiçada. O pequeno ponto de luz visível muito perto do planeta, é Titan, uma das luas mais conhecidas do planeta Saturno. A imagem foi captada a partir do hotel rural Nave Terra, localizado no Alandroal, região do Dark Sky® Alqueva, Portugal.
Venus and Jupiter Shinning Together After a Long Night of Photography
After a long cold night of shooting the Total Lunar Eclipse of 2019, a stargazer and photographer stands in front of his equipment in the final stage of the Eclipse, while in the background of a twilight sky, the brightest planets Venus and Jupiter are shinning in a very close alignment, only separated by approximately 2,5 degrees. The image was captured in Mina de São Domingos, Dark Sky® Alqueva Métola, Portugal.
PT: Depois de uma longa noite fria a fotografar o Eclipse Lunar Total de 2019, um observador de estrelas e fotógrafo, pousa ao pé do seu equipamento fotográfico no estágio final do Eclipse, enquanto em pano de fundo de um céu crepuscular, os planetas mais brilhantes da esfera celeste – Venus e Júpiter – brilham alinhados e separados apenas por aproximadamente 2,5 graus. A imagem foi captada na Mina de São Domingos, Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, em Portugal.
Venus and Jupiter shinning at Dawn in the Final Stage of the Lunar Eclipse
A panorama captured at dawn in the final stage of the Lunar Eclipse, reveals an increasing light of the lunar disk immersed in a thin layer of clouds, while in the opposite direction (at left) the brightest planets of the night sky – Venus and Jupiter – are shinning in a very close alignment, only separated by approximately 2,5 degrees from Jupiter, Venus is also featuring a blueish nice corona, due to a presence of tiny water droplets in thin clouds, which diffract the light of bright heavenly bodies working as a natural diffuse filter. During a celestial event like that, is incredible to notice huge changes on the reflected light that illuminates the ground. The image was captured in Mina de São Domingos, an old mine near Mértola, Dark Sky® Alqueva, Portugal, that was the center of metallurgical activities on extracted minerals dozens years ago. The areas of heaps, slag and channels of water, give the landscape a “lunar” aspect.
PT: Um panorama captado ao amanhecer no estágio final do Eclipse Lunar de 2019, revela uma luz crescente do disco lunar imerso em uma fina camada de nuvens, enquanto na direção oposta (à esquerda) os planetas mais brilhantes do céu noturno – Vénus e Júpiter – brilham num alinhamento próximo. Separado apenas por cerca de 2,5 graus de Júpiter, Vénus apresenta uma corona azulada, devido à presença de pequenas gotículas de água em nuvens finas, que difractam a luz de corpos celestes brilhantes trabalhando como um filtro difuso natural. Durante um evento celestial como este, é incrível notar grandes mudanças na luz refletida que ilumina o solo. A imagem foi captada na Mina de São Domingos, numa antiga mina perto de Mértola, na reserva Dark Sky® Alqueva, Portugal, que foi no passado o centro das atividades metalúrgicas dos minerais extraídos da região. As áreas de escombreiras, escórias e canais de água, dão à paisagem um aspecto “lunar”..
A Close-up View of the Moon While Immersed in a Lunar Corona
The image shows a close-up view of a red dark Moon immersed in the blue hue from a Lunar Corona, taken with a telephoto lens during the Total Lunar Eclipse of 2019, on 21th January, as seen from Mina de São Domingos in Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, Portugal. During a lunar eclipse, the moon passes through Earth’s shadow, giving the natural satellite a blood-red hue. For being near the closest point to our planet Earth, this Moon was also called a “Super Moon”. The next total lunar eclipse will be in 2021. A Lunar Corona is formed while bright moonlight is diffracted by water droplets in thin clouds, drifting in front of the lunar disk. Below is also visible a poster with this close-up view and a sequence of totality ending with a lunar corona.
PT: A imagem mostra um close-up de uma lua cheia vermelha e escurecida, envolta numa corona lunar captada com teleobjetiva durante o Eclipse Total Lunar ocorrido a 21 de Janeiro de 2019, captado a partir do complexo mineiro de São Domingos, no Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, em Portugal. Durante um eclipse lunar, a lua passa pela sombra da Terra, dando ao nosso satélite natural uma tonalidade vermelho-sangue. Por se encontrar no ponto orbital mais próximo da Terra, esta Lua é também apelidada de Super Lua. O próximo Eclipse Total da Lua ocorrerá em 2021. A corona forma-se enquanto o brilho da lua é difractado por gotículas de água em nuvens finas, flutuando assim na frente do disco lunar. Acima, é ainda possível ver um poster com este close-up da Lua e uma sequência fotográfica da totalidade, a terminar com uma corona lunar.
The Path of Totality and a Lunar Corona
A photo time lapse sequence shows the path of totality during the Total Lunar Eclipse of 2019, on 21th January, as seen from Mina de São Domingos in Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, Portugal, ending with a Lunar Corona that was formed while bright moonlight was diffracted by water droplets in thin clouds, drifting in front of the lunar disk. During a lunar eclipse, the moon passes through Earth’s shadow, giving the natural satellite a blood-red hue. For being near the closest point to our planet Earth, this Moon was also called a “Super Moon”. The next total lunar eclipse will be in 2021. During a celestial event like that, is incredible to notice huge changes on the reflected light that illuminates the ground. Some stars are also reflected in a small puddle of acid water from Achada do Gamo, that was – since the beginning of modern mining activities in the São Domingos Mine – the center of metallurgical activities on extracted minerals. The areas of heaps, slag and channels of water, give the landscape a “lunar” aspect. The heaps are composed of different materials with high levels of metals, such as slag and ash, whose leaching through the rainwater leads to the production of acid mine drainage, usually with an ocher or reddish color. Below is also visible a poster with a close-up view of the Moon immersed in the blue hue from the corona.
PT: A imagem mostra uma foto-sequência onde é possível ver o caminho da Lua percorrido durante a fase da totalidade durante o Eclipse Total Lunar ocorrido a 21 de Janeiro de 2019, captado a partir do complexo da Mina de São Domingos, no Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, em Portugal. A sequência termina com uma corona lunar, que se forma enquanto o brilho da lua é difractado por gotículas de água em nuvens finas, flutuando assim na frente do disco lunar.. Durante um eclipse lunar, a lua passa pela sombra da Terra, dando ao nosso satélite natural uma tonalidade vermelho-sangue. Por se encontrar no ponto orbital mais próximo da Terra, esta Lua é também apelidada de Super Lua. O próximo Eclipse Total da Lua ocorrerá em 2021. Durante um evento celestial como este, é incrível como se notam grandes mudanças na luz refletida que ilumina o solo. Algumas estrelas reflectem-se também nas águas ácidas da Achada do Gamo, que foi desde o início das atividades modernas de mineração na Mina de São Domingos, o centro das atividades metalúrgicas sobre os minérios extraídos. As áreas de escombreiras, escórias e canais de água, dão à paisagem um aspecto “lunar”. As escombreiras são constituídas por diferentes materiais com teores elevados em metais, como escórias e cinzas, cuja lixiviação através das águas das chuvas leva à produção de águas ácidas (‘acid mine drainage’), geralmente com uma cor ocre ou avermelhada. Acima, é ainda possível ver um poster com um close-up da Lua enquanto esta estava envolta pelo azul da corona.
Lunar Eclipse Trails
A startrail sequence shows the path of totality during the Total Lunar Eclipse of 2019, on 21th January, as seen from Mina de São Domingos in Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, Portugal. During a lunar eclipse, the moon passes through Earth’s shadow, giving the natural satellite a blood-red hue. For being near the closest point to our planet Earth, this Moon was also called a “Super Moon”. The next total lunar eclipse will be in 2021. During a celestial event like that, is incredible to notice huge changes on the reflected light that illuminates the ground. Some stars are also reflected in a small puddle of acid water from Achada do Gamo, that was – since the beginning of modern mining activities in the São Domingos Mine – the center of metallurgical activities on extracted minerals. The areas of heaps, slag and channels of water, give the landscape a “lunar” aspect. The heaps are composed of different materials with high levels of metals, such as slag and ash, whose leaching through the rainwater leads to the production of acid mine drainage, usually with an ocher or reddish color
PT: A imagem mostra um startrail onde é possível ver o caminho da Lua percorrido durante a fase da totalidade durante o Eclipse Total Lunar ocorrido a 21 de Janeiro de 2019, captado a partir do complexo da Mina de São Domingos, no Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, em Portugal. Durante um eclipse lunar, a lua passa pela sombra da Terra, dando ao nosso satélite natural uma tonalidade vermelho-sangue. Por se encontrar no ponto orbital mais próximo da Terra, esta Lua é também apelidada de Super Lua. O próximo Eclipse Total da Lua ocorrerá em 2021. Durante um evento celestial como este, é incrível como se notam grandes mudanças na luz refletida que ilumina o solo. Algumas estrelas reflectem-se também nas águas ácidas da Achada do Gamo, que foi desde o início das atividades modernas de mineração na Mina de São Domingos, o centro das atividades metalúrgicas sobre os minérios extraídos. As áreas de escombreiras, escórias e canais de água, dão à paisagem um aspecto “lunar”. As escombreiras são constituídas por diferentes materiais com teores elevados em metais, como escórias e cinzas, cuja lixiviação através das águas das chuvas leva à produção de águas ácidas (‘acid mine drainage’), geralmente com uma cor ocre ou avermelhada.
A Moon Sequence of the Total Lunar Eclipse of 2019
A photo time lapse sequence shows the path of totality during the Total Lunar Eclipse of 2019, on 21th January, as seen from Mina de São Domingos in Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, Portugal. During a lunar eclipse, the moon passes through Earth’s shadow, giving the natural satellite a blood-red hue. For being near the closest point to our planet Earth, this Moon was also called a “Super Moon”. The next total lunar eclipse will be in 2021. During a celestial event like that, is incredible to notice huge changes on the reflected light that illuminates the ground. Some stars are also reflected in a small puddle of acid water from Achada do Gamo, that was – since the beginning of modern mining activities in the São Domingos Mine – the center of metallurgical activities on extracted minerals. The areas of heaps, slag and channels of water, give the landscape a “lunar” aspect. The heaps are composed of different materials with high levels of metals, such as slag and ash, whose leaching through the rainwater leads to the production of acid mine drainage, usually with an ocher or reddish color
PT: A imagem mostra uma foto-sequência onde é possível ver o caminho da Lua percorrido durante a fase da totalidade durante o Eclipse Total Lunar ocorrido a 21 de Janeiro de 2019, captado a partir do complexo da Mina de São Domingos, no Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, em Portugal. Durante um eclipse lunar, a lua passa pela sombra da Terra, dando ao nosso satélite natural uma tonalidade vermelho-sangue. Por se encontrar no ponto orbital mais próximo da Terra, esta Lua é também apelidada de Super Lua. O próximo Eclipse Total da Lua ocorrerá em 2021. Durante um evento celestial como este, é incrível como se notam grandes mudanças na luz refletida que ilumina o solo. Algumas estrelas reflectem-se também nas águas ácidas da Achada do Gamo, que foi desde o início das atividades modernas de mineração na Mina de São Domingos, o centro das atividades metalúrgicas sobre os minérios extraídos. As áreas de escombreiras, escórias e canais de água, dão à paisagem um aspecto “lunar”. As escombreiras são constituídas por diferentes materiais com teores elevados em metais, como escórias e cinzas, cuja lixiviação através das águas das chuvas leva à produção de águas ácidas (‘acid mine drainage’), geralmente com uma cor ocre ou avermelhada.
A Super Red Moon in a Field of Stars
The image shows a close-up view of a red dark Moon taken with a telephoto lens during the Total Lunar Eclipse of 2019, on 21th January, as seen from Mina de São Domingos in Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, Portugal. During a lunar eclipse, the moon passes through Earth’s shadow, giving the natural satellite a blood-red hue. For being near the closest point to our planet Earth, this Moon was also called a “Super Moon”. The next total lunar eclipse will be in 2021.
PT: A imagem mostra um close-up de uma lua cheia vermelha e escurecida, captada com teleobjetiva durante o Eclipse Total Lunar ocorrido a 21 de Janeiro de 2019, captado a partir do complexo mineiro de São Domingos, no Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, em Portugal. Durante um eclipse lunar, a lua passa pela sombra da Terra, dando ao nosso satélite natural uma tonalidade vermelho-sangue. Por se encontrar no ponto orbital mais próximo da Terra, esta Lua é também apelidada de Super Lua. O próximo Eclipse Total da Lua ocorrerá em 2021.
Winter Corona Surrounding a Full Cold Moon
This relatively abstract view captured in a double exposure with focus stacking, shows the Full Moon of December, behind a layer of clouds and immersed between dozens of branches from a foreground tree. The colourful hue that surrounds the moon, is a lunar corona formed while bright moonlight is diffracted by water droplets in thin clouds, drifting in front of the lunar disk. The image was captured in the historic centre of Évora, a UNESCO World Heritage site, located in Dark Sky® Alqueva reserve, Portugal. According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the December full moon is also called the “Full Cold Moon”. The last time a full moon coincided with the solstice was in 2010, and the next will be in 2094.
PT: Uma visão relativamente abstrata captada em uma dupla exposição com focus stacking, mostra uma Lua Cheia envolta numa fina camada de nuvens e imersa entre dezenas de galhos de uma árvore que em contra-luz, se destaca em primeiro plano. As tonalidades coloridas que circundam a lua, são provocadas por um corona lunar, que se forma enquanto o brilho da lua é difractado por gotículas de água em nuvens finas, flutuando assim na frente do disco lunar. A imagem foi captada no centro histórico de Évora, Património Mundial da UNESCO, e inserido na reserva Dark Sky® Alqueva. De acordo com o Almanaque do Velho Fazendeiro, a lua cheia de dezembro também é chamada de “Full Cold Moon”. A última vez que uma lua cheia coincidiu com o solstício de inverno foi em 2010, sendo que a próxima só voltará a ocorrer em 2094.
All Sky View of Geminids Meteor Shower and Comet 46P/Wirtanen
A fisheye full dome view from headquarters of Dark Sky® Alqueva reserve, in Cumeada, shows a moonlight night after the peak of Geminids meteor shower. This composite shows the radiant of Geminids, located in Gemini constellation and near the star Castor, is combining 8 images where meteors were captured during a period of about 3h. Comet 46P/Wirtanen is also visible in Taurus constellation, making an historic close approach to Earth. The beautiful greenish-blue coma is very well visible even in this ultra wide-field view. High in the sky, and not faraway from 46/P Wirtanen, is shinning bright the blueish cluster of hot and young stars known as Pleiades (M45).
PT: Uma visão fisheye full dome captada a partir da sede da reserva Dark Sky® Alqueva, na Cumeada, mostra uma noite de luar após o pico da chuva de meteoros Geminídeas. Este compósito mostra o radiante da chuva de meteoros localizado na constelação de Gémeos, perto da estrela Castor, combinando 8 imagens de meteoros captados durante um período de cerca de 3h. O cometa 46P / Wirtanen, é também é visível na constelação do Touro, fazendo uma aproximação histórica à Terra. A tonalidade azul-esverdeada do coma – a nuvem de poeira e gás que circunda o núcleo de um cometa – é bem visível nesta imagem “all sky” ultra grande-angular. Alto no céu, e não muito longe do 46/P Wirtanen, brilha ainda em tons de azul, o aglomerado de estrelas quentes e jovens conhecidas como Pleiades (M45).
Celestial Encounter Between Comet 46P/Wirtanen, Pleiades, California Nebula and a Meteor
A wide-field scene shows Comet 46P/Wirtanen in Taurus constellation, making an historic close approach to Earth. Being only 11.5 million km away from us, the small comet is barely visible to the unaided eye, showing in a telescopic view a beautiful greenish-blue coma. Besides the visible comet, this panoramic scene composed of 3 panes captured from Cumeada Observatory in Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, is also featuring near the center of the frame a blueish cluster of hot and young stars known as Pleiades (M45). In the right edge, we can find California Nebula (NGC 1499), while a meteor from Geminids was crossing the sky and releasing a plume of smoke only perceptible in the sequence of shots.
PT: A imagem wide-field mostra o Cometa 46P/Wirtanen enquanto transitava pela constelação do Touro, numa aproximação histórica à Terra. Estando a apenas 11,5 milhões de quilómetros de distância de nós, o pequeno cometa – pouco visível a olho nu – revela numa imagem telescópica um coma azul-esverdeado. Além do cometa visível, esta cena panorâmica composta por 3 painéis de 8 imagens cada, captados a partir do Observatório da Cumeada, sede da Reserva Dark Sky® Alqueva, mostra um aglomerado estelar azul composto por estrelas jovens e ainda muito quentes, conhecido por Pleiades (M45). Na margem direita, podemos encontrar ainda a Nebulosa da Califórnia (NGC 1499), enquanto um meteoro de Geminídeas cruzava o céu e deixando para trás uma nuvem de fumaça apenas perceptível nos disparos seguintes.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
Nikon D810a | Sigma 150-600mm DG OS HSM Sports at 150mm f/5 | ISO2500 – Exp. 80 seconds x 24 lights | Mount EQ6 Pro |Total integration of 24 Lights: 32 minutes divided in 10 minutes per panel. Processing on PixInsight 1.8.5 and Photoshop CC. Cumeada Observatory from Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, Reguengos de Monsaraz.
My Helmet´s Vision of the Milky Way
A large panoramic image of 9 single frames captured from edge-to- edge, shows the long path of our own galaxy, the Milky Way, as seen from the Northern Hemisphere. Besides the well know “Summer Triangle” with stars Deneb (from Cygnus), Altair (from Aquila) and Vega (from Lyra constellation), this colourful “helmet view” scene is featuring another larger and less usual triangle. This time, an asterism formed by planet Mars – the orange bright object in the upper left corner of the sky – the Andromeda Galaxy – the faint oblong object in upper right corner – as well as Vega, the blue bright star in the low center. The reddish hues spread around the Milky Way, are emission nebulae, stellar nurseries like North America Nebula (NGC7000). Located in Cygnus constellation, is an easily recognisable shape in the center of this lovely scene captured from Campinho, a small village in the hearth of Dark Sky® Alqueva reserve, Portugal.
PT: Uma grande panorâmica composta por 9 fotografias únicas, captadas de um horizonte ao outro, mostra o longo caminho da nossa própria galáxia, a Via Láctea, vista a partir do Hemisfério Norte. Além do já conhecido “Triângulo de Verão” formado pelas estrelas Deneb (do Cisne), Altair (da Águia) e Vega, da constelação Lira, esta colorida cena celeste que mais se assemelha à visão que teríamos a partir de um capacete, apresenta outro triângulo maior e menos comum. Desta vez, um asterismo formado pelo planeta Marte – o objeto laranja brilhante no canto superior esquerdo do céu – a galáxia de Andromeda – o objeto difuso e oblongo no canto superior direito – bem como Vega, a estrela azul brilhante perto do centro. Os tons avermelhados espalhados pela Via Láctea são nebulosas de emissão, berçários estelares como a Nebulosa América do Norte (NGC7000). Localizada na constelação do Cisne, é uma forma facilmente reconhecível no centro desta encantadora cena captada no Campinho, uma pequena vila no coração da reserva Dark Sky® Alqueva, Portugal.
The Great Orion Nebula – A Colourful Show in Visible Light
Captured in the “visible light”, the image shows a sharp and colourful view of the Great Orion Nebula. Also known as M42, is a diffuse and large nebula complex situated in the Milky Way, in the constellation of Orion. Located at a distance of about 1350 light years, Orion is estimated to be 24 light years across, being the closest region of massive star formation to Earth. This nebula has revealed much about the process of how stars and planetary systems are formed from collapsing clouds of gas and dust. The brightest central part of the nebula is called Huygenian region, and the Fish’s Mouth is the dark nebulosity that separates M43 from the bright part. Outside the edges of M42, we can also find the “Wings” of Orion. Due to the asterism of its primary four stars, the core of the nebula contains a very young open cluster known as the Trapezium, a cluster of newly formed stars shinning at the heart of the nebula. The red emission glows from the light of hydrogen gas excited by energetic newly-formed hot and young stars in the core of the nebula, but the blue-violet coloration, comes from the reflected radiation from the massive O-class stars. This complex contains dark nebulae, emission nebulae, reflection nebulae, and H II regions.
PT: Captada na banda da “luz visível”, a imagem revela uma visão nítida e colorida da Grande Nebulosa Orion. Também conhecida como M42, é um complexo nebuloso difuso muito grande situado na Via Láctea, na constelação de Orion. Localizado a uma distância de cerca de 1350 anos-luz, é a região mais próxima da Terra onde se formam estrelas maciças. Estima-se que o diâmetro da nebulosa M42 seja de aproximadamente 24 anos-luz. O estudo desta nebulosa já permitiu revelar muito sobre o processo de como as estrelas e os sistemas planetários são formados por nuvens de gás e poeira em colapso. A parte central mais brilhante da nebulosa é chamada região de Huygenian, e a “Fish’s Mouth” é a nebulosidade escura que separa M43 da parte mais brilhante da M42. Fora dos limites da M42 encontramos as “Asas” de Orion. O núcleo da nebulosa contém um aglomerado aberto muito jovem, conhecido como o Trapézio devido ao asterismo de suas quatro estrelas primárias. Duas destas podem ser resolvidas nos seus sistemas binários, em noites com boa visibilidade e estabilidade atmosférica, totalizando a soma de seis estrelas. As estrelas do Trapézio, conjuntamente com muitas outras estrelas do “berço estelar” que é a nebula de Orion, estão ainda nos seus primeiros anos de vida. A tonalidade avermelhada, é resultado de uma emissão brilhante a partir do gás de hidrogénio excitado por estrelas quentes e energéticas, recém-formadas no centro da nebulosa, mas a coloração azul-violeta visível na fotografia, provém da radiação refletida das estrelas da classe-O. Este complexo contém nebulosas escuras, nebulosas de emissão, nebulosas de reflexão e regiões H II.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
Nikon D810a | GSO RC8 F/8 1624mm – Ritchey-Chrétien Astrograph Carbon Fiber| ISO1600 – Exp. 300 seconds x 10 lights + 20 shorter exposures | Mount EQ6 Pro |Total integration of 30 Lights: 65 minutes. Processing on PixInsight 1.8.5 and Photoshop CC 2019. Cumeada Observatory from Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, Reguengos de Monsaraz
A Titanium Moon
This Full Moon image is a result of an high-resolution mosaic composed by four panels each one of 30 images combined together to reveal a sharp and detailed surface up to the lunar limb. Taken on 25th October 2018 from Cumeada Observatory in Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, the final image shows that the moon is more then a grey body as it is normally perceived by our human eye. The color of this RGB image have been slightly increased revelling a strange but even so, real appearance, corresponding to the differences in the chemical constitution of the lunar surface, as changes in mineral content can produce subtle color differences in reflected light. The blue hues that can be seen on the seas like “Mare Tranquillitatis”, or “Mare Fecunditatis” (right center and edge) are revelling rich areas in titanium. According to Hawai’s Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, the presence of this unusual titanium-rich layer was produced by the crystallization of a huge ocean of magma that surrounded the Moon when it formed. In the bottom center of the Moon, white stripes are radiating across the southern lunar highlands, coming from the 85 kilometer wide crater Tycho. Above it, in the left center, dark rays from Copernicus crater are extending into the “Mare Imbrium”. In the upper center edge and with a diameter of 51 kilometers, another bright but even small crater can be spotted. Named Anaxagoras, the crater interior has 3km and a relatively high albedo, making it a prominent feature when the Moon is full. In the past, multicolor images calibrated by rock samples from the Apollo missions, were recorded by Galileo and Celmentine spacecrafts and been used to explore the Moon’s global surface composition.
PT: Esta fotografia da Lua Cheia é o resultado de um mosaico de alta resolução composto por quatro painéis, cada um com 30 imagens combinadas, com a finalidade de revelar uma superfície nítida e detalhada até o limbo lunar. Captada a 25 de outubro de 2018, no Observatório da Cumeada, sede oficial da Reserva Dark Sky® Alqueva, a imagem final mostra que a Lua é mais do que um corpo cinzento, como é normalmente percepcionado pelo nosso olho humano. A saturação desta fotografia RGB foi aumentada ligeiramente, permitindo assim revelar uma aparência incomum mas ainda assim real, correspondente às diferenças na constituição química da superfície lunar, já que mudanças no conteúdo mineral podem produzir diferenças subtis de cor na luz refletida. As tonalidades de azul que podem ser vistas nos mares “Tranquillitatis” ou “Fecunditatis” (centro e extremo direito) revelam áreas ricas em titânio. De acordo com o Hawai’s Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, a presença dessa camada incomum rica em titânio foi produzida pela cristalização de um enorme oceano de magma que cercou a Lua quando ela se formou. No centro da Lua, faixas esbranquiçadas espalham-se de forma raiada pelas terras altas lunares do sul, vindas da cratera Tycho, com 85 quilómetros de largura. Acima, no centro esquerdo, as reentrâncias escuras e raiadas provenientes da cratera Copérnico, estendem-se até ao “Mare Imbrium”. No extremo superior central e com um diâmetro de 51 quilómetros, pode ser vista outra cratera brilhante mas mais pequena. Chamada de Anaxagoras, o interior da cratera tem 3km e um albedo relativamente alto, tornando-se um alvo proeminente quando a Lua está cheia. No passado, imagens multi-coloridas calibradas por amostras de rochas das missões Apollo foram registadas pelas sondas espaciais Galileo e Celmentine e usadas para explorar a composição da superfície global da Lua.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
Celestron C14 EDGE HD (XLT) | Nikon D810a | ISO400 – Exp. 1/800 | Mosaic of four panels composed by 30 images each. Processed on Registax and PS CC 2019. Cumeada Observatory from Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, Reguengos de Monsaraz.
The Wonderful Lagoon of Deep Space
The Lagoon Nebula also known as M8, is a magnificent complex of hot gas and dark nebulosity located in Sagittarius constellation. Shining at magnitude 5, and being below the limit capacity of human eye to distinguish faint objects in the night sky, M8 can be seen with the naked eye from a dark sky location. Inside the nebula, the energetic processes of star formation creates a huge chaos and a beautiful combination of colors. The red-glowing gas is resulting from high-energy starlight striking interstellar hydrogen. Hot young stars are forming in this stellar nursery. The dark dust filaments inside the nebula, were created in the atmospheres of cool giant stars and in the debris from supernovae explosions. Small dark knots, and globules that are condensing protostellar clouds are a sign that the process of star formation is still happening. The Lagoon Nebula gets its name from the distinctive dark lane that runs through the heart of the nebula. At the left side of this dark lane, is visible a bright star cluster known as NGC 6523. The Lagoon Nebula is so large, that is about 110 light-years across in space. It is located 5,000 light-years distant from us.
PT: A Nebulosa da Lagoa, também conhecida como M8, é um magnífico complexo de gás quente e nebulosidade escura localizado na constelação de Sagitário. Brilhando com uma magnitude de 5 e estando abaixo da capacidade limite do olho humano para distinguir objetos ténues no céu noturno, a M8 pode ser vista a olho nu a partir de um local com céu escuro. Dentro da nebulosa, os processos energéticos de formação de estrelas criam um enorme caos e uma combinação de cores ímpar. O gás vermelho-brilhante é resultante da luz estelar de alta energia que atinge o hidrogénio inter-estelar. Estrelas jovens e quentes formam-se assim neste berço estelar. Os filamentos de poeira escura dentro da nebulosa, foram criados nas atmosferas de estrelas gigantes e na sequência de explosões de supernovas. Os pequenos nódulos escuros que se espalham pela nebulosa estão condensando as nuvens proto-estelares, sendo um sinal de que o processo de formação estelar continua a ocorrer. A Nebulosa da Lagoa recebe esse nome devido à distinta faixa escura que atravessa o coração da nebulosa. No lado esquerdo desta faixa escura, é visível um aglomerado de estrelas brilhante conhecido como NGC 6523. A Nebulosa da Lagoa é tão grande, que tem cerca de 110 anos-luz de diâmetro no espaço. Está localizada a 5.000 anos-luz de nós..
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
Taka FSQ-106ED – EM200 auto-guided and GSO RC8 F/8 1624mm – Ritchey-Chrétien Astrograph Carbon Fiber | Nikon D810a | ISO2500 – Exp. 180 seconds x 22 lights| Total integration of 22 Lights: 66 minutes. Processing on PixInsight 1.8.5 and Photoshop CC 2019. Cumeada Observatory from Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, Reguengos de Monsaraz.
A Panoramic Milky Way Above Azenhas do Guadiana
An impressive panoramic view shows the Milky Way rising above the hills from the fluvial beach of Azenhas do Guadiana, in Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola. While a family of ducks are standing near the water in the center of the picture, two photographers are capturing the wonders of the night sky during a workshop of astrophotography. At the right side of this scenic view, the core of our galaxy is shinning bright and with it, some deep sky objects like the Lagoon Nebula, visible in red-violet immediately above the hill top.
Milky Way, Andromeda and a Dutch Sailboat
Visible below two galaxies, our Great Milky Way that stands bright at the top of this vertical panorama and Andromeda Galaxy, the diffuse elliptic shape shining near the center of the image, is Sem Fim boat. A Westlander sailboat built in 1913 in Holland. This type of boat, was used in the Dutch channels for the transport of goods, among them flowers. It was later transformed into house and bring it to Portugal. Now it navigates in Alqueva lake giving tourists the experience of sailing in the wind on board of a vintage boat. The image was captured during the XII edition of Dark Sky® Party Alqueva, held annually in Campinho, Dark Sky® Alqueva reserve.
Discovering the Sky Above with a Mobile Planetarium
While we can´t have yet a smartphone with enough quality to face the challenges of night photography, we could actually use it as a powerful mobile planetarium. Fortunately, nowadays, there are several free or purchased apps in the market capable of help you every time you are under a starry dark sky, turning your smartphone in an easy tool to identify celestial objects in real time. This image captured in Azenhas do Guadiana, Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, shows one of this moments, when a sky enthusiast was searching for planet Saturn, shinning bright near the core of the galaxy, was only 6º apart from the Lagoon Nebula (visible above the mountain, in the center of the image).
The Colourful Spiral Galaxy of Andromeda
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. 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 left side of the core. M110, a dwarf elliptical galaxy visible below M31, is also a satellite of the Andromeda Galaxy.
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. 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 esquerdo do núcleo da M31. M110, uma galáxia elíptica anã visível abaixo de M31, é também um satélite da galáxia de Andromeda.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
Taka FSQ-106ED – EM200 auto-guided | Nikon D810a | ISO1600 – Exp. 140 seconds x 38 lights | Total integration of 38 Lights: 89 minutes. Processing on PixInsight 1.8 and Photoshop CC. Cumeada Observatory from Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, Reguengos de Monsaraz.
Comet 21p/Giacobini-Zinner Approaching Open Cluster M37
A rich starfield in Auriga constellation shows a close-up view of a bright tail and greenish coma from Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner only separated by approximately 1º from the colourful and brightest open cluster in Auriga, M37 (at right), with an apparent magnitude of 6.2, lies at a distance of 4,511 light years from our Solar System. On 10th September 2018, the comet Giacobini-Zinner was near its perihelion and closest approach to Earth in 72 years, being only at a distance of 58 million km from our planet, was shining like a 7th magnitude star, remaining too faint to our naked-eyes though. This periodic comet is the known parent body of the upcoming Draconid meteor shower, a bursty display that typically peaks on Oct. 8th. Draconid outbursts do tend to occur in years near the comet’s close approach to the sun. However, leading forecasters do not expect an outburst this year despite the comet’s flyby. The image was captured from Cumeada Observatory official headquarters of Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, Portugal.
PT: Um rico campo estelar na constelação de Auriga mostra uma visão de perto da cauda brilhante e coma esverdeado do Cometa 21P/Giacobini-Zinner, separado apenas por aproximadamente 1º do mais brilhante e colorido enxame aberto da Auriga, M37 (visível à direita), com uma aparente magnitude de 6,2, encontra-se a uma distância de 4.511 anos-luz do nosso Sistema Solar. Em 10 de setembro de 2018, o cometa Giacobini-Zinner encontrava-se perto de seu periélio, fazendo a sua máxima aproximação à Terra em 72 anos, ficando apenas a uma distância de 58 milhões de km de nosso planeta, brilhava como uma estrela de 7ª magnitude. Este cometa periódico é o corpo parente conhecido da próxima chuva de meteoros Dracónidas, uma chuva de meteoros que normalmente tem o seu pico no dia 8 de Outubro. As “Explosões de Dracónidas” tendem a ocorrer em anos que coincidem com a proximidade do cometa ao sol. No entanto, os cientistas não esperam uma explosão este ano, apesar da passagem do cometa por perto da Terra. A imagem e o Time Lapse, foram ambos captados no Observatório da Cumeada, sede oficial da Reserva Dark Sky® Alqueva.
Below, a short Time Lapse sequence of 3h captured on 14th September, shows the motion of the comet against the starry sky of Dark Sky Alqueva Reserve, Portugal.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
Taka FSQ-106ED – EM200 auto-guided | Nikon D810a | ISO1600 – Exp. 160 seconds x 25 lights | Total integration of 25 Lights: 66 minutes. Processing on PixInsight 1.8 and Photoshop CC. Cumeada Observatory from Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, Reguengos de Monsaraz.
Under the Nature Our Roof is the Universe
Being under a starry sky always fascinated me since I was a child. Specially, when I was trying to reach the stars, setting my foots on the floor, just extending my arm while I was feeling and thinking in the fact that there is nothing separating us from outer space. Under the nature our roof is indeed the Universe itself and the most exciting thing, is the knowledge that let us know that we are an important part of it! The image shows a Milky Way rising in the background over Noudar Park, in Alqueva Dark Sky® Reserve, Portugal.
PT: Estar sob um céu estrelado sempre me fascinou desde que eu era criança. Especialmente, quando eu tentava alcançar as estrelas colocando os meus pés no chão, e estendendo o meu braço enquanto sentia e pensava no facto de que não há nada a separar-nos do espaço sideral acima. Sob a natureza, o nosso telhado é de facto o próprio Universo e a coisa mais excitante é o conhecimento que nos deixa saber que somos uma parte importante dele! A imagem mostra uma Via Láctea a nascer em pano de fundo, acima do Parque de Natureza de Noudar, na Reserva Dark Sky® Alqueva, em Portugal.
Under the Darkness the Sky is Anything but Black
Our eyes are not so good in distinguish colors under the darkness, but a simple DSLR camera can show us that the Universe is anything but black. The scene above captured from Noudar Park, in Dark Sky Alqueva Reserve, shows a colorful star field around the bright arm of the Milky Way also visible in the background behind a thin layer of clouds. Each color is directly related to the type and temperature of each star in a range that could features blue, white, yellow or even orange hues. The hottest stars, are showing a blue color, but in opposition, the coolest can reveal an orange-reddish color. The “Christmas balls” that seems to adorn this old olive tree in the foreground, are not only stars, but also planets, Like Mars and Saturn, shinning bright in the center of the tree in yellow-orange and white.
PT: Os nossos olhos não são muito bons a distinguir cores na escuridão da noite, mas uma simples câmara DSLR pode revelar-nos que o Universo é tudo menos preto. A cena acima captada no Parque de Noudar, Reserva Dark Sky® Alqueva, mostra-nos um colorido campo de estrelas ao redor do braço brilhante da Via Láctea, também visível em pano de fundo e envolta numa fina camada de nuvens. Cada cor está diretamente relacionada com o tipo e temperatura de cada estrela em um intervalo que pode apresentar tonalidades de azul, branco, amarelo ou até laranja. As estrelas mais quentes revelam uma cor azul, mas em oposição, as estrelas mais frias podem revelar uma cor laranja-avermelhada. As “bolas de Natal” que parecem enfeitar esta velha oliveira em primeiro plano, não são apenas estrelas, mas também planetas, como Marte e Saturno, brilhando ao centro da árvore numa tonalidade amarelo-alaranjado e branco.
A Stargazer Shows Where to Find Polaris in the Night Sky
A night scene captured in Achada do Gamo, Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, shows the silhouette of a sky enthusiast that is trying to show us where to find Polaris, the Northern Star, and is not so hard. At left side 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 is the easiest constellation recognisable in night time and used as a starting point, from beginners to experienced stargazers, to help localize and identify the Northern Star. To find Polaris, use the so-called “Pointer” stars in the bowl of the Big Dipper, Merak and Dubhe. The left hand of the stargazer is pointing to Merak, then just draw an imaginary line between these two stars and extend it out for about 5 times, and you will end up in Polaris, located in the upper right corner of the image.
