International Space Station as Seen in H-alpha Crossing the Solar Disc
The image shows the International Space Station (ISS) silhouette while crossing the Sun´s disc at a distance of 436.29km from us at a speed of about 7.38km/s. The ISS completes an entire orbit around Earth each 90 minutes. Carrying on board astronauts, the large artificial satellite orbiting our planet with a width of 108.5 meters seems although very small when compared with the Solar disc with an angular size of 31.5′ is actually 29.2 times larger than the ISS in the moment of the passage. Hard to see it even with a special telescope equipped with Ha filters, only the fast video camera shutter set to an high speed frame rate could capture this rare moment that happens in a blink of an eye, as it was seen from Redondo, Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, Portugal, on June 6, 2021, at 13h20m11s (UT 12h20m11s) with a total duration of only 0,55 seconds. Its very interesting to recognise on the picture the ISS structure with the solar panels and main body elements well distinct. 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: A imagem revela a silhueta da Estação Espacial Internacional (ISS) atravessando o sol a uma distância de 436.29km de nós e uma velocidade média de cerca de 7.38km/s. A ISS completa uma órbita em torno da Terra a cada 90 minutos. Transportando a bordo vários astronautas, este grande satélite artificial com uma envergadura de 108,5 metros parece muito pequeno quando comparado com o disco solar com um tamanho angular de 31,5 ‘ é na verdade 29,2 vezes maior do que a ISS no momento da passagem. Difícil de observá-la mesmo com um telescópio especial equipado com filtros de protecção H-alfa, só o obturador da câmara de vídeo numa sequência de disparos rápidos tem a capacidade de captar e eternizar este momento raro que acontece num um piscar de olhos, com a curta duração de apenas 0.55 segundos, como foi visto a partir do Redondo, no Dark Sky® Alqueva, Portugal, a 6 de junho de 2021, às 13h20m11s (UT 12h20m11s). Na fotografia é possível reconhecer a estrutura da ISS com os seus painéis solares e os elementos que compõem o corpo principal. 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 250 frames in very good seeing conditions for the solar surface and prominences, plus the single frames where the ISS has appeared. Redondo, Dark Sky® Alqueva, Portugal. 06/06/2021 13h20m11s.
ISS Details | Detalhes da ISS:
ISS angular size: 63.33″; distance: 436.29 km
Angular separation: 0.6′; azimuth: 173.5°; altitude: 73.9°
Center line distance: In the center; visibility path width: 4.11 km
R.A.: 04h 59m; Dec: +22° 41′; parallactic angle: 5.5°
ISS velocity: 57.6 ′/s (angular); 7.31 km/s (transverse)
ISS velocity: -1.07 km/s (radial); 7.38 km/s (total);
Direction of motion relative to zenith: 57.1°
Sun angular size: 31.5′; 29.2 times larger than the ISS
A Sky Without Religious Boundaries Shows the ISS Above the Historic Old City of Jerusalem
The image shows the path of International Space Station (ISS) crossing a sky free of any religious, cultural or ethnic boundaries above the beautiful and historial old city of Jerusalem. Added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in 1981, it is one of the oldest cities in the world, and is considered holy to the three major Abrahamic religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, and where several key events in the life of Jesus took place. The Old City of Jerusalem is divided into four quarters; The Jewish Quarter, The Armenian Quarter, The Christian Quarter, and The Muslim Quarter. During its long history, Jerusalem has been destroyed at least twice, besieged 23 times, captured and recaptured 44 times, and attacked 52 time. On the image, the crane seen in the foreground also reminds us of our capacity as a mankind in recovering or building major things, specially when a teamwork between different countries can be achieved in the name of science, progress and peace. As an example is the most complex and advanced machine ever built and that is orbiting our planet Earth, the International Space Station, featured on upper left corner of the image, between the trails of Cassiopeia and Ursa Major constellation.
On the ground, the right side of the image shows the only part that survived to all attacks along the history and stills partially intact until today, is the Western Wall, (aka Wailing Walland or in Hebrew Kotel), being the most religious site in the world for the Jewish people. Thousands of people journey to the wall every year to visit and recite prayers. These prayers are either spoken or written down and placed in the cracks of the wall. The wall is divided into two sections, the left side for males and the right side for females. It is also the western support wall of the Temple Mount and Temple Rock, visible above the horizon as a blue base and a golden dome. The Temple Mount is a holy site within the Old City for Jewish, Christian and Muslim people, the walls were built around the summit of Mount Moriah, where biblically, Abraham offered his son, Isaac, as a sacrifice. In Muslim tradition, this is where the Prophet Mohammed made his “Night Journey” to the throne of God from the rock located at the center of the structure. The Foundation Stone in the temple, was built over bears great significance in Judaism as the place where God created the world and the first human, Adam.
PT: A imagem mostra o rasto da Estação Espacial Internacional (ISS) cruzando um céu livre de quaisquer fronteiras religiosas, culturais ou étnicas acima da bela e histórica cidade velha de Jerusalém. Adicionado à lista de Património Mundial da UNESCO em 1981, é uma das cidades mais antigas do mundo, e é considerada sagrada para as três principais religiões abraâmica, judaísmo, cristianismo e islamismo, e onde vários eventos importantes na vida de Jesus tiveram lugar. A Cidade Velha de Jerusalém é dividida em quatro quadrantes; O bairro judeu, o bairro armênio, o bairro cristão e o bairro muçulmano. Durante sua longa história, Jerusalém foi destruída pelo menos duas vezes, sitiada 23 vezes, capturada e recapturada 44 vezes e atacada 52 vezes. Na imagem, o guindaste visto em primeiro plano também nos lembra da nossa capacidade como humanidade em recuperar ou construir coisas importantes, especialmente quando um trabalho em equipe entre diferentes países pode ser alcançado em nome da ciência, do progresso e da paz. Como exemplo, é a máquina mais complexa e avançada já construída até hoje e que orbita o nosso planeta Terra, a Estação Espacial Internacional, visível no canto superior esquerdo da imagem, entre os rastos luminosos da constelação de Cassiopeia e Ursa Maior.
No solo, o lado direito da imagem mostra a única parte que sobreviveu a todos os ataques ao longo da história e ainda está parcialmente intacta até hoje, é o Muro das Lamentações, (Wailing Walland ou em hebraico Kotel), sendo o local mais religioso do mundo para o povo judeu. Milhares de pessoas viajam para a parede todos os anos para visitar e recitar orações. Essas orações são ditas ou escritas e colocadas nas fendas da parede. A parede é dividida em duas seções, o lado esquerdo para os homens e o lado direito para as mulheres. É também a parede de sustentação ocidental do Monte do Templo e da Rocha do Templo, visível acima do horizonte como uma base azul e uma cúpula dourada. O Monte do Templo é um local sagrado dentro da Cidade Velha para judeus, cristãos e muçulmanos, as paredes foram construídas em torno do cume do Monte Moriah, onde biblicamente, Abraão ofereceu seu filho, Isaac, como um sacrifício. Na tradição muçulmana, é aqui que o Profeta Maomé fez sua “Viagem Noturna” até o trono de Deus a partir da rocha localizada no centro da estrutura. A Pedra Fundamental no templo foi construída com grande significado no judaísmo como o lugar onde Deus criou o mundo e o primeiro ser humano, Adão.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
A sequence of 52 single shots with a Canon 6D | 14mm lens at f/8 | ISO500 | Exp. 2 secs.
International Space Station Crossing a Solar Prominence
Our Sun is now entering in a relatively quiet cycle of 11 years, featuring only a small sunspot, but an interesting group of prominences in the upper limb of suns disk, this image shows some extra activity, with the dark silhouette of ISS crossing the sun´s disc at a distance of 426km from us and a speed of about 28,000km/h, the International Space Station (ISS) completes an entire orbit around Earth each 90 minutes. This large artificial satellite with a width of 108.5 meters seems although very small when compared with the Solar disc with an angular size of 31.5′ is actually 29.2 times larger than the ISS in the moment of the passage. Hard to see it even with a special telescope equipped with Ha filters, only the camera shutter of a fast sequence of shots could capture this rare moment that happens in a blink of an eye, as it was seen from Mourão, Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, Portugal, on June 14, 2017, at 13h53m10s with a total duration of only 0,54 seconds. Its very interesting to recognise on the picture the ISS structure with the solar panels and main body well distinct, remembering that this celestial object have astronauts on board permanently, with a privileged view from our beautiful “Pale Blue Dot”.
PT: O nosso Sol encontra-se agora mum ciclo relativamente calmo de 11 anos, com apenas uma pequena mancha solar visível mas um interessante grupo de protuberâncias no limbo superior do disco, esta fotografia revela-nos alguma atividade incomum, com a silhueta escura da ISS atravessando o sol a uma distância de 426km de nós e uma velocidade média de cerca de 28,000 km/h, a Estação Espacial Internacional (ISS) completa uma órbita em torno da Terra a cada 90 minutos. Este grande satélite artificial com uma envergadura de 108,5 metros parece muito pequeno quando comparado com o disco solar com um tamanho angular de 31,5 ‘ é na verdade 29,2 vezes maior do que a ISS no momento da passagem. Difícil de observá-la mesmo com um telescópio especial equipado com filtros de protecção Ha, só o obturador da câmara fotográfica numa sequência de disparos rápidos tem a capacidade de captar e eternizar este momento raro que acontece num um piscar de olhos, com a curta duração de apenas 0.54 segundos, como foi visto a partir de Mourão, Reserva Dark Sky® Alqueva, Portugal, em 14 de junho de 2017, às 13h53m10s. Na fotografia é possível reconhecer a estrutura da ISS com os seus painéis solares e o corpo principal bem distinto, lembrando que este objeto celestial tem astronautas a bordo em permanência com acesso a uma visão privilegiada do nosso “Pequeno Ponto Azul”.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
LUNT LS100T Ha | AZ-HEQ5GT | Nikon D810a (DX) | F/7 | ISO1600 – Exp. 1/6400 | Median Sum of 80 images Disk + 80 images Solar Flares. Mourão, Dark Sky® Alqueva, Portugal. 14/06/2017 13h53m10s.
ISS Details | Detalhes da ISS:
ISS angular size: 64.80″; distance: 426 km
Angular separation: 1° 09′; azimuth: 196.2°; altitude: 73.5°
Center line distance: In the center; visibility path width: 3.93 km
R.A.: 05h 35m; Dec: +22° 25′; parallactic angle: -16.5°
ISS velocity: 58.1 ′/s (angular); 7.20 km/s (transverse)
ISS velocity: -1.63 km/s (radial); 7.39 km/s (total);
Direction of motion relative to zenith: -31.6°
Sun angular size: 31.5′; 29.2 times larger than the ISS
International Space Station ISS Transiting the Sun´s Disc Over Portugal
Our Sun is now entering in a relatively quiet cycle of 11 years, featuring only a shy group of sunspots AR2661, and a little solar flare in the lower right limb, this image shows some extra activity, with the dark silhouette of ISS crossing the sun´s disc at a distance of 770km from us and a speed of about 28,000km/h, the International Space Station (ISS) completes an entire orbit around Earth each 90 minutes. This large artificial satellite with a width of 108.5 meters seems although very small when compared with the Solar disc with an angular size of 31.5′ is actually 52.8 times larger than the ISS. Hard to see it even with a special telescope equipped with Ha filters, only the camera shutter of a fast sequence of shots could capture this rare moment that happens in a blink of an eye, as it was seen from Corroios, Portugal, on June 6, 2017, at 17h36m11s with a total duration of only 1,05 seconds. Its very interesting to recognise on the picture the ISS structure with the solar panels and main body well distinct, remembering that this celestial object have astronauts on board permanently, with a privileged view from our beautiful “Pale Blue Dot”.
PT: O nosso Sol encontra-se agora mum ciclo relativamente calmo de 11 anos, com apenas um grupo tímido de manchas solares visível no centro da imagem AR2661 e um pequeno flare solar no limbo inferior direito, esta fotografia revela-nos alguma atividade incomum, com a silhueta escura da ISS atravessando o sol a uma distância de 770 km de nós e uma velocidade média de cerca de 28,000 km/h, a Estação Espacial Internacional (ISS) completa uma órbita em torno da Terra a cada 90 minutos. Este grande satélite artificial com uma envergadura de 108,5 metros parece muito pequeno quando comparado com o disco solar com um tamanho angular de 31,5 ‘ é na verdade 52,8 vezes maior do que a ISS. Difícil de observá-la mesmo com um telescópio especial equipado com filtros de protecção Ha, só o obturador da câmara fotográfica numa sequência de disparos rápidos tem a capacidade de captar e eternizar este momento raro que acontece num um piscar de olhos, com a curta duração de apenas 1.05 segundos, como foi visto a partir de Corroios, Portugal, em 6 de junho de 2017, às 17h36m11s. Na fotografia é possível reconhecer a estrutura da ISS com os seus painéis solares e o corpo principal bem distinto, lembrando que este objeto celestial tem astronautas a bordo em permanência com acesso a uma visão privilegiada do nosso “Pequeno Ponto Azul”.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
LUNT LS100T Ha | AZ-HEQ5GT | Canon 6D | F/7 + Barlow2x | ISO1250 – Exp. 1/500 | Median Sum of 27 images. Corroios, Almada, Portugal. 06/06/2017 17h36m11s.
ISS Details | Detalhes da ISS:
ISS angular size: 42.32″; distance: 771 km
Angular separation: 7° 12′; azimuth: 277.3°; altitude: 29.3°
Center line distance: Close to; visibility path width: 7.67 km
R.A.: 04h 28m; Dec: +23° 00′; parallactic angle: -48.7°
ISS velocity: 26.1 ′/s (angular); 5.85 km/s (transverse)
ISS velocity: -4.47 km/s (radial); 7.36 km/s (total);
Direction of motion relative to zenith: -47.9°
Sun angular size: 31.5′; 52.8 times larger than the ISS
Moonlight Iridium Flare above Isaac Newton Telescope
PT: Este curto startrail captado a partir do Roque de Los Muchachos, La Palma, Ilhas Canárias, mostra um Iridium Flare (Reflexo de um Satélite de comunicações da rede Iridium) brilhando acima da cúpula do telescópio de Isaac Newton (INT), visível acima da camada de nuvens que reflecte a luz proveniente do nascer da Lua acima do Oceano Atlântico.
ISS Crossing the Skies of the Roman City Ammaia
EN: One of the remaining ruins from the Southern Gate Tower of the Roman City of Ammaia, in a cloudy moonlight scene, during the passage of the International Space Station above the skies. At the right side of the moon it is visible the planet Venus.
The Gradual consolidation of Roman power led to the establishment of a substantial Roman town in the 1st century. Ammaia occupied up to 25 hectares, and with a population exceeding modern-day Marvão (5000-6000 inhabitants) Ammaia occupied the site of the present-day parish of São Salvador da Aramenha. The town flourished between the 1st century BCE and the collapse of the Roman Empire in the 5th century CE. Roman Ammaia saw the development of improved irrigation and terracing across the Marvão mountain. Chestnut cultivation – Replacing the place dominance of oak is likely to have been introduced at this time. Much of the terracing and ancient watercourses on the mountain Marvão date from this era.
Limited excavations at Ammaia in the past two decades covering a mere 3,000 m2 (32.292 sq ft) of the town’s area – have revealed the success, provincial expanding town that included running water, a forum, baths, the bridge over the river Sever (near today’s ‘Old Bridge’), and monumental gates (one gate was removed to Castelo de Vide in the 18th century, yet sadly dynamited in 1890). The Alentejo region, meanwhile, was criss-crossed with efficient Roman roads, providing links to the wider Empire. Fine wares found at the site Ammaia suggest que Ammaia nobility had access to luxury glassware and jewelery, while archeology has Revealed that marble for the forum was imported from across the Empire. The high quality, for example, of the ‘Mosaic of the Muses’ from a Roman villa in nearby Monforte (4th century BCE) points to the abundant riches to be made to an Alentejo landowner in the Roman era. Sadly, many artifacts from Ammaia in particular the series of marble sculptures were removed during the 19th and 20th centuries, notably by the Anglo-Portuguese Robinson family. These items are now in collections such as those of the British Museum..
Many of the excavations were concentrated over the obvious ruins or where there was evidence of subterranean structures associated with a Roman presence. Discoveries include parts of a Roman city wall with towers and a gate on the south side, with residenctial buildings; a road; a monumental paved square; remains of a house in the location Quinta do Deão; parts of a public bath building; and a centrally-located forum with well-preserved temple podium, walls of a porticus and cryptoporticus. The town plan follows a regular rectangular layout organized along two main perpendicular street axes, linking the central forum to its main gates. A city wall surrounds a roughly rectangular area of some 20 hectares. Several extramural buildings, cemeteries and roads constitute the suburban area.
PT: Uma noite de luar envolta na neblina que circunda as importantes e imponentes ruínas da Porta Sul da cidade Romana da Ammaia, enquanto a Estação Espacial Internacional atravessa os céus da região. Logo abaixo da Lua, é ainda possível ver o brilho arrastado do planeta Vénus. A Cidade de Ammaia é indubitavelmente o mais importante vestígio da sua época existente na região do norte alentejano. Localizada em pleno Parque Natural da Serra de São Mamede, em São Salvador de Aramenha, no concelho de Marvão, a sua área central é constituída pela Quinta do Deão e pela Tapada da Aramenha, possuindo uma área de aproximadamente 25 ha.
Embora as suas ruínas tivessem sido classificadas como Monumento Nacional em 1949, estiveram abandonadas até finais de 1994. A partir desta data e com o aparecimento da Fundação Cidade de Ammaia vêm-se desenvolvendo todos os esforços no sentido de estudar e preservar o que resta desta importante cidade. Ammaia foi elevada a Civitas por volta do ano 44/45 d.C. tendo obtido o estatuto de Mvnicipivm ainda durante o séc. I d.C., no entanto apenas temos dados sobre o mesmo no reinado de Lúcio Vero, no ano de 166 d.C.
Feeling the power of being in contact with the wild side of nature
EN: Feeling the power of being in contact with the wild side of nature, in the middle of cows, bulls, hay, cork oaks and olive trees, under a shy starry sky on a clear moonlit night | Sky of Telheiro.
PT: Sentindo o poder de estar em contato com o lado mais puro e selvagem da natureza, no meio de vacas, touros, feno, sobreiros e oliveiras, sob um tímido céu estrelado numa clara noite de luar | Céu do Telheiro.
ISS above the lake of Dark Sky Alqueva
EN: The Earth is surrounded by satellites, which appear” as apparent stars fixed in brightness” transiting the sky of dawn and dusk. But one of these stars is really special, for having humans on board at all times, is this the International Space Station (ISS), the more evident by its intensity, moving at a speed of 28.000 km/h, gives a complete turn around earth every 90 minutes | Nautical Center, Sky of Monsaraz.
PT: A Terra está cercada de satélites, que se revelam como “estrelas aparentes de brilho fixo” e que ao entardecer ou amanhecer aparecem transitando o céu. Mas uma dessas estrelas é realmente especial, por levar seres humanos a bordo em permanência, é a Estação Espacial Internacional (ISS), a mais evidente pela sua intensidade, deslocando-se a uma velocidade de 28,000 km/h, dá uma volta completa à terra a cada 90 minutos | Centro Náutico, Céu de Monsraz.
ISS above the vineyards
The Earth is surrounded by satellites, which appear” as apparent stars fixed in brightness” transiting the sky of dawn and dusk. But one of these stars is really special, for having humans on board at all times, is this the International Space Station (ISS), the more evident by its intensity, moving at a speed of 28.000 km/h, gives a complete turn around earth every 90 minutes. 18/06/2015. Reguengos de Monsaraz | Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve – Portugal
Iridium Flare above the Milky Way in Paranal
Milky Way lies parallel to the horizon in the background of the The Very Large Telescope (VLT) consisting of four Unit Telescopes with main mirrors of 8.2m diameter, known as Antu, Kueyen, Melipal and Yepun (at right). In the left edge of the image and above the Milky Way, we can see what seems to be not a meteor but an Iridium Flare trail.
The Very Large Telescope (VLT) is a telescope operated by the ESO – European Southern Observatory on Cerro Paranal in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile. The VLT is the world’s most advanced optical instrument, which are generally used separately but can be used together to achieve very high angular resolution. The four separate optical telescopes are known as Antu, Kueyen, Melipal and Yepun, which are all words for astronomical objects in the Mapuche language, with optical elements that can combine them into an astronomical interferometer (VLTI), which is used to resolve small objects. The interferometer is complemented by four movable Auxiliary Telescopes (ATs) of 1.8 m aperture. The 8.2m diameter Unit Telescopes can also be used individually. With one such telescope, images of celestial objects as faint as magnitude 30 can be obtained in a one-hour exposure. This corresponds to seeing objects that are four billion (four thousand million) times fainter than what can be seen with the unaided eye. The telescopes can work together, to form a giant ‘interferometer’, the ESO Very Large Telescope Interferometer, allowing astronomers to see details up to 25 times finer than with the individual telescopes. The light beams are combined in the VLTI using a complex system of mirrors in underground tunnels where the light paths must be kept equal to distances less than 1/1000 mm over a hundred metres. With this kind of precision the VLTI can reconstruct images with an angular resolution of milliarcseconds, equivalent to distinguishing the two headlights of a car at the distance of the Moon.
Image taken taken in 15/10/2015 from Cerro Paranal, Atacama desert, Chile.
ISS transiting the Summer Triangle
ISS crossing the arm of Milky Way reaching a magnitude of -3.2 above the land of Vila Boim, in Alentejo. In the top of the image, the path of International Space Station is transiting between the stars that forming the well known Summer Triangle, in that moment as seen from Earth, the ISS was reaching the Zenith, the point above our heads, the moment when it is also more close to us..
Canon 60Da – ISO 200, Exp.208 Secs at f/4 with a 11mm lens and a Vixen Polarie travel mount. Taken in 02-08-2014 at 22h30, during an exposure of consecutive 3.4 minutes.
Double satellite flyby against FACT Telescope
In this colorful startrail captured facing to northwest region, we could see behind FACT Telescope silhouette, the trail of a double satellite flyby, possibly related to the Naval Ocean Surveillance System (NOSS) satellite formation, each having two or three satellites in close proximity to one another. Normally these satellites are relatively dim to the unaided eye, but on occasion they brighten sufficiently to be easily seen in a dark sky, like occured in the sky of Roque de Los Muchahos observatory, in La Palma, Canary Island.
The image was taken in Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos (ORM) situated on the edge of the Caldera de Taburiente National Park, 2.400 m. above sea level, on the island of La Palma, Canarias, Spain. It is home to one of the most extensive fleets of telescopes to be found anywhere in the world, and where 15 telescopes from 19 nations use the best night sky in Europe to explore the cosmos.
| Canon 60Da – ISO2500; 24mm at f/2; Exp. 15 secs. Sum of 23 images taken in 30/09/2013 at 22:44
Finding Polaris Star in Falperras Hill
This “self portrait” startrail was taken in Falperras Hill, a rural hotel in Mourão, one of the regions covered by the Alqueva Dark sky Reserve, in Portugal. In this polar startrail we could easily identify the Polaris star – who indicates the North – not only because the “star vortex” seems to spin around this central star, but also due to the light path left by a satellite (not ISS), that seems to point to this same star. Below right in the sky picture, is also visible a strong flare left by satellite Iridium 66, with a magnitude of -4.5. In the land, we could see the Monte Falperras hotel, Myself enjoying this beautiful and peaceful moment – full of meaning – as well as two olive trees, the much typical tree available in the fields of Alentejo region. Canon 50D – ISO1600; 10mm f/4 Exp 30 secs. Sum of 344 images taken in 14/07/2013 between 22:53 and 01:59 AM.
Milky Way and the Iridium Neighbor
Image of an Iridium flare that occurred near the Milky Way, clearly visible on the left side of the image. The “Iridium Flare” is produced by the reflection of the antennas and solar panels from the Iridium satellite network. Sometimes, the increasing brightness can be 100x brighter than a star of magnitude “0”. In the image, the form of galaxy is caused precisely by increasing the brightness while moving simultaneously in the sky during the long exposure, leaving that characteristic appearance. These satellites can be observed with the naked eye, even from a big city like Lisbon.
The image was captured on Monte Bravo in Mourão, the great Dark Sky Reserve Alqueva in Alentejo, Portugal.
Canon 60Da ISO2000-10mm f / 4 Exp 120 secs. + Vixen Polarie. 16/06/2013 at 3:54 AM
Enjoying the Passing of a Bright Star
It´s amazing to watch the reaction of the people when for the first time, they could watch a special star moving over their heads, like happened with this small group of participants during a workshop I gave in the Dark Sky Reserve, here in Portugal. At the same time that the ISS was passing in the sky, I told the them, to watch, enjoy and imagine something fantastic, that is the fact that in this special and apparent “star”, there are humans living in permanence…
The image was taken with the ISS at a magnitude of -3.3, passing in the highest point of 77º SE.
Canon 50D – ISO2500 Exp. 30Sec. f/4 10mm. Sum of 8 images. Total time integration of 4 minutes. Taken in 13/01/2013 at 5:58 AM.
Iridium Flares 58 e 95
Imagem de dois Iridum Flares o 58 e 95, captados em Vila Boim, no Alentejo. Iridium Flare – Reflexo das Antenas dos satélites artificias.
Iridium58: Canon 50D -ISO800 20mm F/5.6 Exp.30s em 25-07-10 às 23:49
Iridium 95: Canon 50D -ISO800 16mm F/5.6 Exp.29s em 23-07-10 às 23:52
A house full of stars
Rotação das estrelas que circundam a região da estrela polar ( a única estrela que não tem arrastamento por indicar o Norte Polar), registado no Alentejo, em 19-07-2010 entre as 23h32 e as 02h31. Soma de 328 imagens cada uma de 30 segundos, totalizando uma integração de 2h44 minutos. São visíveis várias estrelas das constelações da Ursa Menor, Ursa Maior, Draco e Cepheus.
Canon 50D -ISO1000 10mm F/4 Exp.30s por cada imagem.
ISS Crossing the Night Sky
Passagem da ISS – Estação Espacial sobre os céus de Almada. Na imagem podemos ver a ISS a passar entre a Ursa Maior e a Ursa Menor, atravessando toda a constelação do Dragão. Saliento para o facto de ser visível uma alteração de cor no rasto da ISS à medida que esta se aproxima, chegando mesmo a uma magnítude de -3.5. Imagem obtida no Parque da Paz, no Centro Sul, Almada.
Canon 50D-3X 30″ a F/5 ISO800 a 10mm 10-07-10 22h50
