Milky Way Crossing the Entire Sky of La Palma
PT: Nesta imagem “full dome” captada com uma lente “olho-peixe de 180º” é possível ver a Via Láctea atravessando o céu de La Palma, enquanto na parte superior se encontra visível o Laser Verde do William Herschel Telescope (WHT) projecto em direcção ao Zénite (centro da imagem). Na direcção oposta do céu, (região inferior) encontra-se o Isaac Newton Telescope (INT). Fotografia captada nas montanhas rochosas de Roque de Los Muchachos, em La Palma, nas Ilhas Canárias.
The Powerful Green Laser of William Herschel Telescope
Development of new instrumentation is crucial for the continued scientific health of any telescope facility. At the WHT a vibrant development programme was in place, focusing on providing the widest possible science use of adaptive optics, a technique that greatly improves image quality by correcting for the degradation due to turbulent motions in the Earth’s atmosphere. Adaptive optics is now well established at several telescopes around the world. The potential of adaptive optics is huge because the improved spatial resolution allows the detection of sources and fine structures in complex systems that would otherwise not be resolved. Examples are the study of dense stellar clusters, cores of relatively nearby galaxies, and complex star-formation regions.
The technique of adaptive optics, although of huge potential, has its limitations. The requirement that a bright point source lies very close to the object of interest implies that less than 1% of the sky is accessible for the technique. There is, however, a solution to this problem, which is to create an artificial “star” by projecting a bright laser beam on the sky. Such a laser beacon assumes the role of the bright star, hence opening virtually all of the sky to observation with adaptive optics. The current developments at the WHT focus on the design and construction of such a laser beacon system, which will result in a dramatic enhancement of the science prospects of the telescope. Interestingly, adaptive optics and laser beacons are crucial for the next generation of extremely large telescopes that are currently being planned. These future telescopes, with unprecedented large primary mirror diameters of 30 or even 100m, require many solutions to be found for a range of technological problems. Thanks to the ongoing developments in this area at the WHT this telescope is well placed to play a key role as a testbed facility where techniques for these future telescopes can be explored under realistic conditions.
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.
The Transition between Day and Night
This lovely skyscape scene shows the end of nautical twilight above Roque de Los Muchachos observatory, and the transition between the end of the day and the beginning of the night. Each twilight phase is defined by the solar elevation angle, which is the position of the Sun in relation to the horizon. During nautical twilight, the geometric center of the Sun’s disk is between 6 and 12 degrees below the horizon. In clear weather conditions, the horizon is faintly visible during this twilight phase. Many of the brighter stars can also be seen, making it possible to use the position of the stars in relation to the horizon to navigate at sea. This is why it is called nautical twilight. Although, if we had to this ingredients the perfect position and time of the year to watch the central region of the Milky Way as soon as the sky stays dark, we can capture beyond the brightest stars the dusty core of the galaxy with very natural colours mixed yet with the background light coming from the transition of the Nautical Twilight to the Astronomical Twilight, when the Sun is even low then 12º below the horizon. In the foreground are spread different night and solar observatories from Roque de Los Mucahchos, one of them is William Herschel Telescope, that can be seen in the right edge of the image with the dome opened while it´s laser is pointed high up in the sky.
PT: Esta linda cena “skyscape” mostra o final do Crepúsculo Náutico acima do observatório Roque de Los Muchachos, e a transição entre o final do dia e o início da noite. Cada fase crepuscular é definida pelo ângulo de elevação solar, que é a posição do Sol em relação ao horizonte. Durante o Crepúsculo Náutico, o centro geométrico do disco do Sol está entre 6 e 12 graus abaixo do horizonte. Em condições climáticas claras, o horizonte é visível durante esta fase crepuscular. Muitas das estrelas mais brilhantes também podem ser vistas, tornando possível usar a posição das estrelas em relação ao horizonte para navegar no mar. É por isso que é chamado Crepúsculo Náutico. No entanto, se a estes ingredientes juntarmos a posição e época do ano perfeita para observar a região central da Via Láctea logo que o céu escureça, podemos captar além das estrelas mais brilhantes o núcleo empoeirado da galáxia com cores muito naturais, misturadas ainda com a luz de fundo proveniente da transição do Crepúsculo Náutico para o Crepúsculo Astronómico, quando o Sol está mais de 12º abaixo do horizonte. No primeiro plano, estão espalhados diferentes observatórios noturnos e solares do Roque de Los Mucahchos, um deles é o Telescópio William Herschel, que pode ser visto na extremidade direita da imagem com a cúpula aberta enquanto o laser é apontado para o alto do céu.
William Herschel Pointing to the Middle of Summer Triangle
In the foreground we can see from left to right, the tower of Swedish 1-m Solar Telescope (SST), the largest solar telescope in Europe and number one in the world when it comes to high spatial resolution and the Jacobus Kapteyn Telescope (JKT) with a parabolic primary mirror of 1.0 m diameter. At lower right is visible the powerful green laser from William Herschel Telescope (WHT) pointing high in sky and by coincidence, centred exactly in the middle of the well known asterism of “Summer Triangle”, formed by the stars Altair (from Aquila constellation), Vega (Lyra) and Deneb (Cygnus). Roque de Los Muchachos mountain, is located in La Palma, Canary islands. The laser guide star is in use at the WHT during a few nights per semester, so this was a rare opportunity to capture it.
PT: Em primeiro plano podemos ver da esquerda para a direita, a torre do Swedish 1-m Solar Telescope (SST), o maior telescópio solar da Europa e o número um no mundo quando se trata de alta resolução espacial, seguido do telescópio Jacobus Kapteyn (JKT ) com um espelho primário parabólico de 1,0 m de diâmetro. Mais abaixo à direita é visível o poderoso laser verde do telescópio William Herschel (WHT) que apontando alto para o céu, por coincidência, está centrado exatamente no meio do conhecido asterismo “Triângulo de Verão”, formado pelas estrelas Altair (da constelação Aquila), Vega (Lyra) e Deneb (Cygnus). A montanha rochosa de Roque de Los Muchachos está localizado em La Palma, nas ilhas Canárias.
MAGIC – A Pair of Twins in the Moonlight
This moonlight scene shows the large structure of MAGIC (Major Atmospheric Gamma-ray Imaging Cherenkov Telescopes), a system of two Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes located at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory on La Palma, one of the Canary Islands, at about 2200 m above sea level. MAGIC detects particle showers released by gamma rays, using the Cherenkov radiation, i.e., faint light radiated by the charged particles in the showers. With a diameter of 17 meters and 236 m2 reflective surface, it was the largest in the world before the construction of H.E.S.S. II. MAGIC is not only huge, but also pioneers a number of technical developments that had never been applied to Cherenkov telescopes before. The mirror is extremely light and can be moved to any position in the sky in less than thirty seconds. It is made up of 270 individual mirror panels that can be independently focussed using an active mirror control system equipped with lasers.
The cosmos and its evolution are studied using all radiation, in particular electromagnetic waves. The observable spectrum extends from radio waves to infrared, visible, ultraviolet, X-ray, gamma-rays and finally very high energy gamma rays (starting at energies of 10 GeV). Observations at visible wavelengths (.5 to 1 micrometer) have a history of centuries, gamma astronomy by satellites (keV to few GeV) and ground-based telescopes (above 300 GeV) are end-of-20th century newcomers. The MAGIC telescope can detect very high energy gamma rays in a range of energies where no other telescope in the world can operate, so it opens up a brand new window into the universe.
PT: Esta cena ao luar mostra a grande estrutura de MAGIC (Major Atmospheric Gamma-ray Imaging Cherenkov Telescopes), um sistema de dois telescópios gémeos, preparados para detectar explosões de Raios-Gama. Localizado no Observatório Roque de los Muchachos em La Palma, Ilhas Canárias, esta estrutura encontra-se a cerca de 2200m de altitude.
La Palma Twilight and the Dome of WHT
Adaptive Optics in William Herschel Telescope
Development of new instrumentation is crucial for the continued scientific health of any telescope facility. At the WHT a vibrant development programme was in place, focusing on providing the widest possible science use of adaptive optics, a technique that greatly improves image quality by correcting for the degradation due to turbulent motions in the Earth’s atmosphere. Adaptive optics is now well established at several telescopes around the world. The potential of adaptive optics is huge because the improved spatial resolution allows the detection of sources and fine structures in complex systems that would otherwise not be resolved. Examples are the study of dense stellar clusters, cores of relatively nearby galaxies, and complex star-formation regions.
The technique of adaptive optics, although of huge potential, has its limitations. The requirement that a bright point source lies very close to the object of interest implies that less than 1% of the sky is accessible for the technique. There is, however, a solution to this problem, which is to create an artificial “star” by projecting a bright laser beam on the sky. Such a laser beacon assumes the role of the bright star, hence opening virtually all of the sky to observation with adaptive optics. The current developments at the WHT focus on the design and construction of such a laser beacon system, which will result in a dramatic enhancement of the science prospects of the telescope. Interestingly, adaptive optics and laser beacons are crucial for the next generation of extremely large telescopes that are currently being planned. These future telescopes, with unprecedented large primary mirror diameters of 30 or even 100m, require many solutions to be found for a range of technological problems. Thanks to the ongoing developments in this area at the WHT this telescope is well placed to play a key role as a testbed facility where techniques for these future telescopes can be explored under realistic conditions.
A wide view from Roque de Los Muchachos
PT: Vista panorâmica da montanha de Roque de Los Muchachos, em La Palma, nas Ilhas Canárias, onde se encontra um dos maiores observatórios do mundo, um complexo de 15 telescópios de 19 nações que opera perto da costa da África, Oceano Atlântico. Da esquerda para a direita, podemos ver o laser verde do telescópio William Herschel (WHT), o braço da Via Láctea e abaixo dele, uma camada de nuvens iluminada pelo luar. Acima das nuvens, fica a cúpula cinza do Nordic Optical Telescope (NOT) enquanto no primeiro plano (lado direito) encontra-se a cúpula do Telescópio Isaac Newton (INT). No extremo direito, é possível ver a lua a nascer acima do horizonte.
A Green Sword from William Herschel Telescope
A portrait view taken from Roque de Los Muchachos observatory, in La Palma Canary island, where we can see the powerful green laser from William Herschel Telescope (WHT) pointed to the Zenith. The CANARY laser guide star is in use at the WHT during a few nights per semester, so this is a rare opportunity to capture it in one entire year. During these nights, the risk of collisions with the pointing of other telescopes can be queried via a laser traffic control system. In the background of this “green sword”, a beautiful arch of gas and dust from our Galaxy, the Milky Way, is shinning against the sky.
PT: Neste retrato captado a partir do Observatório de Roque de Los Muchachos, em La Palma, nas Ilhas Canárias, é possível ver o poderoso laser verde do telescópio William Herschel (WHT) apontado ao Zénite. O CANARY laser guide, funciona como uma “estrela guia” para optimizar a utilização do sistema de óptica adaptativa do WHT durante algumas noites por semestre, assim, esta é uma rara oportunidade para captá-lo ao longo de um ano inteiro. Durante estas noites, o risco de colisões com o apontador por parte de outros telescópios pode ser evitado através da consulta de um sistema de controle de tráfego do laser. No fundo desta “espada verde”, um belo arco de gás e poeira da nossa Galáxia, a Via Láctea, brilha contra o céu de fundo.
Arched Milky Way above La Palma
A panoramic view with the mountain of Roque de Los Muchachos, in La Palma Canary island, where stands a huge complex with 15 telescopes, some of the largest telescopes in the world from 19 nations working near the coast of Africa, in Atlantic Ocean. At left edge, the Zodiacal Light touch the Milky Way that start its arched shape near the William Herschel Telescope (WHT) with the laser pointed to the Zenith, while in the opposite direction, the faintest part of Milky Way arm sets behind the open dome of Isaac Newton Telescope (INT).
PT: Vista panorâmica da montanha de Roque de Los Muchachos, em La Palma, nas Ilhas Canárias, onde se encontra um dos maiores observatórios do mundo, um complexo de 15 telescópios de 19 nações que opera perto da costa da África, Oceano Atlântico. Na extremidade esquerda, a subtileza da Luz Zodiacal toca a Via Láctea que começa a sua forma arqueada perto do Telescópio William Herschel (WHT) que tem o laser apontado em direcção ao Zénite, enquanto na direção oposta, é possível ver a outra extremidade do arco galáctico, representado pela parte mais ténue da Via Láctea que se vai ocultando atrás da cúpula do Telescópio Isaac Newton (INT), visível à direita.
Milky Way and GTC in Twilight
Vertical vision of our great Milky Way above the GTC – Gran TeCan Canarias Telescope during the twilight in observatory Roque de Los Muchachos. Above the dome we can see the main stars of constellation Scorpius.
Vertical Milky Way above GTC Telescope
Vertical vision of our great Milky Way above the GTC – Gran TeCan Canarias Telescope in observatory Roque de Los Muchachos.
The Red Moment of the Totality
The total lunar eclipse of 28th september was very unusual because coincided to the moon perigee (supermoon). A close-up view of the same moment, showing its dark red color. Because of its closeness to Earth, a supermoon passes deeper into the shadow of our planet.
Taken in Canary Island in 28/09/2015 at 4h AM. Canon 60Da – 400mm at F/5.6 Exp. 1 sec – ISO 2500. Vixen Polarie – Tracking mount.
Total Lunar Eclipse of 2015
As seen as Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD), the total lunar eclipse of 28th september was very unusual because coincided to the moon perigee (supermoon). At left, Capturing the sequence of the totality in the Canary island of La Palma, this little planet shows also the approximate size of our Earth when compared to the Moon, that can be seen at the right side of the image, in a close-up view of the same moment, showing its dark red color. Because of its closeness to Earth, a supermoon passes deeper into the shadow of our planet.
Seven MAGICal Sisters
| Canon 60Da – ISO2500; 24mm at f/2; Exp. 15 secs. in 30/09/2013 at: 23h30
In the foreground we can see the the great MAGIC I telescope (Major Atmospheric Gamma-ray Imaging Cherenkov Telescopes) with the back of it´s gigantic structure in front of Perseus constellation. At the right side of it, low in the sky and near the horizon, stands one of the most beautiful open star clusters in the celestial sphere, the Pleiades M45, well known as the Seven Sisters, or in portuguese: “Sete Irmãs”.
MAGIC is a system of two Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes situated at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory on La Palma, one of the Canary Islands, at about 2200 m above sea level. MAGIC detects particle showers released by gamma rays, using the Cherenkov radiation, i.e., faint light radiated by the charged particles in the showers. With a diameter of 17 meters and 236 m2 reflective surface, it was the largest in the world before the construction of H.E.S.S. II. MAGIC is not only huge, but also pioneers a number of technical developments that had never been applied to Cherenkov telescopes before. The mirror is extremely light and can be moved to any position in the sky in less than thirty seconds. It is made up of 270 individual mirror panels that can be independently focussed using an active mirror control system equipped with lasers.
The cosmos and its evolution are studied using all radiation, in particular electromagnetic waves. The observable spectrum extends from radio waves to infrared, visible, ultraviolet, X-ray, gamma-rays and finally very high energy gamma rays (starting at energies of 10 GeV). Observations at visible wavelengths (.5 to 1 micrometer) have a history of centuries, gamma astronomy by satellites (keV to few GeV) and ground-based telescopes (above 300 GeV) are end-of-20th century newcomers. The MAGIC telescope can detect very high energy gamma rays in a range of energies where no other telescope in the world can operate, so it opens up a brand new window into the universe.
Below is the annotated version with the identification of the main night sky objects.
Clouds and Fog in Caldera de Taburiente
Captured in a height of 2,200 meters from the sea level we can see the clouds and Fog near the border of Caldera de Taburiente – a very large volcanic crater with about 10 km across. Above the horizon the sun sets behind the silhouette mountains of Roque de Los Muchachos, where stands a huge complex with the some of the largest telescopes in the world. The picture was taken in Pico de La Cruz, La Palma, Canary Island.
Canon 60Da – ISO250; 24mm at f/4; Exp. 1/250 secs. in 26/09/2013 at: 20h11
Orion´s Shining Behind the La Palma Trees
Captured in Los Canarios, Fuencaliente, Canary island, above the landscape full of pine trees, the Orion stars are shining with it´s different colors, from blue to yellow/orange, like star Betelgeuse, or the Orion “violet” nebula, M42. | Near the horizon and above the clouds, is also visible a smooth yellow/green airglow effect. Canon 60Da – ISO2500; 24mm at f/2; Exp. 20 secs. in 28/09/2013 at: 2h12 AM
La Palma Sky – An Impressive deep view of Milky Way
An impressive deep wide view of our home galaxy, the Milky Way, as seen from Los Andenes, La Palma Sky, Canary island. At left, near the rocky horizon and above the galactic center, we can see the Lagoon Nebula (M8) and the Trifid Nebula (M20), as well as M22, M23, M24 and M25, the Omega nebula (M17) and Eagle Nebula (M16). Two degrees north of the Eagle Nebula, we can find the NGC6604 and above it, in the center of the image (brightest area), the great Scutum Star Cloud. Near of it, we find the M11 and M26. Above the center image, we find the IC4756 and NGC6633. In the both corners of the picture we can find dark dust clouds. Above the rocky horizon of Roque de Los Muchachos (at right), where stands a huge complex with 15 telescopes, some of the largest telescopes in the world, we can find a faint presence of green airglow, where is also visible the silhouette from one of this telescopes.
| Canon 60Da – ISO2000; 24mm at f/2; Exp. 44 secs. in 30/09/2013 at: 00h33 AM + Vixen POlarie
Scorpius and Venus in Los Andenes
In this picture, taken in Los Andenes, near Roque de Los Muchahos, in La Palma, we could see the strong light of planet Venus (the strongest light in the image) inside the stellar asterism with a trapezium shape, that forms the Libra constellation. At the left edge of the image, we see the central region of Milky Way and the entire constellation of Scorpius, with is brightest star Antares. Below the horizon, we found an ocean of clouds, located inside the Caldera. The rocky silhouette is part of Roque de Los Muchachos, where stands a huge complex with the some of the largest telescopes in the world.
| Canon 60Da – ISO1600; 35mm at f/2; Exp. 13 secs. in 29/09/2013 at: 21h19 AM
Gran Telescopio Canarias and FACT Telescope against Milky Way
From lower left to the right side of the picture, we can see the silver dome of Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC) with a 10,4 meters primary mirror reflecting telescope. It is designed to incorporate the most up-to-date technology and it is one of the most advanced telescopes in the world, actually, the largest one until now in the optical-infrared system. At right center, in the foreground, we can see the silhouette of the First G-APD Cherenkov Telescope (FACT), that is the first imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescope using Geiger-mode avalanche photodiods (G-APDs) as photo sensors. The rather small, low-cost telescope will not only serve as a test bench for this technology in Cherenkov astronomy, but also monitor bright active galactic nuclei (AGN) in the TeV energy range. The First G-APD Cherenkov Telescope is assembled in Roque de Los Muchachos on the MAGIC site, mounted in the focus of one of the former HEGRA telescopes (CT3). In the background, the beautiful light coming from the central region of Milky Way is shining against the telescope structure, reflecting on its mirror surface. Behind the GTC dome, the sky is shining as a smooth band of an orange airglow, normally from oxygen atoms at 150-300km high where the atmosphere is so sparse and collisions so infrequent that the atoms have time to radiate ‘forbidden’ light.
| Canon 60Da – ISO2500; 24mm at f/2; Exp. 15 secs. in 30/09/2013 at: 22h57 AM
MAGIC Telescope against the Startrail
Above is the MAGIC against a startrail background where is also visible the Milky Way dragged, and clearly distinguishable the different colors of each star. | Canon 60Da – ISO2500; 24mm at f/2; Exp. 15 secs. Sum of 23 images taken in 30/09/2013 at 22:44
In the foreground we can see the MAGIC I telescope (Major Atmospheric Gamma-ray Imaging Cherenkov Telescopes) in front of the Milky Way, with many of colorful stars mirrored in its surface of 236 m2. MAGIC is a system of two Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes situated at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory on La Palma, one of the Canary Islands, at about 2200 m above sea level. MAGIC detects particle showers released by gamma rays, using the Cherenkov radiation, i.e., faint light radiated by the charged particles in the showers. With a diameter of 17 meters and 236 m2 reflective surface, it was the largest in the world before the construction of H.E.S.S. II. MAGIC is not only huge, but also pioneers a number of technical developments that had never been applied to Cherenkov telescopes before. The mirror is extremely light and can be moved to any position in the sky in less than thirty seconds. It is made up of 270 individual mirror panels that can be independently focussed using an active mirror control system equipped with lasers.
The cosmos and its evolution are studied using all radiation, in particular electromagnetic waves. The observable spectrum extends from radio waves to infrared, visible, ultraviolet, X-ray, gamma-rays and finally very high energy gamma rays (starting at energies of 10 GeV). Observations at visible wavelengths (.5 to 1 micrometer) have a history of centuries, gamma astronomy by satellites (keV to few GeV) and ground-based telescopes (above 300 GeV) are end-of-20th century newcomers. The MAGIC telescope can detect very high energy gamma rays in a range of energies where no other telescope in the world can operate, so it opens up a brand new window into the universe.
| Canon 60Da – ISO2500; 24mm at f/4; Exp. 1/80 secs. in 30/09/2013 at: 22h43 AM
Jupiter shining with Orion in Los Andenes
Above the horizon and clouds, at left, Jupiter is the brightest star shining in this view captured from Los Andenes, in the greatest night sky of La Palma, Canary island. In the center, lies the Rosette nebula. Above right, Orion Constellation shows besides the different color of each star, highlighted by orange Betelgeuse, we could see some deep sky objects like the Barnard´s Loop, and Lambda Orionis, was well near the “belt” stars, the Flame and Horsehead nebula, and below, the Runing Man nebula and the Great Orion Nebula with it´s impressive brightness. Other interesting object clearly visible in the image, is the NGC2175 the Monkey Head nebula, between the right center and corner of the image. To create the spikes in the star, was used a star filter in the front of the lens.
| Canon 60Da – ISO1250; 24mm at f/2; Exp. 49 secs. in 30/09/2013 at: 02h37 AM + Vixen Polarie
Startrails with Galileu and Grantecan
In this colorful startrail, captured near the mountain top of the Roque de los Muchachos on the Canary island of La Palma, from left to right, we can see the Telescopio Nazionale Galileo (TNG), that is a 3.6m alt-azimuth telescope with a Ritchey-Chretien optical configuration and a flat tertiary mirror feeding two opposite Nasmyth foci and represents the largest Italian optical/infrared telescope. On the right edge of the picture – in the foreground – stands the Gran Telescope Canarias (GTC) with a 10,4 meters primary mirror reflecting telescope was designed to incorporate the most up-to-date technology and it is one of the most advanced telescopes in the world, actually, the largest one until now in the optical-infrared system.
| Canon 50D – ISO2000; 35mm at f/2; Exp. 15 secs. Sum of 37 images taken in 01/10/2013 between 00:32 and 00:42.
The MAGIC Gamma-ray Cherenkov Telescope full of Stars
In the foreground we can see the great MAGIC I telescope (Major Atmospheric Gamma-ray Imaging Cherenkov Telescopes) with it´s gigantic structure in front of a colorful startrail background, also mirrored on its impressive brilliant surface of 236 m2.
MAGIC is a system of two Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes situated at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory on La Palma, one of the Canary Islands, at about 2200 m above sea level. MAGIC detects particle showers released by gamma rays, using the Cherenkov radiation, i.e., faint light radiated by the charged particles in the showers. With a diameter of 17 meters and 236 m2 reflective surface, it was the largest in the world before the construction of H.E.S.S. II. MAGIC is not only huge, but also pioneers a number of technical developments that had never been applied to Cherenkov telescopes before. The mirror is extremely light and can be moved to any position in the sky in less than thirty seconds. It is made up of 270 individual mirror panels that can be independently focussed using an active mirror control system equipped with lasers.
The cosmos and its evolution are studied using all radiation, in particular electromagnetic waves. The observable spectrum extends from radio waves to infrared, visible, ultraviolet, X-ray, gamma-rays and finally very high energy gamma rays (starting at energies of 10 GeV). Observations at visible wavelengths (.5 to 1 micrometer) have a history of centuries, gamma astronomy by satellites (keV to few GeV) and ground-based telescopes (above 300 GeV) are end-of-20th century newcomers. The MAGIC telescope can detect very high energy gamma rays in a range of energies where no other telescope in the world can operate, so it opens up a brand new window into the universe.
Below we can see a time lapse with the MAGIC in motion and a sky full of stars reflected in its impressive mirrored surface.
Below we can see the MAGIC with a sky full of “steady” stars (without trail), and lighted by the Milky Way presence in the background.
Canon 60Da – ISO2500; 24mm at f/2; Exp. 15 secs. Sum of 53 images taken in 01/10/2013 at 00:22.
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A dreaming view from Heavens
A panoramic view from Roque de Los Muchachos on the Canary island of La Palma, where stands a huge complex with 15 telescopes, some of the largest telescopes in the world – many of them visible in the background – from 19 nations, that are using the best night sky in Europe to explore the cosmos.
In the foreground – both edges of the image – stands the MAGIC telescope I and II (Major Atmospheric Gamma-ray Imaging Cherenkov Telescopes). MAGIC-II is located at a distance of 85 m from the first MAGIC telescope (at right). The stereo operation of both telescopes has increased the sensitivity of the observatory by a factor of ~3. MAGIC-II (at left) is a copy of the original MAGIC-I but it has a more homogeneous camera with more pixels, and a refurbished readout. In 2012, in a major upgrading operation mostly concerning MAGIC-I, the two telescopes were made technically identical. MAGIC is not only huge (it was the largest telescope mirror in the world, with 17 meters in diameter, before the construction of H.E.S.S.) but also pioneers a number of technical developments that had never been applied to Cherenkov telescopes before. The mirror is extremely light and can be moved to any position in the sky in less than thirty seconds. It is made up of 270 individual mirror panels that can be independently focussed using an active mirror control system equipped with lasers.
Between the both giant Cherenkov Telescopes, stands the mountain top of the Roque de los Muchachos, where is placed from right to left, telescopes like Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC), with a 10,4 meters primary mirror reflecting telescope (first silhouette), Telescopio Nazionale Galileo (TNG), that is a 3.6m alt-azimuth telescope with a Ritchey-Chretien optical configuration, Nordic Optical Telescope (NOT) a modern 2.6-m optical/IR telescope, Dutch Open Telescope (DOT) an innovative optical telescope with a primary mirror of 45 cm diameter, for high-resolution imaging of the solar atmosphere, Swedish 1-m Solar Telescope (SST) is the largest solar telescope in Europe and number one in the world when it comes to high spatial resolution, and finally the great William Herschel Telescope (WHT), the largest optical telescope of its kind in Europe, with a primary mirror of 4.2 meters in diameter, is one of the most scientifically productive telescopes in the world.
Between the William Herschel Telescope and the MAGIC (at left) the sky shows the Pleiades star cluster M45, and a bit above, semi hidden behind the antenna we can find the deep sky object California nebula NGC1499. From left to right edge, the sky shows the presence of a strong green airglow of oxygen atoms (90-100 km high), and shining in the center image as an orange bands – normally from oxygen atoms at 150-300km high where the atmosphere is so sparse and collisions so infrequent that the atoms have time to radiate ‘forbidden’ light. Finally, against the MAGIC I (in the right corner of the picture), lies our own Galaxy, the Milky Way.
| Canon 60Da – ISO2500; 24mm at f/2; Exp. 15 secs. Mosaic of 19 images taken in 01/10/2013 at 00:04
The MAGIC Gamma-ray Cherenkov Telescope and Milky Way
| Canon 60Da – ISO2500; 24mm at f/2; Exp. 15 secs. in 01/10/2013 at: 01h29 AM
In the foreground we can see the great MAGIC I telescope (Major Atmospheric Gamma-ray Imaging Cherenkov Telescopes) with it´s gigantic structure in front of a starry background, also mirrored on its impressive brilliant surface of 236 m2.
MAGIC is a system of two Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes situated at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory on La Palma, one of the Canary Islands, at about 2200 m above sea level. MAGIC detects particle showers released by gamma rays, using the Cherenkov radiation, i.e., faint light radiated by the charged particles in the showers. With a diameter of 17 meters and 236 m2 reflective surface, it was the largest in the world before the construction of H.E.S.S. II. MAGIC is not only huge, but also pioneers a number of technical developments that had never been applied to Cherenkov telescopes before. The mirror is extremely light and can be moved to any position in the sky in less than thirty seconds. It is made up of 270 individual mirror panels that can be independently focussed using an active mirror control system equipped with lasers.
The cosmos and its evolution are studied using all radiation, in particular electromagnetic waves. The observable spectrum extends from radio waves to infrared, visible, ultraviolet, X-ray, gamma-rays and finally very high energy gamma rays (starting at energies of 10 GeV). Observations at visible wavelengths (.5 to 1 micrometer) have a history of centuries, gamma astronomy by satellites (keV to few GeV) and ground-based telescopes (above 300 GeV) are end-of-20th century newcomers. The MAGIC telescope can detect very high energy gamma rays in a range of energies where no other telescope in the world can operate, so it opens up a brand new window into the universe.
| Canon 60Da – ISO2500; 24mm at f/2; Exp. 15 secs. Sum of 53 images taken in 01/10/2013 at 00:22.
The MAGIC I Telescope Profile
In the foreground we can see the profile of MAGIC I telescope (Major Atmospheric Gamma-ray Imaging Cherenkov Telescopes) with it´s gigantic structure in front a startrail background, where is also visible the Milky Way dragged, and clearly distinguishable the different colors of each star and the deep sky objects, as viewed in the violet paths in the center of the picture.
MAGIC is a system of two Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes situated at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory on La Palma, one of the Canary Islands, at about 2200 m above sea level. MAGIC detects particle showers released by gamma rays, using the Cherenkov radiation, i.e., faint light radiated by the charged particles in the showers. With a diameter of 17 meters and 236 m2 reflective surface, it was the largest in the world before the construction of H.E.S.S. II. MAGIC is not only huge, but also pioneers a number of technical developments that had never been applied to Cherenkov telescopes before. The mirror is extremely light and can be moved to any position in the sky in less than thirty seconds. It is made up of 270 individual mirror panels that can be independently focussed using an active mirror control system equipped with lasers.
The cosmos and its evolution are studied using all radiation, in particular electromagnetic waves. The observable spectrum extends from radio waves to infrared, visible, ultraviolet, X-ray, gamma-rays and finally very high energy gamma rays (starting at energies of 10 GeV). Observations at visible wavelengths (.5 to 1 micrometer) have a history of centuries, gamma astronomy by satellites (keV to few GeV) and ground-based telescopes (above 300 GeV) are end-of-20th century newcomers. The MAGIC telescope can detect very high energy gamma rays in a range of energies where no other telescope in the world can operate, so it opens up a brand new window into the universe.
| Canon 60Da – ISO2500; 24mm at f/2; Exp. 15 secs. Sum of 13 images taken in 30/09/2013 at 23:27
Grantecan Lonely in the Universe
From lower left to the right side of the picture, we can see the silver dome open of Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC), with a 10,4 meters primary mirror reflecting telescope. It is designed to incorporate the most up-to-date technology and it is one of the most advanced telescopes in the world, actually, the largest one until now in the optical-infrared system. At right edge, in the background, we can see the beautiful light coming from the central region of the “vertical” Milky Way, where the main stars of Sagittarius constellation are shining surrounded by a region rich in emission nebulae, like the Lagoon Nebula (M8) and the Trifid Nebula (M20), or even M23 and M24, – seen in the top right corner of the picture. Behind the GTC dome, the sky is smoothly shining as an orange airglow, normally from oxygen atoms at 150-300km high where the atmosphere is so sparse and collisions so infrequent that the atoms have time to radiate ‘forbidden’ light.
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. in 30/09/2013 at: 22h25 AM
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
MAGIC Telescope against the Milky Way
| Canon 60Da – ISO2500; 24mm at f/4; Exp. 1/80 secs. in 30/09/2013 at: 22h43 AM
In the foreground we can see the MAGIC I telescope (Major Atmospheric Gamma-ray Imaging Cherenkov Telescopes) in front of the Milky Way, with many of colorful stars mirrored in its surface of 236 m2. MAGIC is a system of two Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes situated at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory on La Palma, one of the Canary Islands, at about 2200 m above sea level. MAGIC detects particle showers released by gamma rays, using the Cherenkov radiation, i.e., faint light radiated by the charged particles in the showers. With a diameter of 17 meters and 236 m2 reflective surface, it was the largest in the world before the construction of H.E.S.S. II. MAGIC is not only huge, but also pioneers a number of technical developments that had never been applied to Cherenkov telescopes before. The mirror is extremely light and can be moved to any position in the sky in less than thirty seconds. It is made up of 270 individual mirror panels that can be independently focussed using an active mirror control system equipped with lasers.
The cosmos and its evolution are studied using all radiation, in particular electromagnetic waves. The observable spectrum extends from radio waves to infrared, visible, ultraviolet, X-ray, gamma-rays and finally very high energy gamma rays (starting at energies of 10 GeV). Observations at visible wavelengths (.5 to 1 micrometer) have a history of centuries, gamma astronomy by satellites (keV to few GeV) and ground-based telescopes (above 300 GeV) are end-of-20th century newcomers. The MAGIC telescope can detect very high energy gamma rays in a range of energies where no other telescope in the world can operate, so it opens up a brand new window into the universe.
Below is the MAGIC against a startrail background where is also visible the Milky Way dragged, and clearly distinguishable the different colors of each star.
| Canon 60Da – ISO2500; 24mm at f/2; Exp. 15 secs. Sum of 23 images taken in 30/09/2013 at 22:44
FACT Cherenkov Telescope in a Milky Way Backlight
Captured in the 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, Canary, Spain, the image shows in the foreground, the First G-APD Cherenkov Telescope (FACT), that is the first imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescope using Geiger-mode avalanche photodiods (G-APDs) as photo sensors. The rather small, low-cost telescope will not only serve as a test bench for this technology in Cherenkov astronomy, but also monitor bright active galactic nuclei (AGN) in the TeV energy range. The First G-APD Cherenkov Telescope is assembled in Roque de Los Muchachos on the MAGIC site, mounted in the focus of one of the former HEGRA telescopes (CT3). In the background, the beautiful light coming from the central region of Milky Way, where the main stars of Sagittarius constellation are shining behind the telescope structure and surrounded by a region rich in emission nebulae, like the Lagoon Nebula (M8) and the Trifid Nebula (M20), or even M23 and M24, Omega nebula (M17) and Eagle Nebula (M16) – seen in the right edge of the picture in violet color – working as an impressive backlight that even without the presence of any other source of light, allow us to show the imposing dark silhouette of the FACT Telescope, with some of these nebulae and stars, reflected in part of the 9.5 sqm mirror area. More info related: DWARF – Dedicated multiWavelength Agn Research Facility.
The excellent quality of the sky for astronomy in the Canaries is determined and protected by Law. As a result, the observatories of the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) are an “astronomy reserve” which has been available to the international community since 1979. Technical image details: Canon 60Da – ISO2500; 24mm at f/2; Exp. 15 secs. in 30/09/2013 at: 22h43 AM
Image of a startrail sequence taken at the same time, with the Milky Way dragged in the background.
| Canon 60Da – ISO2500; 24mm at f/2; Exp. 15 secs. Sum of 23 images taken in 30/09/2013 at 22:44
FACT Cherenkov Telescope with a dragged Milky Way
| Canon 60Da – ISO2500; 24mm at f/2; Exp. 15 secs. Sum of 23 images taken in 30/09/2013 at 22:44
Image of a startrail sequence taken at the same time of the image below, with the Milky Way dragged in the background.
Captured in the 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, Canary, Spain, the image shows in the foreground, the First G-APD Cherenkov Telescope (FACT), that is the first imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescope using Geiger-mode avalanche photodiods (G-APDs) as photo sensors. The rather small, low-cost telescope will not only serve as a test bench for this technology in Cherenkov astronomy, but also monitor bright active galactic nuclei (AGN) in the TeV energy range. The First G-APD Cherenkov Telescope is assembled in Roque de Los Muchachos on the MAGIC site, mounted in the focus of one of the former HEGRA telescopes (CT3). In the background, the beautiful light coming from the central region of Milky Way, where the main stars of Sagittarius constellation are shining behind the telescope structure and surrounded by a region rich in emission nebulae, like the Lagoon Nebula (M8) and the Trifid Nebula (M20), or even M23 and M24, Omega nebula (M17) and Eagle Nebula (M16) – seen in the right edge of the picture in violet color – working as an impressive backlight that even without the presence of any other source of light, allow us to show the imposing dark silhouette of the FACT Telescope, with some of these nebulae and stars, reflected in part of the 9.5 sqm mirror area. More info related: DWARF – Dedicated multiWavelength Agn Research Facility.
The excellent quality of the sky for astronomy in the Canaries is determined and protected by Law. As a result, the observatories of the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) are an “astronomy reserve” which has been available to the international community since 1979. Technical image details: Canon 60D – ISO2500; 24mm at f/4; Exp. 1/80 secs. in 30/09/2013 at: 22h43.
Colorful Twilight in Roque de Los Muchachos
In this colorful twilight view captured after the sunset from the top of El Roque de Los Muchachos, home to one of the most extensive fleets of telescopes to be found anywhere in the world, we can see a startrail with an amazing view of planet Venus (the brightest trail at left), reflected in the “ocean of clouds” below the land. On earth, the bright trail was left by the lights of a car that was moving inside the observatory area, where is visible from left to right, the Telescopio Nazionale Galileo. TNG is a 3.6m alt-azimuth telescope with a Ritchey-Chretien optical configuration and a flat tertiary mirror feeding two opposite Nasmyth foci and represents the largest Italian optical/infrared telescope. On the right edge of the picture stands the Gran Telescope Canarias (GTC) with a 10,4 meters primary mirror reflecting telescope was designed to incorporate the most up-to-date technology and it is one of the most advanced telescopes in the world, actually, the largest one until now in the optical-infrared system
| Canon 50D – ISO1600; 13mm at f/5; Exp. 30 secs. Sum of 14 images taken in 30/09/2013 between 20:59 and 21:06.
Observatories, Earth Shadow and Belt of Venus
In this picture captured few minutes after the sunset from Roque de Los Muchachos, in La Palma Canary Island, we can see the Earth shadow, a dark blue band that rises upwards from the horizon. The band is the shadow of the Earth on the atmosphere. Immediately above, where the evening air is still lit, glows a pink band called the anti-twilight arch, or “Belt of Venus”. On Earth, stands part of a huge complex with 15 telescopes, some of the largest telescopes in the world. From left to right, the grey dome open is the shelter for the Nordic Optical Telescope (NOT) a modern 2.6-m optical/IR telescope, next, the small white house is the home for Automatic Transit Circle (ATC), an old meridian circle built by Grubb-Parsons in 1950 but completely refurbished and automatized in the 70’s of the past century by the Copenhagen University Observatory (CUO). It main task is to observe evenly bodies at their transit across the meridian. At his right, the big white dome belongs to the great William Herschel Telescope (WHT), the largest optical telescope of its kind in Europe, with a primary mirror of 4.2 meters in diameter, is one of the most scientifically productive telescopes in the world. Next, the small shape in the background near the first white tower is from Liverpool Telescope, a 2 meter diameter optical astronomical telescope, constructed especially for robotic use. The telescope is especially to study variable astronomical phenomena. Now, the first white Tower is from Dutch Open Telescope (DOT) an innovative optical telescope with a primary mirror of 45 cm diameter, for high-resolution imaging of the solar atmosphere. Next far, the silver small dome is from Mercator Telescope, a 1.2 m quasi-robotic telescope which scientific niche is focussed on monitoring variable celestial phenomena with a large range in typical time-scales (pulsating stars, gravitational lenses, Gamma Ray Bursts, active Galactic Nuclei), immediately adjacent to the next tower (just in the picture) we can see the Swedish 1-m Solar Telescope (SST), the largest solar telescope in Europe and number one in the world when it comes to high spatial resolution. The last white domes belongs to Isaac Newton Telescope (INT) with a 2.54-meter primary mirror and the Jacobus Kapteyn Telescope (JKT) with a parabolic primary mirror of 1.0 m diameter.
| Canon 60Da – ISO400; 24mm at f/4; Exp. 1/80 secs. in 30/09/2013 at: 20h10 AM
Telescopes above the clouds in La Palma
A panoramic view from the top of El Roque de Los Muchachos, in La Palma Canary island, where stands a huge complex with 15 telescopes, some of the largest telescopes in the world – many of them visible in the background – from 19 nations, that are using the best night sky in Europe to explore the cosmos. The main telescopes visible in the image, are, from left to right: Telescopio Nazionale Galileo (TNG), Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC), The MAGIC I and IItelescopes (Major Atmospheric Gamma-ray Imaging Cherenkov Telescopes) as seen below in the center of the image, Nordic Optical Telescope (NOT) with the silver dome, and William Herschel Telescope (WHT) the biggest white dome in the picture.
| Panoramica – Canon 50D – ISO500 18mm at f/5.6; Exp. 1/8000 secs. in 30/09/2013 at: 15h45 AM
Daylight Panoramic view from Roque de Los Muchachos Telescopes
A panoramic view with the mountain of Roque de Los Muchachos, in La Palma Canary island, where stands a huge complex with 15 telescopes, some of the largest telescopes in the world – many of them visible in the background – from 19 nations, that are using the best night sky in Europe to explore the cosmos. From Right to Left we can see the Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC), The MAGIC I and II telescopes (Major Atmospheric Gamma-ray Imaging Cherenkov Telescopes), Telescopio Nazionale Galileo (TNG), Nordic Optical Telescope (NOT), Dutch Open Telescope (DOT), Swedish 1-m Solar Telescope (SST) , William Herschel Telescope (WHT), Mercator Telescope, Jacobus Kapteyn Telescope (JKT) and Isaac Newton Telescope (INT).
| Panoramica – Canon 50D – ISO500 18mm at f/5.6; Exp. 1/8000 secs. in 30/09/2013 at: 15h45 AM
A Road to Big Dipper
The Big Dipper (Ursa Major) lies in the “end” of the road to Roque de Los Muchachos, where a stargazer is enjoying the great sky of La Palma. The excellent quality of the sky for astronomy in the Canaries is determined and protected by Law. As a result, the observatories of the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) are an “astronomy reserve” which has been available to the international community since 1979. I´ve used a diffuse filter in the camera lens, to increase and highlight the main stars of Ursa Major.
| Canon 60Da – ISO2500; 24mm at f/2; Exp. 15 secs. in 30/09/2013 at: 06h42 AM
Sirius Isaac Newton and Mercator Telescopes
Sirius shining in the Canis Major constellation seen above (from left to right) the Isaac Newton Telescope (INT) with a 2.54-meter primary mirror with a focal ratio of f/2.94. Presently, the INT is used for wide-field imaging. At the right side of INT, stands the Mercator Telescope, with a 1.2 m quasi-robotic telescope which scientific niche is focused on monitoring variable celestial phenomena, with a large range in typical time-scales (pulsating stars, gravitational lenses, Gamma Ray Bursts, active Galactic Nuclei). Below Sirius, and above the dome of Isaac Newton Telescope, is visible the M41 star cluster.
| Canon 60Da – ISO2500; 24mm at f/2; Exp. 15 secs. in 30/09/2013 at: 05h32 AM
Sirius and William Herschel
Sirius shining in the Canis Major constellation seen above the William Herschel Telescope (WHT), the largest optical telescope of its kind in Europe, with a primary mirror of diameter 4.2 meters. Its versatile and state-of-the-art instrumentation together with the superb sky quality of the Roque de Los Muchachos, the Observatory have made the WHT one of the most scientifically productive telescopes in the world.
| Canon 60Da – ISO2500; 24mm at f/2; Exp. 15 secs. in 30/09/2013 at: 05h32 AM
UFO Moon in Los Andenes
This “UFO” view of the Moon above the rocks between Los Andenes and Roque de Los Muchachos, in La Palma Canary island, shows a stargazer that seems to come down from another planet. Above the moon – In the middle of the sky – the brightest star is actually the planet Jupiter that is in conjunction with the star Wasat, from Gemini constellation. The brightest star in the right top corner of the image, is Betelgeuse, from Orion constellation.
| Canon 50D – ISO2500; 10mm at f/4; Exp. 30 secs. in 30/09/2013 at: 5h00 AM
Orion above the Rocks of Los Andenes
Orion Constellation behind a great rock from Los Andenes, near Roque de Los Muchahos, La Palma. Besides the different color of each star well visible in the picture, we could see some deep sky objects like part of the Barnard´s Loop, Lambda Orionis, or low left and above the rocks, the Rosette nebula.
Canon 60Da – ISO2500; 24mm at f/2; Exp. 15 secs. in 30/09/2013 at: 04h13 AM
Milky Way Galaxy – Deep Sky Wide Field
In this deep sky wide field view of our own galaxy, the Milky Way arm is showed as it as seen and captured from the northern hemisphere of Earth. A first look along the panorama, shows us the hazy band of white light originated from un-resolved stars and other material that lie within the Galactic plane, contrasting with the Dark regions within the band, corresponding to areas where light from distant stars is blocked by interstellar dust. See below the annotated version.
In detail – from left to right – We see part of Aquila constellation with the main visible star Altair and below it, the “E” Dark nebula (B142 e B143). Beside the small Delphinus constellation, we can find the great Cygnus, home for a lot of emission nebulae, like de Sadr region or IC1318. Above Deneb star, we find the Pelican Nebula (also known as IC 5070 and IC 5067) is an H II region associated with the North America Nebula (NGC7000) an emission nebula with a remarkable shape that resembles the North America continent. Above right, the Cocoon nebula (IC 5146) is a reflection/emission nebula and Caldwell object, yet in the constellation of Cygnus.
In the center picture, right of Cygnus lies the Cepheus constellation and the IC1396 nebula, also called the “Elephant’s Trunk Nebula”, is one of the largest emission nebulae in the Northern Sky with a diameter of 3 degrees. It is a giant cloud of gas and dust at a distance of 2400 light years from Earth. Next Cepheus is the Cassiopeia constellation and below right, stands The Heart Nebula, IC 1805 an emission nebula of about 7500 light years away from Earth. At his side, lies the “Soul Nebula”. In line with Cassiopeia at the top of the picture, stands de great Andromeda Galaxy M31, a spiral galaxy approximately 2.5 million light-years from Earth. Few degrees to right we can find the open cluster NGC752 about 1,300 light-years away from us. The cluster was discovered by Caroline Herschel in 1783, and cataloged by her brother William Herschel in 1786.
Between Cassiopeia and Perseus constellation, shines the Double Cluster, common name for the naked-eye open clusters NGC 869 and NGC 884, both lie at a distance of 7500 light years. Also in the Perseus constellation, we can find another great emission nebula, The “California Nebula” (NGC 1499). It lies at a distance of about 1,000 light years from our planet.
Finally, at the right edge of this Milky Way panorama, we can find the Auriga constellation, with it´s brightest star Capella. This constellation also sustains another deep sky object called: The “Flaming Star Nebula” (IC 405), an emission/reflection nebula that lies about 1,500 light-years away. Above Auriga, stands the Taurus constellation, with the shining star Aldebaran, and at his left, the great open star cluster Pleiades M45 (also known as Seven Sisters), containing middle-aged hot B-type stars. 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 is dominated by hot blue and extremely luminous stars that have formed within the last 100 million years. Dust that forms a faint reflection nebulosity around the brightest stars, was thought at first, to be left over from the formation of the cluster, but is now known to be an unrelated dust cloud in the interstellar medium, through which the stars are currently passing. The Pleiades are a prominent sight in winter in both the Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere, and have been known since antiquity to cultures all around the world, including the Māori, Aboriginal Australians, the Persians, the Chinese, the Japanese, the Maya, the Aztec, and the Sioux and Cherokee.
The picture was taken in Los Andenes, near Roque de Los Muchahos, in La Palma, Canary Island, where stands a huge complex with the some of the largest telescopes in the world. The excellent quality of the sky for astronomy in the Canaries is determined and protected by Law making it one of the best night skies in the world.
Canon 60Da – ISO 1250; Exp. 60 sec. 35mm lens at f/2. Mosaic of 18 images traking with Vixen Polarie travel mount.
Below you will find a resume with all publications – printed and online – related to this particular photograph.
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Milky Way in Parque Nacional de la Caldera de Taburiente
The central region of the Milky Way full of gas and dust, emission nebulae and so many stars, as viewed from Los Andenes, a region inside “Parque Nacional de la Caldera de Taburiente”, as we could see mentioned in the signpost on the National Park. Below, the Caldera is full of low clouds.
| Canon 60Da – ISO2000; 24mm at f/2; Exp. 15 secs. in 29/09/2013 at: 22h48 AM
Startrail Above the Clouds
In this Starry sky full of trails we can see the different colors of each star, many of them from the Scorpius constellation, The strong path at the right side of the image, comes from the planet Venus. Below the horizon, we found an ocean of clouds, located inside the Caldera and blocking part of the small light pollution coming from Santa Cruz de La Palma. The rocky silhouette is part of Roque de Los Muchachos, where stands a huge complex with the some of the largest telescopes in the world.
| Canon 60Da – ISO1600; 24mm at f/2; Exp. 13 secs. Sum of 200 images taken in 29/09/2013 between 21:22 and 22:06.
Venus and Saturn in Libra from Los Andenes
The Nautical Twilight seen from Los Andenes, near Roque de Los Muchahos, in La Palma, where we could see the strong light of planet Venus (the strongest light in the picture) inside the stellar asterism with a trapezium shape, that forms the Libra constellation. In the same imaginary line which conects Venus to the Zubenelgenubi star, we can find the planet Saturn, the third brightest object in the picture (at the right side of the image) almost with the same brightness of Antares, from Scorpius constellation, visible in the top of the picture as an orange star. Below the horizon, we found an ocean of clouds, located inside the Caldera. The rocky silhouette is part of Roque de Los Muchachos, where stands a huge complex with the some of the largest telescopes in the world.
| Canon 60Da – ISO640; 24mm at f/2; Exp. 10 secs. in 29/09/2013 at: 20h58 AM
Zodiacal Light, Milky Way and William Herschel Telescope
In this mosaic of 25 images, we can see the rocky silhouette between Los Andenes and Roque de Los Muchachos, where is the home to one of the most extensive fleets of telescopes to be found anywhere in the world, and where 15 telescopes from 19 nations are using the best night sky in Europe to explore the cosmos. The William Herschel Telescope (WHT) is one of them, with a primary mirror of diameter 4.2 meters, the telescope can be seen below right in the picture, with is dome opened, seems to pointing to the triangle formed in the middle of the picture by the smooth band of Zodiacal light (at left) which is crossing the Milky Way smooth region (at right), below the Orion constellation. These smooth bands are also important to let us find objects, like M44 above the rocks, and following the zodical light we find the planet Jupiter, the brightest star in the image. In the middle of Milky Way band, we can find the Rosette nebula. The Moon is shining in Cancer constellation, behind the rocks and below right to the star cluster M44 (NGC2632), so creating a blueish glow – more strong and evident – in the left half part of the picture.
| Mosaico – Canon 60Da – ISO2500; 24mm at f/2; Exp. 15 secs. in 30/09/2013 at: 05h50 AM Mosiac of 25 images.
The Universe Above the Clouds
In this mosaic image, captured in a height of 2,200 meters from the sea level, and above the clouds, we can see part of the Milky Way arc with a the central region rich in gas and emission nebulae. Near the horizon is Caldera de Taburiente – a very large volcanic crater with about 10 km across – that is full with clouds covering the city lights coming from La Palma. In the image is also visible some soft green airglow. The picture was taken in Pico de La Cruz, La Palma, Canary Island. The excellent quality of the sky for astronomy in the Canaries is determined and protected by Law.
| Canon 60Da – ISO2000; 24mm at f/2; Exp. 20 secs. in 26/09/2013 at: 23h37 Mosaic of 23 images.
Moontrail in Fuencaliente
In this startrail and moontrail captured in Los Canarios, Fuencaliente, Canary island, above the landscape full of pine trees, the strong path of moon shines side-by-side with planet Jupiter (the trail above moon), as well as the trails from Orion stars, Canis Major and Columba, near the cloudy horizon.
Canon 50D – ISO3200; 10mm at f/4; Exp. 30 secs. Sum 155 images taken in 28/09/2013 between: 3h19 AM and 4h43 AM.
Sirius in a Lovely Morning Scene
A lovely moonlite scene captured in La Palma moutains, in Los Canarios, Fuencaliente, facing to the Atlantic Ocean. While Sirius, the brightest star in the northen hemisphere is shining blue and strong in the morning sky, the Teide volcano seems to emerge from the clouds in the horizon, with 3718 km is the highest point above sea level in the islands of the Atlantic Ocean and the world’s third largest volcano. In the image, is also visible the entire constellation of Canis Major, and below right the Sirius, is clearly visible the star cluster M41.
Canon 60Da – ISO1250; 24mm at f/2.8; Exp. 15 secs. in 28/09/2013 at: 4h22 AM
Lonely Pine Tree
A moonlite night sky with a lonely pine tree in Los Canarios region, Fuencaliente, La Palma. | Canon 50D – ISO3200; 10mm at f/4; Exp. 30 secs. in 28/09/2013 at: 3h13 AM
Orion´s Shining in Los Canarios
Captured in Los Canarios, Fuencaliente, Canary island, above the landscape full of pine trees, the Orion stars are shining with it´s different colors, from blue to yellow/orange, like star Betelgeuse, or the Orion “violet” nebula, M42. | Near the horizon and above the clouds, is also visible a smooth yellow/green airglow effect. Canon 60Da – ISO2500; 24mm at f/2; Exp. 20 secs. in 28/09/2013 at: 2h23 AM
A Man Shadow in the Sky
It could be the silhouette of a being from other Universe watching us on Earth, but actually is my own shadow, captured during only part of the photo exposure. Near my neck region, it´s visible the star cluster M45, Pleaides, from Taurus constellation. At my right shadow shoulder (left area of the image) , we can see the stars from Perseus, and with attention, is softly visible the California nebula NGC1499. On earth we can see the silhouette of typical vegetation from Los Canarios, Fuencaliente, La Palma Canary island.
| Canon 50D – ISO2500; 24mm at f/2.8; Exp. 15 secs. in 28/09/2013 at: 0h21 AM
Milky Way above Caldera de Taburiente
In this mosaic image, captured in a height of 2,200 meters from the sea level, and above the clouds, we can see the central region of the Milky Way with Sagittarius constellation surrounded by a region rich in emission nebulae. Above the clouds and near the horizon of Caldera de Taburiente – a very large volcanic crater with about 10 km across – lies the “orange” star Antares, from Scorpius constellation as seen on the right side of the image. In the oposite direction (at left), we can see some green and orange airglow bands. The picture was taken in Pico de La Cruz, La Palma, Canary Island.
| Canon 60Da – ISO2000; 24mm at f/2; Exp. 20 secs. in 26/09/2013 at: 22h56 Mosaic of 20 images.
La Palma Dark and Light
In this single image, captured in a height of 2,200 meters from the sea level, and above the clouds, we can see the central region of the Milky Way rich in gas and emission nebulae. Above the clouds and near the horizon is visible part of Caldera de Taburiente, a very large volcanic crater with about 10 km across. At the right side of the image, lies the “orange” star Antares, from Scorpius constellation. The picture was taken in Pico de La Cruz, La Palma, Canary Island. This picture shows the contrast between the excellent quality of the sky for astronomy in the Canaries – which is determined and protected by a Sky Law – and the effect of light pollution, coming from the city lights of Santa Cruz de La Palma, visible through a hole in the clouds in Caldera.
| Canon 60Da – ISO2000; 24mm at f/2; Exp. 20 secs. in 26/09/2013 at: 22h52 AM
A Bright Meteor
A bright meteor above the clouds in Caldera de Taburiente, La Palma, Canary islands. Near the top left we could see part of central region of Milky Way. | Canon 50D – ISO2500; 35mm at f/2; Exp. 20 secs. in 26/09/2013 at: 22h02 AM
A Quiet Moon Scene in La Palma
This picture shows a quiet moon scene viewed from Mirador de Las Ventas, in La Palma, the Canary islands, while some photographers are enjoying and capturing his own views of the moon between the clouds, and reflected in the Atlantic Ocean.
Canon 50D – ISO1000; 24mm at f/4; Exp. 8 secs. in 26/09/2013 at: 1h28 AM
