From a Foggy Twilight into a Starry Night over Picos de Europa
A time lapse scene captured in June 2015 during an expedition to Picos de Europa National Park, in Northern Spain, reveals a short video sequence starting with a foggy twilight and a cloudy night after a thunderstorm, finishing with a starry view with the Milky Way above the mountain range. On the ground is visible a lonely chalet located in the middle of the high mountains. Without electricity, only a few lights are powered by a gasoline generator being switched off after midnight. The movie intends to shows the effect of light pollution even with a few lights, revealing the range of the light glow while scattered with the fog, showing how a pristine sky like that can fade out in a question of seconds, if we will not taking care properly..
PT: Este time lapse captado em Junho de 2015 durante uma expedição ao Parque Nacional Picos de Europa, no norte da Espanha, revela uma sequência vídeo que se inicia com um crepúsculo em torno do nevoeiro e transitando para uma noite de neblina após uma curta tempestade de relâmpagos, terminando assim com uma vista estrelada da Via Láctea acima desta cordilheira espanhola. Na paisagem ímpar, é visível um chalet solitário localizado no meio das montanhas altas e rochosas. Sem eletricidade, apenas algumas luzes são alimentadas por um gerador de gasolina que é todas as noites desligado após a meia-noite. O filme pretende mostrar o efeito da poluição luminosa – que mesmo com pouca iluminação exterior – revela o alcance do glow luminoso reflectido enquanto este se dispersa pelo nevoeiro, mostrando como um céu pristino como este, se pode desvanecer em questão de segundos se não tomarmos as devidas precauções para o proteger.
A Night View from Saint Basil’s Cathedral While Moon sets Over Kremlin
Captured under the twilight, this cityscape is showing paths of lights on the ground. Besides the street lights, they are the result of busy modern cities where light pollution is hidding the main wonders of the night sky. Above the lights, is visible one of the iconics landmarks from Russia, the Saint Basil’s Cathedral, an Orthodox colorful church, building “like the flame of a bonfire rising into the sky”. Not easy to spot at first sight, the crescent moon is very low on the horizon but yet visible from the Red Square. The answer to find it on this image, lies on the monument to Minin and Pozharsky. A bronze sculpture in front of the Saint Basil’s Cathedral which commemorates Prince Dmitry Pozharsky and the merchant Kuzma Minin, who gathered an entire Russian volunteer army to expell from Moscow, the forces under the command of King Sigismund III of Poland, in early 17th century. If you look carefully, Minin seems to be actually explaining to Dmitry, that the moon is setting behind the bushes from the Kremlin walls.
PT: Captada durante o crepúsculo, uma paisagem urbana nocturna revela alguns rastos de luz próximos ao chão. Além da iluminação pública, estes são resultado de cidades movimentadas e modernas, onde a poluição luminosa esconde as principais maravilhas do céu noturno. Acima das luzes, é visível um dos marcos emblemáticos da Rússia, a Catedral de São Basílio, uma igreja ortodoxa colorida, construída “como a chama de uma fogueira subindo em direcção ao céu”. Não é fácil detectar à primeira vista nesta imagem a lua crescente, por estar baixa e a caminho do horizonte, ainda assim, é visível a partir da Praça Vermelha. A resposta para encontrá-lo nesta fotografia, está no monumento a Minin e Pozharsky. Uma escultura de bronze em frente à Catedral de São Basílio, que comemora o príncipe Dmitry Pozharsky e o comerciante Kuzma Minin, que reuniram todo um exército voluntário russo para expulsar de Moscovo, as forças sob o comando do rei Sigismundo III da Polónia, no início do século XVII. Se olhar com atenção, Minin parece estar realmente explicando a Dmitry, que a lua está se pondo atrás dos arbustos das paredes do Kremlin.
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Nostalgia – A Mesmerizing View that Can be Lost Forever
With the Summer ending in Northern Hemisphere, it’s time to say goodbye to our Milky Way, at least to the brightest colorful dusty heart of our galaxy. For those of us who loves spending entire nights outside watching and enjoying the night sky, it can leads to a feeling of Nostalgia, but its just a matter of time regarding the natural motion of our planet orbiting the sun, and you know that you will get back again to this amazing views within six months. Although, if we not take care and face the increasing light pollution as a serious problem of nowadays, in a near future, a vision like that could be only achieved through a photograph of a remote reality, leading to a permanent lost of the night sky, as it has to be… beautiful starry and deeply dark!.
PT: Com o verão a terminar no Hemisfério Norte, é hora de dizer adeus à nossa Via Láctea, pelo menos ao coração poeirento e colorido que “jaz” no centro da galáxia. Para aqueles de nós que adoram passar noites inteiras ao relento e apenas a contemplar o céu noturno, este adeus pode levar a um sentimento de Nostalgia ou numa singular palavra portuguesa, Saudade! Mas será apenas uma questão de tempo decorrente do movimento natural do nosso planeta em orbtia do sol, até podermos voltar a ter acesso novamente a estas vistas incríveis, numa expectável espera de cerca de seis meses. No entanto, se não tomarmos as devidas precauções e encararmos a crescente poluição luminosa como um grave problema dos dias de hoje, em um futuro próximo, uma visão como essa só poderá ser alcançada através da fotografia de uma realidade remota, levando a uma perda permanente do céu noturno, como supostamente deveria ser… lindamente estrelado e profundamente escuro!
A Stargazer is Trying to Find the Big Dipper and Little Dipper in the Sky of Tua Valley
The image shows a night scene over S. Lourenço, in Tua Valley, featuring a stargazer that is trying to find Polaris, the Northern Star. Looking first to the main stars that are composing the constellation of Ursa Major, also known as the Great Bear, is the easiest constellation recognisable in night time and used as a starting point, from beginners to experienced stargazers, to help localize and identify the Northern Star. To find Polaris, use the so-called “Pointer” stars in the bowl of the Big Dipper, Merak and Dubhe (at left). Then, just draw an imaginary line between these two stars and extend it out for about 5 times, and you will end up in Polaris, located on the image above the head of the stargazer.
PT: A imagem revela uma cena nocturna captada em S. Lourenço, no Vale do Tua, onde um entusiasta das estrelas tenta encontrar a estrela Polar, também conhecida por Estrela do Norte. Como ponto de partida, observa primeiramente as principais estrelas que compõem a constelação da Ursa Maior (à esquerda), visto ser facilmente reconhecível no período nocturno, é também usada como ponto de partida – desde iniciantes a astrónomos experientes – para ajudar a localizar e identificar a Estrela Polar. Para encontrar a Polaris, use as estrelas da Ursa Maior, Merak e Dubhe. Seguidamente desenhe uma linha imaginária entre essas duas estrelas e estenda-a por cerca de 5 vezes, terminará assim na Estrela Polar, localizada no na imagem mesmo acima da cabeça do observador.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
A panorama captured with a Nikon D810a | 26mm at f/2,8 | ISO3200 | Exp. 20 secs.
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.
The Crescent Moon above the Old City of Jerusalem as Seen from the Olive Mount
The image shows a crescent Moon featuring a faint earthshine above the old city of Jerusalem, as seen from the Mount of Olives. It is one of the oldest cities in the world, and is considered holy to the three major Abrahamic religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. During its long history, Jerusalem has been destroyed at least twice, besieged 23 times, captured and recaptured 44 times, and attacked 52 time. The only part that survived to all attacks along the history and stills partially intact until today, is the Western Wall, or “Wailing Wall”, the most religious site in the world for the Jewish people. Located inside the Old City of Jerusalem, it is the western support wall of the Temple Mount, visible in the right side of the image as a blue base and a golden dome, well known as the Temple Rock. 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.
In the foreground, it can be seen the Mount of Olives, where several key events in the life of Jesus took place. In the Acts of the Apostles it is described as the place from which Jesus ascended to heaven. It is named for the olive groves that once covered its slopes. The Mount has been used as a Jewish Cemetery, including the Silwan necropolis, which is the most ancient and most important Jewish cemetery in Jerusalem. From Biblical times until the present, Jews have been buried on the Mount of Olives, a practice started some 3,000 years ago in the First Temple Period. The cemetery contains anywhere between 70,000 and 300,000 tombs from various periods, including the tombs of famous figures in Jewish history according to Wikipedia. One explanation for placing stones as a sign of respect above the grave is to ensure that souls remain where they belong. All the explanations have one thing in common, the sense of solidity that stones give. While other things fade, stones and souls endure.
PT: A imagem revela uma lua crescente e um earthshine lunar acima da antiga cidade de Jerusalém, vista a partir do Monte das Oliveiras. É uma das cidades mais antigas do mundo e é considerada sagrada para as três principais religiões abraamicas, judaísmo, cristianismo e islamismo. Durante sua longa história, Jerusalém foi destruída pelo menos duas vezes, sitiada 23 vezes, capturada e recapturada 44 vezes e atacada 52 vezes. 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, ou “Western Wall”, o local mais religioso do mundo para o povo judeu. Localizado dentro da Cidade Velha de Jerusalém, é a parede de sustentação ocidental do Monte do Templo, visível no lado direito da imagem como uma base azul e uma cúpula dourada, mais conhecida como the Temple Rock. 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 da rocha no centro da estrutura. A Pedra Fundamental no templo foi construída sobre o grande significado do judaísmo como o lugar onde Deus criou o mundo e o primeiro ser humano, Adão.
Em primeiro plano, pode ser visto o Monte das Oliveiras, onde aconteceram vários eventos importantes na vida de Jesus. Nos Atos dos Apóstolos é descrito como o lugar de onde Jesus subiu ao céu. É assim denominado pelos os olivais que cobriam suas encostas. O Monte tem sido usado como cemitério judeu, incluindo a necrópole de Silwan, que é o mais antigo e importante cemitério judeu de Jerusalém. Desde os tempos bíblicos até o presente, os judeus foram enterrados no Monte das Oliveiras, uma prática iniciada há cerca de 3.000 anos atrás no período do Primeiro Templo. O cemitério contém entre 70.000 e 300.000 túmulos de vários períodos, incluindo os túmulos de figuras famosas da história judaica de acordo com a Wikipedia. Uma explicação para colocar pedras como sinal de respeito acima do túmulo, é garantir que as almas permaneçam onde elas pertencem. Todas as explicações têm uma coisa em comum: a sensação de solidez que as pedras dão. Enquanto outras coisas se desvanecem, pedras e almas perduram.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
A single shot with a Canon 6D | 24mm lens at f/2,8 | ISO800 | Exp. 1/5 sec.
Full Dome Fish-eye View from the Ancient Old Jaffa Port in Tel Aviv
The image features a full dome fish-eye view where only trails of the brightest stars from constellations like Geminids, Orion or Canis Major can be revealed against a light polluted sky and under the moonlight. In the foreground, a traveller is watching the sky above the Old Jaffa Port (also known as Namal Yafo) was the ancient port of the city of Jaffa, in Israel, out of which modern day Tel Aviv has grown. The Old Jaffa Port is reputed to be one of the oldest ports in the world, for over 7,000 years it has been actively used, predating Muslims, Christians, Jews, and even Egyptians. Notably being the port from which Jonah set off in the famous Biblical story of Jonah and the Whale. Today the port is used largely by local fishermen who continue the centuries old tradition of the area according to the source, Tourist Israel.
PT: A imagem mostra uma visão olho de peixe de 180º onde apenas os rastos das estrelas mais brilhantes de constelações como Gémeos, Orion ou o Cão Maior, podem ser revelados contra um céu sob forte efeito da poluição luminosa e da presença da Lua. Em primeiro plano, um viajante observa o céu acima do “Old Jaffa Port” (também conhecido como Namal Yafo), o antigo porto da cidade de Jaffa, em Israel, sob o qual hoje em dia Tel Aviv cresceu. O Porto Velho de Jaffa, tem a reputação de ser um dos portos mais antigos do mundo, há mais de 7.000 anos tem sido usado ativamente, precedendo muçulmanos, cristãos, judeus e até egípcios. Notavelmente sendo o porto de onde Jonas partiu na famosa história bíblica de Jonas e da Baleia. Hoje o porto é usado em grande parte pelos pescadores locais que continuam a tradição centenária da região segundo a fonte Tourist Israel.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
A startrail sequence captured with a Canon 6D | 8mm fish-eye lens at f/4 | ISO2500 | Exp. 1/3 sec.
The Night Sky above the Ancient Old Jaffa Port in Tel Aviv
The image features part of winter night sky where only the brightest stars from constellations like Geminids, Orion or Canis Major can be revealed against a light polluted sky and under the moonlight. Below is the Old Jaffa Port (also known as Namal Yafo) was the ancient port of the city of Jaffa, in Israel, out of which modern day Tel Aviv has grown. The Old Jaffa Port is reputed to be one of the oldest ports in the world, for over 7,000 years it has been actively used, predating Muslims, Christians, Jews, and even Egyptians. Notably being the port from which Jonah set off in the famous Biblical story of Jonah and the Whale. Today the port is used largely by local fishermen who continue the centuries old tradition of the area according to the source, Tourist Israel.
PT: A imagem mostra parte do céu noturno de inverno, onde apenas as estrelas mais brilhantes de constelações como Gémeos, Orion ou o Cão Maior, podem ser reveladas contra um céu sob forte efeito da poluição luminosa e da presença da Lua. Abaixo, está o “Old Jaffa Port” (também conhecido como Namal Yafo), o antigo porto da cidade de Jaffa, em Israel, sob o qual hoje em dia Tel Aviv cresceu. O Porto Velho de Jaffa, tem a reputação de ser um dos portos mais antigos do mundo, há mais de 7.000 anos tem sido usado ativamente, precedendo muçulmanos, cristãos, judeus e até egípcios. Notavelmente sendo o porto de onde Jonas partiu na famosa história bíblica de Jonas e da Baleia. Hoje o porto é usado em grande parte pelos pescadores locais que continuam a tradição centenária da região segundo a fonte Tourist Israel.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
A mosaic of 8 single frames captured with a Canon 6D | 24mm at f/2,8 | ISO1600 | Exp. 1/5 secs.
Colorful Light Paths from Stars and Morning Planets Shinning above the Skyline of Tel Aviv
Located on the Mediterranean coastline of Israel, Tel Aviv comprises the world’s largest concentration of International Style buildings, including Bauhaus and other related modernist architectural styles. The “White City” of Tel Aviv was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003. A startrail sequence captured in the twilight above the skyline of Tel Aviv, shows colorful light paths from stars and morning planets. The most prominent one in the center, is related to planet Venus and below it, close to the horizon starts the path of planet Saturn. The brightest one on the top is related to Jupiter. The red super giant star Antares, from Scorpius is also visible in the right top corner as an orange light path.
PT: Localizada na costa mediterrânea de Israel, Tel Aviv compreende a maior concentração mundial de edifícios de estilo internacional, incluindo Bauhaus e outros estilos arquitectónicos modernistas relacionados. A “Cidade Branca” de Tel Aviv, foi classificada como Património Mundial pela UNESCO em 2003. Uma sequência startrail captada ao crepúsculo acima do horizonte de Tel Aviv, mostra caminhos de luz coloridos de estrelas e planetas matinais. O mais proeminente no centro, está relacionado com o planeta Vénus e abaixo dele, próximo ao horizonte começa o caminho do planeta Saturno. O mais brilhante no topo da imagem está relacionado com Júpiter. A estrela super gigante vermelha Antares, do Escorpião, está visível no canto superior direito como um caminho de luz laranja.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
A startrail sequence captured with a Nikon D810a | 24mm at f/6,3 | ISO160 | Exp. 10 secs.
The Skyline of Tel Aviv at Night with Saturn, Venus and Jupiter Shinning Bright
Located on the Mediterranean coastline of Israel, Tel Aviv comprises the world’s largest concentration of International Style buildings, including Bauhaus and other related modernist architectural styles. The “White City” of Tel Aviv was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003. The image features a morning alignment at the end of astronomical twilight between planets Saturn, Venus and Jupiter, as seen above the skyline of Tel Aviv. The red super giant star Antares, from Scorpius is also visible in the right top corner, being the brightest one on the image, after the main planets.
PT: Localizada na costa mediterrânea de Israel, Tel Aviv compreende a maior concentração mundial de edifícios de estilo internacional, incluindo Bauhaus e outros estilos arquitectónicos modernistas relacionados. A “Cidade Branca” de Tel Aviv, foi classificada como Património Mundial pela UNESCO em 2003. A imagem revela um alinhamento captado no final do crepúsculo astronómico, entre os planetas Saturno, Vénus e Júpiter, visível acima do horizonte de Tel Aviv. A estrela super gigante vermelha Antares pode também ser vista no canto superior direito da imagem, sendo a mais brilhante depois dos planetas principais.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
A panorama of 5 single frames with a Canon 6D | 50mm at f/2,8 | ISO800 | Exp. 1/3 secs.
Colorful Vertical Panorama from Mitpze Ramon in Negev Desert
Captured from inside of Ramon Crater or “Makhtesh Ramon” in Israel’s Negev Desert, is the world’s largest “erosion cirque” – a landform which are only found in the Negev and its extension into Egypt’s Sinai desert created 220 million years ago when oceans covered the area. Located in the southern of Israel, Negev is a rocky desert with clay hills known for their fantastic red and yellowish colors, and cover more than half of the country. Nomadic life in the Negev dates back at least 4,000 years, and perhaps as much as 7,000 years according to some books, featuring a number of small Bedouin cities. This wide vertical panorama is featuring on the top an arched path of faint light from the winter Milky Way full of deep sky objects visible as a diffuse red/violet colors. In upper left corner we can find the Pleiades, a small group of bright blueish stars, also known as the seven sisters while below is visible the California Nebula. Orion Nebula and Rosette Nebula is also featuring on the center top edge, while further down to the right (below the Milky Way) the Beehive Cluster is shinning in a faint blue hue. On the ground, a path of light from a passing car light up the scene, resembling us the speed of light, the fastest thing we already know that can exist – at least until now – in our Universe. Above the horizon and the driest landscape of Isarel, lies the well known asterism of Ursa Major (Big Dipper), probably the easiest constellation recognisable in night time.
Biliblically and according to the Book of Genesis chapter 13, Abraham lived for a while in the Negev desert after being banished from Egypt. During the Exodus journey to the promised land, Moses sent twelve scouts into the Negev to assess the land and population. Later the northern part of biblical Negev was inhabited by the Tribe of Judah and the southern part of biblical Negev by the Tribe of Simeon. The Negev was later part of the Kingdom of Solomon (in its entirety, all the way to the Red Sea), and then, with varied extension to the south, part of the Kingdom of Judah. Source from wikipedia.
PT: Captada a partir da Cratera Ramon ou “Makhtesh Ramon” no Deserto de Negev, é o maior “cirque de erosão” do mundo – uma forma que só é encontrada no Negev e na sua extensão até ao deserto do Sinai, no Egipto – criado há 220 milhões de anos atrás. Localizado no sul de Israel, o Negev é um deserto rochoso com colinas de argila conhecidas por suas fantásticas cores vermelhas e amareladas, e cobre mais da metade do país. A vida nómade no Negev remonta pelo menos a 4.000 anos atrás, e talvez até 7.000 anos, de acordo com alguns livros, apresentando uma série de pequenas cidades beduínas. Este amplo panorama vertical apresenta no topo o caminho arqueado de luz fraca proveniente da Via Láctea de inverno, repleta de objetos do céu profundo, visíveis como um vermelho/violeta difuso. No canto superior esquerdo podemos encontrar as Pleiades, um pequeno grupo de estrelas azuladas brilhantes, também conhecidas como as Sete Irmãs, enquanto abaixo é visível a Nebulosa da Califórnia. A Nebulosa de Orion e a Nebulosa Roseta também são visíveis na extremo superior central da imagem, enquanto mais abaixo à direita (depois da Via Láctea), o aglomerado de Colmeia brilha em um tom azul fraco. No solo, um rasto de luz descrito por um carro iluminou toda a cena, relembrando-nos da velocidade da luz, a referência mais rápida que concebemos existir – pelo menos até hoje – no nosso Universo em evolução. Acima do horizonte e da paisagem mais seca de Isarel, encontra-se o bem conhecido asterismo da Ursa Maior, provavelmente a constelação mais fácil de reconhecer no céu nocturno.
Biblicamente e de acordo com o capítulo 13 do Livro de Gênesis, Abraão viveu por um tempo no deserto de Negev após ser banido do Egipto. Durante a viagem do Êxodo à terra prometida, Moisés enviou doze exploradores ao Negev para avaliar a terra e a população. Mais tarde, a parte norte do Negev bíblico foi habitada pela Tribo de Judá e a parte sul do Negev bíblico, pela Tribo de Simeão. O Negev foi mais tarde parte do Reino de Salomão (na sua totalidade, todo o caminho para o Mar Vermelho), e depois, com extensão variada para o sul, parte do Reino de Judá. Fonte da wikipedia.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
A vertical panorama of 4 single frames with a Nikon D810a | 14mm at f/2,8 | ISO2500 | Exp. 25 secs.
Fighting Light Pollution – Scientific Evidence Instead of Weapons
The Judean Desert, or the Judean Wilderness as it is has been known throughout history, is one of the world’s smallest, yet most unique desert regions with approximately 1,500 square kilometers, is located in Israel and the West Bank that lies east of Jerusalem and descends to the Dead Sea. Major urban areas in the region includes Jerusalem, Bethlehem, the Gush Etzion, Jericho and Hebron. For being so small, the night sky can be easily affected by light pollution coming from those cities and villages. The image features an abandoned war tank, near a military base located in the middle of the desert, taken in one night filled with dust and mixed with some fog. This hazy scene leads to reveal the worst effect of light pollution as it is spread against the night sky which fade out most of the brightest stars, a major effect that nowadays affect most of the metropolitan areas and the largest cities where most of the world’s population lives. Fighting the increasing light pollution – not with weapons, but with proofs given by studies and irrefutable evidences – is now one of the modern battles that scientists in different fields, environmentalists and the astronomy community are facing to raise awareness among politicians, companies, entrepreneurs and world leaders about the problem of bad and strong illumination. Changing the natural light of any environment can have devastating effects in our human healthy, on the plants, animals and natural life also increasing the energy consumption and washes out our view of the Universe in unnecessarily way.
Biblically and throughout history, the Judean Desert has been an important, and much documented place. It was the main entry route to the Holy City of Jerusalem from the east, and Moses famously looked out across it, and the Holy Land into which he never entered, from the Moab Mountains of Jordan which lie across the Dead Sea from Israel. Scripture from the Bible reveals in this desert wilderness one the most important victories in the life of Jesus is when He overcame temptation after his baptism by John the Baptist. Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him.” (Mark 1:12-13).
PT: O Deserto da Judeia, ou “Judean Wilderness” como é conhecido ao longo da história, é uma das menores e mais exclusivas regiões desérticas do mundo, com aproximadamente 1.500km quadrados, localizado em Israel e na Cisjordânia, fica a leste de Jerusalém e desce em direcção ao Mar Morto. As principais áreas urbanas da região incluem Jerusalém, Belém, o Gush Etzion, Jericó e Hebron. Por ser tão pequeno, o céu noturno é facilmente afetado pela poluição luminosa proveniente dessas cidades e povoações. Na imagem é possível ver um tanque de guerra abandonado, perto de uma base militar localizada no meio do deserto, numa noite envolta em poeiras e que se misturam com algum nevoeiro presente. O cenário nebuloso em pano de fundo, permitir revelar o pior efeito da poluição luminosa, à medida que esta se espalha contra o céu noturno desvanecendo a maioria das estrelas mais brilhantes. Um efeito importante que afecta hoje em dia a maioria das áreas metropolitanas e as grandes cidades onde vive a maior parte do população mundial. Lutar contra o aumento da poluição luminosa – não com armas, mas com estudos e evidências científicas irrefutáveis - é hoje uma das batalhas modernas que cientistas de diferentes áreas, ambientalistas e a comunidade astronómica internacional enfrenta, para tentar conscientizar políticos, empresas, empresários e líderes mundiais sobre o problema da má e forte iluminação pública. Mudar a luz natural de qualquer ambiente pode ter efeitos devastadores em nossa saúde humana, nas plantas, nos animais e na vida natural, aumentando também o consumo de energia e eliminando desnecessariamente nossa visão do Universo.
Biblicamente e ao longo da história, o deserto da Judéia tem sido um lugar importante e muito documentado. Foi a principal rota de entrada para a Cidade Santa de Jerusalém a partir do leste, e Moisés ficou famoso por ela e a Terra Santa na qual ele nunca entrou, das Montanhas Moabe da Jordânia que estão do outro lado do Mar Morto, vindo de Israel. As escrituras da Bíblia revelam que neste deserto uma das vitórias mais importantes na vida de Jesus foi quando “ele venceu a tentação após o seu baptismo por João Batista. Imediatamente o Espírito levou-o ao deserto; e esteve no deserto quarenta dias, tentado por Satanás, e estava com as feras; e os anjos ministraram a ele ”(Marcos 1: 12-13).
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
A single frame with a Canon 6D | 24mm at f/8 | ISO1600 | Exp. 30 secs.
A Shy Meteor from Perseids over Punta Cana Beach
For many people enjoying the night sky is an holiday experience, although, the artificial lights coming from the neighbor cities can disturb this experience. So a beach could be a good option, specially by the time of Perseids Meteor Shower, increasing your chance of catching a falling star, like the one timidly visible behind the left side of this coconut tree from Bávaro Beach, in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Centred in the background sky of the image, is also visible a small cluster of stars known as Pleiades. Below is available a short time-lapse sequence with moving clouds.
PT: Para muitas pessoas, apreciar o céu noturno é uma experiência de férias, embora as luzes artificiais provenientes das cidades vizinhas possam perturbar essa experiência. Assim, uma praia pode ser uma boa opção, especialmente na época da Chuva de Meteoros Perseidas, aumentando as suas hipóteses de ver e captar uma estrela cadente, como a que timidamente se tornou visível atrás do lado esquerdo deste coqueiro da praia de Bávaro, em Punta Cana, República Dominicana. Aproximadamente ao centro da imagem e em pano de fundo, é possível distinguir um enxame de estrelas conhecido, as Pleiades, também popularmente designadas por Sete Irmãs. Abaixo é possível ver uma sequência time-lapse com o movimento das nuvens.
Milky Way from the Tunnel View of Yosemite National Park
First protected in 1864, Yosemite National Park is best known for its waterfalls, but within its nearly 1,200 square miles, it´s full of beauty with deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, and a vast wilderness area where the animals are living in harmony with the strength of granite, the power of glaciers, and the tranquility of the High Sierra, that shows the persistence of life even with the large and strong fires that seems to threaten all this area each summer.
A blaze near Yosemite National Park have created smoky skies for days. On the top of the image, a Milky Way is trying to shine above the band of smoke and dust in this framing from the beautiful Tunnel View of Yosemite. Works on the exit road of the park have helped to light up the scene for several hours.
Respecting the Night Sky – Milky Way above Cumeada Observatory, Dark Sky Alqueva
Cumeada, in Reguengos de Monsaraz, Portugal, is a small village where is located the headquarter of Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, the First Starlight Tourism Destination in the World. The recovered building is an old primary school rehabilitated by the Municipality of Reguengos to receive the official Observatory of Dark Sky® Alqueva. All the public lights from the entire village were changed to LED and the position of incident light, directed to the ground, as we can see in the image. An effort between the main power supplier company operating in Portugal (EDP), the Municipality and the Dark Sky® Alqueva, to respect the night sky and all the surrounding needs. Whenever the Observatory is operating, the light flux from the entire village can be reduced from 100% to 10% only, using a smartphone app, so even with the street lights On and set to 10%, we can clearly distinguish the Milky Way arch, the street itself, the roads and surrounding area, so people can feel secure at the same time. This procedure had a huge impact in the night sky quality that is constantly monitored with a Sky Quality Meter registering an average measurement of SQM: 21.45 mag/arcsec^2.
PT: A Cumeada, em Reguengos de Monsaraz, Portugal, é uma pequena vila onde está localizada a sede da Dark Sky® Alqueva, o Primeiro Destino Turístico do Mundo certificado pela Fundação Starlight. O edifício recuperado é uma antiga escola primária do Estado Novo reabilitada pelo Município de Reguengos para receber o Observatório oficial do Dark Sky® Alqueva. As luzes públicas de toda a vila foram alteradas para LED e a posição da luz incidente, direcionada para o chão, como é possível ver na imagem captada numa noite húmida e fria, permitindo registar esse ângulo de incidência da luz. Um esforço conjunto entre a EDP, o Município e a Reserva Dark Sky® Alqueva, para respeitar o céu noturno e todas as necessidades circundantes. Sempre que o Observatório está operando, o fluxo de luz de toda a vila pode ser reduzido de 100% para 10% apenas, usando um aplicativo para smartphone. Deste modo, mesmo com as luzes da rua acesas e reduzidas para 10%, é possível distinguir claramente o braço arqueado da Via Láctea no céu, assim como a rua, as estradas e área circundante, para que as pessoas também se possam sentir simultaneamente seguras. Este procedimento teve um enorme impacto na qualidade do céu noturno da região da sede, que é constantemente monitorizado com um Medidor da Qualidade do Céu (SQM) registando uma medida média de SQM: 21,45 mag/arcsec^2.
Alqueva Paradise and the Winter Sky
This paradise night scene of the winter sky above the lake of Campinho village, Alqueva Dark Sky® Reserve, shows, above, star clusters and diffuse red/violet colors shinning from deep space objects like Orion and other emission nebulae spread in the celestial sphere. In the center left of the image, we can see a rare and faint white light known as Gegenschein, a faint brightening of the night sky in the region of the antisolar point. like the zodiacal light, the gegenschein is sunlight scattered by interplanetary dust. Most of this dust is orbiting the Sun in about the ecliptic plane. It is distinguished from zodiacal light by its high angle of reflection of the incident sunlight on the dust particles.
PT: Esta linda cena noturna do céu de inverno que se ergue acima do lago da vila do Campinho, Reserva Dark Sky® Alqueva, mostra-nos aglomerados de estrelas e cores difusas vermelho/violeta brilhando intensamente espalhadas pelo céu de inverno, provenientes de nebulosas de emissão e objectos de céu profundo como Orion. No centro esquerdo da imagem, podemos ver uma luz branca rara e fraca conhecida como Gegenschein, que é um ligeiro brilho do céu noturno na região do ponto antisolar. Como a luz zodiacal, o gegenschein é a luz solar dispersa pela poeira interplanetária. A maior parte dessa poeira está orbitando o Sol em torno do plano eclíptico. Distingue-se da luz zodiacal pelo seu alto ângulo de reflexão da luz solar incidente sobre as partículas de poeira.
A Christmas tree adorned with stars
This could be a Christmas tree from Alentejo adorned with stars…the luminous and colorful balls that sprinkle with magic the sky of the Dark Sky® Alqueva. In the center of this composition captured in Campinho, Reguengos de Monsaraz, the silhouetted branches embrace the most beautiful and well-known winter constellation, Orion. Just below them, the bright and shimmering star Sirius reminds us of the star of Bethlehem.
Above we can see a comparison between the wide field image at left, where we can spot the entire constellation of Orion in the winter sky, with the small angle of about (2.25ºx 1.37º) where it fits the beautiful Dusty Heart of Orion Nebula (at right). The full resolution of Orion Nebula can be seen here.
PT: Esta poderia ser uma árvore de Natal alentejana, adornada de estrelas… as bolas luminosas e coloridas que salpicam de magia o céu do Dark Sky® Alqueva. No centro desta composição captada no Campinho, em Reguengos de Monsaraz, os ramos em silhueta abraçam a mais bela e conhecida constelação de Inverno, Orion. Logo abaixo destes, a estrela Sírius luminosa e cintilante faz-nos lembrar a estrela de Belém!
Celtic Cemetery in Glendalough
The Celtic cemetery at Glendalough has spread Celtic crosses and ancient gravestones throughout the area. Finest examples of a plain cross remarkably carved from a single granite stone. The cross is the most ancient and powerful of symbols: an encounter of the vertical with the horizontal, the feminine & masculine, temporal & eternal. The circle of the Celtic cross, implying infinity, gives it a cosmic dimension. The arms of the cross are over a metre in length. The imperforate cross stands about 2.5m tall. It may have marked the boundary of the cemetery in which stands the priests’ house. This cross is a fine example of how St Patrick trying to help the once pagan people of Ireland acclimate to Christianity. This was done by combining the cross with the circle representing the sun, because the pagans worshipped the sun and moon. A local legend surrounding St. Kevin’s Cross says that anyone who can wrap their arms around the entire width of the cross body and close the circle by touching fingertips will have their wishes granted.
Glendalough (meaning “Valley of two lakes”) is a glacial valley in County Wicklow, Ireland, renowned for an Early Medieval monastic settlement founded in the 6th century by St Kevin. It combines extensive monastic ruins with a stunning natural setting in the Wicklow Mountains. The beauty and tranquility of the lakes and glacial-carved valley no doubt appealed to St Kevin, a hermit monk, who founded the monastic site near the Lower Lake in the 6th Century. Most of the buildings that survive today date from the 10th through 12th centuries. Despite attacks by Vikings over the years, Glendalough thrived as one of Irelands great ecclesiastical foundations and schools of learning until the Normans destroyed the monastery in 1214 and the dioceses of Glendalough and Dublin were united. The settlement was destroyed by English forces in 1398. A reconstruction program was started in 1878 and today the valley boasts a visitor centre, wooded trails, walkways and rock climbing. The monastic ruins include a round tower, seven churches, a gateway into the settlement with a Sanctuary Stone, two High Crosses, the priest’s house, a graveyard, Reeferts Church, St. Kevin’s Bed (Cave) and St. Kevin’s Cell (hermitage hut). More about.
PT: Este cemitério em Glendalough tem espalhadas cruzes celtas e lápides anciãs. A cruz celta é um belo exemplo de uma cruz simples notavelmente esculpida de uma única pedra de granito. A cruz é o mais antiga e poderoso símbolo: um encontro do vertical com o horizontal, o feminino e masculino, temporal e eterno. O círculo da cruz celta, o que implica infinito, dá-lhe uma dimensão cósmica. Estas cruzes celtas podem ser encontradas no cemitério de Glendalough. Com o significado “Vale dos dois lagos”, é um vale glacial no condado de Wicklow, na Irlanda, conhecida por uma povoação monástica medieval precoce fundada no século 6 pelo St Kevin. Combina extensas ruínas monásticas com um cenário natural deslumbrante nas montanhas de Wicklow. A beleza e tranquilidade dos lagos e do vale glacial esculpido, sem dúvida, chamaram a atenção do monge eremita St Kevin . A maioria dos edifícios que sobreviveram até aos dias de hoje datam do século 12. Apesar dos ataques de Vikings ao longo dos anos, Glendalough prosperou como uma das grandes fundações eclesiásticas irlandesas e escolas de aprendizagem até que os normandos destruiram o mosteiro em 1214 e as dioceses de Glendalough e Dublin foram unidos. A liquidação foi destruída por forças inglesas em 1398. Um programa de reconstrução foi iniciado em 1878 e hoje o vale dispõe de um centro de visitantes, trilhas arborizadas, calçadas e escalada. As ruínas monásticas incluem uma torre redonda, sete igrejas, uma porta de entrada para a povoação com um Santuário de pedra, duas cruzes celtas altas, casa do padre e um cemitério.
Celtic Cross in Ireland
This Celtic Cross is a fine example of a plain cross remarkably carved from a single granite stone. The cross is the most ancient and powerful of symbols: an encounter of the vertical with the horizontal, the feminine & masculine, temporal & eternal. The circle of the Celtic cross, implying infinity, gives it a cosmic dimension. The arms of the cross are over a meter in length. The imperforate cross stands about 2.5m tall. It may have marked the boundary of the cemetery in which stands the priests’ house. This cross is a fine example of how St Patrick trying to help the once pagan people of Ireland acclimate to Christianity. This was done by combining the cross with the circle representing the sun, because the pagans worshipped the sun and moon. A local legend surrounding St. Kevin’s Cross says that anyone who can wrap their arms around the entire width of the cross body and close the circle by touching fingertips will have their wishes granted.
Glendalough (meaning “Valley of two lakes”) is a glacial valley in County Wicklow, Ireland, renowned for an Early Medieval monastic settlement founded in the 6th century by St Kevin. It combines extensive monastic ruins with a stunning natural setting in the Wicklow Mountains. The beauty and tranquility of the lakes and glacial-carved valley no doubt appealed to St Kevin, a hermit monk, who founded the monastic site near the Lower Lake in the 6th Century. Most of the buildings that survive today date from the 10th through 12th centuries. Despite attacks by Vikings over the years, Glendalough thrived as one of Irelands great ecclesiastical foundations and schools of learning until the Normans destroyed the monastery in 1214 and the dioceses of Glendalough and Dublin were united. The settlement was destroyed by English forces in 1398. A reconstruction program was started in 1878 and today the valley boasts a visitor centre, wooded trails, walkways and rock climbing. The monastic ruins include a round tower, seven churches, a gateway into the settlement with a Sanctuary Stone, two High Crosses, the priest’s house, a graveyard, Reeferts Church, St. Kevin’s Bed (Cave) and St. Kevin’s Cell (hermitage hut). More about.
PT: Esta cruz celta é um belo exemplo de uma cruz simples notavelmente esculpida de uma única pedra de granito. A cruz é o mais antiga e poderoso símbolo: um encontro do vertical com o horizontal, o feminino e masculino, temporal e eterno. O círculo da cruz celta, o que implica infinito, dá-lhe uma dimensão cósmica. Estas cruzes celtas podem ser encontradas no cemitério de Glendalough. Com o significado “Vale dos dois lagos”, é um vale glacial no condado de Wicklow, na Irlanda, conhecida por uma povoação monástica medieval precoce fundada no século 6 pelo St Kevin. Combina extensas ruínas monásticas com um cenário natural deslumbrante nas montanhas de Wicklow. A beleza e tranquilidade dos lagos e do vale glacial esculpido, sem dúvida, chamaram a atenção do monge eremita St Kevin . A maioria dos edifícios que sobreviveram até aos dias de hoje datam do século 12. Apesar dos ataques de Vikings ao longo dos anos, Glendalough prosperou como uma das grandes fundações eclesiásticas irlandesas e escolas de aprendizagem até que os normandos destruiram o mosteiro em 1214 e as dioceses de Glendalough e Dublin foram unidos. A liquidação foi destruída por forças inglesas em 1398. Um programa de reconstrução foi iniciado em 1878 e hoje o vale dispõe de um centro de visitantes, trilhas arborizadas, calçadas e escalada. As ruínas monásticas incluem uma torre redonda, sete igrejas, uma porta de entrada para a povoação com um Santuário de pedra, duas cruzes celtas altas, casa do padre e um cemitério.
London, a Busy Night City
London is a very busy city since morning until mid night. This time lapse scene shows the Moonpath passing behind “The Shard” tower, where it is also visible beside some bright stars, lots of aerial traffic as well the motion of a busy river while the cranes above the soil are still working all night long. Also referred as the Shard of Glass and formerly London Bridge Tower, is a 95-storey skyscraper in Southwark, London, that forms part of the London Bridge Quarter development. Standing 309.6 metres (1,016 ft) high, the Shard is the tallest building in the United Kingdom, the 105th tallest building in the world, and the fourth tallest building in Europe.
PT: Esta imagem Cityscape da cidade de Londres captada durante uma sequência startrail mostra a agitação que se vive ao longo da noite no centro da cidade. Barcos atravessam o rio, gruas se movimentam freneticamente e a cada minuto aviões cruzam os céus londrinos. Tudo isto acontece a um ritmo alucinante, enquanto que pacificamente a lua se põe por detrás do gigantesco edifício de 300 metros “The Shard”. Também conhecido como “Shard of Glass” e anteriormente London Bridge Tower, o “The Shard” é um arranha-céu de 95 andares em Southwark, Londres, que faz parte do Quarter London Bridge. Atingindo 309,6 metros (1.016 pés) de altura, o Shard é o edifício mais alto do Reino Unido, o edifício 105º entre os mais altos do mundo, e o quarto edifício mais alto da Europa.
Enjoying the Moon above the City of London
A skygazer is enjoying the busy night of London city, from a lovely balcony view, with the crescent moon visible at the left side of “The Shard” tower. Also referred as the Shard of Glass and formerly London Bridge Tower, is a 95-storey skyscraper in Southwark, London, that forms part of the London Bridge Quarter development. Standing 309.6 metres (1,016 ft) high, the Shard is the tallest building in the United Kingdom, the 105th tallest building in the world, and the fourth tallest building in Europe.
The Moon, The Shard and The Plane
This London twilight view shows de Crescent Moon at the left side of “The Shard” tower. Also referred as the Shard of Glass and formerly London Bridge Tower, is a 95-storey skyscraper in Southwark, London, that forms part of the London Bridge Quarter development. Standing 309.6 metres (1,016 ft) high, the Shard is the tallest building in the United Kingdom, the 105th tallest building in the world, and the fourth tallest building in Europe. At the right side of the tower is also visible a plane flying above the sky of London.
PT: Esta imagem Cityscape da cidade de Londres captada durante o crepúsculo náutico, mostra a Lua Crescente à esquerda da torre londrina “The Shard” e à direita a silhueta de um avião comercial que sobrevoava a cidade. Também conhecido como “Shard of Glass” e anteriormente London Bridge Tower, o “The Shard” é um arranha-céu de 95 andares em Southwark, Londres, que faz parte do Quarter London Bridge. Atingindo 309,6 metros (1.016 pés) de altura, o Shard é o edifício mais alto do Reino Unido, o edifício 105º entre os mais altos do mundo, e o quarto edifício mais alto da Europa.
The Shard Tower and Crescent Moon in London
This London twilight cityscape view, shows de Crescent Moon at the left side of “The Shard” tower. Also referred as the Shard of Glass and formerly London Bridge Tower, is a 95-storey skyscraper in Southwark, London, that forms part of the London Bridge Quarter development. Standing 309.6 metres (1,016 ft) high, the Shard is the tallest building in the United Kingdom, the 105th tallest building in the world, and the fourth tallest building in Europe.
PT: Esta imagem Cityscape da cidade de Londres captada durante o crepúsculo náutico, mostra a Lua Crescente à esquerda da torre londrina “The Shard”. Também conhecido como “Shard of Glass” e anteriormente London Bridge Tower, é um arranha-céu de 95 andares em Southwark, Londres, que faz parte do Quarter London Bridge. Atingindo 309,6 metros (1.016 pés) de altura, o Shard é o edifício mais alto do Reino Unido, o edifício 105º entre os mais altos do mundo, e o quarto edifício mais alto da Europa.
Full Eye over London City
This full dome “eye view” from London city during the twilight, shows de Crescent Moon at the left side of “The Shard” tower. Also referred as the Shard of Glass and formerly London Bridge Tower, is a 95-storey skyscraper in Southwark, London, that forms part of the London Bridge Quarter development. Standing 309.6 metres (1,016 ft) high, the Shard is the tallest building in the United Kingdom, the 105th tallest building in the world, and the fourth tallest building in Europe.
Prime Meridian Laser in Greenwich
The Greenwich Meridian separates east from west in the same way that the Equator separates north from south. Inextricably linked with Greenwich Mean Time, it also sits at the centre of our system of time zones. Its path is determined by the location of an historic telescope, the Airy Transit Circle (51°28′40.1″N 0°0′5.3″W), which is housed at the Royal Observatory of Greenwich, in London. The Prime Meridian was established by Sir George Airy in 1851.
A prime meridian is a meridian (a line of longitude) in a geographical coordinate system at which longitude is defined to be 0°. Together, a prime meridian and its antimeridian (the 180th meridian in a 360°-system) form a great circle. This great circle divides the sphere, e.g., the Earth, into two hemispheres. If one uses directions of East and West from a defined prime meridian, then they can be called Eastern Hemisphere and Western Hemisphere.
PT: O meridiano de Greenwich separa “Este” de “Oeste” da mesma forma que o Equador separa o Norte do Sul. Intimamente ligado com Greenwich Mean Time, também está no centro do nosso sistema de fusos horários. O seu caminho é determinado pela localização de um telescópio histórico, o “Airy Transit Circle” (51°28′40.1″N 0°0′5.3″W), que está localizado no Observatório Real de Greenwich, em Londres. O Meridiano de Greenwich foi criada por Sir George Airy em 1851.
The Prime Meridian in Greenwich Observatory, was long marked by a brass strip in the courtyard, now replaced by stainless steel, and, since 16 December 1999, has been marked by a powerful green laser shining north across the London night sky. The Meridian laser marks the route of the Greenwich Meridian by night in a northerly direction from the Royal Observatory. Under good viewing conditions, it is visible at a distance of over 36 miles with the naked eye and over 60 miles with binoculars.
Summer Triangle above Vatican City State
The Summer Triangle is an astronomical asterism involving an imaginary triangle drawn on the northern hemisphere’s celestial sphere, with its defining vertices at Altair, Deneb, and Vega, the brightest stars in the three constellations of Aquila, Cygnus, and Lyra, respectively. Only this 3 stars are bright enough to be visible above the light polluted sky from the City State of Vaticano, in Rome, Italy.
Near midnight, the Summer Triangle lies virtually overhead at mid-northern latitudes during the summer months, but can also be seen during spring in the early morning to the East. In the autumn the summer triangle is visible in the evening to the West well until November. From the southern hemisphere it appears upside down and low in the sky during the winter months.
The Church has had a long-standing interest in astronomy, due to the astronomical basis of the calendar by which holy days and Easter are determined. For instance, the Gregorian Calendar, promulgated in 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII, was developed by Aloysius Lilius and later modified by Christoph Clavius at the Collegio Romano from astronomical data. The Gregorian Tower was completed in 1580 for his purpose, designed by Bolognese architect Ottaviano Matte.
The Vatican Observatory (Latin: Specola Vaticana) is an astronomical research and educational institution supported by the Holy See. Originally based in the Roman College of Rome, the Observatory is now headquartered in Castel Gandolfo, Italy and operates a telescope at the Mount Graham International Observatory in the United States. In the 18th century, the Papacy actively supported astronomy, establishing the Observatory of the Roman College in 1774. In 1789–1787, the Specola Vaticana in the Tower of the Winds within the Vatican was established under the direction of Msgr. Filippo Luigi Gilii (1756–1821). When Msgr. Gilii died, the Specola was closed down because it was inconvenient for students in the city because the dome of St. Peter’s obstructed its view. Its instruments were transferred to the College Observatory. A third facility, the Observatory of the Capitol, was operated from 1827 to 1870. In 1891, however, Pope Leo XIII issued a Motu Proprio re-founding the Specola Vaticana (Vatican Observatory) and a new observatory was built on the walls at the edge of the Vatican.The new Vatican Observatory remained there for the next forty years.
By the 1930s, the smoke and sky-glow of the city had made it impossible to conduct useful observations in Rome. Pope Pius XI relocated the Observatory to Castel Gandolfo, which is 25 kilometres (16 mi) southeast of Rome. By 1961, the same problems with light pollution made observing difficult at Castel Gandolfo. The Observatory then established the Vatican Observatory Research Group, with offices at the Steward Observatory of the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona.
PT: O Triângulo de Verão é um asterismo astronómico envolvendo um triângulo imaginário “desenhado na esfera celeste” do hemisfério norte, com os seus vértices a definirem Altair, Deneb e Vega, as estrelas mais brilhantes nas três constelações de Aquila, Cygnus e Lyra, respectivamente. Só estas 3 estrelas conseguem ser suficientemente brilhantes para serem visíveis a partir de um céu poluído como o que se ergue acima do Estado da Cidade do Vaticano, em Roma, Itália.
Officially called Vatican City State or the State of Vatican City is a walled enclave within the city of Rome. With an area of approximately 44 hectares (110 acres), and a population of 842, it is the smallest sovereign state in the world by both area and population. It is an ecclesiastical or sacerdotal-monarchical state (a type of theocracy) ruled by the Bishop of Rome – the Pope. The highest state functionaries are all Catholic clergy of various national origins. Since the return of the Popes from Avignon in 1377, they have generally resided at the Apostolic Palace within what is now Vatican City. Vatican City is distinct from the Holy See (Latin: Sancta Sedes), which dates back to early Christianity and is the main episcopal see of 1.2 billion Latin and Eastern Catholic adherents around the globe. The independent city-state, on the other hand, came into existence in 1929 by the Lateran Treaty between the Holy See and Italy, which spoke of it as a new creation, not as a vestige of the much larger Papal States (756–1870), which had previously encompassed much of central Italy. According to the terms of the treaty, the Holy See has “full ownership, exclusive dominion, and sovereign authority and jurisdiction” over the city-state.
Coconut Trails in Punta Cana
For many people on Earth enjoying the night sky is an holiday experience, although, the artificial lights coming from the neighbor cities can disturb this experience, but a long exposure photo can register more stars than your own eyes can see at a glance. Surrounded by coconut trees spread along Punta Cana beach, in Dominican Republic, a partly cloudy sky reflects the light of neighbor resorts, while above the path of each star can reveal their own true color.
PT: Para muitas pessoas na Terra, observar o céu noturno é uma experiência de férias. Contudo, as luzes artificiais das cidades vizinhas podem perturbar esta experiência, mas uma foto de longa exposição pode registrar mais estrelas do que seus próprios olhos podem ver num relance. Cercado por coqueiros espalhados ao longo da praia em Punta Cana, na República Dominicana, um céu parcialmente nublado reflete a luz dos resorts vizinhos, enquanto que no céu o caminho de cada estrela pode revelar a sua verdadeira cor.
Explosion of Light in Punta Cana
A partly cloudy sky reflects the lights of Punta Cana beach, Dominican Republic, in what seems to be an explosion of light while in the background sky, a starry vortex surrounding Polaris remember us that Earth Rotation never ends.
PT: Um céu parcialmente nublado reflete as luzes de praia de Punta Cana, República Dominicana, naquilo que parece ser “uma explosão de luz”, contrastando em pano de fundo com o vórtice de luz estelar que rodeia a Polaris, lembrando-nos que a Terra nunca pára de rodar.
Coconut Vortex
A vortex of light coming from the stars that are surrounding Polaris, the Northen Star, lying here only 18º above the horizon, is a well spotted dot in the middle of two Coconut trees from Punta Cana beach, Dominican Republic.
PT: Um vórtice de luz estelar circunda a estrela Polaris, que se encontra apenas 18º acima do horizonte, tratando-se de um ponto visível no meio de dois coqueiros da praia de Punta Cana, na República Dominicana.
Stargazing in Punta Cana
EN: Enjoying the night surrounded by coconut trees spread along Punta Cana beach, in Dominican Republic.
PT: Relaxando numa noite estrelada, cercado por coqueiros espalhados ao longo da praia de Punta Cana, na República Dominicana.
Belgium Atomium
A Moon hidden behind a tree in front of the “UFO structure” of Atomium, in Brussels, Belgium. The whole forms the shape of a unit cell of an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times, showing how small we are in this Universe, but at the same time, how big we are as a Humankind. Developing and increasing our skills, creating the capacity of constructing and doing big things on Earth. This can be the closest real view and the ideia that we have of an UFO spaceship, that has indeed, human life on board of these spheres.
EN: The Atomium is a building in Brussels originally constructed for Expo 58, the 1958 Brussels World’s Fair. Designed by the engineer André Waterkeyn and architects André and Jean Polak it stands 102 m (335 ft) tall. Its nine 18 m (59 ft) diameter stainless steel clad spheres are connected. The name is a combination of atom and aluminium. It is a museum. The whole thing is made up of 9 spheres (one at each of the 8 points and one in the middle) connected by 20 tubes (12 cube edges plus 2 tubes for the 4 diagonals): the structure rests on 3 pillars (or bipods). They enclose stairs, escalators and a lift (in the central, vertical tube) to allow access to the five habitable spheres which contain exhibit halls and other public spaces. A permanent exhibition dedicated to Expo 58 and temporary exhibitions devoted to architecture, design and society. It could be the closest ideia we have of an UFO spaceship, that has indeed, human life on board of these 5 spheres. MC
PT: O Atomium foi construído em 1958 em Bruxelas no âmbito da Expo 58. Com 102 metros de altura, o Atomium representa um cristal elementar de ferro ampliado 165 mil milhões de vezes, com tubos que ligam as 9 partes formando 8 vértices. As esferas de ferro com cerca de 18 metros de diâmetro estão ligadas por tubos com escadas no seu interior com um comprimento de cerca de 35 metros. As janelas instaladas na esfera do topo oferecem aos visitantes uma vista panorâmica da cidade. Outras esferas têm exposições sobre os anos 50. As três esferas, às quais só se tem acesso por tubos verticais, estão fechadas ao público por razões de segurança.
Perigee Earthshine and Planet Mercury above Lisbon City
Featured as NASA´s Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD).
We use the term of “Super Moon” when the moon is at the Perigee, closer to Earth, which is not so rare, occurring 13 times this year 2016. But to our naked eyes we only notice that moon is indeed, larger in the sky (15% bigger and 30% brighter) when the moon is normally full, capturing our attention during this period. On April 7, the New Moon was at the Perigee, so in the day after, on April 8, with only 3% of the disc illuminated by the sunlight, it would be considered a Super Crescent Moon, a perfect moment to show up the Earthshine phenomenon described and drawn for the first time by Leonardo DaVinci 500 years ago.
In the lovely view captured 8.5km straight from Lisbon city, from Barreiro region, with a telephoto lens, we can see in nautical twilight a beautiful alignment between the Super Crescent Moon and the planet Mercury – the bright “star” located at the same line – only separated by 6º, an easy target to find thanks to the help of our natural satellite, standing in the background above the monument Christ the King and the 25 April bridge. Above on the image, are seen reflections of light pollution in the water of Tagus River. In that night, to wind was so strong that my local good friend and photographer Nuno Lopes, was holding the cargo cover all the time, trying to protect me and my equipment from the strong winds, while I was photographing the telephoto scene showed below. Both of my cameras and William Optics telescope, were assembled in the new Advanced Vixen Polarie portable mount.
Rainbow Bands of Airglow in Gravity Waves above Pico Island Were seen from NOAA/NASA Satellite in Space
Featured as NASA´s Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD).
PT | EN During a climb to the highest mountain of Portugal (2351m) – Pico mountain, located in Pico island, Azores – with a very hard weather conditions due to a strong winds and rain during almost the entire photo expedition with my team colleagues, I stopped at about 1200 meters to appreciate the views and photograph the lights coming from the island of Faial in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, in a rare occasion with only a few clouds and part of the “winter” Milky Way visible as a background of a temporarily clear sky. Above the low clouds, I have captured strange “rainbow bands” of airglow and between them, the Andromeda Galaxy M31 on the top left of the picture. The air glows all of the time, but it is usually hard to see. A disturbance however – like an approaching storm – may cause noticeable rippling in the Earth’s atmosphere. The bands are actually huge parallel structures in the thermosphere 90 km upwards. Perspective makes them appear to converge. These atmospheric Gravity Waves* (not confound with gravitational waves related to Einstein) propagating upwards from disturbances lower down in the atmosphere, are likely the source of the bands. The wave amplitude increases with height (reducing density) and wavelengths can be thousands of kilometers.
Dr. Martin Setvák from Czech Hydrometeorological Institute Satellite Department, Praha, Czech Republic, has processed the Suomi-NPP VIIRS data to check if these gravity waves in airglow can be found in NOAA/NASA Soumi-NPP satellite Day/Night Band (DNB) image. The “day-night band,” of the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on the Suomi NPP satellite has indeed captured these glowing ripples in the night sky. The day-night band detects lights over a range of wavelengths from green to near-infrared and uses highly sensitive electronics to observe low light signals. The structures of the bands can be seen below, above the Pico and Faial islands in Azores, Portugal.
Airglow is a layer of nighttime light emissions caused by chemical reactions, light of electronically and/or vibration-rotationally excited atoms and molecules high in Earth’s atmosphere, by solar ultra-violet radiation. A variety of reactions involving oxygen, sodium, ozone, and nitrogen result in the production of a very faint amount of light. In fact, it’s approximately one billion times fainter than sunlight. Technically speaking, airglow occurs at all times. During the day it is called “dayglow,” at twilight “twilightglow,” and at night “nightglow”. There are slightly different processes taking place in each case, but in the image above the source of light is nightglow or airglow.
In the first colorful image captured above Pico, we can see a rare event where is distinguished almost each possible airglow color that is appearing on a single band (Gravity Wave) showed like a rainbow. Below is the Airglow Spectrum designed and explained by the expert Dr. Les Cowley from Atmospheric Optics. Green light from excited oxygen atoms dominates the glow. The atoms are 90-100 km (56-62 mile) high in the thermosphere. The weaker red light is from oxygen atoms further up. Sodium atoms, hydroxyl radicals (OH) and molecular oxygen add to the light.
Dr. Steve Smith, Senior Research Scientist at Center for Space Physics of Boston University, is a specialist in airglow and has explained the rare phenomenon captured on these images: “The photo is very other-worldly but it is indeed a photo of two, maybe three, airglow layers with gravity waves propagating through them in the upper mesosphere. The green is most likely due to atomic oxygen near 96 km. The red is probably due to hydroxyl (OH) near 87 km. Possibly sodium from near 90 k m also but the orange may also just be the response of the system to the combination of the red and green airglow. The awesome rainbow appearance of the patterns is easily explained. A GW wave propagates upwards at an angle and because airglow layers reside at slightly different altitudes, the waves reach each layer at a slightly different times. The vertical scale size of the gravity waves is also much larger than the height differences between the layers: OH = 87 km | Na = 90 km | O2 = 94 km | OI = 96 km.
I exploit the fact of the altitude separation of the four brightest airglow layers in my work to determine the scale sizes and other things associated with the GWs. Sometimes atomic oxygen can also produce red emission. This occurs due times of auroral activity particularly at high latitudes but occasionally in the mid-latitudes during strong aurora. This red-line OI emission, as it is called, originates from 250 km (much higher) in the thermosphere and would not match wave patterns seen in the green-line OI emission.
Solar activity has little effect on gravity wave activity in the mesosphere, at least at the latitude of the Azores. There may be effects at high latitudes though. Also solar activity seen on the sun’s disc doesn’t necessarily impact the Earth. Flares and other solar phenomena that are rich in x-rays and UV radiation can cause immediate effects in the earth’s upper atmosphere. Also, even though a CME my be observed occurring on the sun, it may not affect the Earth because they usually miss us because of the sun’s rotation. The Kp index – a measure of the solar activity prior to the time of this photo was at 2-3, which means a relatively quiet time. At the location of the Azores, one would need a Kp index of 6-7 to see auroral emission.”
Dr. Steven D. Miller, Senior Research Scientist – Deputy Director Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere – Colorado State University, have commented the fact that the photos were taken at high altitude and this would probably be the reason why the greens are seen so well, since oxygen in the lower atmosphere will absorb much of that downwelling emission.
Dr. Les Cowley, explain in Atmospheric Optics page that red/orange could be yet more oxygen airglow, this time from atoms 150-300km high where the atmosphere is so sparse and collisions so infrequent that the atoms have time to radiate ‘forbidden’ light (1D ->3P) before losing their electronic excitation in impacts with other atoms and molecules. Deep red banded airglow is likely emission from vibrationally excited OH radicals in a layer ~86km high. Blue airglow is much much fainter and not very obvious on the image. Excited molecular oxygen at ~95 km high can produce it. The excitation is indirect. Possible routes are via daylight dissociation of N2 and NO or twilight recombination of NO+ whose reaction products generate excited O2. The oxygen then decays by emitting blue multi-wavelength banded radiation (Herzberg bands) if it is not first collisionally de-excited.
After receiving the first results of the Suomi-NPP VIIRS satellite, I decided to start processing another 12 images taken in the same place and time, to create a wide-angle – panoramic view – of more than 200º where it is clearly visible the airglow activity combined with strong ripples from gravity waves occurring in a huge part of the sky from West to Northeast (from left to right on the panoramic image above). At the same time, Dr. Martin Stevák, starts the final stage of processing the images taken by Suomi-NPP VIIRS satellite but in different bands and the result is shown below. These are in Transverse Mercator projection, centered at 38.5N 28W, remapped to 1km pixel size (for Azores).
DNB image
M15 IR band image
Night-Microphysical RGB image
More information about Suomi-NPP satellite and its bands can be found on the following links: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/NPP/main/index.html | http://npp.gsfc.nasa.gov/suomi.html | http://rammb.cira.colostate.edu/projects/npp/ | http://www.pnas.org/content/109/39/15706.full.pdf | http://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/5/12/6717
Below, on (A) we can see the DNB image, that can show the Gravity Waves appearing high in the atmosphere, but on (B) Night-Microphysical RGB image can show a different waves from low atmosphere, they are very likely part of the same spectrum of waves launched by the small island of Flores. The (C) is an output from EUMETRAIN’s ePort (http://www.eumetrain.org/eport.html), for 2015-11-17 00 UTC, based on Meteosat WV6.2 band and showing the geopotential (“height”) of the 300 hPa pressure level (in cyan) and isotachs (yellow) at the same level (both from the ECMWF model). The red arrow indicates the jet-stream above the Azores. The (D) is the WV band 27 from Terra MODIS satellite taken at 00:20 UTC. The images are in the same projection and pixel size as the Soumi-NPP images (A & B). The (E) is a Meteosat-10 satellite in the Airmass-RGB product, documenting the dynamics of the atmosphere in the area, and namely showing the jet stream above Azores, taken at 03:00 UTC, the arrow points to the jet-stream band, and the polygon indicates roughly the area covered by NPP images. To watch a 24h loop from Meteosat-10 satellite, click here.
Below is a illustration from a combination of Google Earth Maps from Azores region and Stellarium planetarium software, that can show through the yellow dot, where I was located in the island and which direction my camera was pointing to the sky – as we can see in the illustration at right.
Gravity waves (disturbances to the density structure of the atmosphere whose restoring forces are gravity and buoyancy) comprise the principal form of energy exchange between the lower and upper atmosphere. Wave breaking drives the mean upper atmospheric circulation, determining boundary conditions to stratospheric processes, which in turn influence tropospheric weather and climate patterns on various spatial and temporal scales. Despite their recognized importance, very little is known about upper-level gravity wave characteristics. The knowledge gap is mainly due to lack of global, high-resolution observations from currently available satellite observing systems. The capability of the Day/Night Band (DNB) on the NOAA/NASA Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership environmental satellite to resolve gravity structures near the mesopause via nightglow emissions at unprecedented subkilometric detail, are impressive. On moonless nights, the Day/Night Band observations provide all-weather viewing of waves as they modulate the nightglow layer located near the mesopause (∼90 km above mean sea level). These waves are launched by a variety of physical mechanisms, ranging from orography to convection, intensifying fronts, and even seismic and volcanic events. Cross-referencing the Day/Night Band imagery with conventional thermal infrared imagery also available helps to discern nightglow structures and in some cases to attribute their sources. The capability stands to advance our basic understanding of a critical yet poorly constrained driver of the atmospheric circulation. More about this study and scientific paper which includes the picture of my TWAN colleague Jeff Dai , led by Dr. Steven D. Miller, Dr. Steve Smith and others…
Below in gray scale are DNB images captured by Suomi-NPP VIIRS satellite above Pico island, Azores, as a result of a pre-processing enhanced by a High-Pass filter. Taken on 17th November of 2015 at 02h05AM (03h05 GMT. Local time for the Azores is GMT-1,) approximately at same time I took the pictures from Earth between 1h43 and 2h00AM, pointing to the same direction of the sky. Those waves seen at ~2AM local were right overhead at that time. The waves can change rapidly over the course of an hour, so must have been a very expansive wave train, which seems to be consistent with a large-scale forcing like a frontal system. The result shows the ripples of atmospheric Gravity Waves (left and right image).
Suomi NPP is in orbit around Earth at 834 kilometers (about 518 miles), well above the nightglow layer. The day-night band imagery contains signals from the upward emission of the nightglow layer and the reflection of the nightglow emissions from clouds and Earth’s surface. While nightglow is a well-known phenomenon, it is not typically considered by meteorological sensors. In fact, scientists were surprised at Suomi NPP’s ability to detect it. During the satellite’s check-out procedures, scientists thought this light source was a problem with the sensor until they realized that they were seeing the faintest light in the darkness of night. Learn more about the VIIRS day-night band and nighttime imaging of Earth in this story: Out of the Blue and Into the Black.
In conclusion, Dr. Steven D. Miller, has shared his thoughts related to this picture and beyond…by saying: “is that it would be very nice to have such observations on a geostationary satellite platform so as to be able to observe the wave motion and from that information infer important properties of the energy transfer. The community has a growing interest for such observations now that we are seeing them in “snapshot mode” from the Day/Night Band. The hope is that the publicity gained by such nice photos as yours will help to raise awareness on our need to better characterize the full atmospheric circulation if we hope to represent climate processes accurately in the models we appeal to for insight on climate change.”
The resulted image was also published in a Poster from Dr. Martin Setvák and Dr. Steven D. Miller entitled:
The TWAN ( The World at Night ) have now one of the best collection of hight quality images in the world with many different views of Airglow and Gravity Waves phenomenon captured by TWAN photographers spread around the globe, that could be a great scientific tool to help scientists understanding better this atmospheric phenomenon, as seen from different places on Earth and comparing them to the satellite images from Space.
Professional astronomer and TWAN photographer Yuri Beletsky, in an interesting answer to a question made by our colleague Anthony Ayiomamitis about how does airglow could impact the professional work done by astronomers in places with professional telescopes in sites like ESO – European Southern Observatory, saying that: “It really depends on many factors (imaging vs spectroscopy, field of view, overlapping with interesting spectroscopic lines, etc..). Therefore the answer is – it does affect the observations, but it does not necessarily affect particular scientific case you are trying to solve using those observations.”
* “Drop a stone into a pool of water. The spreading ripples are gravity waves. The waves occur between any stable layers of fluids of different density. When the fluid boundary is disturbed, buoyancy forces try to restore the equilibrium. The fluid returns to its original shape, overshoots and oscillations then set in which propagate as waves. Gravity or buoyancy is the restoring force hence the term – gravity waves.”
Airglow photographs and compiled text with story by © Miguel Claro – The article was written based in the collected information and collaboration of each specialist and intervenient in different fields of working that has analyzed this images from Pico, and that have been specifically mentioned along the article, now published at (www.miguelclaro.com) with his knowledge and review.
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Ursa Major & Ursa Minor above the Ruins of Roman City Ammaia
EN: The northern constellations Ursa Major (Big Dipper) and Ursa Minor – in a diffuse vision by a passing cloud – as seen from inside the remaining ruins of the Southern Gate Tower of the Roman City of Ammaia.
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: As constelações do norte, Ursa Maior e Ursa Menor, numa visão difusa através de uma nuvem passageira, vistas a partir das imponentes ruínas da Porta Sul da cidade Romana da Ammaia. 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.
A Northern Starry Trail from inside the Southern Gate of the Roman City of Ammaia
EN: A Polar Startrail from inside the remaining ruins of the Southern Gate Tower of the Roman City of Ammaia.
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: Um vórtice de luz estrelar em torno da estrela Polar, a partir das imponentes ruínas da Porta Sul da cidade Romana da Ammaia. 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.
The Starry Sky from Roman City of Ammaia
EN: One of the remaining ruins from the Southern Gate Tower of the Roman City of Ammaia, in a cloudy moonlight scene.
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. 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.
A moonlit scene where stone, sand, and water merge into a perfect combination
EN: The beauty of inhospitable landscape, a scene in the moonlight where stone, sand, and water merge into a perfect combination to celebrate the union between the starry Sky and the damp Earth of Alqueva Lake | Sky of Mourão
PT: Paisagem inospitamente bela, num cenário à luz do luar onde pedra, ar e água, se fundem numa combinação perfeita para celebrar a união entre o Céu estrelado e a Terra húmida do lago Alqueva | Céu de Mourão
“Boat of Fire” – The Battle Against Light Pollution
EN: The effects of light pollution can be dramatically noticeable, when there are clouds around. Using lighting and proper intensity is one of the most effective ways, to fight it. Before starting the programme of Dark Sky Alqueva reserve, and his fighting against light pollution, the castle of Monsaraz could be seen from far away looking like if it was a boat of fire, suspended in the clouds above
PT: Os efeitos da poluição luminosa podem ser drasticamente perceptíveis quando existem nuvens por perto. Usar iluminação e intensidade apropriada é uma das forma mais eficazes de a combater. Antes de se iniciar o programa da reserva Dark Sky Alqueva, e a sua luta contra a poluição luminosa, o castelo de Monsaraz, podia ser visto a dezenas de quilómetros de distância sendo apelidado de “barco de fogo”, pela sua forma característica e quantidade excessiva de luz projectada para as nuvens | Captado a partir de Mourão
Planets in the Quite Alqueva Lake
EN:With the entrance in nautical twilight, the first stars and planets starts to appear in the sky | Nautical Center, Sky of Monsaraz
PT: Com a entrada no crepúsculo náutico, aparecem as primeiras estrelas e planetas no céu | Centro Náutico, Céu de Monsaraz
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
Milky Way Arm Crossing Antu, Kueyen and Melipal Telescopes
Milky Way arm of gas and dust lying behind the Very Large Telesope Antu, Kueyen e Melipal, while it is capturing the light coming from space. At the right edge of the image, we can see the VLT Survey Telescope (VST), that is the latest telescope to be added to ESO’s Paranal Observatory in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile.
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, consisting of four Unit Telescopes with main mirrors of 8.2m diameter, 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.
Colorful paths around Polaris in Juromenha
EN: A long and colorful startrail pointing to north, above the Rural Hotel Herdade Naveterra | Sky of Alandroal.
PT: Longo e colorido rasto de estrelas apontando a norte, acima do Hotel Rural Herdade Naveterra | Céu do Alandroal
Dragged Milky Way in the Church of Noudar
A dragged Milky Way behind the Church of Noudar Castle, called: Igreja Nossa Senhora do Desterro.
Included in the great Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve – first site in the world to receive the “Starlight Tourism Destination” certification – Noudar Natural Park is located in a farm estate called Herdade da Coitadinha spreads across 1000 hectare, ‘over-the-hills’ between the winding rivers Ardila and Múrtega and lodged among hills and summits near the town of Barrancos (Alentejo, Portugal) and in the border with Spain. The road from the Park’s entrance to the Noudar Castle goes through an extensive holm oak grove (‘montado’) area, ending with a majestic view over the water lines. In Noudar, life presents itself in a state of wilderness and absolute purity.
The Castle of Noudar and the church of Nossa Senhora do Desterro is located between the Múrtega and the Ardila rivers which flow towards the West. Its construction was finished in 1307, during the reign of Don Dinis. The place was chosen because of its natural defenses, easy access and the closeness of a water spring of excellent quality – Fonte da Figueira, located roughly 250 meters to the East of the castle, under the hilltop known as Forca (“the Gallows”). Good and plentiful farming land and cattle grazing fields can also be found near the castle. This medieval fortress was very important for border defense against the kingdom of Castile during the early 14th Century.
More about Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve: Alqueva is the first site in the world to receive the “Starlight Tourism Destination” certification. This certification, awarded by the Starlight Foundation is supported by UNESCO, UNWTO and IAC. Starlight destinations are visitable places characterized by excellent quality for the contemplation of starry skies, and the practice of tourist activities based on this resource. www.darkskyalqueva.com
* This “comet effect” in the stars is not natural and not visible in the sky and it is only showed here for an artistic purpose.
PT: O arrasto da Via Láctea na igreja de Noudar, numa última aparição em forma de despedida antes de dar início o inverno | Céu de Barrancos
The Milky Way behind an Olive Tree in Noudar Park
EN: Our own galaxy as seen from the land of Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, behind an Olive Tree from Noudar Park, in a tonal nuance that characterizes different nights of the year, allowing to show that the same celestial object is never seen in the same way, without losing the particular beauty that characterizes it and makes us dreaming with the magic and charm of a scenario under the stars | Mourão and Barrancos, Sky of Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve
Included in the great Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve – first site in the world to receive the “Starlight Tourism Destination” certification – Noudar Natural Park is located in a farm estate called Herdade da Coitadinha spreads across 1000 hectare, ‘over-the-hills’ between the winding rivers Ardila and Múrtega and lodged among hills and summits near the town of Barrancos (Alentejo, Portugal) and in the border with Spain. The road from the Park’s entrance to the Noudar Castle goes through an extensive holm oak grove (‘montado’) area, ending with a majestic view over the water lines. In Noudar, life presents itself in a state of wilderness and absolute purity.
The Castle of Noudar and the church of Nossa Senhora do Desterro is located between the Múrtega and the Ardila rivers which flow towards the West. Its construction was finished in 1307, during the reign of Don Dinis. The place was chosen because of its natural defenses, easy access and the closeness of a water spring of excellent quality – Fonte da Figueira, located roughly 250 meters to the East of the castle, under the hilltop known as Forca (“the Gallows”). Good and plentiful farming land and cattle grazing fields can also be found near the castle. This medieval fortress was very important for border defense against the kingdom of Castile during the early 14th Century.
More about Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve: Alqueva is the first site in the world to receive the “Starlight Tourism Destination” certification. This certification, awarded by the Starlight Foundation is supported by UNESCO, UNWTO and IAC. Starlight destinations are visitable places characterized by excellent quality for the contemplation of starry skies, and the practice of tourist activities based on this resource. www.darkskyalqueva.com
PT: Visão da Via Láctea, a nossa própria galáxia vista a partir da Terra e da Reserva Dark Sky® Alqueva nas nuances tonais que caracterizam as diferentes noites do ano, permitindo que o mesmo objecto celeste nunca seja visto da mesma forma, sem nunca perder a particular beleza que o caracteriza e nos faz sonhar com a magia e encanto de um cenário à luz das estrelas | Mourão e Barrancos, Céu da Reserva Dark Sky® Alqueva
The Arm of Milky Way behind an Olive Tree in Noudar Park
EN: Vertical vision of the Milky Way, our own galaxy as seen from Earth and Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve in a tonal nuance that characterizes different nights of the year, allowing to show that the same celestial object is never seen in the same way, without losing the particular beauty that characterizes it and makes us dreaming with the magic and charm of a scenario under the stars | Mourão and Barrancos, Sky of Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve
Included in the great Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve – first site in the world to receive the “Starlight Tourism Destination” certification – Noudar Natural Park is located in a farm estate called Herdade da Coitadinha spreads across 1000 hectare, ‘over-the-hills’ between the winding rivers Ardila and Múrtega and lodged among hills and summits near the town of Barrancos (Alentejo, Portugal) and in the border with Spain. The road from the Park’s entrance to the Noudar Castle goes through an extensive holm oak grove (‘montado’) area, ending with a majestic view over the water lines. In Noudar, life presents itself in a state of wilderness and absolute purity.
The Castle of Noudar and the church of Nossa Senhora do Desterro is located between the Múrtega and the Ardila rivers which flow towards the West. Its construction was finished in 1307, during the reign of Don Dinis. The place was chosen because of its natural defenses, easy access and the closeness of a water spring of excellent quality – Fonte da Figueira, located roughly 250 meters to the East of the castle, under the hilltop known as Forca (“the Gallows”). Good and plentiful farming land and cattle grazing fields can also be found near the castle. This medieval fortress was very important for border defense against the kingdom of Castile during the early 14th Century.
More about Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve: Alqueva is the first site in the world to receive the “Starlight Tourism Destination” certification. This certification, awarded by the Starlight Foundation is supported by UNESCO, UNWTO and IAC. Starlight destinations are visitable places characterized by excellent quality for the contemplation of starry skies, and the practice of tourist activities based on this resource. www.darkskyalqueva.com | Canon 60Da – ISO2500 Exp. 30 Secs. 11mm at f/2.8 – Taken in 19/10/2014 at 22h23m.
PT: Visão vertical da Via Láctea, a nossa própria galáxia vista a partir da Terra e da Reserva Dark Sky® Alqueva nas nuances tonais que caracterizam as diferentes noites do ano, permitindo que o mesmo objecto celeste nunca seja visto da mesma forma, sem nunca perder a particular beleza que o caracteriza e nos faz sonhar com a magia e encanto de um cenário à luz das estrelas | Mourão e Barrancos, Céu da Reserva Dark Sky® Alqueva
Starry Sky in the Backyard of Casa do Monte in Noudar
Startrail from Orion sky region in the Backyard of Casa do Monte in Noudar
Included in the great Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve – first site in the world to receive the “Starlight Tourism Destination” certification – Noudar Natural Park is located in a farm estate called Herdade da Coitadinha spreads across 1000 hectare, ‘over-the-hills’ between the winding rivers Ardila and Múrtega and lodged among hills and summits near the town of Barrancos (Alentejo, Portugal) and in the border with Spain. The road from the Park’s entrance to the Noudar Castle goes through an extensive holm oak grove (‘montado’) area, ending with a majestic view over the water lines. In Noudar, life presents itself in a state of wilderness and absolute purity.
The Castle of Noudar and the church of Nossa Senhora do Desterro is located between the Múrtega and the Ardila rivers which flow towards the West. Its construction was finished in 1307, during the reign of Don Dinis. The place was chosen because of its natural defenses, easy access and the closeness of a water spring of excellent quality – Fonte da Figueira, located roughly 250 meters to the East of the castle, under the hilltop known as Forca (“the Gallows”). Good and plentiful farming land and cattle grazing fields can also be found near the castle. This medieval fortress was very important for border defense against the kingdom of Castile during the early 14th Century.
More about Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve:
Alqueva is the first site in the world to receive the “Starlight Tourism Destination” certification. This certification, awarded by the Starlight Foundation is supported by UNESCO, UNWTO and IAC. Starlight destinations are visitable places characterized by excellent quality for the contemplation of starry skies, and the practice of tourist activities based on this resource. www.darkskyalqueva.com
Silhouette of Noudar Church in a Starry Trail Background
Silhouette of Noudar Church in a Starry Trail Background
Included in the great Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve – first site in the world to receive the “Starlight Tourism Destination” certification – Noudar Natural Park is located in a farm estate called Herdade da Coitadinha spreads across 1000 hectare, ‘over-the-hills’ between the winding rivers Ardila and Múrtega and lodged among hills and summits near the town of Barrancos (Alentejo, Portugal) and in the border with Spain. The road from the Park’s entrance to the Noudar Castle goes through an extensive holm oak grove (‘montado’) area, ending with a majestic view over the water lines. In Noudar, life presents itself in a state of wilderness and absolute purity.
The Castle of Noudar and the church of Nossa Senhora do Desterro is located between the Múrtega and the Ardila rivers which flow towards the West. Its construction was finished in 1307, during the reign of Don Dinis. The place was chosen because of its natural defenses, easy access and the closeness of a water spring of excellent quality – Fonte da Figueira, located roughly 250 meters to the East of the castle, under the hilltop known as Forca (“the Gallows”). Good and plentiful farming land and cattle grazing fields can also be found near the castle. This medieval fortress was very important for border defense against the kingdom of Castile during the early 14th Century.
More about Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve:
Alqueva is the first site in the world to receive the “Starlight Tourism Destination” certification. This certification, awarded by the Starlight Foundation is supported by UNESCO, UNWTO and IAC. Starlight destinations are visitable places characterized by excellent quality for the contemplation of starry skies, and the practice of tourist activities based on this resource. www.darkskyalqueva.com
Orion Stars above Noudar Castle
Orion Stars above Noudar Castle
Included in the great Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve – first site in the world to receive the “Starlight Tourism Destination” certification – Noudar Natural Park is located in a farm estate called Herdade da Coitadinha spreads across 1000 hectare, ‘over-the-hills’ between the winding rivers Ardila and Múrtega and lodged among hills and summits near the town of Barrancos (Alentejo, Portugal) and in the border with Spain. The road from the Park’s entrance to the Noudar Castle goes through an extensive holm oak grove (‘montado’) area, ending with a majestic view over the water lines. In Noudar, life presents itself in a state of wilderness and absolute purity.
The Castle of Noudar and the church of Nossa Senhora do Desterro is located between the Múrtega and the Ardila rivers which flow towards the West. Its construction was finished in 1307, during the reign of Don Dinis. The place was chosen because of its natural defenses, easy access and the closeness of a water spring of excellent quality – Fonte da Figueira, located roughly 250 meters to the East of the castle, under the hilltop known as Forca (“the Gallows”). Good and plentiful farming land and cattle grazing fields can also be found near the castle. This medieval fortress was very important for border defense against the kingdom of Castile during the early 14th Century.
More about Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve:
Alqueva is the first site in the world to receive the “Starlight Tourism Destination” certification. This certification, awarded by the Starlight Foundation is supported by UNESCO, UNWTO and IAC. Starlight destinations are visitable places characterized by excellent quality for the contemplation of starry skies, and the practice of tourist activities based on this resource. www.darkskyalqueva.com
Orion Startrail above the Noudar Castle
Orion Startrail above the Noudar Castle
Included in the great Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve – first site in the world to receive the “Starlight Tourism Destination” certification – Noudar Natural Park is located in a farm estate called Herdade da Coitadinha spreads across 1000 hectare, ‘over-the-hills’ between the winding rivers Ardila and Múrtega and lodged among hills and summits near the town of Barrancos (Alentejo, Portugal) and in the border with Spain. The road from the Park’s entrance to the Noudar Castle goes through an extensive holm oak grove (‘montado’) area, ending with a majestic view over the water lines. In Noudar, life presents itself in a state of wilderness and absolute purity.
The Castle of Noudar and the church of Nossa Senhora do Desterro is located between the Múrtega and the Ardila rivers which flow towards the West. Its construction was finished in 1307, during the reign of Don Dinis. The place was chosen because of its natural defenses, easy access and the closeness of a water spring of excellent quality – Fonte da Figueira, located roughly 250 meters to the East of the castle, under the hilltop known as Forca (“the Gallows”). Good and plentiful farming land and cattle grazing fields can also be found near the castle. This medieval fortress was very important for border defense against the kingdom of Castile during the early 14th Century.
More about Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve:
Alqueva is the first site in the world to receive the “Starlight Tourism Destination” certification. This certification, awarded by the Starlight Foundation is supported by UNESCO, UNWTO and IAC. Starlight destinations are visitable places characterized by excellent quality for the contemplation of starry skies, and the practice of tourist activities based on this resource. www.darkskyalqueva.com
Startrail in the Church of Noudar
A startrail with comet effect* in the sky region of Milky Way behind the Church of Noudar Castle, called: Igreja Nossa Senhora do Desterro.
Included in the great Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve – first site in the world to receive the “Starlight Tourism Destination” certification – Noudar Natural Park is located in a farm estate called Herdade da Coitadinha spreads across 1000 hectare, ‘over-the-hills’ between the winding rivers Ardila and Múrtega and lodged among hills and summits near the town of Barrancos (Alentejo, Portugal) and in the border with Spain. The road from the Park’s entrance to the Noudar Castle goes through an extensive holm oak grove (‘montado’) area, ending with a majestic view over the water lines. In Noudar, life presents itself in a state of wilderness and absolute purity.
The Castle of Noudar and the church of Nossa Senhora do Desterro is located between the Múrtega and the Ardila rivers which flow towards the West. Its construction was finished in 1307, during the reign of Don Dinis. The place was chosen because of its natural defenses, easy access and the closeness of a water spring of excellent quality – Fonte da Figueira, located roughly 250 meters to the East of the castle, under the hilltop known as Forca (“the Gallows”). Good and plentiful farming land and cattle grazing fields can also be found near the castle. This medieval fortress was very important for border defense against the kingdom of Castile during the early 14th Century.
More about Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve:
Alqueva is the first site in the world to receive the “Starlight Tourism Destination” certification. This certification, awarded by the Starlight Foundation is supported by UNESCO, UNWTO and IAC. Starlight destinations are visitable places characterized by excellent quality for the contemplation of starry skies, and the practice of tourist activities based on this resource. www.darkskyalqueva.com
* This “comet effect” in the stars is not natural and not visible in the sky and it is only showed here for an artistic purpose.
Lodging Gate to the Noudar Starry Sky
A startrail in the Orion sky region, above the Lodging gate of the Noudar starry sky Park.
Included in the great Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve – first site in the world to receive the “Starlight Tourism Destination” certification – Noudar Natural Park is located in a farm estate called Herdade da Coitadinha spreads across 1000 hectare, ‘over-the-hills’ between the winding rivers Ardila and Múrtega and lodged among hills and summits near the town of Barrancos (Alentejo, Portugal) and in the border with Spain. The road from the Park’s entrance to the Noudar Castle goes through an extensive holm oak grove (‘montado’) area, ending with a majestic view over the water lines. In Noudar, life presents itself in a state of wilderness and absolute purity.
The Castle of Noudar and the church of Nossa Senhora do Desterro is located between the Múrtega and the Ardila rivers which flow towards the West. Its construction was finished in 1307, during the reign of Don Dinis. The place was chosen because of its natural defenses, easy access and the closeness of a water spring of excellent quality – Fonte da Figueira, located roughly 250 meters to the East of the castle, under the hilltop known as Forca (“the Gallows”). Good and plentiful farming land and cattle grazing fields can also be found near the castle. This medieval fortress was very important for border defense against the kingdom of Castile during the early 14th Century.
More about Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve:
Alqueva is the first site in the world to receive the “Starlight Tourism Destination” certification. This certification, awarded by the Starlight Foundation is supported by UNESCO, UNWTO and IAC. Starlight destinations are visitable places characterized by excellent quality for the contemplation of starry skies, and the practice of tourist activities based on this resource. www.darkskyalqueva.com
Church of Noudar and Milky Way Stars
Milky Way behind the Church of Noudar Castle, called: Igreja Nossa Senhora do Desterro.
Included in the great Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve – first site in the world to receive the “Starlight Tourism Destination” certification – Noudar Natural Park is located in a farm estate called Herdade da Coitadinha spreads across 1000 hectare, ‘over-the-hills’ between the winding rivers Ardila and Múrtega and lodged among hills and summits near the town of Barrancos (Alentejo, Portugal) and in the border with Spain. The road from the Park’s entrance to the Noudar Castle goes through an extensive holm oak grove (‘montado’) area, ending with a majestic view over the water lines. In Noudar, life presents itself in a state of wilderness and absolute purity.
The Castle of Noudar and the church of Nossa Senhora do Desterro is located between the Múrtega and the Ardila rivers which flow towards the West. Its construction was finished in 1307, during the reign of Don Dinis. The place was chosen because of its natural defenses, easy access and the closeness of a water spring of excellent quality – Fonte da Figueira, located roughly 250 meters to the East of the castle, under the hilltop known as Forca (“the Gallows”). Good and plentiful farming land and cattle grazing fields can also be found near the castle. This medieval fortress was very important for border defense against the kingdom of Castile during the early 14th Century.
More about Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve:
Alqueva is the first site in the world to receive the “Starlight Tourism Destination” certification. This certification, awarded by the Starlight Foundation is supported by UNESCO, UNWTO and IAC. Starlight destinations are visitable places characterized by excellent quality for the contemplation of starry skies, and the practice of tourist activities based on this resource. www.darkskyalqueva.com
Ardila River and the Sky of Noudar
Ardila River and the Sky of Noudar | Canon 60Da – ISO2500 Exp. 30 Secs. 11mm at f/2.8 taken in 19/10/2014 at 21h26
Included in the great Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve – first site in the world to receive the “Starlight Tourism Destination” certification – Noudar Natural Park is located in a farm estate called Herdade da Coitadinha spreads across 1000 hectare, ‘over-the-hills’ between the winding rivers Ardila and Múrtega and lodged among hills and summits near the town of Barrancos (Alentejo, Portugal) and in the border with Spain. The road from the Park’s entrance to the Noudar Castle goes through an extensive holm oak grove (‘montado’) area, ending with a majestic view over the water lines. In Noudar, life presents itself in a state of wilderness and absolute purity.
The Castle of Noudar and the church of Nossa Senhora do Desterro is located between the Múrtega and the Ardila rivers which flow towards the West. Its construction was finished in 1307, during the reign of Don Dinis. The place was chosen because of its natural defenses, easy access and the closeness of a water spring of excellent quality – Fonte da Figueira, located roughly 250 meters to the East of the castle, under the hilltop known as Forca (“the Gallows”). Good and plentiful farming land and cattle grazing fields can also be found near the castle. This medieval fortress was very important for border defense against the kingdom of Castile during the early 14th Century.
More about Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve:
Alqueva is the first site in the world to receive the “Starlight Tourism Destination” certification. This certification, awarded by the Starlight Foundation is supported by UNESCO, UNWTO and IAC. Starlight destinations are visitable places characterized by excellent quality for the contemplation of starry skies, and the practice of tourist activities based on this resource. www.darkskyalqueva.com
Milky Way Arc above Noudar Park
Milky Way Arc above Noudar Park, a view from Eira area. | Canon 50D – ISO1600 Exp. 20 Secs. 35mm at f/2 Mosaic picture taken in 18/10/2014 at 00h18.
Included in the great Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve – first site in the world to receive the “Starlight Tourism Destination” certification – Noudar Natural Park is located in a farm estate called Herdade da Coitadinha spreads across 1000 hectare, ‘over-the-hills’ between the winding rivers Ardila and Múrtega and lodged among hills and summits near the town of Barrancos (Alentejo, Portugal) and in the border with Spain. The road from the Park’s entrance to the Noudar Castle goes through an extensive holm oak grove (‘montado’) area, ending with a majestic view over the water lines. In Noudar, life presents itself in a state of wilderness and absolute purity.
The Castle of Noudar and the church of Nossa Senhora do Desterro is located between the Múrtega and the Ardila rivers which flow towards the West. Its construction was finished in 1307, during the reign of Don Dinis. The place was chosen because of its natural defenses, easy access and the closeness of a water spring of excellent quality – Fonte da Figueira, located roughly 250 meters to the East of the castle, under the hilltop known as Forca (“the Gallows”). Good and plentiful farming land and cattle grazing fields can also be found near the castle. This medieval fortress was very important for border defense against the kingdom of Castile during the early 14th Century.
More about Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve:
Alqueva is the first site in the world to receive the “Starlight Tourism Destination” certification. This certification, awarded by the Starlight Foundation is supported by UNESCO, UNWTO and IAC. Starlight destinations are visitable places characterized by excellent quality for the contemplation of starry skies, and the practice of tourist activities based on this resource. www.darkskyalqueva.com
A Startrail from Pico do Arieiro
Captured in the top of Madeira island, in Pico do Arieiro, at about 1810 meters high, from left to right, is visible above the horizon and between the passing clouds, the lights coming from neighboring island of Porto Santo. At the right and in the top of the mountain, above the white/yellow dome – a military radar – we can see the region of Celestial Equator, with the dragged stars of the well known constellation of Orion!
Canon 60Da – ISO2000 Exp. 30 Secs. 11mm at f/2.8. Sum of 46 images. Total time integration of 77 minutes.
Alqueva All Sky
This “all sky view” was captured in Monsaraz, in the back of Orada Convent, one of the regions covered by the Alqueva´s Dark Sky Reserve. Besides the yellow light visible near the 360º horizon, coming from the villages around, we also can see the pale green tone from a smooth airglow presence. Near the center of the image, where the sky reaches the Zenith 90º, it´s clearly visible the North America Nebula, in Cygnus constellation. Below, between the palm trees, we find the central region of our Galaxy. The Milky Way is actually crossing the entire sky from horizon to horizon, with an arm of gas, dust and stars, with more then 180 degrees.
Canon 60Da – ISO2000; 11mm at f/2.8; Exp. 30 secs. in 27/07/2014 at 1:45 AM. All sky mosaic of 23 images.
A Straight Galactic Arm in Monte Bravo
Our own galaxy as seen from Earth, occupies a considerable area across the sky, with several tens of degrees. In this peacefull view from Monte Bravo, Alentejo, the Milky Way can be seen as a straight galactic arm in the direction of Zenith, due to the low perspective captured with an ultra wide angle lens. The orange tone coming from the village light of Mourão, is spreading through the low clouds, although, does not affect to much the imposing presence of our Milky Way, for being captured in a Dark Sky Reserve, in Alqueva.
Canon 50D – ISO2500; 11mm at f/2.8; Exp. 30 secs. Taken in 29-06-2014 at 3:15 AM
Olive Tree and the Milky Way
The central region of Milky Way is setting behind Monsaraz region, Portugal. In the foreground, we can see the most typical tree of Alentejo, the Olive tree, in portuguese well known as “Oliveira”. Canon 60Da – ISO1600; 11mm at f/2.8; Exp. 30 secs. Taken in 28-06-2014 at 3:14
Sky of Milk in a Lake of Fire – Azores
Azores is one of the two autonomous regions of Portugal, composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. One of the islands is São Miguel, where we can find a beautiful lake in the crater center, called Lake of Fire, “Lagoa do Fogo”. Above it, the sky reveals the magnificent arc of our galaxy, the Milky Way, besides the light pollution coming from Vila Franca do Campo, a small town at the southern shore of the island, that illuminates the clouds near the horizon with the an orange tone. From left to right, we can see the swan (Cygnus) constellation, with its North America nebula (NGC7000) clearly visible below the Deneb star, down to the right, we can find Aquila. Sagittarius is covered by the cloud. Near the right limit, we find Scorpius and it´s super giant star, Antares, following to the right edge of the picture, it is visible the planet Saturn, in Libra.
Canon 60Da – ISO2500; 24mm at f/2; Exp. 20 secs. in 04/05/2014 at 3:45 AM. Mosaic of 21 images. Below is the annotated version.
The Milky Way above the Lake of Fire – Azores
The great central region of Milky Way, full of nebulae emissions, star clusters, gas and dust, above the cloudy yellow band in the Lake of Fire – Lagoa do Fogo. Doubtlessly, one of the grandest nature attractions of this S. Miguel island, located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. This huge blue lake 575 meters above the sea level – it is about 2 km long and 1 km wide – fills the ground of an extinct crater, whose caldera was formed during an eruption in 1563. Surrounded by high mountains and luxuriant endemic vegetation, this mystical lake, surrounded by an ambiance of divine tranquility and beauty, seems to be the perfect scenario – declared as natural reserve- to enjoy a fantastic free open window to our Universe.
Canon 60Da – ISO2500; 24mm at f/2; Exp. 20 secs. in 04/05/2014 at 4:30 AM.
Milky Trails – Azores
This short startrail sequence shows the colorful path of main stars from the central region of Milky Way, but also the “blurred trail” of gas and dust from the emissions nebulae in the background, above the cloudy yellow band in the Lake of Fire – Lagoa do Fogo. Doubtlessly, one of the grandest nature attractions of this S. Miguel island, located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. This huge blue lake 575 meters above the sea level – it is about 2 km long and 1 km wide – fills the ground of an extinct crater, whose caldera was formed during an eruption in 1563.
Canon 60Da – ISO2500; 24mm at f/2; Exp. 20 secs. in 04/05/2014 at 4:20 AM.
Scorpius and Planets above the “Green Island” – Azores
Well known as the “Green Island”, this tipical colorful landscape from Santa Bárbara, in Ribeira Grande, Azores, shows the conection of nature between this rural landscape and the night sky, in this rare oportunity of clear sky, revealing the main stars of Scorpius at left, with the red giant Antares. Above right, in Libra constellation shines an “extra” star, which is actually the bright planet Saturn. At the same aparent altitude, on the right side we can find the blue star Spica, one of the main stars of Virgo constellation. At the right Edge of the picture, the strongest orange/red star, is the light coming from planet Mars. The light pollution reflected on the low clouds, coming from Ribeira Grande city, in the the opposite direction, was enough the light up all the green landscape.
Canon 60Da – ISO1600; 24mm at f/2; Exp. 15 secs. in 03/05/2014 at 2:39 AM. Below is the annotated version.
Skywatching Against the Lights
There are milions of sky enthusiasts and amateur astronomers in the entire world, fighting against the growing problem of light pollution and trying to find some dark places that could revealing more stars as well, the beautiful presence of Milky Way. Skygazing is more then a passion…becoming a life style. The image were captured in Miradouro de Santa Iria, S. Miguel, Azores, facing to East, where the lights from Porto Formoso e São Brás, are even stronger.
Azores, is one of the two autonomous regions of Portugal, composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the North Atlantic Ocean, is located about 1,360 km west of continental Portugal, about 880 km (550 mi) northwest of Madeira, and about 1,925 km southeast of Newfoundland.There are nine major Azorean islands and an islet cluster, in three main groups. These are Flores and Corvo, to the west; Graciosa, Terceira, São Jorge, Pico, and Faial in the centre; and São Miguel, Santa Maria, and the Formigas Reef to the east. They extend for more than 600 km and lie in a northwest-southeast direction.
Canon 60Da – ISO1250; 24mm at f/4; Exp. 20 secs. in 03/05/2014 at 00:44 AM.
Earth Hour 2014 in Lisbon
Earth Hour 2014 in Lisbon – by Miguel Claro from Miguel Claro on Vimeo.
For the first time Lisbon was participating of the international event, shutting down the lights, as a symbolic act, of some of the main monuments, buildings and structures, as the great statue Christ the King and the 25 April bidge across the Tagus River, as we can see in the time lapse sequence captured in the south edge of Lisbon, from Almada. Heart Hour is a worldwide grassroots movement uniting people to protect the planet, and is organised by WWF. Engaging a massive mainstream community on a broad range of environmental issues, Earth Hour was famously started as a lights-off event in Sydney, Australia in 2007. Since then it has grown to engage more than 7000 cities and towns worldwide, and the one-hour event continues to remain the key driver of the now larger movement.
Captured with 2 Canon cameras (50D and 60Da) and 2 Great Vixen Polarie travel mounts.
Full Worm Moon Sequence in the Lighthouse
The full Moon in this sequence, well known as “Worm Moon”, for signaling the coming of spring in the northern hemisphere, was captured in Cape Espichel lighthouse. Opened in 1790, in 1865 was powered by olive oil, changing to fuel in 1886, when its light began to be fueled by glowing vapor of oil, much later in 1926 by electricity. Measures 32 meters high and lies at an altitude of 168m above the see level. Presently, its luminous range is 42 nautical miles, about 67 km.
Canon 60Da – 35mm at f/4 ISO500; 1/5 sec. Sequence of 93 images with 2-minute intervals each other, taken in 16/03/2014 between 19:16 and 20:42. Cabo Espichel, Sesimbra, Portugal.
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
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.
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.
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.
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
Perseids Meteor shower in Black and White
Image of the meteor shower Perseids, taken from Fonte-de-Telha, Portugal. Canon 50D – ISO1000; f/4; Exp. 25 secs. with 10mm, in 12/08/2013 at 4h14 AM. Sum of 32 images.
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.
Gas and Dust Up to the Zenith
A view of the Milky Way in a vertical dizzying mosaic up to the Zenith. As a photographer and book author, I’d say: maybe an image in a “tab book format” where we can still see the yellowish effect of ariglow and the area of cloudiness (gas and dust) that make up the Milky Way, with several emission nebulae visible in the image (in violet tone). The picture was taken in a region of the Hermitage of San Pedro, in Mourão. The brightest stars have left his trademark on the calm water, which mirrored again, the beauty of the universe!
Canon 60Da – ISO1600 Exp 15 secs. 35mm f / 2 – Mosaic of 9 images. Taken in 15-06-2013 at 02:51 AM
From Moon to the Planets
Panoramic view over Almada City and Lisbon at the Nautical Twilight, with the Full moon rising above the Eastern horizon (right side of the image), while at the same time but in the opposite direction, the planets Venus, Mercury and Jupiter, are aligned in a triangle formation, setting in the Western horizon (left side of the image).In this panoramic picture is also visible the smooth light transition in the sky, with the end of Nautical Twilight and the beginning of Astronomical Twilight (almost night), at right. Facing to North, is visible the great lighted Monument Christ the King and at the left side of it, part of the 25 April Bridge that connects Almada to Lisbon.
Canon 50D – ISO200; f/4; Exp. 1,6 Sec; 35mm. Panoramic of 10 images with about 200º, taken at 21h42 in 25/05/2013. Below is the image with identification:
Milky Rocky
A stargazer above the rocky region of Portinho da Arrábida, Portugal, with the Milky Way behind it, visible in the dawn. Canon 60Da – ISO 1600; Exp.15 Seg; f/2.8; 24mm. In 11/05/2013 at 05h10 AM.
Milky Way in Daylight
A rocky region of Portinho da Arrábida, Portugal, with the center of Milky Way behind it, visible at the dawn – almost in the daylight – with the stars of Saggitarius and Scorpius clearly visible, while the sky is turning blue, slowly. Canon 60Da – ISO 1600; Exp.15 Sec; f/2.8; 24mm. In 11/05/2013 at 05h14 AM.
Below is the image with the sky identification.
Below you will find a resume with all publications – printed and online – related to this particular photograph.
Please refer the i-frame above, generated automatically from the overview page Press.
Capturing the Earthshine and Pleiades above the bridge
During one of my astrophotography workshops, I had the opportunity to catch the moment when one participant was photographing the Earthshine and Crescent Moon in conjunction with the open clusters Pleiades (M45), above the 25 April bridge, in Lisbon.
Canon 50D – ISO800, f/2.8; Exp. 1s ; 24mm. 13/04/2013 at 21h51.
Tree of Plenitude
A tree alone in the Dark Sky. A Silence moment full of plenitude. Canon 60Da – ISO1250; 24mm; f/2.8; 13 secs at 06/04/2013 00h47
Below you will find a resume with all publications – printed and online – related to this particular photograph.
Please refer the i-frame above, generated automatically from the overview page Press.
Nautical Sky
Image taken near the nautical center of Monsaraz, during the Nautical Twilight, a special moment when the first stars appear in the sky. Few moments after I took the image, I saw a strong Zodiacal Light coming from the direction of the mountain. See the short time lapse movie. Canon 50D – ISO1000; f/4; exp. 15 secs; Lens 10mm.
The beauty deep sky shining above the land
Image taken near a small part of the largest manmade lake in Europe (250 sq km) and one of the world’s largest, called Alqueva. Around this area, we also can find some of the darkest sky regions in Portugal, like Monsaraz, inserted in Dark Sky Reserve Alqueva, the world’s first certified ‘Starlight Tourism Destination’.
From left to right, in the land, we could see the silhouette of the photographer, Babak Tafreshi, that was also making his images of the night sky. Next to the tree, we can see the light of the Monsaraz Castle, also reflected in the calm water of the lake, 30 minutes after the moonset.
Even with some light pollution coming directly from the village castle, the sky above shows a rich variety of deep sky objects that are visible in the infrared camera, like Canon EOS 60Da, as well a lot of star clusters, one asteroid and the Planet Jupiter. From left to right, in the sky, we could identify M46 and M47, M41, and above Sirius the Seagull nebula IC2177. Near the center top image, is visible another infrared emission from Rosette Nebula. Below, the Barnard´s Loop, Horse Head and Orion nebula M42, are strongest emissions indeed. A little bit to the right making the center upper image, is the Lambda Orionis (Sh2 264), Messia. Above the star aldebaran, is visible the open cluster NGC1647 and near to the left, the Vesta asteroid, and above it another open cluster the NGC1746. Below is the brightest sky object capturing in this image, the planet Jupiter, shining near the pleiades M45. In the upper right corner, is located the last infrared brightest deep sky object, the California nebula, NGC1499.
Canon EOS60Da – F/2 15s ISO4000 35mm lens. Mosaic of 24 images. Image taken in 22/12/2012 at 2:58 AM.
Sky Show above Monsaraz Castle
In this image taken inside the Monsaraz Castle, in the Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve, Portugal, we could see the Dark night with some interesting sky objects, like M46 and M47, M41, and above Sirius the Seagull nebula IC2177. Near the center top image, is visible another infrared emission from Rosette Nebula. Below, the Barnard´s Loop, Horse Head and Orion nebula M42. A little bit to the right above the star aldebaran, is visible the open cluster NGC1647 and above it another open cluster the NGC1746. Below is the brightest sky object capturing in this image, the planet Jupiter, shining near the pleaides M45, almost seting behing the wall castle. Above right, is located the California nebula, NGC1499.
Canon EOS60Da – F/2.8 Exp.13s ISO3200 35mm lens. Mosaic of 24 images. Image taken in 22/12/2012 at 4:31 AM.
Enjoying a Celestial View
Image taken in Vera cruz, Portel, one of the regions inside de Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve. The image was taken near the church where it is the piece wood of the Jesus Christ cross. In the land, a stargazer women is enjoying the celestial view of the sky.
Canon 50D, ISO 500 with 35mm at f/4 Exp.4″. 14/07/2012 at 2:47 Am
The Bridge Between Moon and Jupiter
Image of the Crescent Moon with only 1% of the disc iluminated by the Sun, and where it is clearly visible the Earthshine effect. Below the bridge we can see the Planet Jupiter. The image was taken from Almada, facing to Lisbon and to the 25 April bridge.
Canon 50D – ISO500 F/4.5 133mm Exp. 2″ in 22/04/2012 at 21h20
Bridge Night Show
Conjunction between Jupiter and Crescent Moon, with the 25 April Bridge, in Lisbon as a background.
Canon 50D- ISO200 f/2.8 Exp. 2.5″ in 25/03/2012 at 21:12
Sunset Sky Show
View of the conjunction between Venus, Jupiter and the Crescent Moon in a strong Earthshine effect, with the 25 April Bridge, in Lisbon as a background.
Canon 50D – ISO250 f/2.8 Exp. 2″ in 25/03/2012 at 20:38 | Canon 50D- ISO250 f/2.8 Exp. 2.5″ in 25/03/2012 at 20:51
Light Workshop
Image obtained in Portinho Arrábida, Portugal, during a practice session of a workshop of astrophotography that I drove for about 15 students on February 17, 2012. While in the beach is possible to see many lights of different colors due to the constant movement of the photographers along the sand, in the sky, above the slope of Arrábida, facing to Southwest West, you can see the trails of well known stars as Sirius, Procyon or Betelgeuse and constellations like Canis Major and Minor, Orion or Taurus.
Canon 50D -ISO1250mm 10mm F/4 Exp.30s. Sum of 150 images in a total integration of 75 minutes.
Sintra Enigmatic View
In this image taken in the middle of the Sintra hills, we can see through the branches of trees many stars, below left, the bright star is the planet jupiter, in the same vertical line, near the top left, we find the pleiades and in the oposite location, in the right corner of the image, the Polaris Star. Near the horizon, the orange bright lights come from Sintra´s Village, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on account of its 19th century Romantic architecture.
Canon 50D -ISO800 10mm F/4 Exp.25″. Image taken in 12/01/2012 at 00h40.
The Beautiful LP
This image was taken in the Serra de Sintra, above the solar wall, a rock with about 30 meters in height, situated in the top of the mountain in the back of Sintra´s Castle and near the Pena´s Palace, where climbers usually do climbing and rappelling. Near the horizon we could see the dramatic effect of light pollution, but also, the beauty of Sintra Village, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on account of its 19th century Romantic architecture.
Canon 50D -ISO800 10mm F/4.5 Exp.15″. Image taken in 11/01/2012 at 21h39.
Above-panoramic view composed by 4 images, we could see at left, the strong light of Pena´s Palace, and at right between the forest, the beauty of Sintra Village as well as, the dramatic effect of light pollution.
Canon 50D -ISO800 10mm F/5.6 Exp.15″ in 11/01/2012 at 22h28.
Ilhéu de São Roque – Ponta Delgada
Panoramic image of the islet of São Roque in Ponta Delagada, Azores, obtained at 5:34 at the morning, and where we can see the effect of light pollution reflected in the clouds, in a contrast between nature and civilization.
Canon 50D – ISO800 F/4 30″sec. 10mm in 4/12/2011 at 05h34 | Panoramic picture, composed by 3 images taken at eep night around 05h34.
Lagoa das Sete Cidades at Night – Azores
Lagoa das Sete Cidade (English: Lake of the Seven Cities) is a twin-lake situated in the crater of a massive crater on the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores. It consists of two ecologically-different small-lakes connected by a narrow passage (and crossed by a bridge), located inside a dormant volcano on the western third of the island of São Miguel. The Lagoa das Sete Cidades part of a natural landscape of communitarian interest: it is the largest body of water in the region and one of the most important freshwater resources in the archipelago. More info click here.
This place have a peculiar weather and we could see in this image taken at a deep night with a long exposure, a strange cloud formation that is around the volcano crater as well as all the light pollution reflected in the clouds, from the small village that exists in the center of the crater. The air planes normally avoid to fly above it.
Canon 50D – ISO800 F/4 180sec. 10mm in 4/12/2011 at 02h40 | Panoramic picture, composed by 3 images taken at deep night around 02h40, in a long exposure of 3 minutes for each photo.
The Beauty side of Light Pollution
This image was taken about 30km away from Lisbon, 300 meters high in the Arrábida mountain Range, facing the North-west. In the image we could see the huge amount of light pollution coming from the capital of Portugal, Lisbon, as well a lot of air trafic. But above the sky, there are persistent stars and constellations, that still shine in the orange sky. Are they: Aquila, Delphinus, Sagitta, Vulpecula, Cygnus, Lyra, Draco, Ursa Minor. The main path at the left edge is the Altair star. Near the horizon in the middle of the image we could see the Vega star and above it, the Deneb path. In the right top corner, is clearly visible the trail of Pherkad e Kocab, from Ursa Minor, with his curve path for being near the Polaris
Canon 50D – ISO500 10mm f/5 Exp.30″ in 17/11/2011 between 21h42 and 23h38.Sum of 214 images in a total integration of 107 minutes.
Astronomical Observatory of Lisbon
I made this sequence of images, in the night of the “Global Star Party”2011, in one of the most beautiful astronomical heritage of the world, the historic Astronomical Observatory of Lisbon. Above the front building, we can see the trails of Ursa Major, and in the image of the right side building, we can see the trail of moonset as well as the Gemini stars, Pollux and Castor, and behind the yellow main dome, the Menkalinan and Capella stars, from Auriga constellation. It was a great challange photographing the beauty of the place, against the high level of light pollution, in the midle of Lisbon. I made 3 separated images and also a composed image with all of 3 diferent views, in a portrait and landscape version. All the images were taken in the same night 09-04-2011 between 23:34 and 2:11. The History of OAL or AOL
1-Image above:
Canon 50D- Exp.13″ F/5.6 ISO500 10 mm – 145 images – Total: 31mts
2-Image above:
Canon 50D- Exp.20″ F/5.6 ISO500 20 mm – 154 images – Total: 51mts
Capuchos Crescent Moon
Lua Crescente com o disco apenas 1% iluminado. Imagem obtida nos Capuchos, em Almada. É possível ver ainda a Costa da Caparica e parte de Lisboa, assim como do Oceano Atlântico.
Canon 50D- Exp.3.2″ F/5 ISO500 a 50mm 04-04-11 20h54
Sirius e Orion na Torre de Belém
Sirius e a Constelação de Orion por detrás da Torre de Belém, em Lisboa. Imagem obtida em noite de Lua Cheia, a 20-01-2011 entre as 01h47 e as 02h20. Soma de 62 imagens cada uma de 30 segundos, totalizando uma integração de 32 minutos.
Canon 50D -ISO250 15mm F/9 Exp.30s por imagem
Albufeira Star Party
Imagem do rasto das estrelas obtida perto da Lagoa de Albufeira, numa Star Party em 11-09-2010 entre as 21h42 e a 23h01. Soma de 146 imagens cada uma de 30 segundos, totalizando uma integração de 73 minutos. São visíveis várias estrelas das constelações: Sagittarius, Esorpião…etc
Canon 50D -ISO1250 10mm F/4.5 Exp.30s por imagem.
Light Trails in the Forest
Imagem do rasto das estrelas na região Sul do céu, na zona da Via Láctea. Imagem obtida num pinhal da Fonte-de-Telha, na noite das Perseidas, em 13-08-2010 entre as 00h15 e a 01h11am. Soma de 104 imagens cada uma de 30 segundos, totalizando uma integração de 52 minutos. São visíveis várias estrelas. Os rastos no centro inferior da imagem entre os pinheiros, pertencem à constelação de Sagittarius.À direita da imagem, logo por cima da ultima árvore, verticalmente, é possível ver o rasto subtil de um meteoro das perseidas.
Canon 50D -ISO1250 10mm F/4 Exp.30s por cada imagem.
Alinhamento entre Saturno, Marte, Vénus e Regulus
Alinhamento entre os planetas Saturno, Marte, Vénus e a esrtela Regulus. Imagem obtida nos Capuchos, em Almada. É possível ver ainda a Costa da Caparica e parte de Lisboa, assim como do Oceano Atlântico.
Canon 50D- Exp.15″ F/5 ISO200 a 10mm 13-07-10 22h02
Moon and Jupiter Show
Conjunção entre o planeta Jupiter e a Lua. Imagem obtida na Serra da Arrábida em 04-07-2010 1h32 e 1h38.
Above – Canon 50D – ISO1000 F-5 Exp.-20″ 10mm Lens.
Above – Canon 50D – ISO1000 F-5.6 Exp.-20″ 20mm Lens.
São Jorge Castle´s Skyshow
Imagens obtidas nas muralhas do Castelo de São Jorge, apanhando parte da cidade de Lisboa. No céu, pode ser apreciado um Earthshine lunar numa conjunção entre Vénus e a Lua. Leia mais sobre o Castelo, datado da idade medieval. – Clique aqui.
Above: Canon 50D – ISO400 F-5.6 Exp-5″ 20mm em: 15-05-10 às 21:56
Above: Canon 50D – ISO400 F-5 Exp-4″ 14mm em: 15-05-10 às 21:53
