Earth Shadow – The Beauty of a Total Lunar Eclipse in Motion
A video time lapse in 4K shows what is the deepest feeling of experiencing the incredible moment when the moon passes through the Earth’s shadow, giving the natural satellite a blood-red hue during a total lunar eclipse. The stars around the moon are again visible as the light of the moon drops drastically, giving rise to a unique moment of seeing the mesmerising presence of the Milky Way but at the same time, the shinning moon reflecting a low reddish light for being immersed inside the Umbra of the Earth shadow. The movie also intend to reveal the emotional feeling and ambience which surround us during this celestial event, when we are under the real darkness of a pristine starry sky like Mértola, in Dark Sky® Alqueva territory, Portugal. All the images were captured during the Total Lunar Eclipse of 16th May, 2022. For being near the closest point to our planet Earth, this Moon was also called a “Super Blood Moon”. According to timeanddate.com next Lunar Eclipse it will happen in 2023, on 5-6 May and will be a Penumbral Lunar Eclipse visible in Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, Pacific, Atlantic, Indian Ocean and Antarctica. Close to the end of the year, on 28-29 October 2023, it wil be visible a Partial Lunar Eclipse, seen from Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, North America, Much of South America, Pacific, Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Arctic, Antarctica.
PT: O vídeo time lapse em 4K mostra qual é a sensação mais profunda de experimentar o momento incrível em que a lua passa pela sombra da Terra, dando ao satélite natural um tom vermelho-sangue durante um eclipse lunar total. As estrelas ao redor da lua são novamente visíveis à medida que a luz da lua cai drasticamente, dando origem a um momento único, o de poder apreciar a presença hipnotizante da Via Láctea, e ao mesmo tempo, a lua brilhando e refletindo uma luz avermelhada por estar imersa na Umbra da sombra da Terra. O filme também pretende revelar de alugma forma o forte sentimento e emoção que se experiencia no ambiente que nos rodeia durante este evento celestial, quando estamos sob a verdadeira escuridão de um céu pristino estrelado, como o de Mértola, no território Dark Sky® Alqueva, Portugal. Todas as imagens foram captadas durante o Eclipse Lunar Total de 16 de maio de 2022. Por estar perto do ponto mais próximo do nosso planeta Terra, a lua também foi apelidada de “Super Luar de Sangue”. De acordo com timeanddate.com o próximo Eclipse Lunar acontecerá em 2023, de 5 para 6 de maio e será um Eclipse Lunar Penumbral visível na Europa, Ásia, Austrália, África, Pacífico, Atlântico, Oceano Índico e Antártica. Perto do final do ano, de 28 para 29 de Outubro de 2023, será visível um Eclipse Lunar Parcial, visto da Europa, Ásia, Austrália, África, América do Norte, grande parte da América do Sul, Pacífico, Atlântico, Oceano Índico, Ártico , Antártida.
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Our Greatness Rises When We Recognise The beauty Immersed in Each Corner of the Universe
Sometimes all you need is just…being under the stars to understand how big, we humans, can be. Big, by the simple fact that we can have a conscience of our limits when trying to “understand” a small fraction of what we are looking at. But our greatness rises, when we are able to recognise all the beauty immersed in each piece of Nature, in each corner of the Universe! Captured on my recent astro astro workshop at Dark Sky® Alqueva. My thanks to participants Daniela and Ana, which posed for me in this single shot.
PT: Por vezes tudo que precisamos é apenas…relaxar, e estar sob a grandeza de um céu estrelado pristino, para entender o quão grandes, nós humanos, podemos ser. Grandes pelo simples facto de termos a consciência dos nossos limites ao tentar “entender” uma pequena fracção do que se avista diante os nossos olhos. Mas a nossa grandeza aumenta, quando somos capazes de reconhecer toda a Beleza presente em cada pedaço da Natureza, em cada canto do Universo! Captada recentemente durante o meu workshop de astrofotografia no Dark Sky® Alqueva. Os meus agradecimentos às participantes Daniela e Ana, que posaram para mim nesta foto de um disparo único.
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A Meteor and a Eclipsed Moon in the Twilight
A wide angle image is the result of a team work between me and my dear Apolónia. Captured few minutes before the morning starts, it shows the reddish glow of an eclipsed moon for being under the Earth shadow cone, mixed with the colors of the twilight in the background. luckily at the precise moment that Apolónia Rodrigues was pressing the camera button – by hand, we didn’t had more cables available as I was running 4 other cameras, a bright shooting star was crossing the field below the Milky Way, visible in the lower left edge. In the foreground, an old mine structure from Mina de São Domingos, in Mértola, at Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, is visible in the shadow.
PT: Esta visão grande angular é o resultado de um trabalho de equipa entre mim e a Apolónia. Captado poucos minutos antes do início do crepúsculo matinal, mostra o brilho avermelhado de uma lua eclipsada por estar sob a influência do cone de sombra da Terra, misturado com as cores do crepúsculo em pano de fundo. Felizmente no preciso momento em que Apolónia Rodrigues estava a premir o botão da câmara – à mão, não tínhamos mais cabos disponíveis pois eu estava a trabalhar com outras 4 câmaras, uma estrela cadente brilhante atravessava o campo abaixo da Via Láctea, visível na parte inferior da extremidade esquerda. Em primeiro plano, é visível na sombra a silhueta de uma antiga estrutura mineira do complexo da Mina de São Domingos, em Mértola, na Reserva Dark Sky® Alqueva.
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You can choose the best style of print do you preffer to decorate in a fashion way your walls. Metal Prints with durable and vivid colors, Acrylic, Canvas or the highest quality Gallery Print – a 6 colour UV direct printing on acrylic glass (2mm) including light colours and reinforced by an aluminium dibond plate (3mm). Those type of Prints can highlight the final work in an artistic way, showing the photograph as a piece of art. I work with two high quality specialized Labs in US and in Europe, using Kodak Professional Endura Premier Metallic papers and Fujifilm Crystal Archive DP II Professional. You can select the image above or freely navigate to more than 800 photographs available in my gallery – each one with their own story and magic – and choose the photograph you would love to have in your home or office.
How to Order – Simple and easy, just “copy and paste” the link of this page or the image you choosed and fill it in the form below, with the size you want and any detail you wish to include on the message, like your country, name and postal address. Free Shipping included to all prints (except frames). For US and Europe the delivery is 4-8 working days, while to Portugal and Spain is normally 2-6 working days. After submitting the order through the form, I will contact you for the payment method (Paypal available or bank transfer) and with other questions related to your print(s) or requests. Once payment is confirmed, your order is shipped within 24h. In case you wish, I can send you separtely with no additional cost, a postcard autographed and numbered of the same image you have just bought, as a seal and proof of art work authenticity from the author. Let me know what is your wish.
Total Lunar Eclipse and Milky Way Shining in a VR 360º Starry Scene
Captured on the wonderful century old mine of São Domingos, in Achada do Gamo, Dark Sky® Alqueva – Mértola, an all sky and 360º Virtual Reality scene features the arch of Milky Way shining high in the Sky. Summer Triangle highlights the center of the image, with blueish Vega near the top. Left lower center – in the beginning of the Milky Way faintest path – a bright elliptic and diffuse dot is the light coming from Andromeda Galaxy. In the lower center and between the two strcutures are shining planets Jupiter and Mars, being Saturn visible as well, but more to the center right. On the right edge, shines the dusty core of Milky Way galaxy full of emission nebulae and close to Rho Ophiuchi clouds complex, an unusual bright orange glow belongs to an eclipsed super moon for being under the Earth shadow cone. Below is available two Virtual Realities 360º of this scene. You can experience a full 7K resolution using your desktop, or smartphone with gyroscope. A great “in loco” experience can be achieved if you wear a VR glasses.
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You can choose the best style of print do you preffer to decorate in a fashion way your walls. Metal Prints with durable and vivid colors, Acrylic, Canvas or the highest quality Gallery Print – a 6 colour UV direct printing on acrylic glass (2mm) including light colours and reinforced by an aluminium dibond plate (3mm). Those type of Prints can highlight the final work in an artistic way, showing the photograph as a piece of art. I work with two high quality specialized Labs in US and in Europe, using Kodak Professional Endura Premier Metallic papers and Fujifilm Crystal Archive DP II Professional. You can select the image above or freely navigate to more than 800 photographs available in my gallery – each one with their own story and magic – and choose the photograph you would love to have in your home or office.
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Arch of Summer Milky Way Shining Bright During a Total Lunar Eclipse
The image reveals a panoramic scene of single shots where the arch of Summer Milky Way shines high and bright above the wonderful century old mine of São Domingos, in Achada do Gamo, Dark Sky® Alqueva – Mértola, Portugal. In the background, Summer Triangle highlights the center of the image, with blueish star Vega near the top. Left lower center – in the beginning of the Milky Way faintest path – a bright elliptic and diffuse dot is the light coming from Andromeda Galaxy. In the lower center and between the two strcutures are shining planets Jupiter and Mars, being Saturn visible as well, but more to the center right. On the right edge, shines the dusty core of Milky Way galaxy full of emission nebulae and close to Rho Ophiuchi clouds complex, an unusual bright orange glow belongs to an eclipsed super moon for being under the Earth shadow cone.
PT: A imagem revela um cenário panorâmico de disparos únicos onde o arco da Via Láctea de Verão se ergue alto e brilhante acima da maravilhosa mina centenária de São Domingos, na Achada do Gamo, Dark Sky® Alqueva – Mértola. Ao fundo, o Triângulo de Verão destaca o centro da imagem, com a estrela azulada Vega perto do topo. No centro inferior esquerdo – no início do caminho ténue da Via Láctea – um ponto elíptico, brilhante e difuso pertence à Galáxia de Andrómeda. No centro inferior e entre as duas estruturas estão os planetas Júpiter e Marte. Mais acima à direita, encontra-se o planeta Saturno. No extremo direito, brilha o núcleo empoeirado da Via Láctea cheio de nebulosas de emissão e próximo ao complexo de nuvens Rho Ophiuchi, uma luz incomum de tonalidade laranja brilhante, pertence a uma superlua eclipsada por estar sob o efeito do cone de sombra da Terra.
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You can choose the best style of print do you preffer to decorate in a fashion way your walls. Metal Prints with durable and vivid colors, Acrylic, Canvas or the highest quality Gallery Print – a 6 colour UV direct printing on acrylic glass (2mm) including light colours and reinforced by an aluminium dibond plate (3mm). Those type of Prints can highlight the final work in an artistic way, showing the photograph as a piece of art. I work with two high quality specialized Labs in US and in Europe, using Kodak Professional Endura Premier Metallic papers and Fujifilm Crystal Archive DP II Professional. You can select the image above or freely navigate to more than 800 photographs available in my gallery – each one with their own story and magic – and choose the photograph you would love to have in your home or office.
How to Order – Simple and easy, just “copy and paste” the link of this page or the image you choosed and fill it in the form below, with the size you want and any detail you wish to include on the message, like your country, name and postal address. Free Shipping included to all prints (except frames). For US and Europe the delivery is 4-8 working days, while to Portugal and Spain is normally 2-6 working days. After submitting the order through the form, I will contact you for the payment method (Paypal available or bank transfer) and with other questions related to your print(s) or requests. Once payment is confirmed, your order is shipped within 24h. In case you wish, I can send you separtely with no additional cost, a postcard autographed and numbered of the same image you have just bought, as a seal and proof of art work authenticity from the author. Let me know what is your wish.
Milky Way with Scorpius and a Red Eclipsed Super Moon
A panoramic scene of 4 singles images captured with a 70mm lens and a Vixen Polarie U tracking mount, shows the moment of totality, when a Super Full Moon decreases its lights and starts to shine in reddish hues for being under the Earth shadow cone. When this happens, a dark starry sky like Alqueva, can show the magnificent presence of Milky Way galaxy at the same time we can enjoy an eclipsed moon. But another yellow-orange bright scource of light is visible in the scene, this light belongs to Antares, a super giant red star located in the heart of Scorpius constellation, which fullfils the entire background scene. The image was captured at 5h AM, when the moon was at about 12º above the horizon of Mina de São Domingos, in Mértola, Dark Sky© Alqueva Reserve, Portugal. For this shot I’ve used a Canon 6D at ISO1250, aperture of f/2.8 and 25 seconds exposure.
PT: Um cenário panorâmico de 4 imagens (single) captadas com uma focal de 70mm e uma montagem Vixen Polarie U, revela o momento da totalidade, quando uma Super Lua Cheia diminui a sua intensidade luminosa e começou a brilhar em tons de vermelho por se encontrar sob a influência do cone de sombra da Terra. Quando isso acontece, um céu estrelado e escuro como o do Alqueva, pode mostrar a magnífica presença da Via Láctea ao mesmo tempo que podemos desfrutar de uma lua eclipsada. Mas outra fonte de luz brilhante de um amarelo-alaranjado é visível nesta cena nocturna, esta luz pertence a Antares, uma estrela supergigante vermelha localizada no coração da constelação do Escorpião, que preenche assim toda a imagem em pano de fundo. A imagem foi captada às 5h da manhã, quando a lua se situava a cerca de 12º acima do horizonte da Mina de São Domingos, em Mértola, Reserva Dark Sky© Alqueva, Portugal. Para esta foto foi usada uma Canon 6D com ISO1250, abertura de f/2.8 e uma exposição única de 25 segundos.
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You can choose the best style of print do you preffer to decorate in a fashion way your walls. Metal Prints with durable and vivid colors, Acrylic, Canvas or the highest quality Gallery Print – a 6 colour UV direct printing on acrylic glass (2mm) including light colours and reinforced by an aluminium dibond plate (3mm). Those type of Prints can highlight the final work in an artistic way, showing the photograph as a piece of art. I work with two high quality specialized Labs in US and in Europe, using Kodak Professional Endura Premier Metallic papers and Fujifilm Crystal Archive DP II Professional. You can select the image above or freely navigate to more than 800 photographs available in my gallery – each one with their own story and magic – and choose the photograph you would love to have in your home or office.
How to Order – Simple and easy, just “copy and paste” the link of this page or the image you choosed and fill it in the form below, with the size you want and any detail you wish to include on the message, like your country, name and postal address. Free Shipping included to all prints (except frames). For US and Europe the delivery is 4-8 working days, while to Portugal and Spain is normally 2-6 working days. After submitting the order through the form, I will contact you for the payment method (Paypal available or bank transfer) and with other questions related to your print(s) or requests. Once payment is confirmed, your order is shipped within 24h. In case you wish, I can send you separtely with no additional cost, a postcard autographed and numbered of the same image you have just bought, as a seal and proof of art work authenticity from the author. Let me know what is your wish.
Total Lunar Eclipse with a Super Red Moon Immersed in a Colorful Starfield
The image shows a close-up view of a red dark Moon immersed in a colorful field of stars, taken with a telephoto lens during the Total Lunar Eclipse of 2022, on 16th May, as seen from Mina de São Domingos in Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, Portugal. During a lunar eclipse, the moon passes through Earth’s shadow, giving the natural satellite a blood-red hue. For being near the closest point to our planet Earth, this Moon was also called a “Super Blood Moon”. Below is also possible to enjoy, a starless version, less distractive.
PT: A imagem mostra um close-up de uma lua cheia vermelha e escurecida, imersa num campo de estrelas colorido, captado com uma teleobjetiva durante o Eclipse Total Lunar ocorrido a 16 de Maio de 2022, a partir do complexo mineiro de São Domingos, no Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, em Portugal. Durante um eclipse lunar, a lua passa pela sombra da Terra, dando ao nosso satélite natural uma tonalidade vermelho-sangue. Por se encontrar no ponto orbital mais próximo da Terra, esta Lua é também apelidada de “Super Blood Moon”. Em baixo, está também disponível uma versão sem estrelas, menos distractiva.
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You can choose the best style of print do you preffer to decorate in a fashion way your walls. Metal Prints with durable and vivid colors, Acrylic, Canvas or the highest quality Gallery Print – a 6 colour UV direct printing on acrylic glass (2mm) including light colours and reinforced by an aluminium dibond plate (3mm). Those type of Prints can highlight the final work in an artistic way, showing the photograph as a piece of art. I work with two high quality specialized Labs in US and in Europe, using Kodak Professional Endura Premier Metallic papers and Fujifilm Crystal Archive DP II Professional. You can select the image above or freely navigate to more than 800 photographs available in my gallery – each one with their own story and magic – and choose the photograph you would love to have in your home or office.
How to Order – Simple and easy, just “copy and paste” the link of this page or the image you choosed and fill it in the form below, with the size you want and any detail you wish to include on the message, like your country, name and postal address. Free Shipping included to all prints (except frames). For US and Europe the delivery is 4-8 working days, while to Portugal and Spain is normally 2-6 working days. After submitting the order through the form, I will contact you for the payment method (Paypal available or bank transfer) and with other questions related to your print(s) or requests. Once payment is confirmed, your order is shipped within 24h. In case you wish, I can send you separtely with no additional cost, a postcard autographed and numbered of the same image you have just bought, as a seal and proof of art work authenticity from the author. Let me know what is your wish.
Milky Way Shines in a VR 360º Starry Labeled Scene above São Domingos Mine
Captured on the wonderful century old mine of São Domingos, in Achada do Gamo, Dark Sky® Alqueva – Mértola, an all sky and 360º Virtual Reality scene features the arch of Milky Way shining high in the Sky. Summer Triangle highlights the center of the image, with blueish Vega near the top. At the upper left corner – in the beginning of the Milky Way – a bright elliptic and diffuse dot is the light coming from Andromeda Galaxy. In the opposite direction, close to the horizon shines the dusty core of the galaxy also reflected in a puddle of acid water. On the left side of the all sky scene – lies planets Saturn and Jupiter, visible with its bright light. Below is available two Virtual Realities 360º of this scene. One with the single image, and another with a labeled version where constellations and main deep sky objects visible are identified as a celestial planisphere. All the asterism lines and identifications were made manually by me. You can experience a full 7K resolution using your desktop, or smartphone with gyroscope. A great “in loco” experience can be achieved if you wear a VR glasses.
Above is available the Virtual Reality 360º in a labeled version where constellations and main deep sky objects visible are identified as a celestial planisphere. A great “in loco” experience can be achieved if you wear a VR glasses.
Acima está disponível a Realidade Virtual 360º em uma versão anotada em que se podem apreciar os asterismos das constelações e os principais objetos do céu profundo visíveis, assim identificados como num planisfério celeste. Uma ótima experiência “in loco” pode ser alcançada se usar óculos de realidade virtual.
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You can choose the best style of print do you preffer to decorate in a fashion way your walls. Metal Prints with durable and vivid colors, Acrylic, Canvas or the highest quality Gallery Print – a 6 colour UV direct printing on acrylic glass (2mm) including light colours and reinforced by an aluminium dibond plate (3mm). Those type of Prints can highlight the final work in an artistic way, showing the photograph as a piece of art. I work with two high quality specialized Labs in US and in Europe, using Kodak Professional Endura Premier Metallic papers and Fujifilm Crystal Archive DP II Professional. You can select the image above or freely navigate to more than 800 photographs available in my gallery – each one with their own story and magic – and choose the photograph you would love to have in your home or office.
How to Order – Simple and easy, just “copy and paste” the link of this page or the image you choosed and fill it in the form below, with the size you want and any detail you wish to include on the message, like your country, name and postal address. Free Shipping included to all prints (except frames). For US and Europe the delivery is 4-8 working days, while to Portugal and Spain is normally 2-6 working days. After submitting the order through the form, I will contact you for the payment method (Paypal available or bank transfer) and with other questions related to your print(s) or requests. Once payment is confirmed, your order is shipped within 24h. In case you wish, I can send you separtely with no additional cost, a postcard autographed and numbered of the same image you have just bought, as a seal and proof of art work authenticity from the author. Let me know what is your wish.
Andromeda Galaxy Shining Perfectly Aligned with a Chimney in a Single Photo Exposure
Featured as NASA’s APOD – Astronomy Picture of the Day a deep nightscape scene shows a single shot photo made with Polarie U tracking portable mount of the entire Andromeda Galaxy M31 rising, while it was perfectly aligned above one of the chimneys from the century old mine of São Domingos, in Achada do Gamo, Dark Sky® Alqueva – Mértola. With approximately 4 times the angular size of the full moon as seen from Earth, the great spiral galaxy Andromeda is at a mere 2.5 million light-years distant from us, being the closest large spiral to our own Milky Way. In really dark places we can clearly distinguish this naked eye galaxy, the image though, captured with a Nikon D850 modified camera and a 105mm Sigma Art lens set to f/2 with an ISO2500, could reveal during this single short exposure of 25 seconds, much more interesting details like the spiral violet arms from Ha light emission, involved in the oblong faint bluish white dust, as well as, the satellite companion galaxies of M110 (elliptical shape visible above) and M32, with its peculiar round diffuse shape located below, in the most outer arm. To enjoy a behind the scene editing of this single image, please see and follow my Intagram Page.
PT: Destacada como NASA’s APOD – Astronomy Picture of the Day a imagem mostra uma paisagem nocturna profunda de uma única exposição fotográfica feita com seguimento sideral, através da montagem portátil Polarie U, onde é possível ver a galáxia de Andrómeda M31, enquanto nascia e se encontrava perfeitamente alinhada acima de uma das chaminés da mina centenária de São Domingos, na Achada do Gamo, Dark Sky ® Alqueva – Mértola. Com aproximadamente 4 vezes o tamanho angular da lua cheia vista da Terra, a grande galáxia espiral de Andrómeda está a apenas 2,5 milhões de anos-luz de distância de nós, sendo a grande espiral mais próxima da nossa Via Láctea. Em lugares realmente escuros como o Dark Sky® Alqueva, podemos distinguir claramente esta galáxia a olho nu, a imagem porém, captada com uma câmara modificada Nikon D850 e uma lente Sigma Art de 105 mm ajustada para f/2 e com ISO2500, pôde revelar durante uma curta exposição singular de 25 segundos, detalhes muito mais interessantes, como os braços em espiral de cor violeta provenientes da emissão de luz H-alfa, envoltos na poeira oblonga e azul esbranquiçada, bem como as galáxias satélite M110 (forma elíptica visível acima) e M32, forma peculiar difusa e redonda, localizada abaixo, no braço mais externo da galáxia. Para ver um “behind the scene” da Edição desta exposição singular, aceda e siga a minha página de Intagram.
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You can choose the best style of print do you preffer to decorate in a fashion way your walls. Metal Prints with durable and vivid colors, Acrylic, Canvas or the highest quality Gallery Print – a 6 colour UV direct printing on acrylic glass (2mm) including light colours and reinforced by an aluminium dibond plate (3mm). Those type of Prints can highlight the final work in an artistic way, showing the photograph as a piece of art. I work with two high quality specialized Labs in US and in Europe, using Kodak Professional Endura Premier Metallic papers and Fujifilm Crystal Archive DP II Professional. You can select the image above or freely navigate to more than 800 photographs available in my gallery – each one with their own story and magic – and choose the photograph you would love to have in your home or office.
How to Order – Simple and easy, just “copy and paste” the link of this page or the image you choosed and fill it in the form below, with the size you want and any detail you wish to include on the message, like your country, name and postal address. Free Shipping included to all prints (except frames). For US and Europe the delivery is 4-8 working days, while to Portugal and Spain is normally 2-6 working days. After submitting the order through the form, I will contact you for the payment method (Paypal available or bank transfer) and with other questions related to your print(s) or requests. Once payment is confirmed, your order is shipped within 24h. In case you wish, I can send you separtely with no additional cost, a postcard autographed and numbered of the same image you have just bought, as a seal and proof of art work authenticity from the author. Let me know what is your wish.
Galactic Arm and Greenish Air Glow above Steppe Golden Fields of Mértola – All Sky and VR 360º Scene
Captured on a steppe field from the wonderful region of Mértola in Dark Sky® Alqueva, and featured in a panoramic view as NASA’s APOD – Astronomy Picture of the Day, an all sky and 360º Virtual Reality scene, features the arch of Milky Way shining high in the Sky. Summer Triangle highlights the center of the image, with blueish Vega near the top. At the upper half right side – in the beginning of the Milky Way – a bright elliptic and diffuse dot is the light coming from Andromeda Galaxy. The greenish horizon is surrounded and involved in airglow and some thin high clouds. Located at one o´clock shines an orange dot, it’s not a star, but the close planet Mars in opposition. In the opposite horizon of this large circular field – left upper edge of the all sky scene – lies planets Saturn and Jupiter against the dusty core of our Milky Way Galaxy. Below is available a Virtual Reality 360º image, which you can experience in full resolution using your desktop, or smartphone with gyroscope. A great “in loco” experience can be achieved if you wear a VR glasses.
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You can choose the best style of print do you preffer to decorate in a fashion way your walls. Metal Prints with durable and vivid colors, Acrylic, Canvas or the highest quality Gallery Print – a 6 colour UV direct printing on acrylic glass (2mm) including light colours and reinforced by an aluminium dibond plate (3mm). Those type of Prints can highlight the final work in an artistic way, showing the photograph as a piece of art. I work with two high quality specialized Labs in US and in Europe, using Kodak Professional Endura Premier Metallic papers and Fujifilm Crystal Archive DP II Professional. You can select the image above or freely navigate to more than 800 photographs available in my gallery – each one with their own story and magic – and choose the photograph you would love to have in your home or office.
How to Order – Simple and easy, just “copy and paste” the link of this page or the image you choosed and fill it in the form below, with the size you want and any detail you wish to include on the message, like your country, name and postal address. Free Shipping included to all prints (except frames). For US and Europe the delivery is 4-8 working days, while to Portugal and Spain is normally 2-6 working days. After submitting the order through the form, I will contact you for the payment method (Paypal available or bank transfer) and with other questions related to your print(s) or requests. Once payment is confirmed, your order is shipped within 24h. In case you wish, I can send you separtely with no additional cost, a postcard autographed and numbered of the same image you have just bought, as a seal and proof of art work authenticity from the author. Let me know what is your wish.
Andromeda Shines above a Steppe Field from Dark Sky® Alqueva in Mértola
Captured on a flat steppe field from the wonderful region of Mértola in Dark Sky® Alqueva, the image features a wide vertical panorama with the Milky Way in the background, while in the top edge, is featured a diffuse light shape from Andromeda Galaxy.
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You can choose the best style of print do you preffer to decorate in a fashion way your walls. Metal Prints with durable and vivid colors, Acrylic, Canvas or the highest quality Gallery Print – a 6 colour UV direct printing on acrylic glass (2mm) including light colours and reinforced by an aluminium dibond plate (3mm). Those type of Prints can highlight the final work in an artistic way, showing the photograph as a piece of art. I work with two high quality specialized Labs in US and in Europe, using Kodak Professional Endura Premier Metallic papers and Fujifilm Crystal Archive DP II Professional. You can select the image above or freely navigate to more than 800 photographs available in my gallery – each one with their own story and magic – and choose the photograph you would love to have in your home or office.
How to Order – Simple and easy, just “copy and paste” the link of this page or the image you choosed and fill it in the form below, with the size you want and any detail you wish to include on the message, like your country, name and postal address. Free Shipping included to all prints (except frames). For US and Europe the delivery is 4-8 working days, while to Portugal and Spain is normally 2-6 working days. After submitting the order through the form, I will contact you for the payment method (Paypal available or bank transfer) and with other questions related to your print(s) or requests. Once payment is confirmed, your order is shipped within 24h. In case you wish, I can send you separtely with no additional cost, a postcard autographed and numbered of the same image you have just bought, as a seal and proof of art work authenticity from the author. Let me know what is your wish.
Astrophotography Workshop Under the Moonlight in Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola
Captured during one of my workshops in Mértola, @darkskyalqueva, this short time lapse sequence shows the Milky Way rising while the moon is yet illuminating the background sky before setting in the opposite direction. To know more about my workshops, click here.
PT: Captada durante um dos meus workshops no território do Dark Sky® Alqueva, em Mértola, esta curta sequência de lapso de tempo mostra a Via Láctea nascendo enquanto a lua ainda está iluminando o céu de fundo antes de se pôr na direção oposta do céu. Para saber mais acerca do meus workshops, clique aqui.
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You can choose the best style of print do you preffer to decorate in a fashion way your walls. Metal Prints with durable and vivid colors, Acrylic, Canvas or the highest quality Gallery Print – a 6 colour UV direct printing on acrylic glass (2mm) including light colours and reinforced by an aluminium dibond plate (3mm). Those type of Prints can highlight the final work in an artistic way, showing the photograph as a piece of art. I work with two high quality specialized Labs in US and in Europe, using Kodak Professional Endura Premier Metallic papers and Fujifilm Crystal Archive DP II Professional. You can select the image above or freely navigate to more than 800 photographs available in my gallery – each one with their own story and magic – and choose the photograph you would love to have in your home or office.
How to Order – Simple and easy, just “copy and paste” the link of this page or the image you choosed and fill it in the form below, with the size you want and any detail you wish to include on the message, like your country, name and postal address. Free Shipping included to all prints (except frames). For US and Europe the delivery is 4-8 working days, while to Portugal and Spain is normally 2-6 working days. After submitting the order through the form, I will contact you for the payment method (Paypal available or bank transfer) and with other questions related to your print(s) or requests. Once payment is confirmed, your order is shipped within 24h. In case you wish, I can send you separtely with no additional cost, a postcard autographed and numbered of the same image you have just bought, as a seal and proof of art work authenticity from the author. Let me know what is your wish.
Milky Way Gradually Transitioning from Summer to Winter in a Wonder Night Show above Canais do Guadiana
A starry night scene captured at the end of Summer season from the wonderful region of Canais do Guadiana, in Mértola, at Dark Sky® Alqueva territory, shows a mosaic image of a galactic arch above the mountains and water channels from Guadiana river. The arch itself is featuring from left to right, a “Summer Milky Way” which is gradually disappearing in the western horizon due to the time of the year. Featured high in the sky, near the center top edge is Andromeda galaxy, while in the right side of the arch, in the Eastern sky, the “Winter Milky Way” is start to appearing with Auriga and Taurus constellation shinning bright. While stars from Summer Triangle are getting low – left side of the sky, the blueish star cluster of Pleiades is gradually getting high, to wonder stargazers around Northern hemisphere.
PT: Uma paisagem cénica captada no final da temporada de verão na maravilhosa região dos Canais do Guadiana, em Mértola, no território do Dark Sky® Alqueva, mostra uma imagem em mosaico de um arco galáctico sobre as montanhas e canais de água do rio Guadiana. O próprio arco apresenta, da esquerda para a direita, uma “Via Láctea de verão” que está gradualmente desaparecendo no horizonte ocidental devido à época do ano. No alto do céu, perto do limite superior central, está a galáxia de Andrómeda, enquanto no lado direito do arco, no céu oriental, a “Via Láctea de Inverno” está começando a aparecer com a constelação de Auriga e Taurus brilhando intensamente. Enquanto as estrelas do Triângulo de Verão estão a desaparecer – lado esquerdo do céu, o aglomerado de estrelas azuladas Pleiades está gradualmente a aparecer, para deslumbrar os observadores ao redor do hemisfério norte.
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You can choose the best style of print do you preffer to decorate in a fashion way your walls. Metal Prints with durable and vivid colors, Acrylic, Canvas or the highest quality Gallery Print – a 6 colour UV direct printing on acrylic glass (2mm) including light colours and reinforced by an aluminium dibond plate (3mm). Those type of Prints can highlight the final work in an artistic way, showing the photograph as a piece of art. I work with two high quality specialized Labs in US and in Europe, using Kodak Professional Endura Premier Metallic papers and Fujifilm Crystal Archive DP II Professional. You can select the image above or freely navigate to more than 800 photographs available in my gallery – each one with their own story and magic – and choose the photograph you would love to have in your home or office.
How to Order – Simple and easy, just “copy and paste” the link of this page or the image you choosed and fill it in the form below, with the size you want and any detail you wish to include on the message, like your country, name and postal address. Free Shipping included to all prints (except frames). For US and Europe the delivery is 4-8 working days, while to Portugal and Spain is normally 2-6 working days. After submitting the order through the form, I will contact you for the payment method (Paypal available or bank transfer) and with other questions related to your print(s) or requests. Once payment is confirmed, your order is shipped within 24h. In case you wish, I can send you separtely with no additional cost, a postcard autographed and numbered of the same image you have just bought, as a seal and proof of art work authenticity from the author. Let me know what is your wish.
Milky Way Shining Above a Typical Landscape from Alentejo Called Montado
Captured at the end of summer on a characteristic landscape type from Alentejo called Montado (a field spread by cork trees and cork oak trees) the image features the wonderful region of Mértola in Dark Sky® Alqueva, with half arch of the Milky Way shining high in the Sky at the end of Summer..
PT: Captada no final do verão numa típica paisagem alentejana chamada Montado (um campo repleto de sobreiros e azinheiras) a imagem revela a maravilhosa região de Mértola no Dark Sky® Alqueva, com meio arco da Via Láctea brilhando alto no céu no final do verão.
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You can choose the best style of print do you preffer to decorate in a fashion way your walls. Metal Prints with durable and vivid colors, Acrylic, Canvas or the highest quality Gallery Print – a 6 colour UV direct printing on acrylic glass (2mm) including light colours and reinforced by an aluminium dibond plate (3mm). Those type of Prints can highlight the final work in an artistic way, showing the photograph as a piece of art. I work with two high quality specialized Labs in US and in Europe, using Kodak Professional Endura Premier Metallic papers and Fujifilm Crystal Archive DP II Professional. You can select the image above or freely navigate to more than 800 photographs available in my gallery – each one with their own story and magic – and choose the photograph you would love to have in your home or office.
How to Order – Simple and easy, just “copy and paste” the link of this page or the image you choosed and fill it in the form below, with the size you want and any detail you wish to include on the message, like your country, name and postal address. Free Shipping included to all prints (except frames). For US and Europe the delivery is 4-8 working days, while to Portugal and Spain is normally 2-6 working days. After submitting the order through the form, I will contact you for the payment method (Paypal available or bank transfer) and with other questions related to your print(s) or requests. Once payment is confirmed, your order is shipped within 24h. In case you wish, I can send you separtely with no additional cost, a postcard autographed and numbered of the same image you have just bought, as a seal and proof of art work authenticity from the author. Let me know what is your wish.
A Passionate Stargazing Girl Enjoying the Beautiful Alignment Between Saturn and Jupiter
Captured in Mina de São Domingos, Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, the image shows a passionate girl while stargazing and enjoying the beautiful alignment between planets Saturn and Jupiter against a cloudy night. .
PT: Captada na Mina de São Domingos, no território do Dark Sky® Alqueva em Mértola, a imagem mostra uma entusiasta observadora do céu nocturno enquanto observa o belo alinhamento entre os planetas Saturno e Júpiter que parecem espreitar por entre as núvens de uma noite parcialmente nublada.
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You can choose the best style of print do you preffer to decorate in a fashion way your walls. Metal Prints with durable and vivid colors, Acrylic, Canvas or the highest quality Gallery Print – a 6 colour UV direct printing on acrylic glass (2mm) including light colours and reinforced by an aluminium dibond plate (3mm). Those type of Prints can highlight the final work in an artistic way, showing the photograph as a piece of art. I work with two high quality specialized Labs in US and in Europe, using Kodak Professional Endura Premier Metallic papers and Fujifilm Crystal Archive DP II Professional. You can select the image above or freely navigate to more than 800 photographs available in my gallery – each one with their own story and magic – and choose the photograph you would love to have in your home or office.
How to Order – Simple and easy, just “copy and paste” the link of this page or the image you choosed and fill it in the form below, with the size you want and any detail you wish to include on the message, like your country, name and postal address. Free Shipping included to all prints (except frames). For US and Europe the delivery is 4-8 working days, while to Portugal and Spain is normally 2-6 working days. After submitting the order through the form, I will contact you for the payment method (Paypal available or bank transfer) and with other questions related to your print(s) or requests. Once payment is confirmed, your order is shipped within 24h. In case you wish, I can send you separtely with no additional cost, a postcard autographed and numbered of the same image you have just bought, as a seal and proof of art work authenticity from the author. Let me know what is your wish.
A Meteor, Pleiades Star Cluster and Mars Over an Hermitage in Mértola
When spending a few nights enjoying the wonders of a starry sky, you can suddenly be surprised with a sporadic meteor or a fireball. Don’t forget to make a wish, or simply scream “wooow” and smile to the sky above with your friends or loved ones. The image shows a bright golden one captured in a single frame near Ermida de Nossa Senhora do Amparo in @darkskyalqueva Mértola territory. Above it is visible part of the winter Milky Way while at the center Pleiades star cluster is shining in blue. At the top right corner, the bright orange hue light belongs to planet Mars.
PT: Ao passar algumas noites apreciando as maravilhas de um céu estrelado, o leitor pode ser surpreendido repentinamente com um meteoro esporádico ou uma bola de fogo. Não se esqueça de fazer um pedido ou simplesmente gritar “uau” e sorrir para o céu com seus amigos, pois são sempre momentos surpreendentes. A imagem mostra um meteoro dourado e brilhante captado em um único disparo perto da Ermida de Nossa Senhora do Amparo no território Dark Sky® Alqueva em Mértola. Acima é visível parte da Via Láctea de inverno, enquanto no centro o aglomerado de estrelas Pleiades brilha em tons de azul. No canto superior direito, a luz laranja brilhante pertence ao planeta Marte.
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You can choose the best style of print do you preffer to decorate in a fashion way your walls. Metal Prints with durable and vivid colors, Acrylic, Canvas or the highest quality Gallery Print – a 6 colour UV direct printing on acrylic glass (2mm) including light colours and reinforced by an aluminium dibond plate (3mm). Those type of Prints can highlight the final work in an artistic way, showing the photograph as a piece of art. I work with two high quality specialized Labs in US and in Europe, using Kodak Professional Endura Premier Metallic papers and Fujifilm Crystal Archive DP II Professional. You can select the image above or freely navigate to more than 800 photographs available in my gallery – each one with their own story and magic – and choose the photograph you would love to have in your home or office.
How to Order – Simple and easy, just “copy and paste” the link of this page or the image you choosed and fill it in the form below, with the size you want and any detail you wish to include on the message, like your country, name and postal address. Free Shipping included to all prints (except frames). For US and Europe the delivery is 4-8 working days, while to Portugal and Spain is normally 2-6 working days. After submitting the order through the form, I will contact you for the payment method (Paypal available or bank transfer) and with other questions related to your print(s) or requests. Once payment is confirmed, your order is shipped within 24h. In case you wish, I can send you separtely with no additional cost, a postcard autographed and numbered of the same image you have just bought, as a seal and proof of art work authenticity from the author. Let me know what is your wish.
Largest Secular Holm Oak in Portugal with Milky Way, Andromeda and Planet Mars
Featuring the largest secular holm oak in Portugal which was also elected in 3rd place as the European Tree of the Year in 2019, the image shows Andromeda galaxy rising above the huge tree while planet Mars was shining in orange near the right horizon. In the opposite direction, faint light from Milky Way galaxy is visible up to North America nebula, top edge of this vertical panorama. This beautiful tree has their roots in the enchanting region of Mértola in Dark Sky® Alqueva certified territory.
PT: Revelando a maior azinheira secular de Portugal, que também foi eleita em 3º lugar como a Árvore Europeia do Ano de 2019, a imagem mostra a galáxia de Andrómeda erguendo-se acima da enorme árvore do Monte Barbeiro, enquanto o planeta Marte brilhava em laranja perto do horizonte direito. Na direção oposta, a luz fraca da Via Láctea abre caminho até à nebulosa da América do Norte, no extremo superior deste panorama vertical. Esta bela árvore tem as suas raízes na encantadora região de Mértola no território certificado do Dark Sky® Alqueva..
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You can choose the best style of print do you preffer to decorate in a fashion way your walls. Metal Prints with durable and vivid colors, Acrylic, Canvas or the highest quality Gallery Print – a 6 colour UV direct printing on acrylic glass (2mm) including light colours and reinforced by an aluminium dibond plate (3mm). Those type of Prints can highlight the final work in an artistic way, showing the photograph as a piece of art. I work with two high quality specialized Labs in US and in Europe, using Kodak Professional Endura Premier Metallic papers and Fujifilm Crystal Archive DP II Professional. You can select the image above or freely navigate to more than 800 photographs available in my gallery – each one with their own story and magic – and choose the photograph you would love to have in your home or office.
How to Order – Simple and easy, just “copy and paste” the link of this page or the image you choosed and fill it in the form below, with the size you want and any detail you wish to include on the message, like your country, name and postal address. Free Shipping included to all prints (except frames). For US and Europe the delivery is 4-8 working days, while to Portugal and Spain is normally 2-6 working days. After submitting the order through the form, I will contact you for the payment method (Paypal available or bank transfer) and with other questions related to your print(s) or requests. Once payment is confirmed, your order is shipped within 24h. In case you wish, I can send you separtely with no additional cost, a postcard autographed and numbered of the same image you have just bought, as a seal and proof of art work authenticity from the author. Let me know what is your wish.
Galactic Arm and Greenish Air Glow above Steppe Golden Fields from Dark Sky® Alqueva in Mértola
Captured on a steppe field from the wonderful region of Mértola in Dark Sky® Alqueva, and featured as NASA’s APOD – Astronomy Picture of the Day the image shows the arch of Milky Way shining high in the Sky. Summer Triangle highlights the center of the image, with blueish Vega in the top. At the left side – in the beginning of the Milky Way – a bright elliptic and diffuse dot is the light coming from Andromeda Galaxy and below, near the greenish horizon involved in airglow and some thin high clouds, shines an orange dot, it’s not a star, but the close planet Mars in opposition. In the opposite direction of this large field of view – right edge of the picture – lies planets Saturn and Jupiter against the dusty core of our Milky Way Galaxy.
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A Wide Milky Way Scene Above the Golden Fields of Alentejo
A wide vertical panorama shows the golden colors of Alentejo farms, in the darkest skies of Mértola in Dark Sky® Alqueva territory, a perfect scenario to enjoy the beauty of the night nature, with the Milky Way immersed in a deep silence only achievable under true darkness. Saturn and Jupiter are the brightest “stars” shining at the left edge.
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You can choose the best style of print do you preffer to decorate in a fashion way your walls. Metal Prints with durable and vivid colors, Acrylic, Canvas or the highest quality Gallery Print – a 6 colour UV direct printing on acrylic glass (2mm) including light colours and reinforced by an aluminium dibond plate (3mm). Those type of Prints can highlight the final work in an artistic way, showing the photograph as a piece of art. I work with two high quality specialized Labs in US and in Europe, using Kodak Professional Endura Premier Metallic papers and Fujifilm Crystal Archive DP II Professional. You can select the image above or freely navigate to more than 800 photographs available in my gallery – each one with their own story and magic – and choose the photograph you would love to have in your home or office.
How to Order – Simple and easy, just “copy and paste” the link of this page or the image you choosed and fill it in the form below, with the size you want and any detail you wish to include on the message, like your country, name and postal address. Free Shipping included to all prints (except frames). For US and Europe the delivery is 4-8 working days, while to Portugal and Spain is normally 2-6 working days. After submitting the order through the form, I will contact you for the payment method (Paypal available or bank transfer) and with other questions related to your print(s) or requests. Once payment is confirmed, your order is shipped within 24h. In case you wish, I can send you separtely with no additional cost, a postcard autographed and numbered of the same image you have just bought, as a seal and proof of art work authenticity from the author. Let me know what is your wish.
Little Owls Breeding Against a Golden Supermoon
Captured during the full moon of March – called the Worm Moon – was indeed the first supermoon of the year 2020. Despite this interesting moment, which normally happens when the full moon coincides with its perigee, the single image reveals an out of focus moonrise in the background sky, while in the foreground two little Owls are visible in the branches of a naked tree during the twilight. The little Owl (Athene noctua) is a small nocturnal bird which inhabiting the temperate and warmer regions of Europe, being one of the nocturnal bird species more common to watch in Mértola, Dark Sky® Alqueva territory, Portugal. This Owls becomes more vocal at night as the breeding season approaches in late spring, and a pair may call in duet. During an assignment to photograph nocturnal birds in this territory and accompanied by a specialist guide Helder Cardoso (from Birds & Nature Tours), I had the unique and mesmerising chance to capture the real moment when they start to mate with the male on top of the female, while the wings were in motion and against a golden moonrise. In some other shots, we also can enjoy one little Owl flying while the other was standing in the top of the tree. The little Owl is also associated with the Greek goddess Athena and the Roman goddess Minerva, representing wisdom and knowledge. A little Owl with an olive branch appears on a Greek tetradrachm coin from 500 BC. I also did a short real time vídeo (not a timelapse) with the moon slowing moving in the background sky, while the silhouette of two Owls are visible in the branches.
PT: Captada durante a lua cheia de março – apelidada de Worm Moon – foi a primeira superlua do ano 2020. Apesar desse momento interessante, que normalmente acontece quando a lua cheia coincide com o perigeu, a imagem resultante de um disparo único, revela o nascer de uma lua desfocada em pano de fundo, enquanto as atenções recaem no primeiro plano onde dois mochos-galegos são visíveis nos galhos de uma árvore despida, durante o crepúsculo náutico. O mocho-galego (Athene noctua) é a ave de rapina nocturna mais fácil de observar e que habita as regiões temperadas e quentes da Europa, sendo uma das espécies de aves noturnas mais comuns em Mértola, no território do Dark Sky® Alqueva, Portugal. Este pequenos mochos tornam-se mais vocais à noite, à medida que a estação de reprodução se aproxima, no final da primavera, e um par pode vocalizar em dueto. Em missão fotográfica num trabalho para captar as aves noturnas mais comuns deste território e acompanhado pelo guia especializado Helder Cardoso (Birds & Nature Tours), tive a chance única e fascinante de registar o momento real em que eles começaram a acasalar com o macho por cima da fêmea, enquanto as asas estavam em movimento e contra um nascer de uma Lua Cheia dourada. Ficaram ainda registados outros momentos distintos desta noite, com um mocho-galego em pleno voo enquanto a sua cara metade esperava pacientemente no topo da árvore. O mocho também está associada à deusa grega Atena e à deusa romana Minerva, representando sabedoria e conhecimento. Uma pequeno mocho com um ramo de oliveira está representado numa moeda grega de Tetradrachm (500 aC). Por fim, é ainda possível ver um pequeno vídeo em tempo real (não um timelapse) com a lua se movendo lentamente em pano de fundo, enquanto a silhueta de dois mochos-galegos é visível nos galhos de uma árvore.
Above is a short video and below a close-up view
Venus and Jupiter Shinning Together After a Long Night of Photography
After a long cold night of shooting the Total Lunar Eclipse of 2019, a stargazer and photographer stands in front of his equipment in the final stage of the Eclipse, while in the background of a twilight sky, the brightest planets Venus and Jupiter are shinning in a very close alignment, only separated by approximately 2,5 degrees. The image was captured in Mina de São Domingos, Dark Sky® Alqueva Métola, Portugal.
PT: Depois de uma longa noite fria a fotografar o Eclipse Lunar Total de 2019, um observador de estrelas e fotógrafo, pousa ao pé do seu equipamento fotográfico no estágio final do Eclipse, enquanto em pano de fundo de um céu crepuscular, os planetas mais brilhantes da esfera celeste – Venus e Júpiter – brilham alinhados e separados apenas por aproximadamente 2,5 graus. A imagem foi captada na Mina de São Domingos, Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, em Portugal.
Venus and Jupiter shinning at Dawn in the Final Stage of the Lunar Eclipse
A panorama captured at dawn in the final stage of the Lunar Eclipse, reveals an increasing light of the lunar disk immersed in a thin layer of clouds, while in the opposite direction (at left) the brightest planets of the night sky – Venus and Jupiter – are shinning in a very close alignment, only separated by approximately 2,5 degrees from Jupiter, Venus is also featuring a blueish nice corona, due to a presence of tiny water droplets in thin clouds, which diffract the light of bright heavenly bodies working as a natural diffuse filter. During a celestial event like that, is incredible to notice huge changes on the reflected light that illuminates the ground. The image was captured in Mina de São Domingos, an old mine near Mértola, Dark Sky® Alqueva, Portugal, that was the center of metallurgical activities on extracted minerals dozens years ago. The areas of heaps, slag and channels of water, give the landscape a “lunar” aspect.
PT: Um panorama captado ao amanhecer no estágio final do Eclipse Lunar de 2019, revela uma luz crescente do disco lunar imerso em uma fina camada de nuvens, enquanto na direção oposta (à esquerda) os planetas mais brilhantes do céu noturno – Vénus e Júpiter – brilham num alinhamento próximo. Separado apenas por cerca de 2,5 graus de Júpiter, Vénus apresenta uma corona azulada, devido à presença de pequenas gotículas de água em nuvens finas, que difractam a luz de corpos celestes brilhantes trabalhando como um filtro difuso natural. Durante um evento celestial como este, é incrível notar grandes mudanças na luz refletida que ilumina o solo. A imagem foi captada na Mina de São Domingos, numa antiga mina perto de Mértola, na reserva Dark Sky® Alqueva, Portugal, que foi no passado o centro das atividades metalúrgicas dos minerais extraídos da região. As áreas de escombreiras, escórias e canais de água, dão à paisagem um aspecto “lunar”..
A Close-up View of the Moon While Immersed in a Lunar Corona
The image shows a close-up view of a red dark Moon immersed in the blue hue from a Lunar Corona, taken with a telephoto lens during the Total Lunar Eclipse of 2019, on 21th January, as seen from Mina de São Domingos in Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, Portugal. During a lunar eclipse, the moon passes through Earth’s shadow, giving the natural satellite a blood-red hue. For being near the closest point to our planet Earth, this Moon was also called a “Super Moon”. The next total lunar eclipse will be in 2021. A Lunar Corona is formed while bright moonlight is diffracted by water droplets in thin clouds, drifting in front of the lunar disk. Below is also visible a poster with this close-up view and a sequence of totality ending with a lunar corona.
PT: A imagem mostra um close-up de uma lua cheia vermelha e escurecida, envolta numa corona lunar captada com teleobjetiva durante o Eclipse Total Lunar ocorrido a 21 de Janeiro de 2019, captado a partir do complexo mineiro de São Domingos, no Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, em Portugal. Durante um eclipse lunar, a lua passa pela sombra da Terra, dando ao nosso satélite natural uma tonalidade vermelho-sangue. Por se encontrar no ponto orbital mais próximo da Terra, esta Lua é também apelidada de Super Lua. O próximo Eclipse Total da Lua ocorrerá em 2021. A corona forma-se enquanto o brilho da lua é difractado por gotículas de água em nuvens finas, flutuando assim na frente do disco lunar. Acima, é ainda possível ver um poster com este close-up da Lua e uma sequência fotográfica da totalidade, a terminar com uma corona lunar.
The Path of Totality and a Lunar Corona
A photo time lapse sequence shows the path of totality during the Total Lunar Eclipse of 2019, on 21th January, as seen from Mina de São Domingos in Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, Portugal, ending with a Lunar Corona that was formed while bright moonlight was diffracted by water droplets in thin clouds, drifting in front of the lunar disk. During a lunar eclipse, the moon passes through Earth’s shadow, giving the natural satellite a blood-red hue. For being near the closest point to our planet Earth, this Moon was also called a “Super Moon”. The next total lunar eclipse will be in 2021. During a celestial event like that, is incredible to notice huge changes on the reflected light that illuminates the ground. Some stars are also reflected in a small puddle of acid water from Achada do Gamo, that was – since the beginning of modern mining activities in the São Domingos Mine – the center of metallurgical activities on extracted minerals. The areas of heaps, slag and channels of water, give the landscape a “lunar” aspect. The heaps are composed of different materials with high levels of metals, such as slag and ash, whose leaching through the rainwater leads to the production of acid mine drainage, usually with an ocher or reddish color. Below is also visible a poster with a close-up view of the Moon immersed in the blue hue from the corona.
PT: A imagem mostra uma foto-sequência onde é possível ver o caminho da Lua percorrido durante a fase da totalidade durante o Eclipse Total Lunar ocorrido a 21 de Janeiro de 2019, captado a partir do complexo da Mina de São Domingos, no Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, em Portugal. A sequência termina com uma corona lunar, que se forma enquanto o brilho da lua é difractado por gotículas de água em nuvens finas, flutuando assim na frente do disco lunar.. Durante um eclipse lunar, a lua passa pela sombra da Terra, dando ao nosso satélite natural uma tonalidade vermelho-sangue. Por se encontrar no ponto orbital mais próximo da Terra, esta Lua é também apelidada de Super Lua. O próximo Eclipse Total da Lua ocorrerá em 2021. Durante um evento celestial como este, é incrível como se notam grandes mudanças na luz refletida que ilumina o solo. Algumas estrelas reflectem-se também nas águas ácidas da Achada do Gamo, que foi desde o início das atividades modernas de mineração na Mina de São Domingos, o centro das atividades metalúrgicas sobre os minérios extraídos. As áreas de escombreiras, escórias e canais de água, dão à paisagem um aspecto “lunar”. As escombreiras são constituídas por diferentes materiais com teores elevados em metais, como escórias e cinzas, cuja lixiviação através das águas das chuvas leva à produção de águas ácidas (‘acid mine drainage’), geralmente com uma cor ocre ou avermelhada. Acima, é ainda possível ver um poster com um close-up da Lua enquanto esta estava envolta pelo azul da corona.
Lunar Eclipse Trails
A startrail sequence shows the path of totality during the Total Lunar Eclipse of 2019, on 21th January, as seen from Mina de São Domingos in Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, Portugal. During a lunar eclipse, the moon passes through Earth’s shadow, giving the natural satellite a blood-red hue. For being near the closest point to our planet Earth, this Moon was also called a “Super Moon”. The next total lunar eclipse will be in 2021. During a celestial event like that, is incredible to notice huge changes on the reflected light that illuminates the ground. Some stars are also reflected in a small puddle of acid water from Achada do Gamo, that was – since the beginning of modern mining activities in the São Domingos Mine – the center of metallurgical activities on extracted minerals. The areas of heaps, slag and channels of water, give the landscape a “lunar” aspect. The heaps are composed of different materials with high levels of metals, such as slag and ash, whose leaching through the rainwater leads to the production of acid mine drainage, usually with an ocher or reddish color
PT: A imagem mostra um startrail onde é possível ver o caminho da Lua percorrido durante a fase da totalidade durante o Eclipse Total Lunar ocorrido a 21 de Janeiro de 2019, captado a partir do complexo da Mina de São Domingos, no Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, em Portugal. Durante um eclipse lunar, a lua passa pela sombra da Terra, dando ao nosso satélite natural uma tonalidade vermelho-sangue. Por se encontrar no ponto orbital mais próximo da Terra, esta Lua é também apelidada de Super Lua. O próximo Eclipse Total da Lua ocorrerá em 2021. Durante um evento celestial como este, é incrível como se notam grandes mudanças na luz refletida que ilumina o solo. Algumas estrelas reflectem-se também nas águas ácidas da Achada do Gamo, que foi desde o início das atividades modernas de mineração na Mina de São Domingos, o centro das atividades metalúrgicas sobre os minérios extraídos. As áreas de escombreiras, escórias e canais de água, dão à paisagem um aspecto “lunar”. As escombreiras são constituídas por diferentes materiais com teores elevados em metais, como escórias e cinzas, cuja lixiviação através das águas das chuvas leva à produção de águas ácidas (‘acid mine drainage’), geralmente com uma cor ocre ou avermelhada.
A Moon Sequence of the Total Lunar Eclipse of 2019
A photo time lapse sequence shows the path of totality during the Total Lunar Eclipse of 2019, on 21th January, as seen from Mina de São Domingos in Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, Portugal. During a lunar eclipse, the moon passes through Earth’s shadow, giving the natural satellite a blood-red hue. For being near the closest point to our planet Earth, this Moon was also called a “Super Moon”. The next total lunar eclipse will be in 2021. During a celestial event like that, is incredible to notice huge changes on the reflected light that illuminates the ground. Some stars are also reflected in a small puddle of acid water from Achada do Gamo, that was – since the beginning of modern mining activities in the São Domingos Mine – the center of metallurgical activities on extracted minerals. The areas of heaps, slag and channels of water, give the landscape a “lunar” aspect. The heaps are composed of different materials with high levels of metals, such as slag and ash, whose leaching through the rainwater leads to the production of acid mine drainage, usually with an ocher or reddish color
PT: A imagem mostra uma foto-sequência onde é possível ver o caminho da Lua percorrido durante a fase da totalidade durante o Eclipse Total Lunar ocorrido a 21 de Janeiro de 2019, captado a partir do complexo da Mina de São Domingos, no Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, em Portugal. Durante um eclipse lunar, a lua passa pela sombra da Terra, dando ao nosso satélite natural uma tonalidade vermelho-sangue. Por se encontrar no ponto orbital mais próximo da Terra, esta Lua é também apelidada de Super Lua. O próximo Eclipse Total da Lua ocorrerá em 2021. Durante um evento celestial como este, é incrível como se notam grandes mudanças na luz refletida que ilumina o solo. Algumas estrelas reflectem-se também nas águas ácidas da Achada do Gamo, que foi desde o início das atividades modernas de mineração na Mina de São Domingos, o centro das atividades metalúrgicas sobre os minérios extraídos. As áreas de escombreiras, escórias e canais de água, dão à paisagem um aspecto “lunar”. As escombreiras são constituídas por diferentes materiais com teores elevados em metais, como escórias e cinzas, cuja lixiviação através das águas das chuvas leva à produção de águas ácidas (‘acid mine drainage’), geralmente com uma cor ocre ou avermelhada.
A Super Red Moon in a Field of Stars
The image shows a close-up view of a red dark Moon taken with a telephoto lens during the Total Lunar Eclipse of 2019, on 21th January, as seen from Mina de São Domingos in Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, Portugal. During a lunar eclipse, the moon passes through Earth’s shadow, giving the natural satellite a blood-red hue. For being near the closest point to our planet Earth, this Moon was also called a “Super Moon”. The next total lunar eclipse will be in 2021.
PT: A imagem mostra um close-up de uma lua cheia vermelha e escurecida, captada com teleobjetiva durante o Eclipse Total Lunar ocorrido a 21 de Janeiro de 2019, captado a partir do complexo mineiro de São Domingos, no Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, em Portugal. Durante um eclipse lunar, a lua passa pela sombra da Terra, dando ao nosso satélite natural uma tonalidade vermelho-sangue. Por se encontrar no ponto orbital mais próximo da Terra, esta Lua é também apelidada de Super Lua. O próximo Eclipse Total da Lua ocorrerá em 2021.
A Panoramic Milky Way Above Azenhas do Guadiana
An impressive panoramic view shows the Milky Way rising above the hills from the fluvial beach of Azenhas do Guadiana, in Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola. While a family of ducks are standing near the water in the center of the picture, two photographers are capturing the wonders of the night sky during a workshop of astrophotography. At the right side of this scenic view, the core of our galaxy is shinning bright and with it, some deep sky objects like the Lagoon Nebula, visible in red-violet immediately above the hill top.
Discovering the Sky Above with a Mobile Planetarium
While we can´t have yet a smartphone with enough quality to face the challenges of night photography, we could actually use it as a powerful mobile planetarium. Fortunately, nowadays, there are several free or purchased apps in the market capable of help you every time you are under a starry dark sky, turning your smartphone in an easy tool to identify celestial objects in real time. This image captured in Azenhas do Guadiana, Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, shows one of this moments, when a sky enthusiast was searching for planet Saturn, shinning bright near the core of the galaxy, was only 6º apart from the Lagoon Nebula (visible above the mountain, in the center of the image).
A Stargazer Shows Where to Find Polaris in the Night Sky
A night scene captured in Achada do Gamo, Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, shows the silhouette of a sky enthusiast that is trying to show us where to find Polaris, the Northern Star, and is not so hard. At left side are visible the colorful stars Alkaid, Mizar-Alcor, Alioth, Megrez, Phecda, Merak and Dubhe, the main stars that are composing the constellation of Ursa Major, also known as the Great Bear. Probably is the easiest constellation recognisable in night time and used as a starting point, from beginners to experienced stargazers, to help localize and identify the Northern Star. To find Polaris, use the so-called “Pointer” stars in the bowl of the Big Dipper, Merak and Dubhe. The left hand of the stargazer is pointing to Merak, then just draw an imaginary line between these two stars and extend it out for about 5 times, and you will end up in Polaris, located in the upper right corner of the image.
Andromeda Galaxy Shinning above the Landscape
The photo shows a single shot made with a tracking mount of the entire Andromeda constellation rising above a puddle of acid water from Achada do Gamo. Andromeda Galaxy M31 stands very well visible and aligned between two chimneys from the century old mine of São Domingos, in Dark Sky® Alqueva – Mértola, highlighted against a faint greenish background from a thin band of airglow. With approximately 4 times the angular size of the full moon as seen from Earth, the great spiral galaxy Andromeda is at a mere 2.5 million light-years distant from us, being the closest large spiral to our own Milky Way. In really dark places we can clearly distinguish this naked eye galaxy, but how to find it? Start to identify the star Alpheratz, as the constellation Andromeda begins here, then follow down two stars and we will end up on Mirach. You should see two stars stacked one on top of each other, are they Mirach and Mu Andromedae. If you draw a line through the two stars and extend it past Mu Andromedae star, you should run into the Andromeda galaxy, which is located at about the same distance that separates this last two stars mentioned, being Mu Andromedae much dimmer than Mirach star. Very close to Andromeda galaxy is also visible an even week star called Nu Andromedae. The annotated version that can be found below, also shows galaxy M33 and the well known double cluster in Perseus.
PT: Nesta foto captada numa única exposição com seguimento, é possível ver toda a constelação de Andromeda enquanto nasce acima das águas ácidas da Achada do Gamo. A galáxia de Andromeda M31 está assim bem visível e alinhada entre as duas chaminés da centenária Mina de São Domingos, no Dark Sky® Alqueva – Mértola, destacando-se contra um fundo esverdeado proveniente de uma fina faixa de airglow (luminescência foto-química). Com aproximadamente 4 vezes o tamanho angular da Lua Cheia quando vista a partir da Terra, a grande galáxia espiral de Andromeda está a meros 2,5 milhões de anos-luz de nós, sendo a maior galáxia espiral próxima à nossa Via Láctea. Em lugares realmente escuros, podemos distinguir claramente esta galáxia a olho nu, mas como localizá-la no céu? Comece por identificar a estrela Alpheratz onde se inicia a constelação de Andromeda, depois siga duas estrelas até chegar a Mirach. A partir daqui deve ver duas estrelas que parecem estar uma por cima da outra, são elas Mirach e Mu Andromedae. Se traçar uma linha imaginária através destas duas estrelas e estender à estrela de Mu Andromedae, deverá se deparar com a galáxia de Andromeda, que está assim localizada sensivelmente à mesma distância que separa estas duas últimas estrelas mencionadas, sendo Mu Andromedae de brilho muito mais fraco que a estrela Mirach. Muito perto da galáxia de Andromeda encontra-se ainda uma estrela mais fraca de nome Nu Andromedae. A versão da imagem com legenda pode ser encontrada abaixo, e também mostra a galáxia M33 e o conhecido Duplo Enxame de Estrelas do Perseus.
The Faint Arch of the Winter Milky Way above Pulo do Lobo
A night scene captured in Pulo do Lobo, Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, shows an arched path of faint light from the winter Milky Way full of deep sky objects visible as a pale diffuse red/violet colors. From left to right, we can find Sirius, the brightest star in the entire celestial sphere and at the right side, the reddish emission coming from Rosette and Orion Nebula, with Lambda Orionis, Barnard´s Loop, Horse Head and M42 visible. In center of the image, Hyades open cluster are close to Pleiades, , or the seven sisters, a small group of bright blueish stars. Immediately above Pleiades, we can find California nebula, a red emission nebula like Heart and Soul nebula, located further right following the path of light of Milky Way arm. Pulo do Lobo is the most dramatic stretch of Guadiana River, located about 18 kms north of Mértola, where the Guadiana river bed is reduced to a narrow strait a few meters wide, followed by a small waterfall with about 4m high. The margins on this site are tall and stony, and so tight that they have given rise to a legend that says that a wolf in hunting could transports them in a jump.
PT: Uma cena nocturna captada no Pulo do Lobo, Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, mostra o caminho arqueado e ténue da Via Láctea invernal, cheia de objectos do céu profundo, visíveis com tonalidades difusas vermelho/violeta. Da esquerda para a direita, podemos encontrar Sirius, a estrela mais brilhante em toda a esfera celeste, seguindo-se a emissão avermelhada proveniente da nebulosa da Roseta e de Orion, onde ainda se destacam alguns objectos como Lambda Orionis, Barnard´s Loop, Horse Head e M42.No centro da imagem, o aglomerado aberto de Hyades fica perto das Pleiades, ou as popularmente designadas Sete Irmãs, um pequeno grupo de estrelas jovens e brilhantes de tonalidade azulada por ainda se encontrarem muito quentes. Imediatamente acima das Pleiades, podemos encontrar a nebulosa da Califórnia, uma nebulosa de emissão vermelha como a nebulosa do Coração e da Alma, localizada mais adiante, seguindo o caminho da luz do braço da Via Láctea. O Pulo do Lobo é o mais dramático trecho do rio Guadiana, situado a cerca de 18 kms a Norte de Mértola, onde o leito do rio Guadiana fica reduzido a um estreito rápido com poucos metros de largura, seguido de uma pequena queda de água com cerca de 4m de altura. As margens neste local apresentam-se altas e pedregosas, e tão apertadas que deram origem a uma lenda que afirma que um lobo em caça as transpõe em um salto.
Zodiacal Light and Winter Constellations above Pulo do Lobo
A night scene captured in Pulo do Lobo, Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, shows a view of the winter Milky Way full of deep sky objects shinning bright with a diffuse red/violet colors. From top right corner to the bottom, we can find California nebula and Pleiades, a bright blueish star cluster, while below is visible all the reddish emission coming from Orion, with Lambda Orionis, Barnard´s Loop, Horse Head and M42 nebulae surrounding the main brightest stars of Orion constellation. At the left side not far away from Orion, a violet emission is shinning from Rosette nebula. At left edge of the image and above the horizon is visible a faint white light that seems to point to Beehive star cluster, known as Zodiacal light, is the sunlight scattered by interplanetary dust. Most of this dust is orbiting the Sun in about the ecliptic plane.
Pulo do Lobo is the most dramatic stretch of Guadiana River, located about 18 kms north of Mértola, where the Guadiana river bed is reduced to a narrow strait a few meters wide, followed by a small waterfall with about 4m high. The margins on this site are tall and stony, and so tight that they have given rise to a legend that says that a wolf in hunting could transports them in a jump.
PT: Este cenário nocturno captado no Pulo do Lobo, na Reserva Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, mostra uma visão da Via Láctea de inverno repleta de objectos do céu profundo que se destacam com tonalidades difusas vermelho/violeta ao longo do caminho descrito pela nossa galáxia. Do topo direito em direcção ao horizonte, é possível ver a Nebulosa da Califórnia e à direita as Pleiades, um aglomerado estelar azul brilhante. Logo abaixo é visível toda a emissão avermelhada proveniente de Orion, com diversos objectos como Lambda Orionis, Barnard´s Loop, Horse Head e a nebulosa M42 circundando as principais estrelas brilhantes da constelação de Orion. No lado esquerdo, não longe de Orion, a nebulosa da Roseta é visível como uma emissão violeta brilhante. No extremo esquerdo da imagem e logo acima do horizonte, uma fraca emissão esbranquiçada que parece incidir na direcção do aglomerado estelar Beehive, é conhecida como a Luz Zodiacal. Trata-se da luz solar dispersa pela poeira interplanetária. A maior parte dessa poeira está orbitando o Sol em torno do plano eclíptico.
O Pulo do Lobo é o mais dramático trecho do rio Guadiana, situado a cerca de 18 kms a Norte de Mértola, onde o leito do rio Guadiana fica reduzido a um estreito rápido com poucos metros de largura, seguido de uma pequena queda de água com cerca de 4m de altura. As margens neste local apresentam-se altas e pedregosas, e tão apertadas que deram origem a uma lenda que afirma que um lobo em caça as transpõe em um salto.
A Strong Gegenschein Between the Winter Constellations
A night scene captured in Pulo do Lobo, Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, shows a path of light from the winter Milky Way full of bright stars like the ones that are composing the constellations of Orion. Above the horizon, Sirius is the brightest star that dominates the night, but due to the little presence of haze, stars like Pollux and Castor from Gemini constellation are also showing their beautiful natural colors. But between Procyon, Castor and Betelgeuse, near the Zenith spotted in the center of the image, is noticeable a rare and faint white light known as Gegenschein, that is 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: Uma cena nocturna captada no Pulo do Lobo, Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, mostra o ténue caminho de luz da Via Láctea invernal repleto de estrelas brilhantes como as que compõem as constelações de Orion. Acima do horizonte, Sirius é a estrela mais brilhante que domina a noite, mas devido à pequena presença de neblina, estrelas como Pollux e Castor da constelação de Gémeos também mostram suas lindas cores naturais. No entanto, entre Procyon, Castor e Betelgeuse, perto do Zénite, localizado no centro da imagem, é possível percepcionar uma luz branca rara e fraca, conhecida como Gegenschein, que é um leve brilho do céu noturno na região do ponto antissolar. Tal como a luz Zodiacal, a Gegenschein é a luz solar espalhada pelo poeira interplanetária. A maior parte desta poeira está orbitando o Sol em aproximadamente o plano da Eclíptica. Distingue-se da luz Zodiacal pelo seu alto ângulo de reflexão da luz solar incidente sobre as partículas de poeira.
A Panorama of the Deep Sky Objects in the Winter Milky Way above Pulo do Lobo
A vertical panorama captured in Pulo do Lobo, Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, shows the path of the winter Milky Way full of deep sky objects visible as a colorful diffuse red/violet colors. Above the horizon, we can find Sirius, the brightest star in the entire celestial sphere and immediately above, the reddish emission coming from Rosette and Orion Nebula, with Lambda Orionis, Barnard´s Loop, Horse Head and M42 visible. Following to the right center of the image, Hyades open cluster are close to Pleiades, or the seven sisters, a small group of bright blueish stars. Going further high on the image, we can find California nebula, and in the way to the top, we can find the red emission from Heart and Soul nebula, finishing in the right top corner with the diffuse elipse shape from Andromeda galaxy. Pulo do Lobo is the most dramatic stretch of Guadiana River, located about 18 kms north of Mértola, where the Guadiana river bed is reduced to a narrow strait a few meters wide, followed by a small waterfall with about 4m high. The margins on this site are tall and stony, and so tight that they have given rise to a legend that says that a wolf in hunting could transports them in a jump.
PT: Um panorama vertical composto por single shots sem qualquer tracking captados no Pulo do Lobo, no Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, mostra a trajetória da Via Láctea invernal, repleta de objetos do céu profundo, visíveis como cores vermelhas / violetas difusas. Acima do horizonte, podemos encontrar Sirius, a estrela mais brilhante em toda a esfera celeste e imediatamente acima, a emissão avermelhada vinda da Nebulosa Rosette e Orion, com Lambda Orionis, Barnard´s Loop, Horse Head e M42 visíveis. Seguindo para o centro direito da imagem, o aglomerado aberto de Hyades fica próximo das do enxame aberto das Pleiades, ou das sete irmãs, um pequeno grupo de estrelas azuladas brilhantes. Seguindo mais alto na imagem, podemos encontrar a nebulosa da Califórnia, e no caminho para o extremo superior, podemos encontrar a emissão vermelha da nebulosa Heart & Soul, terminando no canto superior direito com a presença de uma luz difusa em forma de elipse, proveniente da galáxia de Andrómeda. O Pulo do Lobo é o troço mais dramático do rio Guadiana, localizado a cerca de 18 kms a norte de Mértola, onde o leito do rio Guadiana é reduzido a um estreito de poucos metros de largura, seguido de uma pequena cascata com cerca de 4m de altura. As margens deste local são altas e pedregosas, e tão estreitas que deram origem a uma lenda que diz que um lobo em caça poderia transpô-las em um único salto.
Big Dipper, Red Airglow and Milky Way in a Panoramic view from Mértola
A panoramic view from Mértola, Dark Sky® Alqueva, shows a celestial scene captured in a night where the presence of a reddish-yellow airglow was very active. In the background, the well know asterism from Big Dipper or Ursa Major, is shinning at the left edge, while in the opposite direction of the image a faint light from the Milky Way is visible behind the layer of airglow. Sirius, the brightest star in the entire celestial sphere is well spotted and above it – in the right top corner – the H-alfa emission coming from Rosette and Orion Nebula are noticeable in red, with Lambda Orionis, Barnard´s Loop, Horse Head and M42 well visible. Below, a partial path of Guadiana river is reflecting the color of the sky.
All Sky – Light Trails in Pulo do Lobo
A fish-eye “full dome” scene captured in Pulo do Lobo, Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, shows a starry sky trailed in a long exposure sequence with some bright and colourful light trails from the winter constellations that are surrounding Polaris, the northern star, remembering us that Earth Rotation never stops. In the landscape is visible a dramatic stretch of Guadiana River located about 18 kms north of Mértola, where the Guadiana river bed is reduced to a narrow strait a few meters wide, followed by a small waterfall with about 4m high. The margins on this site are tall and stony, and so tight that they have given rise to a legend that says that a wolf in hunting could transports them in a jump.
PT: Uma visão fish-eye “full-dome” de 180º captada no Pulo do Lobo, Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, mostra os rastos de estrelas brilhantes e coloridas das constelações de inverno que circundam a estrela Polar. Em baixo, a paisagem revela o mais dramático trecho do rio Guadiana, situado a cerca de 18 kms a Norte de Mértola, onde o leito do rio Guadiana fica reduzido a um estreito rápido com poucos metros de largura, seguido de uma pequena queda de água com cerca de 4m de altura. As margens neste local apresentam-se altas e pedregosas, e tão apertadas que deram origem a uma lenda que afirma que um lobo em caça as transpõe em um salto.
A Portrait Startrail above Pulo do Lobo
A scene captured in Pulo do Lobo, Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, shows a starry sky trailed in a long exposure sequence with some colourful light trails shinning bright, from the winter constellations like Orion while in the background a faint path of light from Milky Way is still noticeable. In the landscape is visible a dramatic stretch of Guadiana River located about 18 kms north of Mértola, where the Guadiana river bed is reduced to a narrow strait a few meters wide, followed by a small waterfall with about 4m high. The margins on this site are tall and stony, and so tight that they have given rise to a legend that says that a wolf in hunting could transports them in a jump. A faint reflection of the Milky Way seems to be visible in the water.
PT: Um cenário nocturno captado no Pulo do Lobo, Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, mostra os rastos de estrelas brilhantes e coloridas das constelações de inverno como Orion, enquanto em pano de fundo, ainda é possível percepcionar a ténue presença arrastada da Via láctea. Em baixo, a paisagem revela o mais dramático trecho do rio Guadiana, situado a cerca de 18 kms a Norte de Mértola, onde o leito do rio Guadiana fica reduzido a um estreito rápido com poucos metros de largura, seguido de uma pequena queda de água com cerca de 4m de altura. As margens neste local apresentam-se altas e pedregosas, e tão apertadas que deram origem a uma lenda que afirma que um lobo em caça as transpõe em um salto. O suave reflexo da Via Láctea parece ainda perceptível no espelho de água.
All Sky View – A Winter Milky Way Crossing the Zenith from Pulo do Lobo
A fish-eye “full dome” scene captured in Pulo do Lobo, Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, shows the faint path of light from the winter Milky Way crossing the sky near the zenith, above the most dramatic stretch of Guadiana River, located about 18 kms north of Mértola, is where the Guadiana river bed is reduced to a narrow strait a few meters wide, followed by a small waterfall with about 4m high. The margins on this site are tall and stony, and so tight that they have given rise to a legend that says that a wolf in hunting could transports them in a jump.
PT: Uma visão fish-eye “full-dome” de 180º captada no Pulo do Lobo, Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, mostra o ténue caminho de luz da Via Láctea de inverno cruzando o Zénite, acima do mais dramático trecho do rio Guadiana, situado a cerca de 18 kms a Norte de Mértola, onde o leito do rio Guadiana fica reduzido a um estreito rápido com poucos metros de largura, seguido de uma pequena queda de água com cerca de 4m de altura. As margens neste local apresentam-se altas e pedregosas, e tão apertadas que deram origem a uma lenda que afirma que um lobo em caça as transpõe em um salto.
A Vortex of Light from the Winter Sky
A fish-eye “full dome” scene captured in Pulo do Lobo, Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, shows a starry sky trailed in a long exposure sequence with some bright and colourful light trails from the winter constellations that are surrounding Polaris, the northern star, remembering us that Earth Rotation never stops. In the landscape is visible a dramatic stretch of Guadiana River located about 18 kms north of Mértola, where the Guadiana river bed is reduced to a narrow strait a few meters wide, followed by a small waterfall with about 4m high. The margins on this site are tall and stony, and so tight that they have given rise to a legend that says that a wolf in hunting could transports them in a jump.
PT: Uma visão fish-eye “full-dome” de 180º captada no Pulo do Lobo, Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, mostra os rastos de estrelas brilhantes e coloridas das constelações de inverno que circundam a estrela Polar. Em baixo, a paisagem revela o mais dramático trecho do rio Guadiana, situado a cerca de 18 kms a Norte de Mértola, onde o leito do rio Guadiana fica reduzido a um estreito rápido com poucos metros de largura, seguido de uma pequena queda de água com cerca de 4m de altura. As margens neste local apresentam-se altas e pedregosas, e tão apertadas que deram origem a uma lenda que afirma que um lobo em caça as transpõe em um salto.
A Portrait of the Winter Milky Way above Pulo do Lobo
A night scene captured in Pulo do Lobo, Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, shows a path of faint light from the winter Milky Way full of deep sky objects visible as a diffuse red/violet colors. From left to right, we can find Sirius, the brightest star in the entire celestial sphere and above it, the reddish emission coming from Rosette and Orion Nebula, with Lambda Orionis, Barnard´s Loop, Horse Head and M42 visible. In the top right edge of image, California nebula is still visible and immediately below, the Pleiades star cluster, or the seven sisters, a small group of bright blueish stars.
Pulo do Lobo is the most dramatic stretch of Guadiana River, located about 18 kms north of Mértola, where the Guadiana river bed is reduced to a narrow strait a few meters wide, followed by a small waterfall with about 4m high. The margins on this site are tall and stony, and so tight that they have given rise to a legend that says that a wolf in hunting could transports them in a jump.
PT: Uma cena nocturna captada no Pulo do Lobo, Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, mostra o caminho ténue da Via Láctea invernal, cheia de objectos do céu profundo, visíveis com tonalidades difusas vermelho/violeta. Da esquerda para a direita, podemos encontrar Sirius, a estrela mais brilhante em toda a esfera celeste e acima dela, a emissão avermelhada proveniente da nebulosa da Roseta e de Orion, onde ainda se destacam alguns objectos como Lambda Orionis, Barnard´s Loop, Horse Head e M42. No canto superior direito da imagem, a nebulosa da Califórnia ainda é visível e logo abaixo, o aglomerado estelar das Pleiades, ou “Sete Irmãs”, um pequeno grupo de estrelas brilhantes e azuladas, por serem jovens.
O Pulo do Lobo é o mais dramático trecho do rio Guadiana, situado a cerca de 18 kms a Norte de Mértola, onde o leito do rio Guadiana fica reduzido a um estreito rápido com poucos metros de largura, seguido de uma pequena queda de água com cerca de 4m de altura. As margens neste local apresentam-se altas e pedregosas, e tão apertadas que deram origem a uma lenda que afirma que um lobo em caça as transpõe em um salto.
Full Dome View of Pulo do Lobo in a Winter Night
A fish-eye “full dome” scene captured in Pulo do Lobo, Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, shows the faint path of light from the winter Milky Way above the most dramatic stretch of Guadiana River, located about 18 kms north of Mértola, is where the Guadiana river bed is reduced to a narrow strait a few meters wide, followed by a small waterfall with about 4m high. The margins on this site are tall and stony, and so tight that they have given rise to a legend that says that a wolf in hunting could transports them in a jump.
PT: Uma visão fish-eye “full-dome” de 180º captada no Pulo do Lobo, Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, mostra o ténue caminho de luz da Via Láctea de inverno, acima do mais dramático trecho do rio Guadiana, situado a cerca de 18 kms a Norte de Mértola, onde o leito do rio Guadiana fica reduzido a um estreito rápido com poucos metros de largura, seguido de uma pequena queda de água com cerca de 4m de altura. As margens neste local apresentam-se altas e pedregosas, e tão apertadas que deram origem a uma lenda que afirma que um lobo em caça as transpõe em um salto.
A Startrail in Ursa Major
A scene captured in Pulo do Lobo, Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, shows a sky trailed in a long exposure sequence with some bright and colourful light trails in the region around Ursa Major, the Big Dipper. In the foreground is visible part of the landscape of Pulo do Lobo, the most dramatic stretch of Guadiana River, located about 18 kms north of Mértola, is where the Guadiana river bed is reduced to a narrow strait a few meters wide, followed by a small waterfall with about 4m high. The margins on this site are tall and stony, and so tight that they have given rise to a legend that says that a wolf in hunting could transports them in a jump..
PT: Uma visão captada no Pulo do Lobo, Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, mostra-nos os rastos de estrelas brilhantes e coloridas das constelações ao redor da Ursa Maior. Em primeiro plano, é visível parte da paisagem do Pulo do Lobo, o troço mais dramático do rio Guadiana. Localizado a cerca de 18 kms a norte de Mértola, é onde o leito do rio Guadiana é reduzido a um estreito de poucos metros de largura, seguido de uma pequena queda de água com cerca de 4m de altura. As margens deste local são altas e pedregosas, e tão estreitas que deram origem a uma lenda que diz que um lobo em caça poderia transpô-las em apenas um único salto.
The Colourful Constellation of Big Dipper above Pulo do Lobo
A night scene captured in Pulo do Lobo, Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, shows the brightest and colorful stars that are composing the well known asterism of Big Dipper or Ursa Major. Probably the easiest constellation recognisable in night time, are normally used as a starting point, from beginners to experienced stargazers, to help localize and identify the northern star, also known as Polaris. In the foreground is visible part of the landscape of Pulo do Lobo, the most dramatic stretch of Guadiana River, located about 18 kms north of Mértola, is where the Guadiana river bed is reduced to a narrow strait a few meters wide, followed by a small waterfall with about 4m high. The margins on this site are tall and stony, and so tight that they have given rise to a legend that says that a wolf in hunting could transports them in a jump.
Lunar Christmas Earthshine above Mértola Castle
Captured one day after the new moon during the Christmas week, the moon was only 2% illuminated by the sunlight. Though, we can clearly distinguish the entire disk due to a phenomenon called Lunar Earthshine. In the foreground, located in a top hill, is a beautiful well-preserved medieval castle from Mértola village, in Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, decorated with Christmas lights around the walls and by coincidence very well aligned with the crescent moon, forming the perfect frame for a Christmas Card.
PT: Captada no dia após a lua nova e durante a semana que antecede o Natal, a lua encontrava-se 2% iluminada pela luz solar directa. No entanto, é possível distinguir claramente todo o disco devido a um fenómeno chamado Lunar Earthshine. Em primeiro plano, localizado numa colina superior, encontra-se o bem preservado e belo castelo da vila de Mértola, na Reserva Dark Sky® Alqueva, decorado com luzes de Natal ao redor das paredes e por coincidência muito bem alinhado com a lua crescente, forma o par perfeito para um Postal de Natal.
Slightly Crescent Moon above Mértola Village
Captured one day after the new moon during the Christmas week, the moon was only 2% illuminated by the sunlight. Though, we can clearly distinguish the entire disk due to a phenomenon called Lunar Earthshine. In the foreground, located in a top hill, is a beautiful well-preserved medieval castle from Mértola village, in Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, decorated with Christmas lights around the walls and by coincidence very well aligned with the crescent moon, forming the perfect frame for a Christmas Card.
PT: Captada no dia após a lua nova e durante a semana que antecede o Natal, a lua encontrava-se 2% iluminada pela luz solar directa. No entanto, é possível distinguir claramente todo o disco devido a um fenómeno chamado Lunar Earthshine. Em primeiro plano, localizado numa colina superior, encontra-se o bem preservado e belo castelo da vila de Mértola, na Reserva Dark Sky® Alqueva, decorado com luzes de Natal ao redor das paredes e por coincidência muito bem alinhado com a lua crescente, forma o par perfeito para um Postal de Natal.
Bright Milky Way Mixed with Airglow and Clouds above Mina de São Domingos
A wide view of the Milky Way with planet Saturn shinning against the galaxy core above Scorpius constellation, while in the opposite direction, bright star Arcturus is setting behind a layer of orange clouds. In the background horizon, a smooth presence of green airglow is also mixed with a starry sky. In the top right corner of the image, a pink/red emission from North America Nebula (NGC7000) is well visible near Deneb star, forming a perfect triangle with the blue star Vega (top center) and Altair star (left center). This mosaic of the Milky Way was captured above a puddle of acid water from Achada do Gamo, that was – since the beginning of modern mining activities in the São Domingos Mine – the center of metallurgical activities on extracted minerals. Already during the 20th century, between the 30s and 40s, a new direction of industrial exploration took place: the sulfur, however much valued, began to be extracted from the copper pyrites through furnaces (Orkla process) in two plants installed in the Achada do Gamo during the years of 1934 and 1943.
São Domingos Mine is located in Baixo Alentejo, about 240 km from Lisbon, in the municipality of Mértola, which recently joined the Dark Sky® Alqueva Route for the great quality of the night sky. The São Domingos mining area is part of the Iberian Pyrite Range and is a decisive source of basic metals (S, Zn, Pb, Sn, Ag, Au, Fe, Co, Cd, etc.) and other elements such as sulfur (S). It has been a sought after place for the extraction of ores since antiquity, with evidence of gold, silver and copper mining in the pre-Roman and Roman times. The pyritic deposit of São Domingos (St. Dominic) was explored in various historical periods, namely: for several centuries of the first millennium BC (Eastern period), during the period between 14 BC and 395 AD (Roman period), during the Islamic period and during the modern period that was initiated in 1858 for the extraction of copper, gold and silver and was maintained until 1966, the year in which the reserves were considered exhausted. During this period, the work was done in the open air up to 120 meters deep, with work continued through wells and galleries up to 400 meters. Over 108 years of regular exploration, more than 20 million tons of materials were removed from the site, producing about 14.7 million tons of waste accumulated in heaps up to 14 meters high with a dozen different materials such as pyrite , gossan, slag, ash, iron oxides, barren rock, sludge, debris, etc. The areas of heaps, slag and channels of water, give the landscape a “lunar” aspect. The heaps are composed of different materials with high levels of metals, such as slag and ash, whose leaching through the rainwater leads to the production of acid mine drainage, usually with an ocher or reddish color.|
PT: Nesta imagem é possível aceder a uma ampla visão da Via Láctea com o planeta Saturno brilhando contra o núcleo da galáxia acima da constelação do Escorpião, enquanto na direção oposta, a estrela brilhante Arcturus se põe atrás de uma camada de nuvens alaranjada. Logo acima do horizonte e em pano de fundo, uma presença suave de airglow (luminescência foto-química) mistura-se com um céu estrelado. No canto superior direito da imagem, uma emissão rosa/vermelha proveniente da Nebulosa América do Norte (NGC7000) é bem visível perto da estrela Deneb, formando um triângulo perfeito com a estrela azul Vega (centro superior) e a estrela Altair (centro esquerdo). Este mosaico da Via Láctea foi captado acima das águas ácidas da Achada do Gamo, que foi desde o início das atividades modernas de mineração na Mina de São Domingos, o centro das atividades metalúrgicas sobre os minérios extraídos. Já durante o século XX, entre as décadas de 30 e 40, uma nova direção de exploração industrial tomou lugar: o enxofre, entretanto muito valorizado, passou a ser extraído das pirites cupríferas através de fornos (processo Orkla) em duas unidades fabris instaladas na Achada do Gamo durante os anos de 1934 e 1943.
A Mina de São Domingos, situa-se no Baixo Alentejo, a cerca de 240 km de Lisboa, no concelho de Mértola, que passou a integrar recentemente a Rota Dark Sky® Alqueva pela grande qualidade do seu céu escuro. A área mineira de São Domingos, está inserida na Faixa Piritosa Ibérica e constitui uma fonte decisiva de metais básicos (Cu, Zn, Pb, Sn, Ag, Au, Fe, Co, Cd, etc.) e de outros elementos como o enxofre (S). Foi desde a Antiguidade um local procurado para a extracção de minérios, existindo indícios de trabalhos de extracção de ouro, prata e cobre no período pré-romano e romano. O depósito pirítico de São Domingos foi explorado em diversos períodos históricos, nomeadamente: durante vários séculos do primeiro milénio a.C. (período Oriental), durante o período que mediou entre o ano 14 a.C. e o ano de 395 d.C. (período romano), durante o período islâmico e durante o período moderno que se iniciou em 1858 para a extracção de cobre, ouro e prata e manteve-se até 1966, ano em que as reservas foram consideradas esgotadas. Neste período, a lavra foi feita a céu aberto até aos 120 metros de profundidade, tendo os trabalhos continuado por meio de poços e galerias até aos 400 metros. Ao longo de 108 anos de exploração regular, foram retirados do local mais de 20 milhões de toneladas de materiais, tendo produzido cerca 14,7 milhões de toneladas de resíduos acumulados em escombreiras de até 14 metros de altura, com uma dezena de materiais diferentes como pirite, gossan, escórias, cinzas, óxidos de ferro, rocha estéril, lamas, entulhos, etc. As áreas de escombreiras, escórias e canais de água, dão à paisagem um aspecto “lunar”. As escombreiras são constituídas por diferentes materiais com teores elevados em metais, como escórias e cinzas, cuja lixiviação através das águas das chuvas leva à produção de águas ácidas (‘acid mine drainage’), geralmente com uma cor ocre ou avermelhada.
Mina de São Domingos, an Open Hole to a Chemical Universe
The magnificent chemical landscape from Achada do Gamo, seems to show an hole to the Universe where we can immerse through a puddle of acid waters, reflecting the starlight from Scorpius and planet Saturn shinning bright against the galaxy core. Since the beginning of modern mining activities in the São Domingos Mine, Achada do Gamo was the center of metallurgical activities on extracted minerals. Some heavy elements presented in these minerals have been created billions of years ago in those stars and through supernovae explosions. The gold for example was made from neutron stars during collisions. Although, silver production occurs in less massive stars than those that produce gold—and through an entirely different type of nuclear fusion, called the weak r-process. The sites of nuclear creation of some elements, such as copper, are not really well known and are continuing topics of observational and computational research. The areas of heaps, slag and channels of water, give the landscape a “lunar” aspect. The heaps are composed of different materials with high levels of metals, such as slag and ash, whose leaching through the rainwater leads to the production of acid mine drainage, usually with an ocher or reddish color.|
São Domingos Mine is located in Baixo Alentejo, about 240 km from Lisbon, in the municipality of Mértola, which recently joined the Dark Sky® Alqueva Route for the great quality of the night sky. The São Domingos mining area is part of the Iberian Pyrite Range and is a decisive source of basic metals (S, Zn, Pb, Sn, Ag, Au, Fe, Co, Cd, etc.) and other elements such as sulfur (S). It has been a sought after place for the extraction of ores since antiquity, with evidence of gold, silver and copper mining in the pre-Roman and Roman times. The pyritic deposit of São Domingos (St. Dominic) was explored in various historical periods, namely: for several centuries of the first millennium BC (Eastern period), during the period between 14 BC and 395 AD (Roman period), during the Islamic period and during the modern period that was initiated in 1858 for the extraction of copper, gold and silver and was maintained until 1966, the year in which the reserves were considered exhausted. During this period, the work was done in the open air up to 120 meters deep, with work continued through wells and galleries up to 400 meters. Over 108 years of regular exploration, more than 20 million tons of materials were removed from the site, producing about 14.7 million tons of waste accumulated in heaps up to 14 meters high with a dozen different materials such as pyrite , gossan, slag, ash, iron oxides, barren rock, sludge, debris, etc.
PT: A magnífica paisagem química de Achada do Gamo, parece mostrar um buraco para o Universo onde podemos mergulhar através de um charco de águas ácidas, refletindo a luz das estrelas do Escorpião e o planeta Saturno brilhando contra o núcleo da galáxia. Desde o início das modernas atividades de mineração na mina de São Domingos, a Achada do Gamo foi o centro das atividades metalúrgicas nos minerais extraídos. Alguns elementos pesados presentes nestes minerais foram criados há milhares de milhões de anos atrás nessas estrelas e através de explosões de supernovas. O ouro, por exemplo, foi feito a partir de estrelas de neutrões durante colisões. Apesar disso, a produção de prata ocorre em estrelas menos maciças do que aquelas que produzem ouro – e através de um tipo completamente diferente de fusão nuclear, chamado de processo-r fraco. As áreas de montes, escórias e canais de água, dão à paisagem um aspecto “lunar” que lhe confere um cenário ímpar. Os montes são compostos de diferentes materiais com altos níveis de metais, como escórias e cinzas, cuja lixiviação através da água da chuva leva à produção de drenagem de minas ácidas, geralmente com uma cor ocre ou avermelhada.
A Mina de São Domingos, situa-se no Baixo Alentejo, a cerca de 240 km de Lisboa, no concelho de Mértola, que passou a integrar recentemente a Rota Dark Sky® Alqueva pela grande qualidade do seu céu escuro. A área mineira de São Domingos, está inserida na Faixa Piritosa Ibérica e constitui uma fonte decisiva de metais básicos (Cu, Zn, Pb, Sn, Ag, Au, Fe, Co, Cd, etc.) e de outros elementos como o enxofre (S). Foi desde a Antiguidade um local procurado para a extracção de minérios, existindo indícios de trabalhos de extracção de ouro, prata e cobre no período pré-romano e romano. O depósito pirítico de São Domingos foi explorado em diversos períodos históricos, nomeadamente: durante vários séculos do primeiro milénio a.C. (período Oriental), durante o período que mediou entre o ano 14 a.C. e o ano de 395 d.C. (período romano), durante o período islâmico e durante o período moderno que se iniciou em 1858 para a extracção de cobre, ouro e prata e manteve-se até 1966, ano em que as reservas foram consideradas esgotadas. Neste período, a lavra foi feita a céu aberto até aos 120 metros de profundidade, tendo os trabalhos continuado por meio de poços e galerias até aos 400 metros. Ao longo de 108 anos de exploração regular, foram retirados do local mais de 20 milhões de toneladas de materiais, tendo produzido cerca 14,7 milhões de toneladas de resíduos acumulados em escombreiras de até 14 metros de altura, com uma dezena de materiais diferentes como pirite, gossan, escórias, cinzas, óxidos de ferro, rocha estéril, lamas, entulhos, etc.
The Arch of Milky Way Shinning Against the Acid Landscape of Achada do Gamo
The arch of Milky Way galaxy behind a tiny layer of clouds mixed with a smooth presence of green airglow, is shinning above a puddle of acid water from Achada do Gamo, that was – since the beginning of modern mining activities in the São Domingos Mine – the center of metallurgical activities on extracted minerals. Already during the 20th century, between the 30s and 40s, a new direction of industrial exploration took place: the sulfur, however much valued, began to be extracted from the copper pyrites through furnaces (Orkla process) in two plants installed in the Achada do Gamo during the years of 1934 and 1943. Near the left chimney is visible the Andromeda galaxy, seen from here as an elongated diffuse dot.
São Domingos Mine is located in Baixo Alentejo, about 240 km from Lisbon, in the municipality of Mértola, which recently joined the Dark Sky® Alqueva Route for the great quality of the night sky. The São Domingos mining area is part of the Iberian Pyrite Range and is a decisive source of basic metals (S, Zn, Pb, Sn, Ag, Au, Fe, Co, Cd, etc.) and other elements such as sulfur (S). It has been a sought after place for the extraction of ores since antiquity, with evidence of gold, silver and copper mining in the pre-Roman and Roman times. The pyritic deposit of São Domingos (St. Dominic) was explored in various historical periods, namely: for several centuries of the first millennium BC (Eastern period), during the period between 14 BC and 395 AD (Roman period), during the Islamic period and during the modern period that was initiated in 1858 for the extraction of copper, gold and silver and was maintained until 1966, the year in which the reserves were considered exhausted. During this period, the work was done in the open air up to 120 meters deep, with work continued through wells and galleries up to 400 meters. Over 108 years of regular exploration, more than 20 million tons of materials were removed from the site, producing about 14.7 million tons of waste accumulated in heaps up to 14 meters high with a dozen different materials such as pyrite , gossan, slag, ash, iron oxides, barren rock, sludge, debris, etc. The areas of heaps, slag and channels of water, give the landscape a “lunar” aspect. The heaps are composed of different materials with high levels of metals, such as slag and ash, whose leaching through the rainwater leads to the production of acid mine drainage, usually with an ocher or reddish color.|
PT: O arco da Via Láctea ergue-se por detrás de uma fina camada de nuvens que se mistura em pano de fundo com a presença suave de airglow, tornando-se visível acima das águas ácidas da Achada do Gamo, que foi desde o início das atividades modernas de mineração na Mina de São Domingos, o centro das atividades metalúrgicas sobre os minérios extraídos. Já durante o século XX, entre as décadas de 30 e 40, uma nova direção de exploração industrial tomou lugar: o enxofre, entretanto muito valorizado, passou a ser extraído das pirites cupríferas através de fornos (processo Orkla) em duas unidades fabris instaladas na Achada do Gamo durante os anos de 1934 e 1943. Logo acima do horizonte esquerdo, e perto da primeira chaminé, é visível a galáxia de Andrómeda, vista a partir daqui como um ponto difuso alongado.
A Mina de São Domingos, situa-se no Baixo Alentejo, a cerca de 240 km de Lisboa, no concelho de Mértola, que passou a integrar recentemente a Rota Dark Sky® Alqueva pela grande qualidade do seu céu escuro. A área mineira de São Domingos, está inserida na Faixa Piritosa Ibérica e constitui uma fonte decisiva de metais básicos (Cu, Zn, Pb, Sn, Ag, Au, Fe, Co, Cd, etc.) e de outros elementos como o enxofre (S). Foi desde a Antiguidade um local procurado para a extracção de minérios, existindo indícios de trabalhos de extracção de ouro, prata e cobre no período pré-romano e romano. O depósito pirítico de São Domingos foi explorado em diversos períodos históricos, nomeadamente: durante vários séculos do primeiro milénio a.C. (período Oriental), durante o período que mediou entre o ano 14 a.C. e o ano de 395 d.C. (período romano), durante o período islâmico e durante o período moderno que se iniciou em 1858 para a extracção de cobre, ouro e prata e manteve-se até 1966, ano em que as reservas foram consideradas esgotadas. Neste período, a lavra foi feita a céu aberto até aos 120 metros de profundidade, tendo os trabalhos continuado por meio de poços e galerias até aos 400 metros. Ao longo de 108 anos de exploração regular, foram retirados do local mais de 20 milhões de toneladas de materiais, tendo produzido cerca 14,7 milhões de toneladas de resíduos acumulados em escombreiras de até 14 metros de altura, com uma dezena de materiais diferentes como pirite, gossan, escórias, cinzas, óxidos de ferro, rocha estéril, lamas, entulhos, etc. As áreas de escombreiras, escórias e canais de água, dão à paisagem um aspecto “lunar”. As escombreiras são constituídas por diferentes materiais com teores elevados em metais, como escórias e cinzas, cuja lixiviação através das águas das chuvas leva à produção de águas ácidas (‘acid mine drainage’), geralmente com uma cor ocre ou avermelhada.
Star Spica and Planet Jupiter above the Acid Water of Mina de São Domingos
A moonlight scene with blue star Spica and planet Jupiter setting and shinning behind a layer of clouds, while their lights are reflecting in a puddle of acid water from Achada do Gamo, that was – since the beginning of modern mining activities in the São Domingos Mine – the center of metallurgical activities on extracted minerals. The areas of heaps, slag and channels of water, give the landscape a “lunar” aspect. The heaps are composed of different materials with high levels of metals, such as slag and ash, whose leaching through the rainwater leads to the production of acid mine drainage, usually with an ocher or reddish color.
São Domingos Mine is located in Baixo Alentejo, about 240 km from Lisbon, in the municipality of Mértola, which recently joined the Dark Sky® Alqueva Route for the great quality of the night sky. The São Domingos mining area is part of the Iberian Pyrite Range and is a decisive source of basic metals (S, Zn, Pb, Sn, Ag, Au, Fe, Co, Cd, etc.) and other elements such as sulfur (S). It has been a sought after place for the extraction of ores since antiquity, with evidence of gold, silver and copper mining in the pre-Roman and Roman times. The pyritic deposit of São Domingos (St. Dominic) was explored in various historical periods, namely: for several centuries of the first millennium BC (Eastern period), during the period between 14 BC and 395 AD (Roman period), during the Islamic period and during the modern period that was initiated in 1858 for the extraction of copper, gold and silver and was maintained until 1966, the year in which the reserves were considered exhausted. During this period, the work was done in the open air up to 120 meters deep, with work continued through wells and galleries up to 400 meters. Over 108 years of regular exploration, more than 20 million tons of materials were removed from the site, producing about 14.7 million tons of waste accumulated in heaps up to 14 meters high with a dozen different materials such as pyrite , gossan, slag, ash, iron oxides, barren rock, sludge, debris, etc.|
PT: Uma cena de luar com a estrela azul Spica e o planeta Jupiter se pondo e brilhando atrás de uma fina camada de nuvens, enquanto o seu brilho se reflecte nas águas ácidas da Achada do Gamo, que foi desde o início das atividades modernas de mineração na Mina de São Domingos, o centro das atividades metalúrgicas sobre os minérios extraídos. As áreas de escombreiras, escórias e canais de água, dão à paisagem um aspecto “lunar”. As escombreiras são constituídas por diferentes materiais com teores elevados em metais, como escórias e cinzas, cuja lixiviação através das águas das chuvas leva à produção de águas ácidas (‘acid mine drainage’), geralmente com uma cor ocre ou avermelhada.
A Mina de São Domingos, situa-se no Baixo Alentejo, a cerca de 240 km de Lisboa, no concelho de Mértola, que passou a integrar recentemente a Rota Dark Sky® Alqueva pela grande qualidade do seu céu escuro. A área mineira de São Domingos, está inserida na Faixa Piritosa Ibérica e constitui uma fonte decisiva de metais básicos (Cu, Zn, Pb, Sn, Ag, Au, Fe, Co, Cd, etc.) e de outros elementos como o enxofre (S). Foi desde a Antiguidade um local procurado para a extracção de minérios, existindo indícios de trabalhos de extracção de ouro, prata e cobre no período pré-romano e romano. O depósito pirítico de São Domingos foi explorado em diversos períodos históricos, nomeadamente: durante vários séculos do primeiro milénio a.C. (período Oriental), durante o período que mediou entre o ano 14 a.C. e o ano de 395 d.C. (período romano), durante o período islâmico e durante o período moderno que se iniciou em 1858 para a extracção de cobre, ouro e prata e manteve-se até 1966, ano em que as reservas foram consideradas esgotadas. Neste período, a lavra foi feita a céu aberto até aos 120 metros de profundidade, tendo os trabalhos continuado por meio de poços e galerias até aos 400 metros. Ao longo de 108 anos de exploração regular, foram retirados do local mais de 20 milhões de toneladas de materiais, tendo produzido cerca 14,7 milhões de toneladas de resíduos acumulados em escombreiras de até 14 metros de altura, com uma dezena de materiais diferentes como pirite, gossan, escórias, cinzas, óxidos de ferro, rocha estéril, lamas, entulhos, etc.
Milky Way Arm above an Acid Water
A view of the Milky Way arm mixed with some clouds with planet Saturn shinning against the galaxy core, near Scorpius constellation. In the top right corner of the image, a pink/red emission from North America Nebula (NGC7000) is well visible near Deneb star, forming a triangle with the blue star Vega (top center) and Altair star (left center). This mosaic of the Milky Way was captured above a puddle of acid water reflecting the starlight from Scorpius and Saturn, located in Achada do Gamo, that was – since the beginning of modern mining activities in the São Domingos Mine – the center of metallurgical activities on extracted minerals. Already during the 20th century, between the 30s and 40s, a new direction of industrial exploration took place: the sulfur, however much valued, began to be extracted from the copper pyrites through furnaces (Orkla process) in two plants installed in the Achada do Gamo during the years of 1934 and 1943.
São Domingos Mine is located in Baixo Alentejo, about 240 km from Lisbon, in the municipality of Mértola, which recently joined the Dark Sky® Alqueva Route for the great quality of the night sky. The São Domingos mining area is part of the Iberian Pyrite Range and is a decisive source of basic metals (S, Zn, Pb, Sn, Ag, Au, Fe, Co, Cd, etc.) and other elements such as sulfur (S). It has been a sought after place for the extraction of ores since antiquity, with evidence of gold, silver and copper mining in the pre-Roman and Roman times. The pyritic deposit of São Domingos (St. Dominic) was explored in various historical periods, namely: for several centuries of the first millennium BC (Eastern period), during the period between 14 BC and 395 AD (Roman period), during the Islamic period and during the modern period that was initiated in 1858 for the extraction of copper, gold and silver and was maintained until 1966, the year in which the reserves were considered exhausted. During this period, the work was done in the open air up to 120 meters deep, with work continued through wells and galleries up to 400 meters. Over 108 years of regular exploration, more than 20 million tons of materials were removed from the site, producing about 14.7 million tons of waste accumulated in heaps up to 14 meters high with a dozen different materials such as pyrite , gossan, slag, ash, iron oxides, barren rock, sludge, debris, etc. The areas of heaps, slag and channels of water, give the landscape a “lunar” aspect. The heaps are composed of different materials with high levels of metals, such as slag and ash, whose leaching through the rainwater leads to the production of acid mine drainage, usually with an ocher or reddish color.|
PT: Uma visão do braço da Via Láctea misturado com algumas nuvens com o planeta Saturno brilhando contra o centro da galáxia, perto da constelação do Escorpião. No canto superior direito da imagem, uma emissão rosa/vermelha proveniente da Nebulosa América do Norte (NGC7000) é bem visível perto da estrela Deneb, formando um triângulo com a estrela azul Vega (centro superior) e a estrela Altair (centro esquerdo). Este mosaico da Via Láctea foi captado acima das águas ácidas de um charco, reflectindo a luz estelar de Escorpião e Saturno, a partir da região da Achada do Gamo, que foi desde o início das atividades modernas de mineração na Mina de São Domingos, o centro das atividades metalúrgicas sobre os minérios extraídos. Já durante o século XX, entre as décadas de 30 e 40, uma nova direção de exploração industrial tomou lugar: o enxofre, entretanto muito valorizado, passou a ser extraído das pirites cupríferas através de fornos (processo Orkla) em duas unidades fabris instaladas na Achada do Gamo durante os anos de 1934 e 1943.
A Mina de São Domingos, situa-se no Baixo Alentejo, a cerca de 240 km de Lisboa, no concelho de Mértola, que passou a integrar recentemente a Rota Dark Sky® Alqueva pela grande qualidade do seu céu escuro. A área mineira de São Domingos, está inserida na Faixa Piritosa Ibérica e constitui uma fonte decisiva de metais básicos (Cu, Zn, Pb, Sn, Ag, Au, Fe, Co, Cd, etc.) e de outros elementos como o enxofre (S). Foi desde a Antiguidade um local procurado para a extracção de minérios, existindo indícios de trabalhos de extracção de ouro, prata e cobre no período pré-romano e romano. O depósito pirítico de São Domingos foi explorado em diversos períodos históricos, nomeadamente: durante vários séculos do primeiro milénio a.C. (período Oriental), durante o período que mediou entre o ano 14 a.C. e o ano de 395 d.C. (período romano), durante o período islâmico e durante o período moderno que se iniciou em 1858 para a extracção de cobre, ouro e prata e manteve-se até 1966, ano em que as reservas foram consideradas esgotadas. Neste período, a lavra foi feita a céu aberto até aos 120 metros de profundidade, tendo os trabalhos continuado por meio de poços e galerias até aos 400 metros. Ao longo de 108 anos de exploração regular, foram retirados do local mais de 20 milhões de toneladas de materiais, tendo produzido cerca 14,7 milhões de toneladas de resíduos acumulados em escombreiras de até 14 metros de altura, com uma dezena de materiais diferentes como pirite, gossan, escórias, cinzas, óxidos de ferro, rocha estéril, lamas, entulhos, etc. As áreas de escombreiras, escórias e canais de água, dão à paisagem um aspecto “lunar”. As escombreiras são constituídas por diferentes materiais com teores elevados em metais, como escórias e cinzas, cuja lixiviação através das águas das chuvas leva à produção de águas ácidas (‘acid mine drainage’), geralmente com uma cor ocre ou avermelhada.
Shadows from a Fragmented Chair by the Moonlight
Shadows from a fragmented chair illuminated by the light of a smooth Lunar Halo above a puddle of acid water from Achada do Gamo, that was – since the beginning of modern mining activities in the São Domingos Mine – the center of metallurgical activities on extracted minerals. The areas of heaps, slag and channels of water, give the landscape a “lunar” aspect. The heaps are composed of different materials with high levels of metals, such as slag and ash, whose leaching through the rainwater leads to the production of acid mine drainage, usually with an ocher or reddish color.
São Domingos Mine is located in Baixo Alentejo, about 240 km from Lisbon, in the municipality of Mértola, which recently joined the Dark Sky® Alqueva Route for the great quality of the night sky. The São Domingos mining area is part of the Iberian Pyrite Range and is a decisive source of basic metals (S, Zn, Pb, Sn, Ag, Au, Fe, Co, Cd, etc.) and other elements such as sulfur (S). It has been a sought after place for the extraction of ores since antiquity, with evidence of gold, silver and copper mining in the pre-Roman and Roman times. The pyritic deposit of São Domingos (St. Dominic) was explored in various historical periods, namely: for several centuries of the first millennium BC (Eastern period), during the period between 14 BC and 395 AD (Roman period), during the Islamic period and during the modern period that was initiated in 1858 for the extraction of copper, gold and silver and was maintained until 1966, the year in which the reserves were considered exhausted. During this period, the work was done in the open air up to 120 meters deep, with work continued through wells and galleries up to 400 meters. Over 108 years of regular exploration, more than 20 million tons of materials were removed from the site, producing about 14.7 million tons of waste accumulated in heaps up to 14 meters high with a dozen different materials such as pyrite , gossan, slag, ash, iron oxides, barren rock, sludge, debris, etc.|
PT: Sombras de uma cadeira fragmentada iluminada pela luz de um quase imperceptível Halo lunar, que se formava acima da paisagem ácida de Achada do Gamo, que foi desde o início das atividades modernas de mineração na Mina de São Domingos, o centro das atividades metalúrgicas sobre os minérios extraídos. As áreas de escombreiras, escórias e canais de água, dão à paisagem um aspecto “lunar”. As escombreiras são constituídas por diferentes materiais com teores elevados em metais, como escórias e cinzas, cuja lixiviação através das águas das chuvas leva à produção de águas ácidas (‘acid mine drainage’), geralmente com uma cor ocre ou avermelhada.
A Mina de São Domingos, situa-se no Baixo Alentejo, a cerca de 240 km de Lisboa, no concelho de Mértola, que passou a integrar recentemente a Rota Dark Sky® Alqueva pela grande qualidade do seu céu escuro. A área mineira de São Domingos, está inserida na Faixa Piritosa Ibérica e constitui uma fonte decisiva de metais básicos (Cu, Zn, Pb, Sn, Ag, Au, Fe, Co, Cd, etc.) e de outros elementos como o enxofre (S). Foi desde a Antiguidade um local procurado para a extracção de minérios, existindo indícios de trabalhos de extracção de ouro, prata e cobre no período pré-romano e romano. O depósito pirítico de São Domingos foi explorado em diversos períodos históricos, nomeadamente: durante vários séculos do primeiro milénio a.C. (período Oriental), durante o período que mediou entre o ano 14 a.C. e o ano de 395 d.C. (período romano), durante o período islâmico e durante o período moderno que se iniciou em 1858 para a extracção de cobre, ouro e prata e manteve-se até 1966, ano em que as reservas foram consideradas esgotadas. Neste período, a lavra foi feita a céu aberto até aos 120 metros de profundidade, tendo os trabalhos continuado por meio de poços e galerias até aos 400 metros. Ao longo de 108 anos de exploração regular, foram retirados do local mais de 20 milhões de toneladas de materiais, tendo produzido cerca 14,7 milhões de toneladas de resíduos acumulados em escombreiras de até 14 metros de altura, com uma dezena de materiais diferentes como pirite, gossan, escórias, cinzas, óxidos de ferro, rocha estéril, lamas, entulhos, etc.
Summer Triangle and Planet Saturn Shinning above Achada do Gamo
A view of the Milky Way arm with planet Saturn shinning against the galaxy core, near Scorpius constellation. In the top right corner of the image, a pink/red emission from North America Nebula (NGC7000) is well visible near Deneb star, forming a perfect triangle with the blue star Vega (top center) and Altair star (left center). This mosaic of the Milky Way was captured above a puddle of acid water from Achada do Gamo, that was – since the beginning of modern mining activities in the São Domingos Mine – the center of metallurgical activities on extracted minerals. Already during the 20th century, between the 30s and 40s, a new direction of industrial exploration took place: the sulfur, however much valued, began to be extracted from the copper pyrites through furnaces (Orkla process) in two plants installed in the Achada do Gamo during the years of 1934 and 1943.
São Domingos Mine is located in Baixo Alentejo, about 240 km from Lisbon, in the municipality of Mértola, which recently joined the Dark Sky® Alqueva Route for the great quality of the night sky. The São Domingos mining area is part of the Iberian Pyrite Range and is a decisive source of basic metals (S, Zn, Pb, Sn, Ag, Au, Fe, Co, Cd, etc.) and other elements such as sulfur (S). It has been a sought after place for the extraction of ores since antiquity, with evidence of gold, silver and copper mining in the pre-Roman and Roman times. The pyritic deposit of São Domingos (St. Dominic) was explored in various historical periods, namely: for several centuries of the first millennium BC (Eastern period), during the period between 14 BC and 395 AD (Roman period), during the Islamic period and during the modern period that was initiated in 1858 for the extraction of copper, gold and silver and was maintained until 1966, the year in which the reserves were considered exhausted. During this period, the work was done in the open air up to 120 meters deep, with work continued through wells and galleries up to 400 meters. Over 108 years of regular exploration, more than 20 million tons of materials were removed from the site, producing about 14.7 million tons of waste accumulated in heaps up to 14 meters high with a dozen different materials such as pyrite , gossan, slag, ash, iron oxides, barren rock, sludge, debris, etc. The areas of heaps, slag and channels of water, give the landscape a “lunar” aspect. The heaps are composed of different materials with high levels of metals, such as slag and ash, whose leaching through the rainwater leads to the production of acid mine drainage, usually with an ocher or reddish color.|
PT: Uma visão do braço da Via Láctea com o planeta Saturno brilhando contra o centro da galáxia, perto da constelação do Escorpião. No canto superior direito da imagem, uma emissão rosa/vermelha proveniente da Nebulosa América do Norte (NGC7000) é bem visível perto da estrela Deneb, formando um triângulo perfeito com a estrela azul Vega (centro superior) e a estrela Altair (centro esquerdo). Este mosaico da Via Láctea foi captado acima das águas ácidas da Achada do Gamo, que foi desde o início das atividades modernas de mineração na Mina de São Domingos, o centro das atividades metalúrgicas sobre os minérios extraídos. Já durante o século XX, entre as décadas de 30 e 40, uma nova direção de exploração industrial tomou lugar: o enxofre, entretanto muito valorizado, passou a ser extraído das pirites cupríferas através de fornos (processo Orkla) em duas unidades fabris instaladas na Achada do Gamo durante os anos de 1934 e 1943.
A Mina de São Domingos, situa-se no Baixo Alentejo, a cerca de 240 km de Lisboa, no concelho de Mértola, que passou a integrar recentemente a Rota Dark Sky® Alqueva pela grande qualidade do seu céu escuro. A área mineira de São Domingos, está inserida na Faixa Piritosa Ibérica e constitui uma fonte decisiva de metais básicos (Cu, Zn, Pb, Sn, Ag, Au, Fe, Co, Cd, etc.) e de outros elementos como o enxofre (S). Foi desde a Antiguidade um local procurado para a extracção de minérios, existindo indícios de trabalhos de extracção de ouro, prata e cobre no período pré-romano e romano. O depósito pirítico de São Domingos foi explorado em diversos períodos históricos, nomeadamente: durante vários séculos do primeiro milénio a.C. (período Oriental), durante o período que mediou entre o ano 14 a.C. e o ano de 395 d.C. (período romano), durante o período islâmico e durante o período moderno que se iniciou em 1858 para a extracção de cobre, ouro e prata e manteve-se até 1966, ano em que as reservas foram consideradas esgotadas. Neste período, a lavra foi feita a céu aberto até aos 120 metros de profundidade, tendo os trabalhos continuado por meio de poços e galerias até aos 400 metros. Ao longo de 108 anos de exploração regular, foram retirados do local mais de 20 milhões de toneladas de materiais, tendo produzido cerca 14,7 milhões de toneladas de resíduos acumulados em escombreiras de até 14 metros de altura, com uma dezena de materiais diferentes como pirite, gossan, escórias, cinzas, óxidos de ferro, rocha estéril, lamas, entulhos, etc. As áreas de escombreiras, escórias e canais de água, dão à paisagem um aspecto “lunar”. As escombreiras são constituídas por diferentes materiais com teores elevados em metais, como escórias e cinzas, cuja lixiviação através das águas das chuvas leva à produção de águas ácidas (‘acid mine drainage’), geralmente com uma cor ocre ou avermelhada.
Moonlight and Jupiter Shinning above Corta da Mina Landscape
A Moonlight scene in a cloudy sky with bright planet Jupiter shinning above Corta da Mina landscape, that is the result of the open-pit mining operation begun in 1867 in São Domingos Mine. It has a geometrical shape of an ellipse and a depth of 120 m and a perimeter of approximately 2 km. It was the place from which the ores were extracted: the pyrites, sulfur, copper, iron, zinc, gold and silver. Around the cavity it is possible to observe several types of heaps constituted by diverse materials such as modern slag of black color, brownish Roman slag, gossan fragments of reddish color and encasing mineralization rocks like vulcanites and schists. Some of these commons have significant gold contents assuming the presence of iMt from heaps with 1g / t gold. ” After the end of the work, in 1966, the abandonment of the extraction of water from the bottom of the mine allowed the rise groundwater level within the cut to the current, apparently stationary point. The water currently contained in the cut is extremely acidic (Ph = 2) giving the water an incredible color variation with colours ranging from reddish tones to oranges and yellows, it contains a large amount of dissolved sulfates, mainly iron and arsenic sulfates, but also copper and zinc.
São Domingos Mine is located in Baixo Alentejo, about 240 km from Lisbon, in the municipality of Mértola, which recently joined the Dark Sky® Alqueva Route for the great quality of the night sky. The São Domingos mining area is part of the Iberian Pyrite Range and is a decisive source of basic metals (S, Zn, Pb, Sn, Ag, Au, Fe, Co, Cd, etc.) and other elements such as sulfur (S). It has been a sought after place for the extraction of ores since antiquity, with evidence of gold, silver and copper mining in the pre-Roman and Roman times. The pyritic deposit of São Domingos (St. Dominic) was explored in various historical periods, namely: for several centuries of the first millennium BC (Eastern period), during the period between 14 BC and 395 AD (Roman period), during the Islamic period and during the modern period that was initiated in 1858 for the extraction of copper, gold and silver and was maintained until 1966, the year in which the reserves were considered exhausted. During this period, the work was done in the open air up to 120 meters deep, with work continued through wells and galleries up to 400 meters. Over 108 years of regular exploration, more than 20 million tons of materials were removed from the site, producing about 14.7 million tons of waste accumulated in heaps up to 14 meters high with a dozen different materials such as pyrite , gossan, slag, ash, iron oxides, barren rock, sludge, debris, etc. The areas of heaps, slag and channels of water, give the landscape a “lunar” aspect. The heaps are composed of different materials with high levels of metals, such as slag and ash, whose leaching through the rainwater leads to the production of acid mine drainage, usually with an ocher or reddish color. |
PT: Um cenário ao Luar com a presença do planeta Jupiter a brilhar por detrás de um céu nublado que se precipita acima da paisagem acida da Corta da Mina, o resultado da exploração mineira a céu aberto encetada em 1867 na Mina de São Domingos, em Mértola. Possui uma forma geométrica de uma elipse e uma profundidade de 120 m e um perímetro de aproximadamente 2 km. Era o local de onde se extraíam os minérios: as pirites, enxofre, cobre, ferro, zinco, ouro e prata. Em torno da cavidade é possível observar vários tipos de escombreiras constituídas por materiais diversos como escórias modernas de cor negra, escórias romanas acastanhadas, fragmentos de gossan de cor avermelhada e rochas encaixantes da mineralização como vulcanitos e xistos. Alguns destes corpos de encombros apresentam teores significativos de ouro admitindo-se a presença de iMt de escombreiras com 1g/t de ouro.” Após o fim da laboração, em 1966, o abandono da extração de água do fundo da mina permitiu a subida do nível freático dentro da corta até ao ponto atual, aparentemente estacionário.
A água hoje contida na corta é extremamente ácida (Ph=2) conferindo à água uma variação cromática incrível com cores que vão desde tons avermelhados, a laranjas e amarelos, contém uma grande quantidade de sulfatos dissolvidos, principalmente sulfatos de ferro e arsénico mas também de cobre e zinco
A Mina de São Domingos, situa-se no Baixo Alentejo, a cerca de 240 km de Lisboa, no concelho de Mértola, que passou a integrar recentemente a Rota Dark Sky® Alqueva pela grande qualidade do seu céu escuro. A área mineira de São Domingos, está inserida na Faixa Piritosa Ibérica e constitui uma fonte decisiva de metais básicos (Cu, Zn, Pb, Sn, Ag, Au, Fe, Co, Cd, etc.) e de outros elementos como o enxofre (S). Foi desde a Antiguidade um local procurado para a extracção de minérios, existindo indícios de trabalhos de extracção de ouro, prata e cobre no período pré-romano e romano. O depósito pirítico de São Domingos foi explorado em diversos períodos históricos, nomeadamente: durante vários séculos do primeiro milénio a.C. (período Oriental), durante o período que mediou entre o ano 14 a.C. e o ano de 395 d.C. (período romano), durante o período islâmico e durante o período moderno que se iniciou em 1858 para a extracção de cobre, ouro e prata e manteve-se até 1966, ano em que as reservas foram consideradas esgotadas. Neste período, a lavra foi feita a céu aberto até aos 120 metros de profundidade, tendo os trabalhos continuado por meio de poços e galerias até aos 400 metros. Ao longo de 108 anos de exploração regular, foram retirados do local mais de 20 milhões de toneladas de materiais, tendo produzido cerca 14,7 milhões de toneladas de resíduos acumulados em escombreiras de até 14 metros de altura, com uma dezena de materiais diferentes como pirite, gossan, escórias, cinzas, óxidos de ferro, rocha estéril, lamas, entulhos, etc. As áreas de escombreiras, escórias e canais de água, dão à paisagem um aspecto “lunar”. As escombreiras são constituídas por diferentes materiais com teores elevados em metais, como escórias e cinzas, cuja lixiviação através das águas das chuvas leva à produção de águas ácidas (‘acid mine drainage’), geralmente com uma cor ocre ou avermelhada.
Full Moon Emerging from an Acid Landscape
A Full Moon is reflected in a puddle of acid water from Achada do Gamo, that was – since the beginning of modern mining activities in the São Domingos Mine – the center of metallurgical activities on extracted minerals. The areas of heaps, slag and channels of water, give the landscape a “lunar” aspect, revealed in this image naturally illuminated by the Moonlight. The heaps are composed of different materials with high levels of metals, such as slag and ash, whose leaching through the rainwater leads to the production of acid mine drainage, usually with an ocher or reddish color.
São Domingos Mine is located in Baixo Alentejo, about 240 km from Lisbon, in the municipality of Mértola, which recently joined the Dark Sky® Alqueva Route for the great quality of the night sky. The São Domingos mining area is part of the Iberian Pyrite Range and is a decisive source of basic metals (S, Zn, Pb, Sn, Ag, Au, Fe, Co, Cd, etc.) and other elements such as sulfur (S). It has been a sought after place for the extraction of ores since antiquity, with evidence of gold, silver and copper mining in the pre-Roman and Roman times. The pyritic deposit of São Domingos (St. Dominic) was explored in various historical periods, namely: for several centuries of the first millennium BC (Eastern period), during the period between 14 BC and 395 AD (Roman period), during the Islamic period and during the modern period that was initiated in 1858 for the extraction of copper, gold and silver and was maintained until 1966, the year in which the reserves were considered exhausted. During this period, the work was done in the open air up to 120 meters deep, with work continued through wells and galleries up to 400 meters. Over 108 years of regular exploration, more than 20 million tons of materials were removed from the site, producing about 14.7 million tons of waste accumulated in heaps up to 14 meters high with a dozen different materials such as pyrite , gossan, slag, ash, iron oxides, barren rock, sludge, debris, etc.|
PT: A Lua Cheia reflectida nas águas ácidas da Achada do Gamo, que foi desde o início das atividades modernas de mineração na Mina de São Domingos, o centro das atividades metalúrgicas sobre os minérios extraídos. As áreas de escombreiras, escórias e canais de água, dão à paisagem um aspecto “lunar”, revelado nesta imagem nocturna pela luz natural do luar. As escombreiras são constituídas por diferentes materiais com teores elevados em metais, como escórias e cinzas, cuja lixiviação através das águas das chuvas leva à produção de águas ácidas (‘acid mine drainage’), geralmente com uma cor ocre ou avermelhada.
A Mina de São Domingos, situa-se no Baixo Alentejo, a cerca de 240 km de Lisboa, no concelho de Mértola, que passou a integrar recentemente a Rota Dark Sky® Alqueva pela grande qualidade do seu céu escuro. A área mineira de São Domingos, está inserida na Faixa Piritosa Ibérica e constitui uma fonte decisiva de metais básicos (Cu, Zn, Pb, Sn, Ag, Au, Fe, Co, Cd, etc.) e de outros elementos como o enxofre (S). Foi desde a Antiguidade um local procurado para a extracção de minérios, existindo indícios de trabalhos de extracção de ouro, prata e cobre no período pré-romano e romano. O depósito pirítico de São Domingos foi explorado em diversos períodos históricos, nomeadamente: durante vários séculos do primeiro milénio a.C. (período Oriental), durante o período que mediou entre o ano 14 a.C. e o ano de 395 d.C. (período romano), durante o período islâmico e durante o período moderno que se iniciou em 1858 para a extracção de cobre, ouro e prata e manteve-se até 1966, ano em que as reservas foram consideradas esgotadas. Neste período, a lavra foi feita a céu aberto até aos 120 metros de profundidade, tendo os trabalhos continuado por meio de poços e galerias até aos 400 metros. Ao longo de 108 anos de exploração regular, foram retirados do local mais de 20 milhões de toneladas de materiais, tendo produzido cerca 14,7 milhões de toneladas de resíduos acumulados em escombreiras de até 14 metros de altura, com uma dezena de materiais diferentes como pirite, gossan, escórias, cinzas, óxidos de ferro, rocha estéril, lamas, entulhos, etc.
A Lunar Landscape shows a Full Moon Reflected in the Acid Water of Mina de São Domingos
A Full Moon is reflected in a puddle of acid water from Achada do Gamo, that was – since the beginning of modern mining activities in the São Domingos Mine – the center of metallurgical activities on extracted minerals. The areas of heaps, slag and channels of water, give the landscape a “lunar” aspect. The heaps are composed of different materials with high levels of metals, such as slag and ash, whose leaching through the rainwater leads to the production of acid mine drainage, usually with an ocher or reddish color.
São Domingos Mine is located in Baixo Alentejo, about 240 km from Lisbon, in the municipality of Mértola, which recently joined the Dark Sky® Alqueva Route for the great quality of the night sky. The São Domingos mining area is part of the Iberian Pyrite Range and is a decisive source of basic metals (S, Zn, Pb, Sn, Ag, Au, Fe, Co, Cd, etc.) and other elements such as sulfur (S). It has been a sought after place for the extraction of ores since antiquity, with evidence of gold, silver and copper mining in the pre-Roman and Roman times. The pyritic deposit of São Domingos (St. Dominic) was explored in various historical periods, namely: for several centuries of the first millennium BC (Eastern period), during the period between 14 BC and 395 AD (Roman period), during the Islamic period and during the modern period that was initiated in 1858 for the extraction of copper, gold and silver and was maintained until 1966, the year in which the reserves were considered exhausted. During this period, the work was done in the open air up to 120 meters deep, with work continued through wells and galleries up to 400 meters. Over 108 years of regular exploration, more than 20 million tons of materials were removed from the site, producing about 14.7 million tons of waste accumulated in heaps up to 14 meters high with a dozen different materials such as pyrite , gossan, slag, ash, iron oxides, barren rock, sludge, debris, etc.|
PT: A Lua Cheia reflectida nas águas ácidas da Achada do Gamo, que foi desde o início das atividades modernas de mineração na Mina de São Domingos, o centro das atividades metalúrgicas sobre os minérios extraídos. As áreas de escombreiras, escórias e canais de água, dão à paisagem um aspecto “lunar”. As escombreiras são constituídas por diferentes materiais com teores elevados em metais, como escórias e cinzas, cuja lixiviação através das águas das chuvas leva à produção de águas ácidas (‘acid mine drainage’), geralmente com uma cor ocre ou avermelhada.
A Mina de São Domingos, situa-se no Baixo Alentejo, a cerca de 240 km de Lisboa, no concelho de Mértola, que passou a integrar recentemente a Rota Dark Sky® Alqueva pela grande qualidade do seu céu escuro. A área mineira de São Domingos, está inserida na Faixa Piritosa Ibérica e constitui uma fonte decisiva de metais básicos (Cu, Zn, Pb, Sn, Ag, Au, Fe, Co, Cd, etc.) e de outros elementos como o enxofre (S). Foi desde a Antiguidade um local procurado para a extracção de minérios, existindo indícios de trabalhos de extracção de ouro, prata e cobre no período pré-romano e romano. O depósito pirítico de São Domingos foi explorado em diversos períodos históricos, nomeadamente: durante vários séculos do primeiro milénio a.C. (período Oriental), durante o período que mediou entre o ano 14 a.C. e o ano de 395 d.C. (período romano), durante o período islâmico e durante o período moderno que se iniciou em 1858 para a extracção de cobre, ouro e prata e manteve-se até 1966, ano em que as reservas foram consideradas esgotadas. Neste período, a lavra foi feita a céu aberto até aos 120 metros de profundidade, tendo os trabalhos continuado por meio de poços e galerias até aos 400 metros. Ao longo de 108 anos de exploração regular, foram retirados do local mais de 20 milhões de toneladas de materiais, tendo produzido cerca 14,7 milhões de toneladas de resíduos acumulados em escombreiras de até 14 metros de altura, com uma dezena de materiais diferentes como pirite, gossan, escórias, cinzas, óxidos de ferro, rocha estéril, lamas, entulhos, etc.
Moonrise Behind a Metallurgic Structure from Achada do Gamo
The Full Moon is rising against the silhouette structure from Achada do Gamo, that was – since the beginning of modern mining activities in the São Domingos Mine – the center of metallurgical activities on extracted minerals. Already during the 20th century, between the 30s and 40s, a new direction of industrial exploration took place: the sulfur, however much valued, began to be extracted from the copper pyrites through furnaces (Orkla process) in two plants installed in the Achada do Gamo during the years of 1934 and 1943.
São Domingos Mine is located in Baixo Alentejo, about 240 km from Lisbon, in the municipality of Mértola, which recently joined the Dark Sky® Alqueva Route for the great quality of the night sky. The São Domingos mining area is part of the Iberian Pyrite Range and is a decisive source of basic metals (S, Zn, Pb, Sn, Ag, Au, Fe, Co, Cd, etc.) and other elements such as sulfur (S). It has been a sought after place for the extraction of ores since antiquity, with evidence of gold, silver and copper mining in the pre-Roman and Roman times. The pyritic deposit of São Domingos (St. Dominic) was explored in various historical periods, namely: for several centuries of the first millennium BC (Eastern period), during the period between 14 BC and 395 AD (Roman period), during the Islamic period and during the modern period that was initiated in 1858 for the extraction of copper, gold and silver and was maintained until 1966, the year in which the reserves were considered exhausted. During this period, the work was done in the open air up to 120 meters deep, with work continued through wells and galleries up to 400 meters. Over 108 years of regular exploration, more than 20 million tons of materials were removed from the site, producing about 14.7 million tons of waste accumulated in heaps up to 14 meters high with a dozen different materials such as pyrite , gossan, slag, ash, iron oxides, barren rock, sludge, debris, etc. The areas of heaps, slag and channels of water, give the landscape a “lunar” aspect. The heaps are composed of different materials with high levels of metals, such as slag and ash, whose leaching through the rainwater leads to the production of acid mine drainage, usually with an ocher or reddish color. |
PT: A Lua Cheia nasce por detrás da silhueta da estrutura metalúrgica da Achada do Gamo, que foi desde o início das atividades modernas de mineração na Mina de São Domingos, o centro das atividades metalúrgicas sobre os minérios extraídos. Já durante o século XX, entre as décadas de 30 e 40, uma nova direção de exploração industrial tomou lugar: o enxofre, entretanto muito valorizado, passou a ser extraído das pirites cupríferas através de fornos (processo Orkla) em duas unidades fabris instaladas na Achada do Gamo durante os anos de 1934 e 1943.
A Mina de São Domingos, situa-se no Baixo Alentejo, a cerca de 240 km de Lisboa, no concelho de Mértola, que passou a integrar recentemente a Rota Dark Sky® Alqueva pela grande qualidade do seu céu escuro. A área mineira de São Domingos, está inserida na Faixa Piritosa Ibérica e constitui uma fonte decisiva de metais básicos (Cu, Zn, Pb, Sn, Ag, Au, Fe, Co, Cd, etc.) e de outros elementos como o enxofre (S). Foi desde a Antiguidade um local procurado para a extracção de minérios, existindo indícios de trabalhos de extracção de ouro, prata e cobre no período pré-romano e romano. O depósito pirítico de São Domingos foi explorado em diversos períodos históricos, nomeadamente: durante vários séculos do primeiro milénio a.C. (período Oriental), durante o período que mediou entre o ano 14 a.C. e o ano de 395 d.C. (período romano), durante o período islâmico e durante o período moderno que se iniciou em 1858 para a extracção de cobre, ouro e prata e manteve-se até 1966, ano em que as reservas foram consideradas esgotadas. Neste período, a lavra foi feita a céu aberto até aos 120 metros de profundidade, tendo os trabalhos continuado por meio de poços e galerias até aos 400 metros. Ao longo de 108 anos de exploração regular, foram retirados do local mais de 20 milhões de toneladas de materiais, tendo produzido cerca 14,7 milhões de toneladas de resíduos acumulados em escombreiras de até 14 metros de altura, com uma dezena de materiais diferentes como pirite, gossan, escórias, cinzas, óxidos de ferro, rocha estéril, lamas, entulhos, etc. As áreas de escombreiras, escórias e canais de água, dão à paisagem um aspecto “lunar”. As escombreiras são constituídas por diferentes materiais com teores elevados em metais, como escórias e cinzas, cuja lixiviação através das águas das chuvas leva à produção de águas ácidas (‘acid mine drainage’), geralmente com uma cor ocre ou avermelhada.
Full Moon Behind a Metallurgic Silhouette from Achada do Gamo
The Full Moon is rising against the silhouette structure from Achada do Gamo, that was – since the beginning of modern mining activities in the São Domingos Mine – the center of metallurgical activities on extracted minerals. Already during the 20th century, between the 30s and 40s, a new direction of industrial exploration took place: the sulfur, however much valued, began to be extracted from the copper pyrites through furnaces (Orkla process) in two plants installed in the Achada do Gamo during the years of 1934 and 1943.
São Domingos Mine is located in Baixo Alentejo, about 240 km from Lisbon, in the municipality of Mértola, which recently joined the Dark Sky® Alqueva Route for the great quality of the night sky. The São Domingos mining area is part of the Iberian Pyrite Range and is a decisive source of basic metals (S, Zn, Pb, Sn, Ag, Au, Fe, Co, Cd, etc.) and other elements such as sulfur (S). It has been a sought after place for the extraction of ores since antiquity, with evidence of gold, silver and copper mining in the pre-Roman and Roman times. The pyritic deposit of São Domingos (St. Dominic) was explored in various historical periods, namely: for several centuries of the first millennium BC (Eastern period), during the period between 14 BC and 395 AD (Roman period), during the Islamic period and during the modern period that was initiated in 1858 for the extraction of copper, gold and silver and was maintained until 1966, the year in which the reserves were considered exhausted. During this period, the work was done in the open air up to 120 meters deep, with work continued through wells and galleries up to 400 meters. Over 108 years of regular exploration, more than 20 million tons of materials were removed from the site, producing about 14.7 million tons of waste accumulated in heaps up to 14 meters high with a dozen different materials such as pyrite , gossan, slag, ash, iron oxides, barren rock, sludge, debris, etc. The areas of heaps, slag and channels of water, give the landscape a “lunar” aspect. The heaps are composed of different materials with high levels of metals, such as slag and ash, whose leaching through the rainwater leads to the production of acid mine drainage, usually with an ocher or reddish color. |
PT: A Lua Cheia nasce por detrás da silhueta da estrutura metalúrgica da Achada do Gamo, que foi desde o início das atividades modernas de mineração na Mina de São Domingos, o centro das atividades metalúrgicas sobre os minérios extraídos. Já durante o século XX, entre as décadas de 30 e 40, uma nova direção de exploração industrial tomou lugar: o enxofre, entretanto muito valorizado, passou a ser extraído das pirites cupríferas através de fornos (processo Orkla) em duas unidades fabris instaladas na Achada do Gamo durante os anos de 1934 e 1943.
A Mina de São Domingos, situa-se no Baixo Alentejo, a cerca de 240 km de Lisboa, no concelho de Mértola, que passou a integrar recentemente a Rota Dark Sky® Alqueva pela grande qualidade do seu céu escuro. A área mineira de São Domingos, está inserida na Faixa Piritosa Ibérica e constitui uma fonte decisiva de metais básicos (Cu, Zn, Pb, Sn, Ag, Au, Fe, Co, Cd, etc.) e de outros elementos como o enxofre (S). Foi desde a Antiguidade um local procurado para a extracção de minérios, existindo indícios de trabalhos de extracção de ouro, prata e cobre no período pré-romano e romano. O depósito pirítico de São Domingos foi explorado em diversos períodos históricos, nomeadamente: durante vários séculos do primeiro milénio a.C. (período Oriental), durante o período que mediou entre o ano 14 a.C. e o ano de 395 d.C. (período romano), durante o período islâmico e durante o período moderno que se iniciou em 1858 para a extracção de cobre, ouro e prata e manteve-se até 1966, ano em que as reservas foram consideradas esgotadas. Neste período, a lavra foi feita a céu aberto até aos 120 metros de profundidade, tendo os trabalhos continuado por meio de poços e galerias até aos 400 metros. Ao longo de 108 anos de exploração regular, foram retirados do local mais de 20 milhões de toneladas de materiais, tendo produzido cerca 14,7 milhões de toneladas de resíduos acumulados em escombreiras de até 14 metros de altura, com uma dezena de materiais diferentes como pirite, gossan, escórias, cinzas, óxidos de ferro, rocha estéril, lamas, entulhos, etc. As áreas de escombreiras, escórias e canais de água, dão à paisagem um aspecto “lunar”. As escombreiras são constituídas por diferentes materiais com teores elevados em metais, como escórias e cinzas, cuja lixiviação através das águas das chuvas leva à produção de águas ácidas (‘acid mine drainage’), geralmente com uma cor ocre ou avermelhada.
A Twilight of a Double Moonrise above Mina de São Domingos
A twilight of a “double” moonrise reflected in a puddle of acid water from Achada do Gamo, that was – since the beginning of modern mining activities in the São Domingos Mine – the center of metallurgical activities on extracted minerals. Already during the 20th century, between the 30s and 40s, a new direction of industrial exploration took place: the sulfur, however much valued, began to be extracted from the copper pyrites through furnaces (Orkla process) in two plants installed in the Achada do Gamo during the years of 1934 and 1943.
São Domingos Mine is located in Baixo Alentejo, about 240 km from Lisbon, in the municipality of Mértola, which recently joined the Dark Sky® Alqueva Route for the great quality of the night sky. The São Domingos mining area is part of the Iberian Pyrite Range and is a decisive source of basic metals (S, Zn, Pb, Sn, Ag, Au, Fe, Co, Cd, etc.) and other elements such as sulfur (S). It has been a sought after place for the extraction of ores since antiquity, with evidence of gold, silver and copper mining in the pre-Roman and Roman times. The pyritic deposit of São Domingos (St. Dominic) was explored in various historical periods, namely: for several centuries of the first millennium BC (Eastern period), during the period between 14 BC and 395 AD (Roman period), during the Islamic period and during the modern period that was initiated in 1858 for the extraction of copper, gold and silver and was maintained until 1966, the year in which the reserves were considered exhausted. During this period, the work was done in the open air up to 120 meters deep, with work continued through wells and galleries up to 400 meters. Over 108 years of regular exploration, more than 20 million tons of materials were removed from the site, producing about 14.7 million tons of waste accumulated in heaps up to 14 meters high with a dozen different materials such as pyrite , gossan, slag, ash, iron oxides, barren rock, sludge, debris, etc. The areas of heaps, slag and channels of water, give the landscape a “lunar” aspect. The heaps are composed of different materials with high levels of metals, such as slag and ash, whose leaching through the rainwater leads to the production of acid mine drainage, usually with an ocher or reddish color.|
PT: Durante o crepúsculo uma “lua dupla” nasce reflectida nas águas ácidas da Achada do Gamo, que foi desde o início das atividades modernas de mineração na Mina de São Domingos, o centro das atividades metalúrgicas sobre os minérios extraídos. Já durante o século XX, entre as décadas de 30 e 40, uma nova direção de exploração industrial tomou lugar: o enxofre, entretanto muito valorizado, passou a ser extraído das pirites cupríferas através de fornos (processo Orkla) em duas unidades fabris instaladas na Achada do Gamo durante os anos de 1934 e 1943.
A Mina de São Domingos, situa-se no Baixo Alentejo, a cerca de 240 km de Lisboa, no concelho de Mértola, que passou a integrar recentemente a Rota Dark Sky® Alqueva pela grande qualidade do seu céu escuro. A área mineira de São Domingos, está inserida na Faixa Piritosa Ibérica e constitui uma fonte decisiva de metais básicos (Cu, Zn, Pb, Sn, Ag, Au, Fe, Co, Cd, etc.) e de outros elementos como o enxofre (S). Foi desde a Antiguidade um local procurado para a extracção de minérios, existindo indícios de trabalhos de extracção de ouro, prata e cobre no período pré-romano e romano. O depósito pirítico de São Domingos foi explorado em diversos períodos históricos, nomeadamente: durante vários séculos do primeiro milénio a.C. (período Oriental), durante o período que mediou entre o ano 14 a.C. e o ano de 395 d.C. (período romano), durante o período islâmico e durante o período moderno que se iniciou em 1858 para a extracção de cobre, ouro e prata e manteve-se até 1966, ano em que as reservas foram consideradas esgotadas. Neste período, a lavra foi feita a céu aberto até aos 120 metros de profundidade, tendo os trabalhos continuado por meio de poços e galerias até aos 400 metros. Ao longo de 108 anos de exploração regular, foram retirados do local mais de 20 milhões de toneladas de materiais, tendo produzido cerca 14,7 milhões de toneladas de resíduos acumulados em escombreiras de até 14 metros de altura, com uma dezena de materiais diferentes como pirite, gossan, escórias, cinzas, óxidos de ferro, rocha estéril, lamas, entulhos, etc. As áreas de escombreiras, escórias e canais de água, dão à paisagem um aspecto “lunar”. As escombreiras são constituídas por diferentes materiais com teores elevados em metais, como escórias e cinzas, cuja lixiviação através das águas das chuvas leva à produção de águas ácidas (‘acid mine drainage’), geralmente com uma cor ocre ou avermelhada.
A Colourful Startrail above São Domingos Mine
In the image above we can see a startrail sequence captured in the region of the sky where appears in the background, the diffuse path of Milky Way, rising above Achada do Gamo, that was – since the beginning of modern mining activities in the São Domingos Mine – the center of metallurgical activities on extracted minerals. Already during the 20th century, between the 30s and 40s, a new direction of industrial exploration took place: the sulfur, however much valued, began to be extracted from the copper pyrites through furnaces (Orkla process) in two plants installed in the Achada do Gamo during the years of 1934 and 1943.
São Domingos Mine is located in Baixo Alentejo, about 240 km from Lisbon, in the municipality of Mértola, which recently joined the Dark Sky® Alqueva Route for the great quality of the night sky. The São Domingos mining area is part of the Iberian Pyrite Range and is a decisive source of basic metals (S, Zn, Pb, Sn, Ag, Au, Fe, Co, Cd, etc.) and other elements such as sulfur (S). It has been a sought after place for the extraction of ores since antiquity, with evidence of gold, silver and copper mining in the pre-Roman and Roman times. The pyritic deposit of São Domingos (St. Dominic) was explored in various historical periods, namely: for several centuries of the first millennium BC (Eastern period), during the period between 14 BC and 395 AD (Roman period), during the Islamic period and during the modern period that was initiated in 1858 for the extraction of copper, gold and silver and was maintained until 1966, the year in which the reserves were considered exhausted. During this period, the work was done in the open air up to 120 meters deep, with work continued through wells and galleries up to 400 meters. Over 108 years of regular exploration, more than 20 million tons of materials were removed from the site, producing about 14.7 million tons of waste accumulated in heaps up to 14 meters high with a dozen different materials such as pyrite , gossan, slag, ash, iron oxides, barren rock, sludge, debris, etc. The areas of heaps, slag and channels of water, give the landscape a “lunar” aspect. The heaps are composed of different materials with high levels of metals, such as slag and ash, whose leaching through the rainwater leads to the production of acid mine drainage, usually with an ocher or reddish color.
PT: Na imagem acima é possível ver um rasto de estrelas na região do céu onde se encontra em pano de fundo a Via Láctea, captada acima da Achada do Gamo, que foi desde o início das atividades modernas de mineração na Mina de São Domingos, o centro das atividades metalúrgicas sobre os minérios extraídos. Já durante o século XX, entre as décadas de 30 e 40, uma nova direção de exploração industrial tomou lugar: o enxofre, entretanto muito valorizado, passou a ser extraído das pirites cupríferas através de fornos (processo Orkla) em duas unidades fabris instaladas na Achada do Gamo durante os anos de 1934 e 1943.
A Mina de São Domingos, situa-se no Baixo Alentejo, a cerca de 240 km de Lisboa, no concelho de Mértola, que passou a integrar recentemente a Rota Dark Sky® Alqueva pela grande qualidade do seu céu escuro. A área mineira de São Domingos, está inserida na Faixa Piritosa Ibérica e constitui uma fonte decisiva de metais básicos (Cu, Zn, Pb, Sn, Ag, Au, Fe, Co, Cd, etc.) e de outros elementos como o enxofre (S). Foi desde a Antiguidade um local procurado para a extracção de minérios, existindo indícios de trabalhos de extracção de ouro, prata e cobre no período pré-romano e romano. O depósito pirítico de São Domingos foi explorado em diversos períodos históricos, nomeadamente: durante vários séculos do primeiro milénio a.C. (período Oriental), durante o período que mediou entre o ano 14 a.C. e o ano de 395 d.C. (período romano), durante o período islâmico e durante o período moderno que se iniciou em 1858 para a extracção de cobre, ouro e prata e manteve-se até 1966, ano em que as reservas foram consideradas esgotadas. Neste período, a lavra foi feita a céu aberto até aos 120 metros de profundidade, tendo os trabalhos continuado por meio de poços e galerias até aos 400 metros. Ao longo de 108 anos de exploração regular, foram retirados do local mais de 20 milhões de toneladas de materiais, tendo produzido cerca 14,7 milhões de toneladas de resíduos acumulados em escombreiras de até 14 metros de altura, com uma dezena de materiais diferentes como pirite, gossan, escórias, cinzas, óxidos de ferro, rocha estéril, lamas, entulhos, etc. As áreas de escombreiras, escórias e canais de água, dão à paisagem um aspecto “lunar”. As escombreiras são constituídas por diferentes materiais com teores elevados em metais, como escórias e cinzas, cuja lixiviação através das águas das chuvas leva à produção de águas ácidas (‘acid mine drainage’), geralmente com uma cor ocre ou avermelhada.
