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.
Milky Way Rising Over Alqueva Lake with a Bright Meteor Visible – Photo and Time Lapse
The still image and time lapse sequence shows the Arch of Milky Way rising above Alqueva Lake, in Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, Portugal. While the dusty core was moving to the south until reach the meredian, a bright and fast meteor was crossing the sky above it, being visible in the upper right corner. In the foreground, the calm water of Alqueva lake works as a perfect mirror, reflecting the brightest colorful stars of the spring sky. Below is possible to enjoy the video with sound on.
PT: A imagem e sequência time lapse mostram a arco da Via Láctea erguendo-se acima do Lago Alqueva, no território Dark Sky® Alqueva, Portugal. Enquanto o núcleo empoeirado da nossa galáxia se movia para o sul em direcção ao merediano celeste, um meteoro brilhante e rápido, cruzou o céu acima deste, sendo visível no canto superior direito da imagem. Em primeiro plano, as águas calmas do Alqueva funcionam como um espelho perfeito, reflectindo as estrelas coloridas mais brilhantes do céu primaveril. Em baixo, é possível desfrutar do vídeo, com som ligado.
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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 Rising above Alqueva in a Panoramic Scene
The image shows the Arch of Milky Way rising during my annual astrophotography workshop held in May. The group of busy photographers are enjoying the wonders of the sky in the Northern Hemisphere while shooting at the same time, in Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, Portugal. Summer Triangle, an asterism composed by the stars Vega (from Lyra constellation), Deneb (from Cygnus), and Altair (from Aquila), are visible relatively low and close to the left center of this panoramic scene. Below Deneb, a bright red emission nebula known as North America, is visible in violet hues, while in the opposite direction of the sky, the core of Milky Way galaxy is featuring many more red emission nebulae coming from deep sky objects like Lagoon, Trifid or Eagle nebula. In the foreground, the calm water of Alqueva lake works as a perfect mirror, reflecting the bright colors of the stars and the dusty center of the galaxy.
PT: A imagem mostra o Arco da Via Láctea enquanto nasce e se torna visível durante o mês de Maio, durante o meu workshop anual de astrofotografia no Alqueva. O grupo de fotógrafos atarefados por entre as luzes das câmaras e dos leds vermelhos, aprecia as maravilhas do céu acima da Reserva Dark Sky® Alqueva. O Triângulo de Verão, um asterismo composto pelas estrelas Vega (da constelação Lyra), Deneb (constelação Cygnus) e Altair (constelação Aquila), é visível relativamente baixo e próximo ao centro esquerdo desta cena panorâmica. Abaixo de Deneb, uma nebulosa de emissão vermelha brilhante conhecida como Nebulosa América do Norte, é visível em tons de violeta, enquanto na direção oposta do céu, o núcleo da Via Láctea revela muitas mais nebulosas de emissão vermelhas provenientes de objetos do céu profundo como a Lagoa, a Trífide ou Nebulosa da Águia. Em primeiro plano, as águas calmas da Grande Lago Alqueva funcionam como um espelho perfeito, reflectindo as cores brilhantes e vibrantes das estrelas e do centro empoeirado da galáxia.
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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.
Wonders of Deep Sky Around the Galactic Center Shining above Alqueva Lake
May is the best month to start enjoying wonderful views of the Milky Way galaxy in the Northern Hemisphere. For being low and close to the horizon, is perfect for a nice framing with landscape. This panoramic shot comprises 8 single images of 1 minute exposure, tracked with the new Polarie U star tracker, taken with a 48mm lens at f2.8. The deep nightscape view captured recently above Dark Sky® Alqueva lake, shows the core of our galaxy full of known deep sky objects, like emission, reflection and dark nebulae, as well as some star clusters. The stars from Sagittarius and Scorpius constellations are shining so bright and colorful. Thanks to a fog filter used in front of the lens, it could help reveal better their colors temperatures. Below, an annotated version highlights all the summer wonders of deep sky that can be spotted in the image, as well as the galactic center.
PT: Maio é o melhor mês para começar a desfrutar das maravilhosas vistas da Via Láctea no Hemisfério Norte. Por se encontrar baixa e próxima ao horizonte, é o momento perfeito para um bom enquadramento com a paisagem. Esta foto panorâmica compreende 8 imagens únicas de 1 minuto de exposição com seguimento sideral, através da nova montagem portátil da Vixen, a Polarie U. As imagens foram captadas com uma lente de 48 mm a f2.8. Esta visão de paisagem noturna profunda, captada recentemente acima do lago Alqueva, no Dark Sky® Alqueva, mostra o núcleo da nossa galáxia repleto de objetos do céu profundo conhecidos, como nebulosas de emissão, reflexão e nebulosas escuras, bem como alguns aglomerados de estrelas. As estrelas das constelações de Sagitário e Escorpião, destacam-se assim graças ao seu brilho intenso e colorido. Para tal, foi usado um fog filter na frente da objectiva, para ajudar a destacar a temperatura de cor de cada estrela. Em baixo, uma versão anotada revela todas as maravilhas do céu mais profundo de verão que se destacam na imagem, bem como o centro galáctico da Via Láctea.
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How to Order – Simple and easy, just “copy and paste” the link of this page or the image you choosed and fill it in the form below, with the size you want and any detail you wish to include on the message, like your country, name and postal address. Free Shipping included to all prints (except frames). For US and Europe the delivery is 4-8 working days, while to Portugal and Spain is normally 2-6 working days. After submitting the order through the form, I will contact you for the payment method (Paypal available or bank transfer) and with other questions related to your print(s) or requests. Once payment is confirmed, your order is shipped within 24h. In case you wish, I can send you separtely with no additional cost, a postcard autographed and numbered of the same image you have just bought, as a seal and proof of art work authenticity from the author. Let me know what is your wish.
Looking Deep Into our Milky Way Galaxy from Ojos Del Salar – All Sky and VR 360º Scene
An all sky view and 360º Virtual Reality scene, features the path of Milky Way with its core shining high in the sky of Atacama Desert. This full dome mosaic comprises 27 still images photographed from Ojos Del Salar, two small lagoons standing close each other forming like a pair of eyes point high up. Located in the middle of nowhere, in Atacama Desert, they can be found almost 30km from San Pedro de Atacama, in the northern part of Chile. The rocky desert of Atacama, sometimes reminds me of the reddish martian soil. On July, in the Southern Hemisphere the core of Milky Way galaxy stands very high in the sky, touching the Zenith this time of the year. The center of the image features the dusty core of the galaxy, with a special guest visible, planet Jupiter is also there, shinning very close to Rho Ophiuchi colorful cloud complex. In the opposite direction, the faint band from Zodiacal light in crossing the entire half of the scene. In this full dome view, the small lagoon is visible in the right side of the celestial sphere, full of reflected stars, stands up in the scene like the shape of a crescent Moon. After the iconic unusual portrait showing what could be a big “Martian Eye” looking deep to our Milky Way Galaxy, published as APOD on April 2020, I decided to create a Virtual Reality 360º image of this same scene, 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.
Milky Way All Sky and VR 360º Night Experience from Death Valley
An all sky view and 360º Virtual Reality scene, features the path of Milky Way with its core shining above the horizon as seen from Death Valley National Park, in California, US. This full dome mosaic comprises 15 still images photographed from Zabriskie Point. The Milky Way was high in the Sky during that time (August) and the air temperature at midnight, was 41 centrigrade degrees. In the top center, a blue bright star Vega, from Lyra constellation, is forming an asterism well known as the “Summer Triangle” with stars Deneb (from Cygnus) and Altair (from Aquila). Close to the horizon, above the Amargosa mountain range, the core of Milky Way galaxy is shinning with its bright dust, and immersed in, are visible many emission nebulae featuring a reddish pink hue. Super giant star Antares, is the yellowish bright light at the right side of the galaxy core, visible among the “Dark River”, a brown dust lane which spans about 100 light years, and visually connects Rho Ophiuchi cloud complex to the center of the galaxy. 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 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.
All Sky and VR 360º View of Milky Way Crossing the Sky Over Picos de Europa
An all sky view and 360º Virtual Reality scene captured in June 2015 during an expedition to Picos de Europa National Park, in Northern Spain, reveals the Milky Way path touching the Zenith. While the ground is surrounded by mountains and a lonely chalet, in the top center of the sky, a bright star is shinning in blue hues. Vega, from Lyra constellation, is forming an asterism well know as the “Summer Triangle” with stars Deneb (from Cygnus) and Altair (from Aquila). At the left side, the core of Milky Way galaxy is well positioned above the horizon featuring the colorful cosmic dust which comprises many deep sky wonders like emission nebulae, dark or reflection nebulae, as well as many globular star clusters. 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 VR glasses.
PT: Uma visão panorâmica all sky e de realidade virtual a 360º, captada em Junho de 2015 durante uma expedição ao Parque Nacional Picos de Europa, no Norte da Espanha, revela o caminho brilhante da Via Láctea tocando o Zénite. Enquanto a paisagem terrestre está cercado por montanhas e um chalet solitário, no centro do céu, uma estrela brilhante reluz em tons de azul. Vega, da constelação Lyra, forma assim um asterismo conhecido como “Triângulo do Verão”, com as estrelas Deneb (de Cygnus) e Altair (de Aquila). No lado esquerdo, a Via Láctea está bem posicionado acima do horizonte, apresentando o colorido pó cósmico que compreende muitas maravilhas do céu profundo, como nebulosas de emissão, nebulosas escuras ou de reflexão, bem como enxames globulares de estrelas longínquas. Em baixo poderá desfrutar da experiência de Realidade Virtual a 360º na máxima resolução usando o seu desktop ou smartphone com giroscópio. 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.
A Stargazer Enjoying the view in a World of Contrasting Realities
This single shot features a stargazer enjoying Andromeda galaxy, possible to se with the naked-eye from the newest territory of Dark Sky® Vale do Tua, in northern part of Portugal – a new certified Starlight Tourist Destination. Being one of the best spots to enjoy archeoastronomy, in the foreground we can see the silhouette from Forca do Freixiel, an ancient gallows from Middle Ages. The monument is believed to be unique in the Iberian Peninsula. It is formed by of 2 vertical granite pillars that supported a horizontal beam – which no longer exists – where was placed the noose. In this type of gallows, the condemned did not die by strangulation due to suspension, but by a garrote, being later on display in the gallows. The image pretends to show the contrasting reality between the morbid meaning from acts of ancient times, with our responsibility of respecting the history but evolving as better human beings while living in such a beautiful planet, we need an effort to keep preserving the beauty of the night sky. In the background, featuring the Andromeda in the middle of the scene, at left side, the orange planet Mars can be seen setting near the mountains while in the opposite direction, is visible the path of winter Milky Way against a starry sky in the presence of smooth greenish airglow.
PT: Num disparo único a imagem mostra um observador de estrelas apreciando a galáxia de Andrómeda, possível de observar a olho nu no Dark Sky® Vale do Tua, no norte de Portugal – é o mais recente destino turístico Starlight certificado. Sendo um dos melhores locais para desfrutar da arqueoastronomia, em primeiro plano, avista-se a silhueta da Forca do Freixiel, uma forca milenar da Idade Média. O monumento é considerado único na Península Ibérica. É formada por 2 pilares verticais de granito que suportavam uma viga horizontal – que já não existe – onde foi colocado o laço. Neste tipo de forca, o condenado não morria por estrangulamento por suspensão, mas por garrote, sendo posteriormente exposto na forca. A imagem pretende mostrar a realidade contrastante entre o sentido mórbido de actos da antiguidade, com a nossa responsabilidade actual em respeitar a história, mas simultaneamente evoluir como seres humanos melhores, enquanto habitantes de um planeta único, precisamos de um esforço e empenho contínuo para preservar a beleza do céu noturno. Em pano de fundo é possível ver a galáxia de Andrómeda no centro do enquadramento e à esquerda, o planeta Marte. Com a sua tonalidade alaranjada, prepara-se para desaparecer por detrás das montanhas, enquanto na direção oposta, é visível o caminho da Via Láctea de inverno contra um céu estrelado na presença de suave de airglow esverdeado.
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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 Lonely Tree and the Mesmerizing Presence of Milky Way as Seen from Atacama Desert
Even in a remote desert we can find beautiful lonely trees like this one, which stands close to the outstanding presence of Milky Way as seen from San Pedro de Atacama, in Chile. This vertical panorama of single 15 sec exposures, shows that in the darkest places on Earth, free from light pollution, the pristine presence of Milky Way can reach a level of brightness enough to project the smooth shadow of the tree on the ground, really impressive to notice! The background horizon where the Milky Way rises behind the lowest tree branch, left edge, is visible the silhouette from one the highest stratovolcanos in the world, Licancabur, located near the border with Bolivia, has 5916 meters.
PT: Mesmo num deserto remoto podemos encontrar belas árvores solitárias como esta, que se destaca diante da presença marcante da Via Láctea vista a partir de San Pedro de Atacama, no Chile. Este panorama vertical de disparos únicos de 15 segundos de exposição, mostra que nos lugares mais escuros da Terra, livres de poluição luminosa, a presença pristina da Via Láctea pode atingir um nível de brilho suficiente para projetar a sombra suave de uma árvore no solo! No horizonte de fundo onde a Via Láctea surge atrás do galho mais baixo da árvore, no limite esquerdo, é visível a silhueta de um dos estratovulcões mais altos do mundo, Licancabur, localizado próximo à fronteira com a Bolívia, tem 5916 metros.
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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, an all sky and 360º Virtual Reality scene, features the arch of Milky Way shining high in the Sky. Summer Triangle highlights the center of the image, with blueish Vega near the top. At the upper half right side – in the beginning of the Milky Way – a bright elliptic and diffuse dot is the light coming from Andromeda Galaxy. The greenish horizon is surrounded and involved in airglow and some thin high clouds. Located at one o´clock shines an orange dot, it’s not a star, but the close planet Mars in opposition. In the opposite horizon of this large circular field – left upper edge of the all sky scene – lies planets Saturn and Jupiter against the dusty core of our Milky Way Galaxy. Below is available a Virtual Reality 360º image, which you can experience in full resolution using your desktop, or smartphone with gyroscope. A great “in loco” experience can be achieved if you wear a VR glasses.
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You can choose the best style of print do you preffer to decorate in a fashion way your walls. Metal Prints with durable and vivid colors, Acrylic, Canvas or the highest quality Gallery Print – a 6 colour UV direct printing on acrylic glass (2mm) including light colours and reinforced by an aluminium dibond plate (3mm). Those type of Prints can highlight the final work in an artistic way, showing the photograph as a piece of art. I work with two high quality specialized Labs in US and in Europe, using Kodak Professional Endura Premier Metallic papers and Fujifilm Crystal Archive DP II Professional. You can select the image above or freely navigate to more than 800 photographs available in my gallery – each one with their own story and magic – and choose the photograph you would love to have in your home or office.
How to Order – Simple and easy, just “copy and paste” the link of this page or the image you choosed and fill it in the form below, with the size you want and any detail you wish to include on the message, like your country, name and postal address. Free Shipping included to all prints (except frames). For US and Europe the delivery is 4-8 working days, while to Portugal and Spain is normally 2-6 working days. After submitting the order through the form, I will contact you for the payment method (Paypal available or bank transfer) and with other questions related to your print(s) or requests. Once payment is confirmed, your order is shipped within 24h. In case you wish, I can send you separtely with no additional cost, a postcard autographed and numbered of the same image you have just bought, as a seal and proof of art work authenticity from the author. Let me know what is your wish.
A Medieval Cosmic Portal With Straight Access to the Summer Triangle
Using some “sci fi” imagination, this vertical mosaic of single images shows what could be the entrance of a cosmic portal, with straight access to the Summer Triangle. The image shows the stairs of Noudar Castle tower, a medieval fortress located between the Múrtega and the Ardila rivers, in Barrancos, most eastern part from Dark Sky® Alqueva territory, Portugal. Its construction was finished in 1307, during the reign of Don Dinis. The place was chosen because of its natural defences, easy access and the closeness of a water spring of excellent quality. This fortress was very important for border defence against the kingdom of Castile during the early 14th Century. Above the tower walls, lies a well known asterism called Summer Triangle and shinning against the magnificent dusty path of our Milky Way galaxy. At centres top, a pink/red emission from North America Nebula (NGC7000) glows near Deneb star (from Cygnus constellation). Below and near the right edge, shines the bluish star Vega, (from Lyra constellation) which is forming a perfect triangle with star Altair (from Aquila constellation), visible very close to the top tower.
PT: Usando um pouco da imaginação “sci fi”, este mosaico vertical de single frames mostra o que poderia ser a entrada de um portal cósmico, com acesso directo ao Triângulo de Verão. A imagem revela a escadaria da torre do Castelo de Noudar, uma construção medieval situada entre os rios Múrtega e Ardila, em Barrancos, na parte nordeste do território Dark Sky® Alqueva, Portugal. A sua construção terminou em 1307, durante o reinado de D. Dinis. O local foi escolhido devido às suas defesas naturais, fácil acesso e proximidade de uma nascente de água de excelente qualidade. Esta fortaleza medieval foi muito importante para a defesa da fronteira contra o reino de Castela no início do século XIV. Acima das muralhas da torre, encontra-se um asterismo conhecido como Triângulo de Verão, brilhando contra a magnífica presença da nossa galáxia, a Via Láctea. No topo central, é visível uma emissão rosa-avermelhada pertencente à Nebulosa da América do Norte (NGC7000) que brilha perto da estrela Deneb (constelação do Cisne). Abaixo e próxima à lateral direita, brilha a estrela azulada Vega, (da constelação Lira) que forma assim um triângulo perfeito com a estrela Altair (da constelação da Águia), visível ao centro e muito perto do topo da torre.
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You can choose the best style of print do you preffer to decorate in a fashion way your walls. Metal Prints with durable and vivid colors, Acrylic, Canvas or the highest quality Gallery Print – a 6 colour UV direct printing on acrylic glass (2mm) including light colours and reinforced by an aluminium dibond plate (3mm). Those type of Prints can highlight the final work in an artistic way, showing the photograph as a piece of art. I work with two high quality specialized Labs in US and in Europe, using Kodak Professional Endura Premier Metallic papers and Fujifilm Crystal Archive DP II Professional. You can select the image above or freely navigate to more than 800 photographs available in my gallery – each one with their own story and magic – and choose the photograph you would love to have in your home or office.
How to Order – Simple and easy, just “copy and paste” the link of this page or the image you choosed and fill it in the form below, with the size you want and any detail you wish to include on the message, like your country, name and postal address. Free Shipping included to all prints (except frames). For US and Europe the delivery is 4-8 working days, while to Portugal and Spain is normally 2-6 working days. After submitting the order through the form, I will contact you for the payment method (Paypal available or bank transfer) and with other questions related to your print(s) or requests. Once payment is confirmed, your order is shipped within 24h. In case you wish, I can send you separtely with no additional cost, a postcard autographed and numbered of the same image you have just bought, as a seal and proof of art work authenticity from the author. Let me know what is your wish.
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.
Pine Trees Touching the Starry Sky of Dark Sky Aldeias do Xisto
The image reveals a summer scene where the path of Milky Way is shinning bright in the background sky. Against it, are visible two high pine trees that seems to touch the starry sky above Pampilhosa da Serra, in the heart of Dark Sky Aldeias do Xisto.
PT: A imagem revela uma cena de verão onde o caminho da Via Láctea brilha no céu de fundo. Contra ele, são visíveis dois pinheiros altos que parecem tocar o céu estrelado sobre a Pampilhosa da Serra, no coração do Destino Starlight recentemente certificado, Dark Sky Aldeias do Xisto.
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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 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.
Summer Triangle Rises above Anta de Zedes Dolmen in Dark Sky® Vale do Tua
The newest territory of Dark Sky® Vale do Tua, in northern part of Portugal, has been certified as Starlight Tourist Destination, being an amazing place to stargaze is also one of the best spots to enjoy archeoastronomy. The image feature a dolmen entitled Anta de Zedes, where in the background is possible to enjoy the Summer Triangle and the path of a rising Milky Way.
PT: Na região mais a norte de Portugal encontramos o Dark Sky® Vale do Tua, recentemente certificado como Destino Turístico Starlight, é um local incrível para observar as estrelas e um dos melhores locais para desfrutar da arqueoastronomia. A imagem mostra em primeiro plano um dolmen intitulado Anta de Zedes, enquanto ao fundo é possível apreciar o Triângulo de Verão a nascer e revelando o caminho brilhante da Via Láctea.
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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.
Stars of Scorpius Rising above Anta de Zedes Dolmen
Captured in the newest territory of Dark Sky® Vale do Tua, in northern part of Portugal – a new certified Starlight Tourist Destination – is one of the best spots to enjoy archeoastronomy. The image feature a dolmen entitled Anta de Zedes, where in the background is possible to enjoy a rising Milky Way while the brightest and colorful stars of scorpius constellation are shining on the right center. To highlight the color temperature I used in front of the lens a fog filter which gives more diffusion on those stars, something that also can naturally happen when we have high thin clouds on the sky or some fog above the horizon.
PT: Captado no Dark Sky® Vale do Tua, o mais recente Destino Turístico Starlight certificado no Norte de Portugal, é um dos melhores locais para desfrutar da arqueoastronomia. A imagem revela um dolmen intitulado Anta de Zedes, onde ao fundo é possível apreciar uma ascensão da Via Láctea enquanto as estrelas mais brilhantes e coloridas da constelação de Escorpião, brilham no centro direito. Para destacar a temperatura de cor das estrelas, foi usado na frente da lente um fog filter que permite aumentar a difusão nessas estrelas, algo que também pode acontecer naturalmente quando temos nuvens altas e finas no céu ou alguma neblina acima do horizonte.
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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, the image features the arch of Milky Way shining high in the Sky. Summer Triangle highlights the center of the image, with blueish Vega in the top. At the left side – in the beginning of the Milky Way – a bright elliptic and diffuse dot is the light coming from Andromeda Galaxy and below, near the greenish horizon involved in airglow and some thin high clouds, shines an orange dot, it’s not a star, but the close planet Mars in opposition. In the opposite direction of this large field of view – right edge of the picture – lies planets Saturn and Jupiter against the dusty core of our Milky Way Galaxy.
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You can choose the best style of print do you preffer to decorate in a fashion way your walls. Metal Prints with durable and vivid colors, Acrylic, Canvas or the highest quality Gallery Print – a 6 colour UV direct printing on acrylic glass (2mm) including light colours and reinforced by an aluminium dibond plate (3mm). Those type of Prints can highlight the final work in an artistic way, showing the photograph as a piece of art. I work with two high quality specialized Labs in US and in Europe, using Kodak Professional Endura Premier Metallic papers and Fujifilm Crystal Archive DP II Professional. You can select the image above or freely navigate to more than 800 photographs available in my gallery – each one with their own story and magic – and choose the photograph you would love to have in your home or office.
How to Order – Simple and easy, just “copy and paste” the link of this page or the image you choosed and fill it in the form below, with the size you want and any detail you wish to include on the message, like your country, name and postal address. Free Shipping included to all prints (except frames). For US and Europe the delivery is 4-8 working days, while to Portugal and Spain is normally 2-6 working days. After submitting the order through the form, I will contact you for the payment method (Paypal available or bank transfer) and with other questions related to your print(s) or requests. Once payment is confirmed, your order is shipped within 24h. In case you wish, I can send you separtely with no additional cost, a postcard autographed and numbered of the same image you have just bought, as a seal and proof of art work authenticity from the author. Let me know what is your wish.
The Meaning of Life – Alone Under the Stars I Find My Inner Self
Alone under the stars….this is where I find time to be with myself while enjoying what I love to do. Under the stars I can relax enough to start listen the inner voice inside…the one we deeply know to have a straight and intimate connection with the higher forces that rules the Universe. It’s under the stars where we can find a clear and peaceful channel free of mind interferences…to let the wisdom of nature grow and shine…from our Hearts, straightaway to our Minds.
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The Mesmerizing Experience of Living Under the Stars
Being under a truly starry sky like Dark Sky® Alqueva is a mesmerizing experience that can change your life forever….such as the way of thinking, or going even further and help you understand what is your purpose in life…your personal mission on Earth as a human being. But which one of us would have the courage to change the comfort of your fixed houses and daily stability, for a life outside under the nature….not fearing all the unexpected adventures that can happen every day and every time ? I confess myself that a motorhome is not exactly my dream or type of life I would choose, but if I had one single opportunity to enjoy at naked eye a magnificent view of the Milky Way like the one I captured on this photo…I would change my mind in a millisecond!! As indeed…our home, is our Galaxy. Below is available a large vertical panorama.
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You can choose the best style of print do you preffer to decorate in a fashion way your walls. Metal Prints with durable and vivid colors, Acrylic, Canvas or the highest quality Gallery Print – a 6 colour UV direct printing on acrylic glass (2mm) including light colours and reinforced by an aluminium dibond plate (3mm). Those type of Prints can highlight the final work in an artistic way, showing the photograph as a piece of art. I work with two high quality specialized Labs in US and in Europe, using Kodak Professional Endura Premier Metallic papers and Fujifilm Crystal Archive DP II Professional. You can select the image above or freely navigate to more than 800 photographs available in my gallery – each one with their own story and magic – and choose the photograph you would love to have in your home or office.
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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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A Bright Perseids Meteor Crossing the Heart of Milky Way Galaxy
Captured from @montimerso Skyscape Country House, in Dark Sky® Alqueva, the image features a bright meteor from Perseids meteor shower which crossed the heart of Milky Way galaxy. Seen in a greenish-orange color, shortly shined above the observatory dome from the rural hotel. Below is a timelapse sequence of the entire scene.
PT: Captada a partir do @montimerso Skyscape Country House, nos céus do Dark Sky® Alqueva, a imagem revela um meteoro brilhante pertencente à chuva de meteoros das Perseidas que cruzou assim o coração da Via Láctea. Visível numa cor laranja-esverdeada, brilhou repentinamente acima da cúpula do observatório que se encontra disponível para os clientes deste hotel rural. Abaixo é possível ver uma sequência timelapse.
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You can choose the best style of print do you preffer to decorate in a fashion way your walls. Metal Prints with durable and vivid colors, Acrylic, Canvas or the highest quality Gallery Print – a 6 colour UV direct printing on acrylic glass (2mm) including light colours and reinforced by an aluminium dibond plate (3mm). Those type of Prints can highlight the final work in an artistic way, showing the photograph as a piece of art. I work with two high quality specialized Labs in US and in Europe, using Kodak Professional Endura Premier Metallic papers and Fujifilm Crystal Archive DP II Professional. You can select the image above or freely navigate to more than 800 photographs available in my gallery – each one with their own story and magic – and choose the photograph you would love to have in your home or office.
How to Order – Simple and easy, just “copy and paste” the link of this page or the image you choosed and fill it in the form below, with the size you want and any detail you wish to include on the message, like your country, name and postal address. Free Shipping included to all prints (except frames). For US and Europe the delivery is 4-8 working days, while to Portugal and Spain is normally 2-6 working days. After submitting the order through the form, I will contact you for the payment method (Paypal available or bank transfer) and with other questions related to your print(s) or requests. Once payment is confirmed, your order is shipped within 24h. In case you wish, I can send you separtely with no additional cost, a postcard autographed and numbered of the same image you have just bought, as a seal and proof of art work authenticity from the author. Let me know what is your wish.
Perseids Meteor Shower Scratching Andromeda Galaxy above Montimerso in Dark Sky® Alqueva
Captured during an event with @darkskyalqueva and @montimerso Skyscape Country House, with a picnic under the stars to enjoy the Perseids meteor shower, the image features a composite of 11 bright meteors which crossed the sky during a two hours sequence of consecutive exposures. Luckily, one of the meteors fired near Andromeda Galaxy, the faint oblong shape seen in the upper right corner. In the middle of these scene feeling like a small sky party, is also visible the faint path of “winter Milky Way” with the Heart and Soul nebula shinning near the Double Cluster of Perseus, not far from the Radiant, the single point in the night sky where all these shooting stars seems to appear.
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Perseids Shooting Stars as Seen from Montimerso Skyscape Countryhouse
Captured during an event with @darkskyalqueva and @montimerso Skyscape Country House, with a picnic under the stars to enjoy Perseids meteor shower, the image features a composite of 2 bright meteors which crossed the sky during just a few minutes. They can appear from anywhere in the sky, but as the Radiant is located in Perseus constellation looking to East or Northeast can give good results.
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How to Order – Simple and easy, just “copy and paste” the link of this page or the image you choosed and fill it in the form below, with the size you want and any detail you wish to include on the message, like your country, name and postal address. Free Shipping included to all prints (except frames). For US and Europe the delivery is 4-8 working days, while to Portugal and Spain is normally 2-6 working days. After submitting the order through the form, I will contact you for the payment method (Paypal available or bank transfer) and with other questions related to your print(s) or requests. Once payment is confirmed, your order is shipped within 24h. In case you wish, I can send you separtely with no additional cost, a postcard autographed and numbered of the same image you have just bought, as a seal and proof of art work authenticity from the author. Let me know what is your wish.
Milky Way Scene above the Official Observatory of Dark Sky® Alqueva in Cumeada Village
The image shows a wide mosaic scene of the Official Dark Sky® Alqueva Observatory as seen from inside to outside. Located in the small village of Cumeada, near Reguengos city, in Alentejo, Portugal, the area comprises a recovered building with some history from an old primary school adapted to receive two roll-off roof observatories equipped with cutting-edge telescopes for visual astronomical observations and for astrophotography purposes. Dark Sky@ Alqueva, was since 2011 the First Starlight Tourism Destination in the World and one of the first to successfully implement and develop the concept known as Astrotourism, being awarded in 2019 with a “Tourism Oscar” from World Travel Awards, as Europe´s Responsible Tourism Award 2019. A dedicated team is permanently making large efforts to change minds, sensitising the problem of light pollution and trying along with authorities to improve the quality of the night sky and life in all forms, to achieve a better street illumination. As result, Cumeada village has only 70 street lights, all of them directly pointing to the ground, using low power and a color temperature of 2700 kelvin. The ideia of Astrotourism, is not to create a total blackout on the villages or cities, but instead is to showing a positive impact on society inspiring the will of travelling for a major purpose. With this measures, is possible to respect the night sky and all the surrounding needs from locals, while enjoying the comfort of modernity such as good restaurants and rural hotels to rest, as well as wonderful night activities which is can be held under a pristine and protected sky, such as stargazing with naked eye or telescopes. This complex mosaic shows in the background the beautiful summer arch of Milky Way galaxy above the village and Observatory, revealing that is possible to clearly distinguish the Milky Way arch in all of its splendour, as well as the street itself, roads and surroundings, meaning that people can feel secure and peaceful at the same time. This procedure had a huge impact in the night sky quality that is constantly monitored with a Sky Quality Meter registering an average measurement of SQM: 21.40 mag/arcsec^2.
PT: A imagem revela uma ampla cena em mosaico do Observatório Oficial Dark Sky® Alqueva, visto de dentro para fora. Localizado na pequena vila de Cumeada, perto da cidade de Reguengos, no Alentejo, Portugal, a área compreende um edifício histórico recuperado de uma antiga escola primária do Estado Novo, adaptado para receber dois observatórios de tecto retráctil equipados com telescópios de ponta para observações astronómicas visuais e para fins de astrofotografia. O Dark Sky @ Alqueva, desde 2011, foi o Primeiro Destino Starlight do Mundo e um dos primeiros a implementar e desenvolver com sucesso o conceito denominado Astroturismo, tendo sido premiado em 2019 com um “Oscar do Turismo” nos aclamados World Travel Awards, como “Europe´s Responsible Tourism Award 2019″. Uma equipa dedicada está permanentemente a fazer grandes esforços para mudar as mentes, sensibilizando o problema da poluição luminosa e tentando junto das autoridades competentes, melhorar a qualidade do céu noturno e da vida em todas as suas formas, para obter assim uma iluminação mais saudável e eficiente das ruas públicas. Como resultado, a vila de Cumeada possui apenas 70 luminárias, todos elas apontando directamente para o solo, usando pouca energia e uma temperatura de cor de 2700 kelvin. A ideia do astroturismo não é criar um blackout total nas aldeias ou cidades, mas sim mostrar um impacto positivo na sociedade, inspirando a vontade de viajar para um objetivo maior. Com estas medidas, é possível respeitar o céu noturno e todas as necessidades dos habitantes locais, enquanto se desfruta do conforto da modernidade, com bons restaurantes e hotéis rurais para descansar, além de actividades noturnas maravilhosas que podem ser realizadas sob um céu pristino e agradável, como observar as estrelas a olho nu ou com telescópios. Este mosaico complexto mostra em pano de fundo o belo arco de verão da Via Láctea acima da vila e do Observatório, revelando que é possível distinguir claramente o arco da Via Láctea em todo o seu esplendor, bem como a própria rua, as estradas e arredores, o que significa que as pessoas podem se sentir seguras e em paz ao mesmo tempo. Este procedimento teve um enorme impacto na qualidade do céu noturno da região da sede, que é constantemente monitorizado com um Medidor da Qualidade do Céu (SQM) registando uma medida média de SQM: 21,45 mag/arcsec^2.
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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 Goat and the Summer Triangle Announces the Arrival of Summer Sky
Captured close to the morning Twilight from Pampilhosa da Serra – in the heart of a new starlight destination created in center of Portugal, called Dark Sky Aldeias do Xisto – the image shows in the foreground a piece of art made by Eduardo Teodoro with the silhouette of a Charnequeira goat, an autochthonous goat breed from the Schist Villages. The real animal has a reddish brown fur with curved horns and has been accompanying locals since immemorial times. As a symbiotic relationship between man, animal and the night environment, the silhouette is featured against a starry sky between the stars of Summer Triangle with Deneb (Cygnus), Vega (Lyra) and Altair (Aquila) shining in the background sky with the path of Milky Way visible above the hills, announcing the arrival of summer sky in the northern hemisphere.
PT: Captada recentemente na Pampilhosa da Serra, no coração de um novo destino Starlight criado no centro de Portugal, chamado Dark Sky Aldeias do Xisto, a imagem revela em primeiro plano uma obra de arte feita por Eduardo Teodoro com a silhueta de uma Cabra Charnequeira, uma raça caprina autóctone das Aldeias do Xisto. O animal real tem uma pelagem castanha avermelhada e cornos inclinados, tendo companhado os habitantes locais desde tempos imemoriais. Como uma relação simbiótica entre homem, animal e o ambiente noturno, a silhueta é apresentada contra um céu estrelado entre as estrelas do triângulo de Verão, com Deneb (constelação do Cisne), Vega (constelação da Lira) e Altair (constelação da Águia) brilhando em pano de fundo contra o caminho da Via Láctea visível acima das colinas, anunciando a chegada do céu de verão ao hemisfério norte.
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How to Order – Simple and easy, just “copy and paste” the link of this page or the image you choosed and fill it in the form below, with the size you want and any detail you wish to include on the message, like your country, name and postal address. Free Shipping included to all prints (except frames). For US and Europe the delivery is 4-8 working days, while to Portugal and Spain is normally 2-6 working days. After submitting the order through the form, I will contact you for the payment method (Paypal available or bank transfer) and with other questions related to your print(s) or requests. Once payment is confirmed, your order is shipped within 24h. In case you wish, I can send you separtely with no additional cost, a postcard autographed and numbered of the same image you have just bought, as a seal and proof of art work authenticity from the author. Let me know what is your wish.
The Divine Creation of Milky Way Direclty Released by God´s Hand
La Mano Del Desierto is a beautiful piece of art made by Chilean sculptor Mario Irarrázabal, of an 11 meters hand that stands above the desert and where the fingers seems to touch the stars. On this particular panorama rotated 90º degrees clockwise, this Milky Way is featured like the most recent divine´s creation, directly released by God´s hand. Small Magellanic cloud is shinning between the fingers in the top left corner. Located at about 70 km south of Antofagasta, the sculpture made of iron and concrete stands alone in the desert at an altitude of 1100 meters above the sea level.
PT: La Mano Del Desierto é uma bela obra de arte feita pelo escultor chileno Mario Irarrázabal, de uma Mão de 11 metros que se destaca acima do deserto e onde os dedos parecem tocar as estrelas. Neste panorama em particular, girado 90º no sentido horário, a Via Láctea é apresentada como a mais recente criação divina, lançada directamente pela mão de Deus. A Pequena Núvem de Magalhães brilha entre os dedos, no canto superior esquerdo da imagem. Localizada a cerca de 70 km a sul de Antofagasta, a escultura feita de ferro e concreto, destaca-se como uma imponente presença solitária no meio do deserto, a uma altitude de 1100 metros acima do nível do mar.
Panoramic Scene of Large and Small Magellanic Clouds Involved in Reddish Airglow above Atacama Mountains
Two single shots comprises this epic panoramic scene captured 75km south of Antofagasta, Chile, showing the magnificent Small and Large Magellanic Clouds (SMC and LMC) involved in a strong presence of reddish ariglow. While both satellite galaxies are setting behind the mountains of Atacama Desert and featured in the same field, very close to the horizon, some interesting details and objects are popping along with it. At left edge, NGC 104 also known as 47 Tucanae, is the second brightest and largest globular cluster shinning in the night sky, after Omega Centauri. Three degrees apart and close to SMC, NGC 362 is another but smaller globular cluster well visible. The Small Magellanic Cloud is a nearby galaxy appearing in the constellation Tucana, and forming a pair with the Large Magellanic Cloud, which is located 20 degrees to the east (right side). Being both members of the Local Group, and among the most distant objects that can be seen with the naked eye, the LMC – seen at the right edge – is the most massive satellite galaxy of our own Milky Way. It was named Magellanic, regarding the 16th century Portuguese navigator Fernão de Magalhães. Tarantula Nebula (NGC 2070), a large H II region in the Large Magellanic Cloud, is also featured on this photo, lying at the eastern end of the LMC’s stellar bar, was shinning in a smooth purple/violet hue.
PT: Duas fotos individuais compõem esta épica cena panorâmica captada 75 km a sul de Antofagasta, no Chile, mostrando a magnífica Pequena e Grande Núvem de Magalhães (SMC e LMC – sigla em Inglês) envolvidas em uma forte presença de airglow vermelho, também conhecido como luminescência fotoquímica da atmosfera. Enquanto as duas galáxias satélites visíveis no mesmo campo de visão se deitam por detrás das montanhas no deserto de Atacama, já próximo do horizonte, alguns detalhes e objetos interessantes se revelam junto com elas. No extremo superior esquerdo, NGC 104, também conhecido como 47 Tucanae, é o segundo aglomerado globular maior e mais brilhante que é possível observar no céu noturno depois de Omega Centauri. A três graus de distância e próximo à SMC, NGC 362, é outro enxame globular menor, mas ainda bem visível. A Pequena Núvem de Magalhães, é uma galáxia próxima localizada na constelação de Tucana e forma um par com a Grande Núvem de Magalhães, localizada a cerca de 20 graus para Este (lado direito). Sendo ambos membros do Grupo Local e entre os objetos mais distantes que podem ser vistos a olho nu. A LMC – lado direito da imagem – é a galáxia satélite mais massiva da nossa Via Láctea. Foi batizada de Magalhães, em referência ao navegador português do século XVI, Fernão de Magalhães. Por fim, o destaque vai para a Nebulosa da Tarântula (NGC 2070), uma grande região H II na Grande Núvem de Magalhães, situada no extremo Este da barra estelar da LMC, brilhando numa tonalidade suave entre o roxo e violeta.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
Two single shots tracked with a Vixen portable mount captured with a Nikon D850 | Sigma Art 105mm at f/1,6 | ISO1600 | Exp. 36 secs.
From a Foggy Twilight into a Starry Night over Picos de Europa
A time lapse scene captured in June 2015 during an expedition to Picos de Europa National Park, in Northern Spain, reveals a short video sequence starting with a foggy twilight and a cloudy night after a thunderstorm, finishing with a starry view with the Milky Way above the mountain range. On the ground is visible a lonely chalet located in the middle of the high mountains. Without electricity, only a few lights are powered by a gasoline generator being switched off after midnight. The movie intends to shows the effect of light pollution even with a few lights, revealing the range of the light glow while scattered with the fog, showing how a pristine sky like that can fade out in a question of seconds, if we will not taking care properly..
PT: Este time lapse captado em Junho de 2015 durante uma expedição ao Parque Nacional Picos de Europa, no norte da Espanha, revela uma sequência vídeo que se inicia com um crepúsculo em torno do nevoeiro e transitando para uma noite de neblina após uma curta tempestade de relâmpagos, terminando assim com uma vista estrelada da Via Láctea acima desta cordilheira espanhola. Na paisagem ímpar, é visível um chalet solitário localizado no meio das montanhas altas e rochosas. Sem eletricidade, apenas algumas luzes são alimentadas por um gerador de gasolina que é todas as noites desligado após a meia-noite. O filme pretende mostrar o efeito da poluição luminosa – que mesmo com pouca iluminação exterior – revela o alcance do glow luminoso reflectido enquanto este se dispersa pelo nevoeiro, mostrando como um céu pristino como este, se pode desvanecer em questão de segundos se não tomarmos as devidas precauções para o proteger.
A Galactic Profile Scene of Our Own Milky Way Galaxy as Seen from the Darkest Skies of Atacama and Alqueva
A wide panoramic view comprising single exposures between 15 and 25 seconds, captured from the southern hemisphere dark skies of Atacama Desert, in Chile, and northern hemisphere dark skies of Alqueva, in Portugal, reveals a galactic profile scene of our own Milky Way galaxy. At a distance of 26,000 light-years from the dusty core, this panorama is covering approximately 239º from edge to edge. With a visible diameter of about 100,000 light-years and 2,000 light-years thick, is the second-largest galaxy in the Local Group. ESA’s Gaia mission, a dedicated project to accurately map the Milky Way in three dimensions, it is giving us new data and the most detailed map of our galactic home ever made from space, and has been refining our knowledge about this incredible spiral cosmic spaceship. On this large view captured from our planet Earth, we can see above the center bulge obscured by interstellar dust, the bright light of planet Jupiter. Beyond that, glowing nebulae, dark dust clouds and crowded starfields are all spread along the fertile galactic plane. While the lower left view of this panorama shows our neighbour spiral galaxy of Andromeda, located at approximately 2.5 million light-years from us – knowing that one day they will probably collide or mixing together – on the upper right side of the Milky Way arm, another apparently bright light belongs not to a star, but to Omega Centauri, the largest globular cluster in the Milky Way, with a diameter of roughly 150 light-years. On the left side of the image, the well know summer triangle is very well visible, being formed by Vega (in Lyra) – the brightest star above the left galaxy arm – and Deneb (in Cygnus), visible close to the eye-catching red emission North America Nebula, while Altair star (from Aquila) is visible below the arm and “towards” the galaxy core.
PT: Uma ampla vista panorâmica com exposições únicas entre 15 e 25 segundos, captadas a partir dos céus escuros do hemisfério sul no deserto de Atacama, no Chile, e a partir dos céus escuros de Alqueva no hemisfério norte, em Portugal, revela um cenário do perfil galáctico da nossa própria galáxia, a Via Láctea. A uma distância de 26.000 anos-luz do núcleo empoeirado, este panorama cobre aproximadamente 239º de ponta a ponta. Com um diâmetro visível de cerca de 100.000 anos-luz e 2.000 anos-luz de espessura, é a segunda maior galáxia do Grupo Local. A missão Gaia da ESA, um projeto dedicado a mapear com precisão a Via Láctea em três dimensões, fornece novos dados e o mapa mais detalhado do nosso lar galáctico já alguma vez feito a partir do espaço, e aprimorando o nosso conhecimento sobre esta incrível nave espacial cósmica espiralada. Nesta visão panorâmica de larga escala, captada a partir do nosso planeta Terra, podemos ver acima do bojo (zona de poeira central) obscurecido pela poeira interestelar, a luz brilhante do planeta Júpiter. Mais além, nebulosas brilhantes, nuvens escuras de poeira e campos estelares ricos, espalham-se pelo fértil plano galáctico. Enquanto a vista inferior esquerda deste panorama mostra a galáxia espiral vizinha de Andrómeda, localizada a aproximadamente 2,5 milhões de anos-luz de nós – sabendo que um dia estas provavelmente colidirão ou se misturarão – no lado superior direito do braço da Via Láctea, outra luz aparentemente brilhante se destaca, não pertencendo a uma estrela, mas sim a Omega Centauri, o maior aglomerado globular da Via Láctea, com um diâmetro de aproximadamente 150 anos-luz de diâmetro. No lado esquerdo da imagem, o conhecido triângulo de verão encontra-se bem destacado, sendo formado por Vega (Lyra) – a estrela mais brilhante acima do braço esquerdo da galáxia – e Deneb (Cygnus), visível próximo da charmosa nebulosa de emissão vermelha América do Norte, enquanto a estrela Altair (Aquila) é visível abaixo do braço e “em direção” ao núcleo da galáxia.
A Close-up of the Galactic Center
Below is a close-up view of the Galactic Center with an annotated version which reveals the main deep sky objects. Read the entire photo article here.
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A lonely tree, the Stratovolcano Licancabur and the Outstanding Presence of Milky Way
Even in a remote desert we can find beautiful lonely trees like this one, which stands close to the outstanding presence of Milky Way as seen from San Pedro de Atacama, in Chile. In the background landscape, near the horizon where the Milky Way rises, is visible one of my favorites stratovolcanos in the world, Licancabur, located near the border with Bolivia, has 5916 meters.
PT: Mesmo num deserto remoto, podemos encontrar belas árvores solitárias, como esta que se destaca à esquerda da notável presença da Via Láctea, vista a partir de San Pedro de Atacama, no Chile! Ao fundo, próximo do horizonte onde nasce a Via Láctea é visível um estratovulcão, o Licancabur, localizado próximo à fronteira com a Bolívia, tem 5916 metros de altura.
An Abstract View of our Home Galaxy as Seen from the Distant Planet Earth
A single frame partially features our home galaxy, the Milky Way, full of bright emission nebulae visible in red/violet hues. Located high in the sky in the Southern Hemisphere, was framed between the branches of some trees from a small village in Atacama Desert, called San Pedro de Atacama, in Chile. Without the beauty of our Milky Way, the darkness of the night would be Scary.
PT: A imagem é o resultado de um disparo único, onde é possível ver uma pequena fracção da nossa galáxia, a Via Láctea, repleta de nebulosas de Our emissão brilhantes visíveis em tons de vermelho / violeta. Localizada bem alto no céu a partir do hemisfério sul, foi captada entre os galhos de algumas árvores de uma pequena vila no deserto do Atacama, chamada San Pedro de Atacama, no Chile. Sem a presenção da Via Láctea, a escuridão da noite, seria assustadora.
Milky Way Shines in a Mountain Scene Over Picos de Europa
A panoramic scene captured in June 2015 during an expedition to Picos de Europa National Park, in Northern Spain, reveals a perfect “half circle” of Milky Way touching the Zenith. While on the ground is visible a lonely chalet located in the middle of the mountains, in the top center of the sky, a bright star is shinning in blue hues. Vega, from Lyra constellation, is forming an asterism well know as the “Summer Triangle” with stars Deneb (from Cygnus) and Altair (from Aquila). At the left side – in the beginning of the Milky Way – an oblong and diffuse shape belongs to Andromeda Galaxy while in the opposite direction of the sky, the core of Milky Way galaxy is well positioned above the horizon featuring the colorful cosmic dust which comprises many deep sky wonders like emission nebulae, dark or reflection nebulae, as well as many globular star clusters.
PT: Uma ampla imagem panorâmica captada em Junho de 2015 durante uma expedição ao Parque Nacional Picos de Europa, no Norte da Espanha, revela um perfeito “semicírculo” da Via Láctea tocando o Zénite. Enquanto na paisagem terrestre é visível um chalet solitário localizado no meio das montanhas, no centro do céu uma estrela brilhante reluz em tons de azul. Vega, da constelação Lyra, forma assim um asterismo conhecido como “Triângulo do Verão”, com as estrelas Deneb (de Cygnus) e Altair (de Aquila). No lado esquerdo – no início da Via Láctea – uma forma oblonga de luz difusa pertence à galáxia de Andrómeda, enquanto na direção oposta do céu, o núcleo da nossa Via Láctea está bem posicionado acima do horizonte, apresentando o colorido pó cósmico que compreende muitas maravilhas do céu profundo, como nebulosas de emissão, nebulosas escuras ou de reflexão, bem como enxames globulares de estrelas longínquas.
A Panoramic Scene Shows a Greenish Aurora Arch Over Kirkjufellsfoss Waterfalls
This panoramic scene features a green aurora arch above Kirkjufellsfoss frozen waterfalls, captured on my trip to Iceland during a surprisingly active night at the end of October 2019. The solar wind stream has sparked beautiful greenish auroras that could be seen over Iceland during a few days. While on the ground we could see the colorful aurora display reflected on the icy water, the background sky revelas on the upper left edge, the shinning presence of our Milky Way Galaxy.
PT: A imagem panorâmica revela um cenário idílico com uma arco de aurora verde intenso brilhando acima da cascata de Kirkjufellsfoss, captada numa viagem à Islândia durante uma noite surpreendentemente activa no final de Outubro de 2019. A corrente de vento solar proporcionou assim um espectáculo de auroras brilhantes que puderam ser vistas sobre a Islândia durante vários dias consecutivos. Enquanto no solo se podem observar as coloridas luzes boreais reflectidas na água calma e gélida, o céu de fundo revela na extremidade superior esquerda, a presença brilhante de nossa galáxia, a Via Láctea.
Winter Milky Way Shines above a Green Field from Serra d´Ossa
A night scene captured from a green landscape field in Serra d´Ossa, Redondo, Dark Sky® Alqueva, shows an arched path of faint light from the winter Milky Way full of deep sky objects visible as a pale diffuse red/violet colors. From left to right, we can find Sirius, the brightest star in the entire celestial sphere and at the right side, the reddish emission coming from Rosette and Orion Nebula, with Lambda Orionis, Barnard´s Loop, Horse Head and M42 visible. In center of the image, Hyades open cluster are close to Pleiades, or the seven sisters, a small group of bright blueish stars. Immediately above Pleiades, we can find California nebula, a red emission nebula like Heart and Soul nebula, located in the end of Milky Way arm, very close to tree on the right. While Andromeda galaxy is setting behind a small tree in the middle of the image, stars from Ursa Major are shinning near the right edge of this panorama.
PT: Um cenário nocturno captado a partir de um campo verde em plena paisagem da Serra d´Ossa, no Redondo, Dark Sky® Alqueva, mostra o caminho arqueado e ténue da Via Láctea invernal, cheia de objectos do céu profundo visíveis com tonalidades difusas vermelho/violeta. Da esquerda para a direita, podemos encontrar Sirius, a estrela mais brilhante em toda a esfera celeste, seguindo-se a emissão avermelhada proveniente da nebulosa da Roseta e de Orion, onde ainda se destacam alguns objectos como Lambda Orionis, Barnard´s Loop, Horse Head e M42. No centro da imagem, o aglomerado aberto de Hyades fica perto das Pleiades, ou as popularmente designadas Sete Irmãs, um pequeno grupo de estrelas jovens e brilhantes de tonalidade azulada por ainda se encontrarem muito quentes. Imediatamente acima das Pleiades, podemos encontrar a nebulosa da Califórnia, uma nebulosa de emissão avermelhada. De características similares, e visível já quase no final do caminho de luz que representa o braço da Via Láctea, encontram-se a nebulosa do Coração e da Alma, quase a tocar no árvore da direita. Enquanto a Galáxia de Andrómeda se põe por detrás de uma pequena árvore no centre da imagemn, as estrelas da Ursa Maior brilham junto à extremidade direita deste panorama.
A Wind Tower Stands High Like the Wings of an Angel Against the Winter Sky
Using the power of wind as one of the many natural free resources available in our rich Planet to create renewable energy in a sustainable way, also reveals a wisdom choice as humankind. This is only one of the ways to help climate changes, and prevent our planet to reach a saturation point of no return, regarding other scarce resources as oil or gas. Captured recently from Pampilhosa da Serra, in the heart of a new starlight destination created in center of Portugal, called Dark Sky Aldeias do Xisto, the image shows Winter sky wonders like Orion surrounded by its red emission of Hydrogen-Alpha, as well as the young blueish star cluster of Pleiades, all of them shining below the huge propeller of this Wind Tower. One of the many available in the mountains of Pampilhosa. Standing high like the wings of an angel, this turbine has stopped suddenly during my shot. Ironically due to facing the strong wind gusts of 110Km/h, a security measure of these sky monsters.
PT: Usar o poder do vento como um dos muitos recursos naturais gratuitos disponíveis no nosso rico Planeta Terra, para criar energia renovável de uma forma sustentável, revela uma escolha sábia por parte do Homem. Essa é apenas uma das muitas formas possíveis de ajudar no processo das alterações climáticas e impedir que nosso Planeta atinja um ponto de saturação sem retorno, em relação a outros recursos escassos, como o petróleo ou gás. Captada recentemente na Pampilhosa da Serra, no coração de um novo destino Starlight criado no centro de Portugal, chamado Dark Sky Aldeias do Xisto, a imagem mostra as maravilhas do céu de inverno com a constelação de Orion envolta na emissão avermelhada proveniente do hidrogénio-alfa, ou o jovem aglomerado de estrelas azuis Pleiades brilhando abaixo da enorme hélice da Torre Eólica. Esta, é apenas uma das muitas Torres disponíveis nas montanhas da Pampilhosa. Quase a tocar o céu, elegante e imponente como se das asas de um anjo se tratasse, esta turbina parou subitamente durante o meu disparo. Ironicamente, devido ao facto de enfrentar as fortes rajadas de vento de 110 km / h, uma medida de segurança destes monstros do céu.
Gengenschein, Airglow and Winter Milky Way above Zêzere River
Captured recently from Pampilhosa da Serra, in the heart of a new starlight destination created in center of Portugal, called Dark Sky Aldeias do Xisto, the image shows the winter arch of our Milky Way galaxy shining above the mountains of Pampilhosa, while in the top left a Gengenschein phenomenon is visible as the faint light behind the Beehive star cluster, located in the antisolar point, is the backscatter of sunlight by the interplanetary dust. In the left edge, bands of reddish airglow are visible above the curved arm of Zêzere river..
PT: Captada recentemente na Pampilhosa da Serra, no coração de um novo destino Starlight criado no centro de Portugal, chamado Dark Sky Aldeias do Xisto, a imagem revela o arco de inverno da nossa galáxia, a Via Láctea, brilhando sobre as montanhas da Pampilhosa, enquanto no canto superior esquerdo é visível o fenómeno Gengenschein. Trata-se de uma emissão de luz muito ténue perceptível atrás do aglomerado de estrelas da Colmeia, localizado no ponto anti-solar, é a retro dispersão da luz solar pela poeira interplanetária. Na margem esquerda, faixas de airglow avermelhado são visíveis acima do braço curvo do rio Zêzere.
A Strong Zodiacal Light and Winter Milky Way Shines above Pampilhosa da Serra
Captured recently from Pampilhosa da Serra at the end of twilight, in the heart of a new starlight destination created in center of Portugal, called Dark Sky Aldeias do Xisto, the image shows the strongest Zodiacal Light I´ve ever photographed – which could be even seen with naked eye – as a very very faint diffuse light coming from the region where planet Venus was located in the western sky. The zodiacal light is a faint light beam that extends along the ecliptic plane, where they are the constellations of the Zodiac. It is caused by the scattering of sunlight in cosmic dust particles that can be found scattered all over the Solar System. Following the faint shape which crossed almost the entire vertical panorama comprising 4 still images, and will end up on the Pleiades blueish star cluster. Above it, a beautiful winter Milky Way was arching and shining near the Zenith, featuring winter deep sky wonders like California nebula (on the top right of Pleiades) or the Heart and Soul reddish nebulosity in the right edge of the image. Below the deep sky pair, an oblong diffuse shape is also visible, belonging to our neighbour Galaxy of Andromeda. On the ground, between the mountain range of Pampilhosa, curving channels from the lake of Santa Luzia dam, are reflecting the strong light of Venus, as well as the less colorful hues from the end of nautical twilight.
PT: Captada recentemente na Pampilhosa da Serra ao final do crepúsculo, no coração de um novo destino Starlight criado no centro de Portugal, chamado Dark Sky Aldeias do Xisto, a imagem mostra a Luz Zodiacal mais forte que já tive oportunidade de fotografar até hoje e que podia ser vista a olho nu, como uma luz difusa muito fraca, proveniente da região ocidental do céu onde o planeta Vénus se encontrava. A luz Zodiacal é um feixe de luz fraca que se estende ao longo do plano da eclíptica, onde estão as constelações do zodíaco. É causada pela dispersão da luz solar nas partículas de poeira cósmica que se podem encontrar espalhadas um pouco por todo o Sistema Solar. Seguindo a emissão ténue que atravessa quase todo o panorama vertical, composto por 4 imagens estáticas, encontramos o aglomerado de estrelas jovens, quentes e azuladas, Pleaides (M45). Acima deste, uma bela Via Láctea de inverno arqueada brilhava perto Zénite, apresentando as maravilhas do céu profundo como a nebulosa da Califórnia (no centro superior, à direita das Pleiades) ou a nebulosidade avermelhada do Coração e da Alma, no extremo direita da imagem. Abaixo deste par de céu profundo, também é visível uma forma difusa oblonga, pertencente à nossa vizinha Galáxia de Andrómeda. Na paisagem, por entre a cordilheira de Pampilhosa, canais em curva pertencentes ao lago da barragem de Santa Luzia, reflectem a forte luz de Vénus, bem como os tons suvamente esbatidos do final do crepúsculo náutico.
A Galactic Arch is Featuring the Summer and Winter Parts of Milky Way above a Dead Tree
A starry night scene captured at the end of Summer season from Natural Park of Noudar, in Dark Sky Alqueva territory, shows a mosaic image of a galactic arch above a dead tree. The arch itself is featuring from left to right, a “Summer Milky Way” which is gradually disappearing in the western horizon due to the time of the year. While in the opposite direction of the arch, in the Eastern sky, the “Winter Milky Way” is start to appearing with Auriga and Taurus constellation shinning bright. While stars from Summer Triangle are getting low – left side of the sky, the blueish star cluster of Pleiades is gradually getting high, as seen on the right side of the image.
A Winter Milky Way above Favàritx Lighthouse in Menorca Island
During my trip to Menorca at the end of November, I managed to capture with clear sky a winter night scene in Favàritx Lighthouse. Recalling that just as stars were important for the first Portuguese and Spanish navigators for orientating and correcting their routes while exploring the seas, so too are lighthouses for the sailors of today. While the lighthouse beams were illuminating all the landscape, a beautiful winter Milky Way was shining above, featuring winter deep sky wonders like California nebula (on the top right) or the bluish star cluster of Pleiades, this one visible with naked eye during the Winter time.
PT: Em uma viagem muito recente à ilha de Menorca, nas Baleares, em Espanha, foi possível registar numa noite de céu limpo de inverno, o céu estrelado que se ergue acima do Farol Favàritx. Enquanto os feixes de luz em permanente rotação iluminavam toda a paisagem envolvente do Farol, a Via Láctea brilhava suavemente exibindo as maravilhas do céu profundo como a nebulosa da Califórnia (no canto superior direito) ou o aglomerado de estrelas azuladas, Pleiades (M45), visiveis a olho nu durante a estação de Inverno.
Without the Beauty of Milky Way, the Night Darkness Would be Scary
A single frame features our home galaxy, the Milky Way, full of bright emission nebulae visible in red/violet hues. Located high in the sky in the Southern Hemisphere, was framed between the branches of some trees from a small village in Atacama Desert, called San Pedro de Atacama, in Chile. Without the beauty of our Milky Way, the darkness of the night would be Scary.
PT: A imagem é o resultado de um disparo único, onde é possível ver a nossa galáxia, a Via Láctea, repleta de nebulosas de emissão brilhantes visíveis em tons de vermelho / violeta. Localizada bem alto no céu a partir do hemisfério sul, foi captada entre os galhos de algumas árvores de uma pequena vila no deserto do Atacama, chamada San Pedro de Atacama, no Chile. Sem a presenção da Via Láctea, a escuridão da noite, seria assustadora.
Eta Carinae Nebula Surrounded by Several Star Clusters Shinning above the Mountains of Atacama Desert
A panorama of 4 single frames captured 75km south of Antofagasta, Chile, shows the magnificent Eta Carinae Nebula the above the mountains of Atacama Desert, surrounded by several blueish open clusters. The brightest one is NGC3532, visible above the Nebula, it contains about 150 stars. The second one, is NGC3114 a sparse open cluster which lies at 2971 light years from our Solar System, visible below the Nebula.
PT: Um panorama de 4 single frames captado 75 km a sul de Antofagasta, no Chile, mostra a magnífica Nebulosa Eta Carinae acima das montanhas do deserto do Atacama, no Chile, rodeada por vários enxames de estrelas abertos de tonalidade azulada. O mais brilhante que se destaca é o NGC3532, visível acima da nebulosa, contém cerca de 150 estrelas. Abaixo desta, destaca-se o NGC3114, um enxame aberto esparso, situado a cerca de 2971 anos-luz do nosso Sistema Solar.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
A panorama of 4 single shots tracked with a Vixen portable mount captured with a Nikon D810a | Sigma Art 105mm at f/2,2 | ISO2500 | Exp. 30 secs.
The Greatness of Solitude with a Mesmerising View of the Milky Way above Atacama Desert
After a long trip by car from Antofagasta to Copiapó, in Chile, we made a short break to rest somewhere in the middle of Atacama desert. While my mate was trying to recover from a long drive of 5h, I decided to skip the rest and go outside to capture a wonderful night scene in a large mosaic made of 19 single shots. The greatness solitude of this scene was really mesmerising, looking into a vast reddish rocky desert where a small red car stands below the astonishing arc of Milky Way, knowing that there´s really nothing separating us – human beings – from the Universe we see outside. Beyond the landscape, the image features the dusty heart of our galaxy full of emission and reflection nebulae, as well as many regions of dark dust and star clusters, while other galaxies are shinning like the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds, visible close to the horizon. The colorful region on the top left, is the Rho Ophiuchi cloud complex, and not faraway, a bright white light belongs to Planet Jupiter. In the opposite direction, on the right top corner, a similar light in brightness is shinning too, although, it´s not a planet or even a single star, being actually the largest globular cluster in the Milky Way, Omega Centauri has approximately 10 million stars.
PT: Após uma longa viagem de carro de Antofagasta para Copiapó, no Chile, fizemos uma pequena pausa para descansar algures no meio do deserto do Atacama. Enquanto a minha companheira tentava descansar um pouco e recuperar de uma longa viagem de 5h, decidi não descansar e sair para o exterior onde um maravilhoso cenário noturna esperava por mim, aqui represetando num mosaico composto por 19 fotografias individuais. A grandeza solitária desta cena foi realmente esmagadora! Um vasto deserto rochoso avermelhado, e um pequeno carro solitário onde acima dele se erguia o surpreendente arco da Via Láctea, sabendo que, não há realmente nada a separar-nos – a nós, seres humanos – do Universo que contemplamos lá fora. Além da paisagem, a imagem apresenta o coração empoeirado de nossa galáxia, cheio de nebulosas de emissão e reflexão, bem como muitas regiões de poeira negra e aglomerados de estrelas, enquanto outras galáxias brilham para além da nossa, como as Núvens de Magalhães visíveis perto do horizonte. A região colorida no canto superior esquerdo é o complexo de Rho Ophiuchi, e não muito longe deste, uma luz branca brilhante pertence ao Planeta Júpiter. Na direção oposta, no canto superior direito, brilha também uma luz semelhante, embora não seja um planeta nem mesmo uma única estrela, sendo na verdade o maior aglomerado globular da Via Láctea, Omega Centauri possui aproximadamente 10 milhões de estrelas.
A Wonderful Southern Milky Way Lies above La Mano del Desierto in Chile
La Mano Del Desierto is a beautiful piece of art made by Chilean sculptor Mario Irarrázabal, of an 11 meters hand that stands above the desert and where the fingers seems to touch the stars. On this particular panorama made of 13 single shots, the whole hand seems to point to Eta Carinae nebula. A little bit to the left, and we can find the Southern Cross, which seems to point to South Pole. While on the left side of the hand, the Small and Large Magellanic clouds are visible immediately above the horizon, in the top left center of the image, is shinning the bright light of the giant planet Jupiter. Not far away, the red supergiant star Antares is also visible in orange hues. The central region of Milky Way is well visible as the faint yellow light on the left side of this starry landscape sceen, captured at about 70 km south of Antofagasta. The sculpture made of iron and concrete stands alone in the desert at an altitude of 1100 meters above the sea level.
PT: La Mano Del Desierto é uma bela obra de arte feita pelo escultor chileno Mario Irarrázabal, de uma Mão de 11 metros que se destaca acima do deserto e onde os dedos parecem tocar as estrelas. Neste panorama composto por 13 imagens, a mão inteira parece apontar para a nebulosa Eta Carinae. Um pouco mais à esquerda, e podemos encontrar o Cruzeiro do Sul, que aparenta apontar em direcção ao Pólo Sul. Enquanto no lado esquerdo da mão a Pequena e Grande Nuvem de Magalhães se encontram visíveis imediatamente acima do horizonte, no centro superior esquerdo da imagem, brilha intensamente a luz do planeta gigante Júpiter. Não muito longe deste, a estrela supergigante vermelha Antares também é visível em tons de laranja. A região central da Via Láctea traduz-se na fraca luz amarela visível no lado esquerdo deste cenário estrelado de paisagem, captado no deserto de Atacama, a cerca de 70 km ao sul de Antofagasta, no Chile. A escultura feita de ferro e concreto, destaca-se como uma imponente presença solitária no meio do deserto, a uma altitude de 1100 metros acima do nível do mar.
A Martian Eye Looks Deep Into our Milky Way Galaxy from Ojos Del Salar
Featured as NASA´s APOD – Astronomy Picture of the Day this unusual portrait is showing what could be a big “Martian Eye” looking deep to our Milky Way Galaxy. Captured originally in landscape format, this mosaic comprises 27 stilll images photographed from Ojos Del Salar, two small lagoons standing close each other forming like a pair of eyes point high up. Located in the middle of nowhere, in Atacama Desert, they can be found almost 30km from San Pedro de Atacama, Chile. The rocky desert of Atacama, sometimes reminds me of the redish martian soil. On July, in the Southern Hemisphere the core of Milky Way galaxy stands very high in the sky, touching the Zenith this time of the year.
PT: Destacado como NASA´s APOD – Astronomy Picture of the Day, este retrato incomum revela o que poderia ser um “grande olho marciano”, a observar profundamente a nossa galáxia, a Via Láctea. Captado originalmente em formato de paisagem, este mosaico compreende 27 imagens estáticas fotografadas a partir dos Ojos Del Salar, duas pequenas lagoas próximas uma da outra, formando como que um par de olhos apontados para o alto, algures em pleno deserto de Atacama, a cerca de 30 km de San Pedro de Atacama, no Chile. O deserto rochoso e avermelhado do Atacama, por vezes relembra-me o solo marciano. Em julho, no Hemisfério Sul, o núcleo da Via Láctea encontra-se muito alto no céu, tocando o Zénite nesta época do ano.
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Colorful Milky Way Shines Above a Lagoon Lost in the Desert
A vertical panorama captured above Ojos Del Salar lagoon, reflects the main stars of the Southern Cross constellation. Above the rocky desert horizon, Eta Carinae nebula is visible in reddish hues while the entire colorful band of light from the Milky Way extends high up to the Zenith. Close to the top stands the core of our galaxy, featuring many more nebulae, dark dust and cluster of stars, a bright light stands out though, belonging to the giant planet Jupiter, is actually located not far away from the orange supergiant star Antares, in Scorpius constellation, near the right edge of the image. Ojos Del Salar, are located at about 30km from San Pedro de Atacama, Chile.
PT: Um panorama vertical captado acima da lagoa Ojos Del Salar, reflete as principais estrelas da constelação do Cruzeiro do Sul. Acima do horizonte rochoso do deserto, a nebulosa Eta Carinae é visível em tons avermelhados, enquanto toda a faixa colorida de luz da Via Láctea se estende até o Zénite. Perto do topo, fica o núcleo da nossa galáxia, com muito mais nebulosas, poeira escura e aglomerado de estrelas. No entanto, uma luz brilhante se destaca, pertencente ao gigante planeta Júpiter, na verdade está localizada não muito longe da estrela supergigante vermelha, Antares, na constelação do Escorpião, perto da borda direita da imagem. Ojos Del Salar, estão localizados a cerca de 30 km de San Pedro de Atacama, Chile.
Mano Del Desierto with a Finger on the Star
La Mano Del Desierto is a beautiful piece of art made by Chilean sculptor Mario Irarrázabal, of an 11 meters hand that stands above the desert and where the fingers seems to touch the stars. On this particular shot the whole hand seems to point to Eta Carinae nebula and above it, we can find the Southern Cross, which points to South Pole (left side of the image). While the hand ring finger seems to touch on Avior star, from Carina constellation, on the left side of the hand, the Small Magellanic cloud is shinning above the horizon. Located at about 70 km south of Antofagasta, the sculpture made of iron and concrete stands alone in the desert at an altitude of 1100 meters above the sea level.
PT: La Mano Del Desierto é uma bela obra de arte feita pelo escultor chileno Mario Irarrázabal, de uma Mão de 11 metros que se destaca acima do deserto e onde os dedos parecem tocar as estrelas. Nesta foto em particular, a mão inteira parece apontar para a nebulosa Eta Carinae e logo acima dela, podemos encontrar o Cruzeiro do Sul, que aponta para o Pólo Sul (lado esquerdo da imagem). Enquanto o dedo anelar da mão parece tocar a estrela Avior, da constelação de Carina, no lado esquerdo da mão a pequena Núvem de Magalhães brilha acima do horizonte. Localizada a cerca de 70 km a sul de Antofagasta, a escultura feita de ferro e concreto, destaca-se como uma imponente presença solitária no meio do deserto, a uma altitude de 1100 metros acima do nível do mar.
A Lonely Tree in the Desert
Even in a remote desert we can find beautiful lonely trees, like this one which stands below the outstanding arch of Milky Way as seen from San Pedro de Atacama, in Chile! At left, below the beginning of Milky Way is visible one of my favorites stratovolcanos in the world, Licancabur, located near the border with Bolivia, has 5916 meters.
PT: Mesmo num deserto remoto, podemos encontrar belas árvores solitárias, como esta que se destaca por debaixo do notável arco da Via Láctea, visto em San Pedro de Atacama, no Chile! À esquerda, abaixo do início da Via Láctea é visível um estratovulcão, o Licancabur, localizado próximo à fronteira com a Bolívia, tem 5916 metros de altura.
Large Magellanic Cloud with Redish Airglow above the Mountains of Atacama Desert
A single shot captured 75km south of Antofagasta, Chile, shows the magnificent Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) above the mountains of Atacama Desert, while the sky was full of a redish airglow bands, also known as atmospheric gravity waves. The LMC is the most massive satellite galaxy of our own Milky Way. It was named Magellanic, regarding the 16th century Portuguese navigator Fernão de Magalhães.
PT: Um single frame captado 75 km a sul de Antofagasta, no Chile, mostra a magnífica Grande Nuvem de Magalhães (LMC) acima das montanhas do deserto de Atacama, enquanto o céu estava cheio de faixas avermelhadas, também conhecidas como ondas gravíticas atmosféricas. A Grande Núvem de Magalhães é a galáxia satélite mais massiva da nossa Via Láctea. Foi batizada de Magalhães, em referência ao navegador português do século XVI, Fernão de Magalhães.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
A single shot tracked with a Vixen portable mount captured with a Nikon D850 | Sigma Art 105mm at f/1,6 | ISO1600 | Exp. 30 secs.
My Dreamy Hut in San Pedro de Atacama
A vertical panorama of single frames features the core of our home galaxy, the Milky Way, full of bright emission nebulae visible in red/violet hues. Located high in the sky at this time of the year in the Southern Hemisphere, was framed above my hotel´s “hut” with a lovely view to an incredible starry sky, between the branches of some trees from a small village in Atacama Desert, called San Pedro de Atacama, in Chile. For those like me that are based in the Northern Hemisphere, a sky like that seems to be inverted, although, the bright light of Jupiter in the top center, helped to recognize the Dark River, dark absorption nebulas that extends from the central band of Milky Way, connecting the Pipe Nebula to the colourful region near bright star Antares, Rho Ophiuchi in Scorpius constellation.
PT: Um panorama vertical revela o núcleo da nossa galáxia, a Via Láctea, cheia de nebulosas de emissão brilhantes visíveis em tons de vermelho / violeta. Localizada bem alto no céu nesta época do ano, no Hemisfério Sul, é visível logo acima da “cabana” do meu hotel, com uma vista incrível por entre os galhos de algumas árvores de uma pequena vila no deserto de Atacama, chamada San Pedro de Atacama, no Chile. Para aqueles que como eu, habitam no Hemisfério Norte, um céu assim parece invertido, embora a luz brilhante de Júpiter no centro superior, tenha ajudado a reconhecer o Dark River, as nebulosas escuras de absorção que se estendem da faixa central de Via Láctea, conectando a Pipe Nebula à região colorida perto da brilhante estrela Antares, conhecida como Rho Ophiuchi, na constelação do Escorpião.
My Milky Starry View from San Pedro de Atacama
A single image features the core of our home galaxy, the Milky Way, full of bright emission nebulae visible in red/violet hues. Located high in the sky at this time of the year in the Southern Hemisphere, was framed above my hotel´s “hut” with a lovely view, between the branches of some trees from a small village in Atacama Desert, called San Pedro de Atacama, in Chile. For those like me that are based in the Northern Hemisphere, a sky like that seems to be inverted, although, the bright light of Jupiter in the top center, helped to recognize the Dark River, dark absorption nebulas that extends from the central band of Milky Way, connecting the Pipe Nebula to the colourful region near bright star Antares, Rho Ophiuchi in Scorpius constellation.
PT: A imagem revela o núcleo da nossa galáxia, a Via Láctea, cheia de nebulosas de emissão brilhantes visíveis em tons de vermelho / violeta. Localizada bem alto no céu nesta época do ano, no Hemisfério Sul, é visível logo acima da “cabana” do meu hotel, com uma vista incrível por entre os galhos de algumas árvores de uma pequena vila no deserto de Atacama, chamada San Pedro de Atacama, no Chile. Para aqueles que como eu, habitam no Hemisfério Norte, um céu assim parece invertido, embora a luz brilhante de Júpiter no centro superior, tenha ajudado a reconhecer o Dark River, as nebulosas escuras de absorção que se estendem da faixa central de Via Láctea, conectando a Pipe Nebula à região colorida perto da brilhante estrela Antares, conhecida como Rho Ophiuchi, na constelação do Escorpião.
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Astrophotography Workshops with Miguel Claro – While Sharing Knowledge, Have Fun and Enjoy a Wonderful Night Sky
Sharing knowledge and learning something we love to do, is one of the best pleasures in the world! Specially, when doing it with a wonderful and kind group of enthusiastic participants, that shares the same passion about the shooting the night sky. The image features a group photo with my students at the end of my workshop of astrophotography, presented in Natural Park of Noudar, in Barrancos, located in the award winning @darkskyalqueva reserve, Portugal. Behind us is standing the core of our galaxy. If you would like to join one of my WORKSHOPS, for groups or as a Private experience, please visit my page Workshops and contact me for more informations.
PT: Partilhar o conhecimento ou aprender algo que gostamos de fazer é um dos melhores prazeres do mundo! Especialmente, se o fizermos com um grupo maravilhoso e simpático de entusiásticos participantes, que partilha dessa mesma paixão e fascínio por fotografar os encantos do céu noturno. A imagem revela uma foto de grupo com meus alunos captada no final do meu workshop anual de astrofotografia, apresentado no Parque de Natureza de Noudar, em Barrancos, localizado na premiada reserva Dark Sky® Alqueva, em Portugal. Atrás de nós está o núcleo da nossa galáxia, a Via Láctea. Se gostaria de participar num dos meus workshops, e aprender tudo sobre a fotografia nocturna e as téncias mais avançadas, seja numa experiência de grupo ou como um workshop Privado one-to-one, visite minha página WORKSHOPS e entre em contato comigo para obter mais informações.
Sharing Knowledge and Learning is One of the Best Pleasures in the World
Sharing knowledge and learning something we love to do, is one of the best pleasures in the world! The image features the silhouette of one of my students @joao_rosario_godinho during a workshop of astrophotography, presented in Campinho village, located in the award winning @darkskyalqueva reserve, Portugal. While he is standing against the background core of our own galaxy, – the Milky Way – a white light that shines in the same direction belongs to a giant planet, Jupiter, which reached the Opposition during June month. If you would like to join one of my WORKSHOPS, for groups or as a Private experience, please visit my page Workshops and contact me for more informations.
PT: Partilhar o conhecimento ou aprender algo que gostamos de fazer é um dos melhores prazeres do mundo! A imagem revela a silhueta de um dos meus alunos @joao_rosario_godinho durante um workshop de astrofotografia na vila de Campinho, localizada na premiada reserva @darkskyalqueva, em Portugal. Enquanto o João prepara a sua câmara – num contra-luz provocado pelo brilho da Via Láctea – é visível uma luz branca que se destaca contra o coração galáctico. Essa luz pertence a um gigante gasoso, o Magnífico Júpiter, que no passado mês de Junho atingiu a Oposição, altura mais favorável para o fotografar e observar. Se gostaria de participar num dos meus workshops, e aprender tudo sobre a fotografia nocturna e as téncias mais avançadas, seja numa experiência de grupo ou como um workshop Privado one-to-one, visite minha página WORKSHOPS e entre em contato comigo para obter mais informações.
Milky Way Shines Above a Brand New Starlight Destination – Dark Sky Aldeias de Xisto
A brand new starlight destination has just born in center of Portugal. Dark Sky Schist Villages (Dark Sky Aldeias do Xisto) is now a Starlight Tourist Destination and has joined Dark Sky® Alqueva, the first Starlight Tourist Destination in the world, being awarded in 2019 with a “Tourism Oscar” from World Travel Awards, as Europe´s Responsible Tourism Award 2019. With the Heart located in the municipality of Pampilhosa da Serra, the region has natural conditions to promote the contemplation of the firmament that stands before our eyes, in a deep sea dotted with stars, galaxies, planets and distant nebulae, which it translates into more than a pleasant visual experience, scientific or poetic, because it refers us to our imaginary from the child…to that magical place where all dreams are possible to attain and the genuine purity of simplicity, recognizes in the starry sky an intangible heritage without limits or borders of any creed, politics or religion. Through the silence of the night, natural moments of inner reflection make us more easily aware of the greatness of the universe around us, and the importance of taking care of our own planet Earth.
The image reveals a lovely summer scene where the arch of Milky Way is shinning bright above Pampilhosa da Serra, in the heart of Dark Sky Aldeias de Xisto. High in the sky, we can see Vega, from Lyra constellation, forming an asterism well know as the “Summer Triangle” with stars Deneb (from Cygnus) and Altair (from Aquila) located in the center of the photo. Below Deneb, a bright red emission nebula known as North America, is visible in violet hues, while in the opposite direction of the sky, the core of Milky Way galaxy is featuring many more red emission nebulae coming from deep sky objects like Lagoon, Trifid or Eagle nebula. Above Sagittarius constellation and against the galactic dusty center, Jupiter is shinning bright as a white light not farway from horizon. On the ground, a road is conducting our vision up to the infinite, while a few degrees to the left and above the horizon, another neighbour galaxy known as Andromeda, is timidly shinning as a difuse oblong shape.
PT: Um novo destino de estrelas acaba de nascer no centro de Portugal. Dark Sky Aldeias do Xisto são agora Destino Turístico Starlight e juntaram-se ao Dark Sky® Alqueva, o primeiro do mundo a receber esta mesma certificação, e galardoado recentemente com um “Oscar do Turismo” nos World Travel Awards, como Europe´s Responsible Tourism Award 2019. Com o Coração localizado no concelho de Pampilhosa da Serra, a região tem condições naturais para promover a contemplação do firmamento que se ergue diante dos nossos olhos, num mar profundo salpicado de estrelas, galáxias, planetas e nebulosas distantes, que se traduz em muito mais que uma agradável experiência visual, científica ou poética, pois remete-nos para o nosso imaginário de criança….aquele lugar mágico onde todos os sonhos são possíveis de alcançar e a pureza genuína da simplicidade, reconhece no céu estrelado um património imaterial sem limites ou fronteiras de qualquer credo, política ou religião. Através do silêncio da noite, naturais momentos de reflexão interior nos tornam mais facilmente conscientes da grandeza do universo que nos rodeia e da importância de cuidarmos do nosso próprio planeta.
A imagem revela um cenário de verão encantador onde o brilho da Via Láctea se ergue acima da Pampilhosa da Serra, no coração do Dark Sky Aldeias de Xisto. No alto do céu, podemos ver Vega, da constelação de Lyra, formando um asterismo bem conhecido como o “Triângulo de Verão”, com as estrelas Deneb (do Cisne) e Altair (da Águia) localizadas no centro da foto. Abaixo de Deneb, uma nebulosa de emissão vermelha brilhante conhecida como América do Norte, é visível em tons violetas, enquanto na direção oposta do céu, o núcleo da Via Láctea apresenta muitas nebulosas de emissão vermelha, proveniente de objetos do céu profundo como a Lagoa, Trífida, ou a nebulosa da Águia. Acima da constelação de Sagitário e contra o centro poeirento galáctico, Júpiter brilha como uma luz branca não distante do horizonte. Na paisagem, uma estrada conduz a nossa visão até o infinito, enquanto alguns graus à esquerda e acima do horizonte, outra galáxia vizinha conhecida como Andrómeda, está timidamente brilhando como uma forma difusa e oblonga.
Learning How to Photograph the Night Wonders of the Summer Sky
The image shows the Arch of Milky Way while a group of photographers and stargazers are enjoying the wonders of the summer sky in the Northern Hemisphere, Campinho, in Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve. High in the sky, we can see a “blue bright” star with an apparent magnitude of 0,0 called Vega, serving as a middle reference in the magnitude system chart created for the first time in 150 B.C.E, by the greek astronomer Hipparchus. Vega, from Lyra constellation, is forming an asterism well know as the “Summer Triangle” with stars Deneb (from Cygnus) and Altair (from Aquila) located in the center of the image. Below Deneb, a bright red emission nebula known as North America, is visible in violet hues, while in the opposite direction of the sky, the core of Milky Way galaxy is featuring many more red emission nebulae coming from deep sky objects like Lagoon, Trifid or Eagle nebula. Above Sagittarius constellation and against the galactic dusty center, Jupiter is shinning bright as a white light. Following the same line we can find the red supergiant star Antares, from Scorpius constellations. Above the horizon in the right center, is shinning the Lord of the Rings, planet Saturn. Located in Portugal, Dark Sky® Alqueva reserve was the First Starlight Tourism Destination in the World, being awarded in 2019 with a “Tourism Oscar” from World Travel Awards, as Europe´s Responsible Tourism Award 2019.
PT: A imagem mostra o Arco da Via Láctea enquanto um grupo de fotógrafos e observadores de estrelas aprecia as maravilhas do céu de verão no Hemisfério Norte, a partir do Campinho, na reserva Dark Sky® Alqueva. No alto do céu, é possível ver uma estrela azulada e brilhante com uma magnitude aparente de 0.0, de nome Vega. Serve como uma referência intermédia na tabela do sistema de magnitudes criado pela primeira vez no ano 150 A.C, pelo astrónomo grego Hiparco. Vega, da constelação de Lyra, forma um asterismo conhecido como o “Triângulo de Verão” com as estrelas Deneb (Cisne) e Altair (da Águia), localizadas no centro da imagem. Abaixo de Deneb, uma nebulosa de emissão vermelha brilhante conhecida como nebulosa North America, é visível em tons violeta, enquanto na direção oposta do céu, o núcleo da Via Láctea apresenta muitas nebulosas de emissão vermelha, provenientes de objetos do céu profundo como as nebulosas da Lagoa, Trifid ou a nebulosa da Águia. Acima da constelação de Sagitário e contra o centro galáctico de poeira cósmica, Júpiter brilha intensamente como uma luz branca. Seguindo a mesma linha, podemos encontrar a estrela supergigante vermelha Antares, da constelação do Escorpião. Acima do horizonte no centro direito, podemos encontrar o apelidado “Senhor dos Anéis”, o planeta Saturno. Localizada em Portugal, a reserva Dark Sky® Alqueva foi o primeiro destino do mundo, a receber a certificação da Fundação Starlight, tendo sido premiado em 2019 com um “Oscar do Turismo” nos World Travel Awards, como Europe´s Responsible Tourism Award 2019.
Our Time Machine at the New Official Dark Sky® Alqueva Observatory in Cumeada
The official Dark Sky® Alqueva Observatory and headquarters, located in Cumeada – a small village near Reguengos de Monsaraz – is equipped with cutting-edge telescopes for solar and astronomical purposes. With a totally new design after being re-built and expanded in 2019, a roll-off roof observatory shows an open window to the Universe, providing a one life experience under the stars that you can´t skip! If you didn´t try it yet, you must include it as a priority on your bucket list. From observing the planets up to looking at the craters on the moon, everything is possible under an unpolluted sky with the guidance of a professional astronomer from Dark Sky® Alqueva. On moonless nights, you can dive deeper in the sky with your own eyes, embarking on a cosmic journey among nebulae, galaxies and the swarms of stars which rise above us in one of the finest skies in the world.
PT: O Observatório e Sede Oficial Dark Sky® Alqueva, localizado na Cumeada – uma pequena aldeia perto de Reguengos de Monsaraz – está equipado com telescópios de ponta para fins solares e astronómicos. Com um design totalmente novo, depois de ter sido reconstruído e expandido em 2019, um observatório de tecto retráctil mostra uma janela aberta para o Universo, proporcionando “a experiência de uma vida” sob um céu estrelado, algo que você não devia perder! Se ainda não tentou, inclua já esta experiência única como uma prioridade a realizar na sua “bucket list”. Desde observar os planetas até olhar as crateras na Lua, tudo é possível sob um céu não poluído, com a orientação de um astrónomo profissional do Dark Sky® Alqueva. Nas noites sem lua, você pode mergulhar mais fundo no céu com seus próprios olhos, embarcando em uma jornada cósmica entre nebulosas, galáxias e enxames de estrelas que se erguem acima de nós, num dos melhores céus do mundo.
Chasing Milky Way from Inside the New Official Dark Sky® Alqueva Observatory in Cumeada
The official Dark Sky® Alqueva Observatory and headquarters, located in Cumeada – a small village near Reguengos de Monsaraz – is equipped with cutting-edge telescopes for solar and astronomical purposes. With a totally new design after being re-built and expanded in 2019, a roll-off roof observatory shows an open window to the Universe, providing a one life experience under the stars that you can´t skip! If you didn´t try it yet, you must include it as a priority on your bucket list. From observing the planets up to looking at the craters on the moon, everything is possible under an unpolluted sky with the guidance of a professional astronomer from Dark Sky® Alqueva. On moonless nights, you can dive deeper in the sky with your own eyes, embarking on a cosmic journey among nebulae, galaxies and the swarms of stars which rise above us in one of the finest skies in the world.
PT: O Observatório e Sede Oficial Dark Sky® Alqueva, localizado na Cumeada – uma pequena aldeia perto de Reguengos de Monsaraz – está equipado com telescópios de ponta para fins solares e astronómicos. Com um design totalmente novo, depois de ter sido reconstruído e expandido em 2019, um observatório de tecto retráctil mostra uma janela aberta para o Universo, proporcionando “a experiência de uma vida” sob um céu estrelado, algo que você não devia perder! Se ainda não tentou, inclua já esta experiência única como uma prioridade a realizar na sua “bucket list”. Desde observar os planetas até olhar as crateras na Lua, tudo é possível sob um céu não poluído, com a orientação de um astrónomo profissional do Dark Sky® Alqueva. Nas noites sem lua, você pode mergulhar mais fundo no céu com seus próprios olhos, embarcando em uma jornada cósmica entre nebulosas, galáxias e enxames de estrelas que se erguem acima de nós, num dos melhores céus do mundo.
Full Dome View from the Official Dark Sky® Alqueva Observatory in Cumeada
The official Dark Sky® Alqueva Observatory and headquarters, located in Cumeada – a small village near Reguengos de Monsaraz – is equipped with cutting-edge telescopes for solar and astronomical purposes. With a totally new design after being re-built and expanded in 2019, a roll-off roof observatory shows an open window to the Universe, providing a one life experience under the stars that you can´t skip! If you didn´t try it yet, you must include it as a priority on your bucket list. From observing the planets up to looking at the craters on the moon, everything is possible under an unpolluted sky with the guidance of a professional astronomer from Dark Sky® Alqueva. On moonless nights, you can dive deeper in the sky with your own eyes, embarking on a cosmic journey among nebulae, galaxies and the swarms of stars which rise above us in one of the finest skies in the world. The image features a single shot captured with a full dome fish-eye lens.
PT: O Observatório e Sede Oficial Dark Sky® Alqueva, localizado na Cumeada – uma pequena aldeia perto de Reguengos de Monsaraz – está equipado com telescópios de ponta para fins solares e astronómicos. Com um design totalmente novo, depois de ter sido reconstruído e expandido em 2019, um observatório de tecto retráctil mostra uma janela aberta para o Universo, proporcionando “a experiência de uma vida” sob um céu estrelado, algo que você não devia perder! Se ainda não tentou, inclua já esta experiência única como uma prioridade a realizar na sua “bucket list”. Desde observar os planetas até olhar as crateras na Lua, tudo é possível sob um céu não poluído, com a orientação de um astrónomo profissional do Dark Sky® Alqueva. Nas noites sem lua, você pode mergulhar mais fundo no céu com seus próprios olhos, embarcando em uma jornada cósmica entre nebulosas, galáxias e enxames de estrelas que se erguem acima de nós, num dos melhores céus do mundo. A imagem revela uma visão full dome captada com uma lente fish-eye.
Our Cosmic Temple – Official Dark Sky® Alqueva Observatory in Cumeada
The official Dark Sky® Alqueva Observatory and headquarters, located in Cumeada – a small village near Reguengos de Monsaraz – is equipped with cutting-edge telescopes for solar and astronomical purposes. With a totally new design after being re-built and expanded in 2019, a roll-off roof observatory shows an open window to the Universe, providing a one life experience under the stars that you can´t skip! If you didn´t try it yet, you must include it as a priority on your bucket list. From observing the planets up to looking at the craters on the moon, everything is possible under an unpolluted sky with the guidance of a professional astronomer from Dark Sky® Alqueva. On moonless nights, you can dive deeper in the sky with your own eyes, embarking on a cosmic journey among nebulae, galaxies and the swarms of stars which rise above us in one of the finest skies in the world.
PT: O Observatório e Sede Oficial Dark Sky® Alqueva, localizado na Cumeada – uma pequena aldeia perto de Reguengos de Monsaraz – está equipado com telescópios de ponta para fins solares e astronómicos. Com um design totalmente novo, depois de ter sido reconstruído e expandido em 2019, um observatório de tecto retráctil mostra uma janela aberta para o Universo, proporcionando “a experiência de uma vida” sob um céu estrelado, algo que você não devia perder! Se ainda não tentou, inclua já esta experiência única como uma prioridade a realizar na sua “bucket list”. Desde observar os planetas até olhar as crateras na Lua, tudo é possível sob um céu não poluído, com a orientação de um astrónomo profissional do Dark Sky® Alqueva. Nas noites sem lua, você pode mergulhar mais fundo no céu com seus próprios olhos, embarcando em uma jornada cósmica entre nebulosas, galáxias e enxames de estrelas que se erguem acima de nós, num dos melhores céus do mundo.
Official Dark Sky® Alqueva Observatory in Cumeada Has a New Design in 2019
The official Dark Sky® Alqueva Observatory and headquarters, located in Cumeada – a small village near Reguengos de Monsaraz – is equipped with cutting-edge telescopes for solar and astronomical purposes. With a totally new design after being re-built and expanded in 2019, a roll-off roof observatory shows an open window to the Universe, providing a one life experience under the stars that you can´t skip! If you didn´t try it yet, you must include it as a priority on your bucket list. From observing the planets up to looking at the craters on the moon, everything is possible under an unpolluted sky with the guidance of a professional astronomer from Dark Sky® Alqueva. On moonless nights, you can dive deeper in the sky with your own eyes, embarking on a cosmic journey among nebulae, galaxies and the swarms of stars which rise above us in one of the finest skies in the world.
PT: O Observatório e Sede Oficial Dark Sky® Alqueva, localizado na Cumeada – uma pequena aldeia perto de Reguengos de Monsaraz – está equipado com telescópios de ponta para fins solares e astronómicos. Com um design totalmente novo, depois de ter sido reconstruído e expandido em 2019, um observatório de tecto retráctil mostra uma janela aberta para o Universo, proporcionando “a experiência de uma vida” sob um céu estrelado, algo que você não devia perder! Se ainda não tentou, inclua já esta experiência única como uma prioridade a realizar na sua “bucket list”. Desde observar os planetas até olhar as crateras na Lua, tudo é possível sob um céu não poluído, com a orientação de um astrónomo profissional do Dark Sky® Alqueva. Nas noites sem lua, você pode mergulhar mais fundo no céu com seus próprios olhos, embarcando em uma jornada cósmica entre nebulosas, galáxias e enxames de estrelas que se erguem acima de nós, num dos melhores céus do mundo.
A Spring Milky Way Rises in the Morning Twilight above Castro de Palheiros
The image reveals a panoramic scene of a Spring Milky Way rising in the morning twilight, above Castro de Palheiros, or Fragada of Castro. Located in the Natural Park of Tua Valley, near Mirandela, “is an imposing quartzite ridge that was being carved and built by the people of Murça region, between the beginning of the third millennium BC up to the present”, according to the Interpretative Center of this region. In the background, Vega star from Lyra constellation is visible in the left side of the image, above Cygnus constellation, while in the opposite direction, the supergiant star Antares, from Scorpius constelllation, is shinning in orange.
PT: A imagem revela uma cena panorâmica de uma Via Láctea primaveril a nascer ao crepúsculo matinal, acima de Castro de Palheiros ou Fragada de Castro. Localizada no Parque Natural do Vale do Tua, perto de Mirandela, “é uma imponente crista quartzítica que foi sendo esculpida e construída pelas populações da região de Murça, entre o início do terceiro milénio antes de Cristo até ao presente, segundo o Centro Interpretativo da região. Em pano de fundo, a estrela Vega da constelação Lyra é visível no lado esquerdo da imagem, acima da constelação do Cisne, enquanto na direção oposta, a estrela supergigante Antares, da constelação do Escorpião, brilha numa tonalidade alaranjada.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
A panorama captured with a Nikon D810a | 26mm at f/2,8 | ISO4000 | Exp. 15 secs.
Spica and Arcturus are Shinning in a Starry Sky over Tua Valley
Located between Pombal de Ansiães and the place of S. Lourenço, this belvedere, allow us to enjoy a privileged night scene over the Tua Valley, a magnificent landscape marked by a nice cut of the mountains spread with vineyards, olive trees and cork oaks. Elegant curved lines drawn by Tua River are reflecting the faint light that remains visible from the abandoned old village of São Lourenço. Above the horizon, stars from the small constellation of Corvus are visible, while above them, the bright blue star Spica is shinning in Virgo constellation. In the top center, Arcturus from Bootes, is the brightest star visible on the image. Further to the right edge, we can find the open cluster “Melotte 111” in Coma Berenices.
PT: Localizado entre Pombal de Ansiães e o lugar de S. Lourenço, este miradouro, permite-nos desfrutar de uma noite privilegiada sobre o Vale do Tua, uma magnífica paisagem marcada por montanhas repletas de vinhas, oliveiras e sobreiros. Linhas curvas elegantes desenhadas pelo Rio Tua refletem a luz fraca que permanece visível da antiga vila abandonada de São Lourenço. Acima do horizonte, são visíveis as estrelas da pequena constelação Corvus, enquanto acima dela, a brilhante estrela azul Spica destaca-se na constelação da Virgem. Na parte superior central, Arcturus da constelação Bootes, é a estrela mais brilhante visível na imagem. Seguindo para a extremidade direita da imagem, podemos encontrar o enxame aberto “Melotte 111” em Coma Berenices.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
A vertical panorama captured with a Nikon D810a | 24mm at f/2,8 | ISO3200 | Exp. 20 secs.
Colorful Vertical Panorama from Mitpze Ramon in Negev Desert
Captured from inside of Ramon Crater or “Makhtesh Ramon” in Israel’s Negev Desert, is the world’s largest “erosion cirque” – a landform which are only found in the Negev and its extension into Egypt’s Sinai desert created 220 million years ago when oceans covered the area. Located in the southern of Israel, Negev is a rocky desert with clay hills known for their fantastic red and yellowish colors, and cover more than half of the country. Nomadic life in the Negev dates back at least 4,000 years, and perhaps as much as 7,000 years according to some books, featuring a number of small Bedouin cities. This wide vertical panorama is featuring on the top an arched path of faint light from the winter Milky Way full of deep sky objects visible as a diffuse red/violet colors. In upper left corner we can find the Pleiades, a small group of bright blueish stars, also known as the seven sisters while below is visible the California Nebula. Orion Nebula and Rosette Nebula is also featuring on the center top edge, while further down to the right (below the Milky Way) the Beehive Cluster is shinning in a faint blue hue. On the ground, a path of light from a passing car light up the scene, resembling us the speed of light, the fastest thing we already know that can exist – at least until now – in our Universe. Above the horizon and the driest landscape of Isarel, lies the well known asterism of Ursa Major (Big Dipper), probably the easiest constellation recognisable in night time.
Biliblically and according to the Book of Genesis chapter 13, Abraham lived for a while in the Negev desert after being banished from Egypt. During the Exodus journey to the promised land, Moses sent twelve scouts into the Negev to assess the land and population. Later the northern part of biblical Negev was inhabited by the Tribe of Judah and the southern part of biblical Negev by the Tribe of Simeon. The Negev was later part of the Kingdom of Solomon (in its entirety, all the way to the Red Sea), and then, with varied extension to the south, part of the Kingdom of Judah. Source from wikipedia.
PT: Captada a partir da Cratera Ramon ou “Makhtesh Ramon” no Deserto de Negev, é o maior “cirque de erosão” do mundo – uma forma que só é encontrada no Negev e na sua extensão até ao deserto do Sinai, no Egipto – criado há 220 milhões de anos atrás. Localizado no sul de Israel, o Negev é um deserto rochoso com colinas de argila conhecidas por suas fantásticas cores vermelhas e amareladas, e cobre mais da metade do país. A vida nómade no Negev remonta pelo menos a 4.000 anos atrás, e talvez até 7.000 anos, de acordo com alguns livros, apresentando uma série de pequenas cidades beduínas. Este amplo panorama vertical apresenta no topo o caminho arqueado de luz fraca proveniente da Via Láctea de inverno, repleta de objetos do céu profundo, visíveis como um vermelho/violeta difuso. No canto superior esquerdo podemos encontrar as Pleiades, um pequeno grupo de estrelas azuladas brilhantes, também conhecidas como as Sete Irmãs, enquanto abaixo é visível a Nebulosa da Califórnia. A Nebulosa de Orion e a Nebulosa Roseta também são visíveis na extremo superior central da imagem, enquanto mais abaixo à direita (depois da Via Láctea), o aglomerado de Colmeia brilha em um tom azul fraco. No solo, um rasto de luz descrito por um carro iluminou toda a cena, relembrando-nos da velocidade da luz, a referência mais rápida que concebemos existir – pelo menos até hoje – no nosso Universo em evolução. Acima do horizonte e da paisagem mais seca de Isarel, encontra-se o bem conhecido asterismo da Ursa Maior, provavelmente a constelação mais fácil de reconhecer no céu nocturno.
Biblicamente e de acordo com o capítulo 13 do Livro de Gênesis, Abraão viveu por um tempo no deserto de Negev após ser banido do Egipto. Durante a viagem do Êxodo à terra prometida, Moisés enviou doze exploradores ao Negev para avaliar a terra e a população. Mais tarde, a parte norte do Negev bíblico foi habitada pela Tribo de Judá e a parte sul do Negev bíblico, pela Tribo de Simeão. O Negev foi mais tarde parte do Reino de Salomão (na sua totalidade, todo o caminho para o Mar Vermelho), e depois, com extensão variada para o sul, parte do Reino de Judá. Fonte da wikipedia.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
A vertical panorama of 4 single frames with a Nikon D810a | 14mm at f/2,8 | ISO2500 | Exp. 25 secs.
A Natural View of the Night Sky from Ramon Crater in Negev Desert
Captured from inside of Ramon Crater or “Makhtesh Ramon” in Israel’s Negev Desert, is the world’s largest “erosion cirque” – a landform which are only found in the Negev and its extension into Egypt’s Sinai desert created 220 million years ago when oceans covered the area. Located in the southern of Israel, Negev is a rocky desert with clay hills known for their fantastic red and yellowish colors, and cover more than half of the country. Nomadic life in the Negev dates back at least 4,000 years, and perhaps as much as 7,000 years according to some books, featuring a number of small Bedouin cities. The image is showing a less saturated sky comparing to what our cameras can capture in order to show a more natural appearance of what our eyes can perceive during a dark night from that particular location. Featuring an arched path of faint light from the winter Milky Way, at left, we can find Sirius, the brightest star in the entire celestial sphere, and next to it, Orion constellation, with a diffusion glow from Orion Nebula. In the upper left corner, a group of small stars called Beehive cluster can also be seen. In the right center of the image, Auriga constellation and Taurus are visible, while the Pleiades, a small group of blueish stars, also known as the Seven Sisters, are shinning bright. The light pollution seen above the horizon is coming from Mitzpe Ramon.
Biliblically and according to the Book of Genesis chapter 13, Abraham lived for a while in the Negev desert after being banished from Egypt. During the Exodus journey to the promised land, Moses sent twelve scouts into the Negev to assess the land and population. Later the northern part of biblical Negev was inhabited by the Tribe of Judah and the southern part of biblical Negev by the Tribe of Simeon. The Negev was later part of the Kingdom of Solomon (in its entirety, all the way to the Red Sea), and then, with varied extension to the south, part of the Kingdom of Judah. Source from wikipedia.
PT: Captada a partir da Cratera Ramon ou “Makhtesh Ramon” no Deserto de Negev, é o maior “cirque de erosão” do mundo – uma forma que só é encontrada no Negev e na sua extensão até ao deserto do Sinai, no Egipto – criado há 220 milhões de anos atrás. Localizado no sul de Israel, o Negev é um deserto rochoso com colinas de argila conhecidas por suas fantásticas cores vermelhas e amareladas, e cobre mais da metade do país. A vida nómade no Negev remonta pelo menos a 4.000 anos atrás, e talvez até 7.000 anos, de acordo com alguns livros, apresentando uma série de pequenas cidades beduínas. A imagem revela um céu menos saturado em comparação com o que as nossas câmaras fotográficas podem captar, com o intuito de mostrar uma aparência mais natural e próxima do que os nossos olhos podem percepcionar durante uma noite escura, a partir deste local. Na imagem é possível ver o trajeto arqueado da luz fraca proveniente da Via Láctea de Inverno. À esquerda, podemos encontrar Sirius, a estrela mais brilhante em toda a esfera celeste, e ao lado desta, a constelação de Orion, com um brilho difuso da Nebulosa de Orion. No canto superior esquerdo, um grupo de pequenas estrelas chamado aglomerado da Colmeia também pode ser apreciado. No centro direito da imagem, a constelação de Auriga e Touro são visíveis, enquanto as Pleiades, um pequeno grupo de estrelas azuladas, também conhecidas como as Sete Irmãs, se destaca pelo seu brilho e forma particular. A poluição luminosa vista acima do horizonte é proveniente de Mitzpe Ramon..
Biblicamente e de acordo com o capítulo 13 do Livro de Gênesis, Abraão viveu por um tempo no deserto de Negev após ser banido do Egipto. Durante a viagem do Êxodo à terra prometida, Moisés enviou doze exploradores ao Negev para avaliar a terra e a população. Mais tarde, a parte norte do Negev bíblico foi habitada pela Tribo de Judá e a parte sul do Negev bíblico, pela Tribo de Simeão. O Negev foi mais tarde parte do Reino de Salomão (na sua totalidade, todo o caminho para o Mar Vermelho), e depois, com extensão variada para o sul, parte do Reino de Judá. Fonte da wikipedia.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
A vertical panorama composed by 3 single frames with a Nikon D810a | 21mm at f/2,8 | ISO2500 | Exp. 25 secs.
Winter Constellations above Mitzpe Ramon in Negev Desert
Captured from inside of Ramon Crater or “Makhtesh Ramon” in Israel’s Negev Desert, is the world’s largest “erosion cirque” – a landform which are only found in the Negev and its extension into Egypt’s Sinai desert created 220 million years ago when oceans covered the area. Located in the southern of Israel, Negev is a rocky desert with clay hills known for their fantastic red and yellowish colors, and cover more than half of the country. Nomadic life in the Negev dates back at least 4,000 years, and perhaps as much as 7,000 years according to some books, featuring a number of small Bedouin cities. The image is featuring an arched path of faint light from the winter Milky Way full of deep sky objects visible as a diffuse red/violet colors. At left we can find Sirius, the brightest star in the entire celestial sphere, and next to it, Orion constellation, with the reddish emission coming from Orion Nebula. Above, we can also find Rosette Nebula. In the top right Auriga constellation and Taurus are visible, while the Pleiades, a small group of bright blueish stars, also known as the seven sisters, are set behind the horizon. The light pollution seen above the horizon is coming from Mitzpe Ramon.
Biliblically and according to the Book of Genesis chapter 13, Abraham lived for a while in the Negev desert after being banished from Egypt. During the Exodus journey to the promised land, Moses sent twelve scouts into the Negev to assess the land and population. Later the northern part of biblical Negev was inhabited by the Tribe of Judah and the southern part of biblical Negev by the Tribe of Simeon. The Negev was later part of the Kingdom of Solomon (in its entirety, all the way to the Red Sea), and then, with varied extension to the south, part of the Kingdom of Judah. Source from wikipedia.
PT: Captada a partir da Cratera Ramon ou “Makhtesh Ramon” no Deserto de Negev, é o maior “cirque de erosão” do mundo – uma forma que só é encontrada no Negev e na sua extensão até ao deserto do Sinai, no Egipto – criado há 220 milhões de anos atrás. Localizado no sul de Israel, o Negev é um deserto rochoso com colinas de argila conhecidas por suas fantásticas cores vermelhas e amareladas, e cobre mais da metade do país. A vida nómade no Negev remonta pelo menos a 4.000 anos atrás, e talvez até 7.000 anos, de acordo com alguns livros, apresentando uma série de pequenas cidades beduínas. A imagem mostra um caminho arqueado de luz fraca da Via Láctea de Inverno, cheia de objetos do céu profundo, visíveis como uma cor vermelha a violeta difusa. À esquerda, podemos encontrar Sirius, a estrela mais brilhante em toda a esfera celeste, e ao lado dela, a constelação de Orion, com a emissão avermelhada vinda da Nebulosa de Orion. Acima, também podemos encontrar a Nebulosa Roseta. No canto superior direito, a constelação de Auriga e Touro são visíveis, enquanto as Pleiades, um pequeno grupo de estrelas azuladas brilhantes, também conhecidas como as sete irmãs, se deitam por detrás do horizonte. A poluição luminosa visível acima do horizonte, provém de Mitzpe Ramon.
Biblicamente e de acordo com o capítulo 13 do Livro de Gênesis, Abraão viveu por um tempo no deserto de Negev após ser banido do Egipto. Durante a viagem do Êxodo à terra prometida, Moisés enviou doze exploradores ao Negev para avaliar a terra e a população. Mais tarde, a parte norte do Negev bíblico foi habitada pela Tribo de Judá e a parte sul do Negev bíblico, pela Tribo de Simeão. O Negev foi mais tarde parte do Reino de Salomão (na sua totalidade, todo o caminho para o Mar Vermelho), e depois, com extensão variada para o sul, parte do Reino de Judá. Fonte da wikipedia.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
A mosaic of 6 single frames with a Nikon D810a | 21mm at f/2,8 | ISO2500 | Exp. 25 secs.
My Helmet´s Vision of the Milky Way
A large panoramic image of 9 single frames captured from edge-to- edge, shows the long path of our own galaxy, the Milky Way, as seen from the Northern Hemisphere. Besides the well know “Summer Triangle” with stars Deneb (from Cygnus), Altair (from Aquila) and Vega (from Lyra constellation), this colourful “helmet view” scene is featuring another larger and less usual triangle. This time, an asterism formed by planet Mars – the orange bright object in the upper left corner of the sky – the Andromeda Galaxy – the faint oblong object in upper right corner – as well as Vega, the blue bright star in the low center. The reddish hues spread around the Milky Way, are emission nebulae, stellar nurseries like North America Nebula (NGC7000). Located in Cygnus constellation, is an easily recognisable shape in the center of this lovely scene captured from Campinho, a small village in the hearth of Dark Sky® Alqueva reserve, Portugal.
PT: Uma grande panorâmica composta por 9 fotografias únicas, captadas de um horizonte ao outro, mostra o longo caminho da nossa própria galáxia, a Via Láctea, vista a partir do Hemisfério Norte. Além do já conhecido “Triângulo de Verão” formado pelas estrelas Deneb (do Cisne), Altair (da Águia) e Vega, da constelação Lira, esta colorida cena celeste que mais se assemelha à visão que teríamos a partir de um capacete, apresenta outro triângulo maior e menos comum. Desta vez, um asterismo formado pelo planeta Marte – o objeto laranja brilhante no canto superior esquerdo do céu – a galáxia de Andromeda – o objeto difuso e oblongo no canto superior direito – bem como Vega, a estrela azul brilhante perto do centro. Os tons avermelhados espalhados pela Via Láctea são nebulosas de emissão, berçários estelares como a Nebulosa América do Norte (NGC7000). Localizada na constelação do Cisne, é uma forma facilmente reconhecível no centro desta encantadora cena captada no Campinho, uma pequena vila no coração da reserva Dark Sky® Alqueva, Portugal.
A Panoramic Milky Way Above Azenhas do Guadiana
An impressive panoramic view shows the Milky Way rising above the hills from the fluvial beach of Azenhas do Guadiana, in Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola. While a family of ducks are standing near the water in the center of the picture, two photographers are capturing the wonders of the night sky during a workshop of astrophotography. At the right side of this scenic view, the core of our galaxy is shinning bright and with it, some deep sky objects like the Lagoon Nebula, visible in red-violet immediately above the hill top.
Milky Way, Andromeda and a Dutch Sailboat
Visible below two galaxies, our Great Milky Way that stands bright at the top of this vertical panorama and Andromeda Galaxy, the diffuse elliptic shape shining near the center of the image, is Sem Fim boat. A Westlander sailboat built in 1913 in Holland. This type of boat, was used in the Dutch channels for the transport of goods, among them flowers. It was later transformed into house and bring it to Portugal. Now it navigates in Alqueva lake giving tourists the experience of sailing in the wind on board of a vintage boat. The image was captured during the XII edition of Dark Sky® Party Alqueva, held annually in Campinho, Dark Sky® Alqueva reserve.
Discovering the Sky Above with a Mobile Planetarium
While we can´t have yet a smartphone with enough quality to face the challenges of night photography, we could actually use it as a powerful mobile planetarium. Fortunately, nowadays, there are several free or purchased apps in the market capable of help you every time you are under a starry dark sky, turning your smartphone in an easy tool to identify celestial objects in real time. This image captured in Azenhas do Guadiana, Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, shows one of this moments, when a sky enthusiast was searching for planet Saturn, shinning bright near the core of the galaxy, was only 6º apart from the Lagoon Nebula (visible above the mountain, in the center of the image).
Under the Nature Our Roof is the Universe
Being under a starry sky always fascinated me since I was a child. Specially, when I was trying to reach the stars, setting my foots on the floor, just extending my arm while I was feeling and thinking in the fact that there is nothing separating us from outer space. Under the nature our roof is indeed the Universe itself and the most exciting thing, is the knowledge that let us know that we are an important part of it! The image shows a Milky Way rising in the background over Noudar Park, in Alqueva Dark Sky® Reserve, Portugal.
PT: Estar sob um céu estrelado sempre me fascinou desde que eu era criança. Especialmente, quando eu tentava alcançar as estrelas colocando os meus pés no chão, e estendendo o meu braço enquanto sentia e pensava no facto de que não há nada a separar-nos do espaço sideral acima. Sob a natureza, o nosso telhado é de facto o próprio Universo e a coisa mais excitante é o conhecimento que nos deixa saber que somos uma parte importante dele! A imagem mostra uma Via Láctea a nascer em pano de fundo, acima do Parque de Natureza de Noudar, na Reserva Dark Sky® Alqueva, em Portugal.
Under the Darkness the Sky is Anything but Black
Our eyes are not so good in distinguish colors under the darkness, but a simple DSLR camera can show us that the Universe is anything but black. The scene above captured from Noudar Park, in Dark Sky Alqueva Reserve, shows a colorful star field around the bright arm of the Milky Way also visible in the background behind a thin layer of clouds. Each color is directly related to the type and temperature of each star in a range that could features blue, white, yellow or even orange hues. The hottest stars, are showing a blue color, but in opposition, the coolest can reveal an orange-reddish color. The “Christmas balls” that seems to adorn this old olive tree in the foreground, are not only stars, but also planets, Like Mars and Saturn, shinning bright in the center of the tree in yellow-orange and white.
PT: Os nossos olhos não são muito bons a distinguir cores na escuridão da noite, mas uma simples câmara DSLR pode revelar-nos que o Universo é tudo menos preto. A cena acima captada no Parque de Noudar, Reserva Dark Sky® Alqueva, mostra-nos um colorido campo de estrelas ao redor do braço brilhante da Via Láctea, também visível em pano de fundo e envolta numa fina camada de nuvens. Cada cor está diretamente relacionada com o tipo e temperatura de cada estrela em um intervalo que pode apresentar tonalidades de azul, branco, amarelo ou até laranja. As estrelas mais quentes revelam uma cor azul, mas em oposição, as estrelas mais frias podem revelar uma cor laranja-avermelhada. As “bolas de Natal” que parecem enfeitar esta velha oliveira em primeiro plano, não são apenas estrelas, mas também planetas, como Marte e Saturno, brilhando ao centro da árvore numa tonalidade amarelo-alaranjado e branco.
Milky Way Rising Over Noudar Park
The image and short time lapse clip shows the Milky Way rising over Noudar Park, in Alqueva Dark Sky® Reserve, Portugal.
PT: A Na imagem acima é possível ver o nascer da Via Láctea por detrás da paisagem do Parque de Natureza de Noudar.
An Eclipsed Moon with Mars, Milky Way with Saturn, and a Satellite near Jupiter
Captured 15 minutes after the end of totality during the longest Total Lunar Eclipse of the Century, the scene shows the bright light of a partially eclipsed Moon very close to the red planet Mars. With the galactic core featuring planet Saturn above Sagittarius, the Milky Way is well visible crossing the center of the picture, while above its arched shape, a flare from Satellite FORMOSAT-2 (ROCSAT 2) showed up high in the sky not faraway – in this wide angle view – from the bright light of planet Jupiter, seen near the right edge of the photo. This single shot was captured from Campinho, Dark Sky® Alqueva, Portugal.
PT: Captada 15 minutos após o final da totalidade durante o mais longo Eclipse Lunar Total do Século, a imagem mostra a luz brilhante de uma Lua parcialmente eclipsada muito próxima do planeta vermelho, Marte. Com o planeta Saturno no centro galáctico, a Via Láctea arqueada cruza o centro da imagem à medida que um flare do Satélite FORMOSAT-2 (ROCSAT 2) se trona visível por instantes, bem alto no céu. Por fim, à direita deste e já próximo do extremo da foto, é possível ver a luz brilhante do planeta Júpiter. Este disparo único foi captado no Campinho, Dark Sky® Alqueva, Portugal.
A Golden Meteor
When spending a few nights enjoying the wonders of a starry sky you can suddenly be surprised with a sporadic meteor. You can make a wish, or simply scream “wooow” and smile to the sky above. The image shows a bright gold one captured in a single frame taken in Noudar Park, Alqueva Dark Sky® Reserve, from a total sequence of shots of about 4h. At the right side of the tree, a faint white light from the Milky Way is also visible.
PT: Ao passarmos algumas noites desfrutando das maravilhas de um céu estrelado, por vezes podemos ser repentinamente surpreendidos com um meteoro esporádico brilhante. A imagem mostra assim um desses momentos, em que um brilhante meteoro dourado foi captado num single frame obtido no Parque de Natureza de Noudar, Reserva Dark Sky® Alqueva, a partir de uma sequência total de disparos de cerca de 4 horas. Em pano de fundo e à direita da árvore, é ainda visível a suave presença esbranquiçada da Via Láctea.
A Spring Milky Way above Campinho
The image shows the Arch of Milky Way as seen during a Spring night in the Northern Hemisphere, Campinho, in Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve. High in the sky, we can see a “blue bright” star with an apparent magnitude of 0,0 called Vega, serving as a middle reference in the magnitude system chart created for the first time in 150 B.C.E, by the greek astronomer Hipparchus. Vega, from Lyra constellation, is forming an asterism well know as the “Summer Triangle” with stars Deneb (from Cygnus) and Altair (from Aquila). At the right center of the picture, planet Mars and Saturn are shinning near the core of the Galaxy. Following the same line we can find the red supergiant star Antares, from Scorpius constellations, and the bright planet Jupiter. Above the horizon is visible a mix of yellow/greenish airglow with the lights from Aldeia da Luz, and below, a water mirror from the largest manmade lake in Europa, The Great Lake Alqueva.
PT: A imagem mostra o Arco da Via Láctea como visto durante uma noite de primavera no Hemisfério Norte, na região do Campinho, Reserva Dark Sky® Alqueva. No alto do céu, é possível ver uma estrela azulada e brilhante com uma magnitude aparente de 0.0, de nome Vega. Serve como uma referência intermédia na tabela do sistema de magnitudes criado pela primeira vez no 150 A.C, pelo astrónomo grego Hiparco. Vega, da constelação de Lyra, forma um asterismo conhecido como o “Triângulo de Verão” com as estrelas Deneb (Cisne) e Altair (da Águia). No centro direito da imagem, o planeta Marte e Saturno brilham perto do centro da galáxia. Seguindo a mesma linha, podemos encontrar a estrela supergigante vermelha Antares, da constelações do Escorpião, terminando no extremo direito da imagem com o brilho intenso do planeta Júpiter. Um pouco acima do horizonte é visível uma tonalidade de amarelo/esverdeado proveniente da subtil presença de airglow (Luminescência Foto-química) que se mistura ainda com algumas luzes da Aldeia da Luz, já bem junto ao horizonte deste panorama. Logo abaixo, o enorme espelho de água do maior lago artificial da Europa Ocidental, o Grande Lago Alqueva, reflecte assim algumas das estrelas que salpicam o firmamento do Dark Sky® Alqueva.
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 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 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 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 Galactic Tree Under the Stars
A path of light illuminates the foreground behind a dead tree that by illusion, seems to be part of the galactic arm of our Milky Way galaxy. This magical and charm scenario under the stars was captured in Noudar Park, Alqueva Dark Sky® Reserve, Barrancos.
PT: Um caminho de luz ilumina o primeiro plano por detrás de uma árvore morta que, por ilusão, parece fazer parte do braço galáctico da nossa Via Láctea. Este cenário mágico e de encanto sob a luz das estrelas foi captado no Parque de Natureza de Noudar, Dark Sky® Alqueva, Barrancos.
A Spring Milky Way Shines above Monsaraz
With the arrival of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere the central region of Milky Way starts to be visible right above the horizon before Dawn, with the certain of getting better and better in the upcoming months, reaching it´s highest visibility to the naked eye in the middle of summer with the core of Milky Way facing south, and being well visible in the beginning of the night from a Dark Sky location. This scene captured in the spring equinox from Monsaraz village, in Dark Sky® Alqueva, shows a green field with small yellow flowers while in the sky, planets Saturn and Mars are shining against the the core of our galaxy, being Mars very close to the Lagoon nebula. In the upper right corner of the image, the bright light that cauth our attention is from the planet Jupiter.
PT: Com a chegada da primavera no Hemisfério Norte, a região central da Via Láctea começa a ficar visível logo acima do horizonte pouco tempo antes do nascer do dia, com a certeza de se encontrar cada vez melhor nos próximos meses, atingindo a sua maior visibilidade a olho nu nos meses de verão, com o núcleo da Via Láctea voltado a sul e sendo bem visível no início da noite a partir de um local escuro. Este cenário celeste captado no equinócio da primavera a partir de Monsaraz, no Dark Sky® Alqueva, mostra um campo verde com pequenas flores amarelas enquanto no céu, os planetas Saturno e Marte brilham contra o núcleo da nossa galáxia, estando Marte muito perto da Nebulosa da Lagoa. No canto superior direito da imagem, a luz brilhante que chama a nossa atenção é do planeta Júpiter.
Cumeada Observatory, a Window to the Universe
After astronomical twilight ends, a retractable roof observatory shows an open window to the Universe, with the core of Milky Way Galaxy shinning bright against a variety of different telescopes, advanced optical equipment for visual and astrophotography purposes, available in Cumeada Observatory, the headquarter of Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve – the First Starlight Tourism Destination in the World – located in Reguengos de Monsaraz, Portugal. The recovered building is an old primary school rehabilitated by the Municipality of Reguengos, to receive the official Observatory of Dark Sky® Alqueva
PT: Após o final do crepúsculo astronómico, um observatório de tecto retráctil mostra uma janela aberta para o Universo, com o núcleo da Via Láctea brilhando contra uma variedade de telescópios diferentes, equipamentos ópticos avançados para fins visuais e astrofotográficos, disponíveis no Observatório da Cumeada, sede oficial da Reserva Dark Sky® Alqueva – o Primeiro Destino Turístico do Mundo Starlight – localizado em Reguengos de Monsaraz, Portugal. O edifício recuperado é uma antiga escola primária reabilitada pelo município de Reguengos, para receber o Observatório oficial de Dark Sky® Alqueva.
Cumeada Observatory and the Winter Sky
After astronomical twilight ends, a retractable roof observatory shows an open window to the Universe, with the Winter Sky shinning bright against a variety of different telescopes, advanced optical equipment for visual and astrophotography purposes, available in Cumeada Observatory, the headquarter of Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve – the First Starlight Tourism Destination in the World – located in Reguengos de Monsaraz, Portugal. The recovered building is an old primary school rehabilitated by the Municipality of Reguengos, to receive the official Observatory of Dark Sky® Alqueva
PT: Após o final do crepúsculo astronómico, um observatório de tecto retráctil mostra uma janela aberta para o Universo, com o Céu de Inverno brilhando contra uma variedade de telescópios diferentes, equipamentos ópticos avançados para fins visuais e astrofotográficos, disponíveis no Observatório da Cumeada, sede oficial da Reserva Dark Sky® Alqueva – o Primeiro Destino Turístico do Mundo Starlight – localizado em Reguengos de Monsaraz, Portugal. O edifício recuperado é uma antiga escola primária reabilitada pelo município de Reguengos, para receber o Observatório oficial de Dark Sky® Alqueva.
Oficial Observatory of Dark Sky Alqueva Working in a Winter Night from Miguel Claro on Vimeo.
Working at Cumeada Observatory, a Window to the Universe
After astronomical twilight ends, a retractable roof observatory shows an open window to the Universe, with the core of Milky Way Galaxy shinning bright against a variety of different telescopes, advanced optical equipment for visual and astrophotography purposes, available in Cumeada Observatory, the headquarter of Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve – the First Starlight Tourism Destination in the World – located in Reguengos de Monsaraz, Portugal. The recovered building is an old primary school rehabilitated by the Municipality of Reguengos, to receive the official Observatory of Dark Sky® Alqueva
PT: Após o final do crepúsculo astronómico, um observatório de tecto retráctil mostra uma janela aberta para o Universo, com o núcleo da Via Láctea brilhando contra uma variedade de telescópios diferentes, equipamentos ópticos avançados para fins visuais e astrofotográficos, disponíveis no Observatório da Cumeada, sede oficial da Reserva Dark Sky® Alqueva – o Primeiro Destino Turístico do Mundo Starlight – localizado em Reguengos de Monsaraz, Portugal. O edifício recuperado é uma antiga escola primária reabilitada pelo município de Reguengos, para receber o Observatório oficial de Dark Sky® Alqueva.
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.
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.
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.
A Bright Meteor from Geminid above Monsaraz
As the Earth was passing through a stream of gravelly debris from “rock comet” 3200 Phaethon, I´ve captured a bright meteor above Monsaraz, Dark Sky® Alqueva reserve, in the night before the expected peak of annual Geminid meteor shower.
PT: À medida que a Terra passava pela rota de detritos deixados para trás pelo “cometa rochoso” 3200 Phaethon, foi possível captar um meteoro brilhante acima de Monsaraz, Reserva Dark Sky® Alqueva, na noite anterior ao pico esperado da chuva anual de meteoros Gemínidas.
Colourful Yosemite During the Night
First protected in 1864, Yosemite National Park is best known for its waterfalls, but within its nearly 1,200 square miles, it´s full of beauty with deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, and a vast wilderness area where the animals are living in harmony with the strength of granite, the power of glaciers, and the tranquility of the High Sierra, that shows the persistence of life even with the large and strong fires that seems to threaten all this area each summer.
A blaze near Yosemite National Park have created smoky skies for days. From the center up to the top of the image, a Milky Way is trying to shine above the band of smoke and dust from the fire. Works on the exit road of the park have helped to light up the scene for several hours, making the Tunnel View of Yosemite so colourful and beautiful, even during the night.
Milky Way from the Tunnel View of Yosemite National Park
First protected in 1864, Yosemite National Park is best known for its waterfalls, but within its nearly 1,200 square miles, it´s full of beauty with deep valleys, grand meadows, ancient giant sequoias, and a vast wilderness area where the animals are living in harmony with the strength of granite, the power of glaciers, and the tranquility of the High Sierra, that shows the persistence of life even with the large and strong fires that seems to threaten all this area each summer.
A blaze near Yosemite National Park have created smoky skies for days. On the top of the image, a Milky Way is trying to shine above the band of smoke and dust in this framing from the beautiful Tunnel View of Yosemite. Works on the exit road of the park have helped to light up the scene for several hours.
Lonely Shadow in a Desert of Stars
In a remote place like a desert, faraway from light polluted cities, the Milky Way can reach a level of brightness enough to project a smooth shadow of a body on the ground, like the one of this stargazer that is contemplating the majestic sky from Zabriskie Point, part of Amargosa Range located east of Death Valley in Death Valley National Park in California, United States, noted for its erosional landscape. It is composed of sediments from Furnace Creek Lake, which dried up 5 million years ago—long before Death Valley came into existence. The hottest air temperature ever recorded in Death Valley was 134 °F (56.7 °C) on July 10, 1913, at Furnace Creek, which is the hottest atmospheric temperature ever recorded on earth.
Milky Way – A lost Candle in the Desert of Death Valley
Zabriskie Point is a part of Amargosa Range located east of Death Valley in Death Valley National Park, in California, United States, noted for its erosional landscape. It is composed of sediments from Furnace Creek Lake, which dried up 5 million years ago—long before Death Valley came into existence. The hottest air temperature ever recorded in Death Valley was 134 °F (56.7 °C) on July 10, 1913, at Furnace Creek, which is the hottest atmospheric temperature ever recorded on earth.During the heat wave that peaked with that record, five consecutive days reached 129 °F (54 °C) or above. In the center of the image, the core of Milky Way is shinning so bright, that creates the illusion like if it was enough to illuminate the right top of the mountain range from Zabriskie point. Although, the mountain was actually and momently illuminated by a car light that was passing by.
Milky Way from Zabriskie Point in Death Valley
Zabriskie Point is a part of Amargosa Range located east of Death Valley in Death Valley National Park in California, United States, noted for its erosional landscape. It is composed of sediments from Furnace Creek Lake, which dried up 5 million years ago—long before Death Valley came into existence. The hottest air temperature ever recorded in Death Valley was 134 °F (56.7 °C) on July 10, 1913, at Furnace Creek, which is the hottest atmospheric temperature ever recorded on earth.During the heat wave that peaked with that record, five consecutive days reached 129 °F (54 °C) or above. In the night that this panoramic scene was captured above Badlands from Zabriskie point, the air temperature near midnight was 41ºc.
The Arch of Milky Way was high in the Sky in that time of the year, making very difficult to capture this perfect “half of circle” touching the Zenith, where we can see in the top center, a blue bright star with an apparent magnitude of 0,0 called Vega, serving as a middle reference in the magnitude system chart created for the first time in 150 B.C.E, by the greek astronomer Hipparchus. Vega, from Lyra constellation, is forming an asterism well know as the “Summer Triangle” with stars Deneb (from Cygnus) and Altair (from Aquila). At the left side – in the beginning of the Milky Way – a bright elliptic and diffuse dot is the light coming from Andromeda Galaxy while in the opposite direction of the sky – right edge of the picture – the orange supergiant star of Antares, from Scorpius constellations, is setting below the hot horizon of Death Valley´s landscape. In the center right, and below the arch, is also visible a faint white light known as Gegenschein. It´s 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.
