Moontrail and the Palm Trees of Orada´s Convent
A Black and White image where we could see the Moon trail between the palm trees near the Orada convent, Monsaraz / Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve. Canon 50D – ISO1000; 11mm f/4.5 Exp 301 secs. Sum of 52 images taken in 30/06/2013 at 04:14 AM
The Super Full Moon of 2013
Picture of the Largest Moon of 2013. This “Super Moon” was 14% bigger and 30% brighter than other full Moons of 2013, was captured 2 km away from the subject, the Sesimbra´s Moorish castle. This huge Full Moon could be seen in the picture rising above the church Nossa Senhora do Castelo. It stands on the spot where king Sancho I built a Romanesque chapel in the early 13th century.
Canon 50D – ISO640; 1/80 sec. + ED80 APO refractor Astro Professional 560mm at f/7 taken in 23/06/2013 at 21h22
Below you will find a resume with all publications – printed and online – related to this particular photograph.
Please refer the i-frame above, generated automatically from the overview page Press.
Manivela Moonset
In the image we could see the moonset (almost like the sunset, with an orange tone) reflected in the Alqueva´s Lake water, where is located the old: “Fonte da Manivela” or in English the source crank. The image was captured in Mourão, a region of the great Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve. At the first sight, we could think that it wasn´t the moon, but maybe the Sun, so, how could we have sure ? First, because during the sunset we couldn´t see the stars and the sky so dark due to our atmosphere effect. And the most important, if you look carefully in full resolution, you will notice that the moon wasn´t completely full, in fact, due to an Earthshine effect, is also visible part of the moon´s left limb that is in the shadow (not directly illuminated by the sun), something that will not occur in the sun´s surface. Canon 50D – ISO1600, Exp. 10 segs. 24mm f/2.8 – 16/06/2013 00:50
A painting of Nature
In this starry cloudy moonlit, we could watch what actually seems to be a rainy night, but, indeed, it was not rain, but a short startrail in a cloudy and windy night, above the alqueva´s lake, in a region called Albufeira de Pedrogão. Thanks to light of the moon, wind and clouds, I´ve got this peculiar result, I´ve called: “the painting of nature”.
Canon 60Da – ISO640, f/2.8; Exp. 6s ; 24mm. 27/04/2013 23h35
Cloudy Moonlit
Image of a Starry cloudy moonlit above the Pedrogão´s Albufeira, in Moura, a region of the Dark Sky Alqueva Reserve. Canon 60Da – ISO640, f/2.8; Exp. 6s ; 24mm. 27/04/2013 23h21 AM
Below is a Short time lapse sequence, of a cloud formation under the moonlit and above the Pedrogão´s Albufeira, in Moura, a region of the Dark Sky Alqueva Reserve.
The Big Dipper in a moonlit sky
The Big Dipper in a moonlit sky. Image captured above Pedrogão´s Albufeira, in Moura, a region of great Alqueva´s Lake, covered by the Dark Sky Reserve.
Canon 50D – ISO2000 ; f/4 ; Exp. 30s. ; 10mm. 27/04/2013 at 22h53
Starry cloudy twilight
Panorama of a Starry cloudy twilight above the Pedrogão´s Albufeira, in Moura, a region of great Alqueva´s Lake, covered by the Dark Sky Reserve. Jupiter, visible near the center image and low in the horizon, is the brightest star. Above it, is visible the entire constellation of Auriga.
Canon 60Da – ISO1250, f/2; Exp. 13s ; 24mm. 27/04/2013 22h52 AM
Black Silhouettes

The Full Moon captured few hours after the partial lunar Eclipse, hidden behind the trees of the Noudar natural park, in Barrancos, Portugal. Above it, in the sky, is visible the planet Saturn.
Canon 50D – ISO800; f/7.1; Exp.1s; 92mm. 26/04/2013 5h12 AM
The Moon behind the trees
The Full Moon captured few hours after the partial lunar Eclipse, above the trees in the Noudar natural park, in Barrancos, Portugal.
Canon 50D – ISO800; f/32; 1/13s;300mm. 26/04/2013 5h06 AM
Noudar´s Moonlight
The Full Moon captured few hours after the partial lunar Eclipse, hidden behind the trees of the Noudar natural park, in Barrancos, Portugal. Canon 50D – ISO640; f/4; Exp. 8s; 10mm. 26/04/2013 04h53 AM
Noudar Castle at Night
The green landscape That surrounds the Noudar castle, in Barrancos, Portugal, iluminated by the strong light of Full Moon, turning the night in day. Canon 60Da – ISO640, f/4; Exp. 3,20s ; 24mm. 26/04/2013 01h17 AM
Startrails in a moonlit Spring field
The trails of some stars above the green spring field lighted by the full moon. Canon 50D – ISO640; f/4; Exp. 15s ; 10mm. Sum of 200 images – 26/04/2013 at 01h14 AM
Green Moonlit Field
The green landscape of Noudar´s natural Park, in Barrancos, Portugal, iluminated by the strong light of Full Moon, turning the night in day.
Canon 60Da – ISO640, f/4; Exp.5s; 24mm. 26/04/2013 01h04 AM
Flower Eclipse
The Full Moon eclipsed by a flower. Image captured in the Noudar natural Park, in Barrancos, Portugal. Canon 50D – ISO640; f/4; Exp.10s; 10mm. 26/04/2013 00h20 AM
The Moon shining like a Ray of light
Nautical twilight at dawn in Monsaraz. The moon shining in the stargazer like a cosmic ray of light.
Canon 60Da – ISO1250; 24mm; f/2.8; 13 secs. 06/04/2013 at 06h04 AM.
Twilight meteor in the Moonlite
Twilight at dawn in Monsaraz with the moonlite. In the left upper corner we could see the trail of a shooting star.
Canon 60Da – ISO1600 Lens 24mm f/2; Exp. 15 secs. 06/04/2013 at 05h47
Alqueva´s Moon Landscape
This moontrail image was captured in the last 21 to 22th December. Actually, it could be the last moonset seen from planet Earth, if the world was really end on 21th Dec. But fortunately didn´t happen and I was still photographing the entire night until the sunrise, the begining of a New Era, surronded with a lot of lovely skyscapes like this one, in Monsaraz village, a region of the Alqueva´s Dark Sky Reserve, in Portugal, the world´s first “Starlight Tourism Destination”.
The Night Like a Paiting
Image of a colorful startrail captured in the Monsaraz region, inserted in the Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve.
The M45 and the Tree
The M45 Pleiades photographed above a tree in the Monsaraz region. Portugal. Canon EOS60Da – F/2.8 Exp.15s ISO1000 35mm lens. Taken in 22/12/2012 at 1:50 AM.
The Sky above Almendres Cromlech
The Cromlech of the Almendres megalithic complex (or Almendres Cromlech), located near Guadalupe, in the civil parish of Nossa Senhora de Guadalupe, municipality of Évora, is the largest existing group of structured menhirs in the Iberian Peninsula, and one of the largest in Europe. This archaeological site consists of several megalithic structures: cromlechs, and menhir stones
The construction of these structures date back to VI millennium B.C., and only rediscovered in 1966 by Henrique Leonor Pina. The construction phases, Almendres I date 6000 B.C and the Almendres II, date 5000 B.C Middle Neolithic. The relative chronology of the cromlech and menhirs is extremely complex and covers a period from the Neolithic to Chalcolithic, and it is believed that the monument had a religious/ceremonial purpose, or functioned as a primitive astronomical observatory.
About a dozen monoliths present some form of carved drawings,four of which exhibit only small circular holes. Monolith number 8, with a cut flat top at about breast level and showing several dimples, might have served for finer astronomical observation, specially spring equinox observation, by putting small stones on them. These observations might be made from stone 39, on the eastern focal point of the elliptic layout. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CromelequeAlmendres.png) Menhir 48, also exhibits a schematized anthropomorphic representation, surrouned by circles and associated with a crozier.
In the sky image, is visible the Orion Constellation above the stone circle, and the shadows of the stones projected in the land, due to the light of the moon which light up the landscape from the oposite site. Canon 50D – ISO 1250; f/4; Exp.30s 10mm em 20/12/2012 at 20:09
Almendres Cromlech startra
In the sky image, is visible the startrails of Orion Constellation above the stone circle, and the shadows of the stones projected in the land, due to the light of the moon, which light up the landscape from the oposite site.
Canon 50D – ISO 2000; f/4; Exp.25s 10mm em 20/12/2012
The Moon was not alone
This image was captured in the land of Juromenha, near Alandroal, one of the regions covered by the Alqueva´s Dark Sky Reserve (www.alquevadarksky.com), distinguished as the Worlds First Star Light Tourism Destination.However, during the two nights that I was shooting, I had the great presence of the moon to light up the landscape, creating many different blue sky tones and showing less stars than we usually see, with naked eye. The moon, let me capture the beauty of the place with incredible romantic views in a scenery full of quiet, peace and plenitude. Lakes, horses and millenar olive trees, is just an example of what we could find there…
Canon 50D – 10mm f/4 30″ ISO1000 taken in 06/10/2012 at 00h26
Moonrise above the Lake
This image was captured in the land of Juromenha, near Alandroal, one of the regions covered by the Alqueva´s Dark Sky Reserve (www.alquevadarksky.com), distinguished as the Worlds First Star Light Tourism Destination.However, during the two nights that I was shooting, I had the great presence of the moon to light up the landscape, creating many different blue sky tones and showing less stars than we usually see, with naked eye. The moon, let me capture the beauty of the place with incredible romantic views in a scenery full of quiet, peace and plenitude. Lakes, horses and millenar olive trees, is just an example of what we could find there…
Canon 50D – 35mm f/4 10″ ISO1250 taken in 05/10/2012 at 22h41
Stars around Casa Saramago
This image was captured in the land of Juromenha, near Alandroal, one of the regions covered by the Alqueva´s Dark Sky Reserve (www.alquevadarksky.com), distinguished as the Worlds First Star Light Tourism Destination.However, during the two nights that I was shooting, I had the great presence of the moon to light up the landscape, creating many different blue sky tones and showing less stars than we usually see, with naked eye. The moon, let me capture the beauty of the place with incredible romantic views in a scenery full of quiet, peace and plenitude. Lakes, horses and millenar olive trees, is just an example of what we could find there. Canon 50D – 11mm f/4.5 15″ ISO640 taken in 05/10/2012 at 1h03 Sum of 64 images with a total integration of 16 minutes.
Stars above the horses
This image was captured in the land of Juromenha, near Alandroal, one of the regions covered by the Alqueva´s Dark Sky Reserve (www.alquevadarksky.com), distinguished as the Worlds First Star Light Tourism Destination.However, during the two nights that I was shooting, I had the great presence of the moon to light up the landscape, creating many different blue sky tones and showing less stars than we usually see, with naked eye. The moon, let me capture the beauty of the place with incredible romantic views in a scenery full of quiet, peace and plenitude. Lakes, horses and millenar olive trees, is just an example of what we could find there…
Canon 50D – 35mm f/4 5″ ISO2000 taken in 06/10/2012 at 1h55 Sum of 131 images with a total integration of 11 minutes.
Hotel Nave Terra
This image was captured in the land of Juromenha, near Alandroal, one of the regions covered by the Alqueva´s Dark Sky Reserve (www.alquevadarksky.com), distinguished as the Worlds First Star Light Tourism Destination.However, during the two nights that I was shooting, I had the great presence of the moon to light up the landscape, creating many different blue sky tones and showing less stars than we usually see, with naked eye. The moon, let me capture the beauty of the place with incredible romantic views in a scenery full of quiet, peace and plenitude. Lakes, horses and millenar olive trees, is just an example of what we could find there…
Canon 50D – 10mm f/4 25″ ISO1000 taken in 05/10/2012 at 4h24 Sum of 46 images with a total integration of 19 minutes.
Skygazing
This image was captured in Telheiro, Monsaraz, one of the regions covered by the Alqueva´s Dark Sky Reserve (www.alquevadarksky.com), distinguished as the Worlds First Star Light Tourism Destination.
Skygazing is one of the greatest thing we can make in group or alone, in the Alqueva Dark Sky region. The moon light up the landscape, creating many different blue sky tones and showing less stars than we usually see, with naked eye. Although, it shows the beauty of the place with incredible romantic views in a scenery full of quiet, peace and plenitude. Lakes, horses and millenar olive trees, is just an example of what we could find there. Canon 50D – 10mm f/4 20″ ISO640 taken in 05/10/2012 at 00h39
The blue moon ambience
This image was captured in the land of Juromenha, near Alandroal, one of the regions covered by the Alqueva´s Dark Sky Reserve (www.alquevadarksky.com), distinguished as the Worlds First Star Light Tourism Destination.However, during the two nights that I was shooting, I had the great presence of the moon to light up the landscape, creating many different blue sky tones and showing less stars than we usually see, with naked eye. The moon, let me capture the beauty of the place with incredible romantic views in a scenery full of quiet, peace and plenitude. Lakes, horses and millenar olive trees, is just an example of what we could find there…
Canon 50D – 10mm f/4 30″ ISO2000 taken in 05/10/2012 at 22h54
The Moon and a White Horse
This image was captured in the land of Juromenha, near Alandroal, one of the regions covered by the Alqueva´s Dark Sky Reserve (www.alquevadarksky.com), distinguished as the Worlds First Star Light Tourism Destination.However, during the two nights that I was shooting, I had the great presence of the moon to light up the landscape, creating many different blue sky tones and showing less stars than we usually see, with naked eye. The moon, let me capture the beauty of the place with incredible romantic views in a scenery full of quiet, peace and plenitude. Lakes, horses and millenar olive trees, is just an example of what we could find there…
Canon 50D – 10mm f/4 15″ ISO1250 taken in 05/10/2012 at 01h58
Beatiful sky
This image was captured in the land of Juromenha, near Alandroal, one of the regions covered by the Alqueva´s Dark Sky Reserve (www.alquevadarksky.com), distinguished as the Worlds First Star Light Tourism Destination.However, during the two nights that I was shooting, I had the great presence of the moon to light up the landscape, creating many different blue sky tones and showing less stars than we usually see, with naked eye. The moon, let me capture the beauty of the place with incredible romantic views in a scenery full of quiet, peace and plenitude. Lakes, horses and millenar olive trees, is just an example of what we could find there…
Canon 50D – 10mm f/4 30″ ISO800 taken in 06/10/2012 at 2h48 Sum of 36 images with a total integration of 18 minutes.
Venus and the Seven Sisters
Image of the conjunction between Venus and M45 Pleiades in the middle of the trees, taken in Fonte-de-Telha, a small pine forest in Portugal facing to the Atlantic Ocean. In the image we also can see myself enjoying the star with binoculars in a peaceful moment.
Canon 50D – ISO640 F4 35mm Exp. 6″ in 04-04-2012 at 22:51
Venus, Pine Tree and the Seven Sisters
Image of the conjunction between Venus and M45 Pleiades in the middle of the trees, taken in Fonte-de-Telha, a small pine forest in Portugal facing to the Atlantic Ocean. In the image we also can see myself enjoying the star with binoculars in a peaceful moment.
Image above:
Canon 50D – ISO640 F4 35mm Exp. 8″ in 04-04-2012 at 22:07
Moon and Mars above Almourol Castle
The castle of Almourol is one of the more emblematic and cenographic medieval military monuments of the reconquest, and the best representation of the influence of the Knights Templar in Portugal. Located on a small islet in the middle of the Tagus River, in Vila Nova da Barquinha, in the centre region of the country. The castle was conquered in 1129 and it was part of the defensive line controlled by the Knights Templar, and a stronghold used during the Portuguese reconquest.
In the scene, is visible the path of Moon and above it, the orange trail of planet Mars.
Canon 50D – ISO500 f/4.5 10mm Exp.15″ in 01-05-2012. Sum of 125 images taken between 00h22 and 00h57, in a total time integration of about 31 minutes.
Solar Wall
This image was taken in the Serra de Sintra, near the solar wall, a rock with about 30 meters in height, where climbers usually make climbing and rappelling.
Canon 50D -ISO800 10mm F/4 Exp.25″. Image taken in 12/01/2012 at 00h44
By the Light of the Moon – Turning the Night, in Day
This amazing view of the Atlantic Ocean against the Rocky cliffs from Cabo Espichel, was only possible to be photographed during the night, due, to the strong light of the Moon that was almost full and could Light up all the dramatic and beatiful scene. In the sky, during two hours I could register the path of the brightest star in the celestial sphere ( Sirius), that is visible in the middle of image. The light of the moon like a trick of magic turned the night in day, with the sky staying blue. The white clouds near the horizon gave the last fine touch, in this quite and peaceful scene.
Canon 50D- ISO640 f/5 Exp. 20″ 10mm lens in 07/01/2012 between 22:56 and 00:59. Sum of 339 images.
Draconids Shower
In Portugal with the moon almost full, the Draconids outburst was very faint, altough, I have registered a few meteors that escaped from the light of the moon.
Image taken from Arrábida Mountain range, in Setúbal, Portugal. 08-10-2011 at 21h11.
Canon 50D -ISO640mm 10mm F/4 Exp.30s
Above – Zoomed image
Astronomical Observatory of Lisbon
I made this sequence of images, in the night of the “Global Star Party”2011, in one of the most beautiful astronomical heritage of the world, the historic Astronomical Observatory of Lisbon. Above the front building, we can see the trails of Ursa Major, and in the image of the right side building, we can see the trail of moonset as well as the Gemini stars, Pollux and Castor, and behind the yellow main dome, the Menkalinan and Capella stars, from Auriga constellation. It was a great challange photographing the beauty of the place, against the high level of light pollution, in the midle of Lisbon. I made 3 separated images and also a composed image with all of 3 diferent views, in a portrait and landscape version. All the images were taken in the same night 09-04-2011 between 23:34 and 2:11. The History of OAL or AOL
1-Image above:
Canon 50D- Exp.13″ F/5.6 ISO500 10 mm – 145 images – Total: 31mts
2-Image above:
Canon 50D- Exp.20″ F/5.6 ISO500 20 mm – 154 images – Total: 51mts
Arrábida – The Vernal Equinox
Imagem do rasto das estrelas no Portinho da Arrábida, obtidas com a maior lua cheia dos últimos 18 anos, no perigeu. No céu são visíveis, as estrelas Sírius, por detrás do pico rochoso, Orion, Procyon, Capella, Castor e Pollux. Imagem obtida em 20-03-2011 entre as 23h05 e as 10h02. Soma de 254 imagens cada uma de 20 segundos, totalizando uma integração de 84 minutos.
This night time lapse photography was made during the Vernal Equinox, March 20, 2011. While the Pleiades, Orion and Sirius star, were getting down behind the Arrábida moutain range, in Portugal, the biggest Moon of the last 18 years was moving in the sky, iluminating all the scene and making a slow motion movement in the rock shadows on the sand. The Moon was also drawing the water from the Atlantic Ocean, due to gravity is noticeable the incoming tide at the end of the video, that was made between 21h30 and 01h00. This is a movie trailer from the “Arrábida Nightscape Project”, by Miguel Claro and Emanuel Magessi Lopes. A special thanks to local assitant, Paulo Lourenço.
Canon 50D -ISO640 10mm F/4.5 Exp.20s por imagem.
A Special Full Moon
Imagens de uma Super Lua Cheia no momento em que esta se encontrava no perigeu, ou seja, na zona orbital mais próxima do planeta Terra. Esta é a maior Lua cheia dos últimos cerca de 20 anos, 14% maior e 30% mais brilhante. As imagens foram obtidas no Farol e região do Cabo Espichel, Sesimbra, em 19-03-2011.
Above : Canon 50D – ISO640 92mm F/5 Exp. 2″ às 19:35
Above: Canon 50D – ISO800 16mm F/5 Exp. 20″ às 20:00
Moonlit Trees and a Starry Cloudy Sky
Imagens da Lua na fase quase cheia, iluminando as paisagens com uma luz tão intensa que quase parece de dia. Na imagem vertical obtida num pinhal na Fonte-de-Telha podemos ver algumas estrelas brilhantes por entre os ramos de um pinheiro, destacando a Estrela Sírius e a constelação de Orion, totalmente visivel ao centro da imagem e por entre os ramos do pinheiro. Na imagem Horizontal em baixo, é possível observar uma bonita formação de nuvens e à esquerda são visíveis as Pleiades.
Canon 50D – ISO640 10mm F/4 Exp. 15″ 15-02-11 22:16/23:39
Iridium Flares 58 e 95
Imagem de dois Iridum Flares o 58 e 95, captados em Vila Boim, no Alentejo. Iridium Flare – Reflexo das Antenas dos satélites artificias.
Iridium58: Canon 50D -ISO800 20mm F/5.6 Exp.30s em 25-07-10 às 23:49
Iridium 95: Canon 50D -ISO800 16mm F/5.6 Exp.29s em 23-07-10 às 23:52
The Espichel Skygazer
Imagens do Luar numa noite estrelada e simultaneamente enevoada, obtidas na zona rochosa do Cabo Espichel a 168m de altitude.
Above: Canon 50D -ISO800 F/5.6 Exp-30″ 20mm : 02-06-10 às 02h22.
Above: Canon 50D -ISO800 F/5 Exp-30″ 10mm : 02-06-10 às 02h18.
Full Moonrise behind the Castle
Nascer da Lua Cheia por de trás das muralhas do Castelo de Sesimbra no dia 27-05-2010.
Above: Img2037-Canon 50D – ISO400 F-5 Exp-1/3″ 100mm às 21:25
Above: Img1959-Canon 50D – ISO400 F-6.3 Exp-1/15″ 300mm às 21:11
Above: Img2023-Canon 50D – ISO400 F-4.5 Exp-1/6″ 149mm às 21:2
Lua Cheia no Portinho da Arrábida
Imagens da Lua Cheia obtidas no Portinho da Arrábida, uma zona de praia e rochas localizada na Serra da Arrábida, Setúbal. Na sequência de imagens pode ver-se a Lua Cheia e várias estrelas envolventes. As imagens foram captadas durante a noite de 26-04-10 entre as 21h05 e as 21h35, utlizando uma Canon 50D, com uma lente Sigma de 10mm, ISO 400, F4, foram usadas diversas velocidade de disparo.
Orion no Farol do Cabo Espichel
A constelação de Orion é bem visível no canto superior esquerdo da imagem, ao lado do famoso farol do Cabo Espichel. Inaugurado em 1790, em 1865 era alimentado por azeite, mudando de combustível em 1886, quando a sua luz passou a ser alimentada por incandescência de vapor de petróleo e, muito mais tarde em 1926 por electricidade. Mede 32 metros de altura e encontra-se a uma altitude de 168m. Presentemente o seu alcance luminoso é de 42 milhas náuticas, cerca de 67 km.
Canon 50D ISO 800 F-5.6 Exp.- 20″ a 20mm em 27-01-2010. Obtida às 23h02
“Harvest Moon” sobre a Ponte 25 de Abril
Lua Cheia fotografada sobre a Ponte 25 de Abril no dia em que é apelidada de “Harvest Moon”, por ser encontrar mais próximo do Equinócio de Outono. Imagem obtida em Almada junto ao Rio Tejo.
Canon 400D ISO 400 22mm F/4.5 Exp. 8 ” em 3-10-09 às 6:07
Romantic Moon Earthshine…
Romantic Moon Earthshine…Imagem obtida no Alentejo. Canon 400D – ISO 400 50mm F/2.5 6.0Sec. 25-07-09 22:02
Conjunção entre a Lua , as Pleiades e o planeta Mercúrio
Conjunção entre a Lua , as Pleiades e o planeta Mercúrio. Imagens obtidas na praia da Costa da Caparica – Almada. Canon 400D – ISO 200 F-5.6 Exp. 4″seg. -18mm em 26-04-2009 às 21h04
Nascer da Lua Cheia na Ponte Vasco da Gama
Nascer da Lua Cheia na Ponte Vasco da Gama – Parque das Nações. Esta, é a maior ponte da Europa com 17.2Km, no horizonte vê-se a continuação. Canon 400D – ISO 100 F-11 – Exp: 1/13 – 28mm às 21h04 em 17-06-08
























































































