Northern Lights Under the Moonlight above Alqueva Lake at 38º Latitude, Portugal
Captured on 10th of October, 2024, the panoramic image reveals an impressive display of northern lights in the presence of moonlight as seen from my location at 38º in Dark Sky® Alqueva, Portugal. I and Apolónia, we both could see them with naked eye around midnight. The weather was not perfect and a bit cloudy, but it ended up creating an even more dramatic and spectacular display over Monsaraz Castle and lake Alqueva.
PT: Captada em 10 de Outubro de 2024, a imagem panorâmica revela uma impressionante exibição das auroras boreais na presença do luar, vistas a partir da minha localização a 38º no Dark Sky® Alqueva, Portugal. Eu e a Apolónia pudemos inclusivamente observá-las a olho nu de forma subtil, por volta da meia-noite. O tempo não estava perfeito e um pouco nublado, mas acabou por criar uma exibição ainda mais dramática e espectacular sobre o Castelo de Monsaraz e o Grande Lago Alqueva.
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Buy a Fine Art Print or Wall Decor of this Image – Make your order Now!
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.
Peacock Sleeping on a Tree Under a Colorful Lunar Corona Lit by a Super Blue Moon
The image shows a peacock sleeping in a tree in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, in a special night on 20th August 2024, when the second full Moon of the Month happened, and for being as well at perigee was also called a Super Blue Moon. The single shot, also shows the background sky with high clouds covering the unfocused moon, while revealing the iridescence of a colorful corona surrounding our natural satellite. I was surprised to see a tree full of peacocks, I din’t knew that they were sleeping on trees to protect themselves from predators. Even not being well visible on the image, the peacock had by its side one little offspring, which I only noticed by the end of my capture. NatGeo explains that the term “peacock” is commonly used to refer to birds of both sexes. Technically, only males are peacocks. Females are peahens, and together, they are called peafowl. Peacocks are large, colorful pheasants (typically blue and green) known for their iridescent tails.The two Asiatic species are the blue or Indian peafowl originally from the Indian subcontinent, and the green peafowl from Southeast Asia. According to wikipedia, the Ancient Greeks believed that the flesh of peafowl did not decay after death, so it became a symbol of immortality. In Hellenistic imagery, the Greek goddess Hera’s chariot was pulled by peacocks, birds not known to Greeks before the conquests of Alexander. Alexander’s tutor, Aristotle, refers to it as “the Persian bird”. When Alexander saw the birds in India, he was so amazed at their beauty that he threatened the severest penalties for any man who slew one. Claudius Aelianus writes that there were peacocks in India, larger than anywhere else. In Christianity, the peacock can also symbolise the cosmos if one interprets its tail with its many “eyes” as the vault of heaven dotted by the sun, moon, and stars. Due to the adoption by Augustine of the ancient idea that the peacock’s flesh did not decay, the bird was again associated with immortality.
PT: A imagem mostra um pavão a dormir numa árvore em Punta Cana, República Dominicana, numa noite especial de 20 de agosto de 2024, quando ocorreu a segunda Lua Cheia do mês, e por estar também no perigeu foi também chamada de Super Lua Azul. A imagem de disparo único, mostra também o céu em pano de fundo com nuvens altas a cobrir a lua desfocada, enquanto revela a iridescência de uma coroa lunar visivíel em torno do nosso satélite natural. Fiquei surpreendido ao ver uma árvore cheia de pavões, não sabia que dormiam nas árvores para se protegerem dos predadores. Embora não seja claramente visível, este pavão tinha ainda a sua cria ao lado. So no final da captação de imagens é que me apercebi da sua pequena companhia. A NatGeo explica que o termo “pavão” é commumente utilizado para se referir a aves de ambos os sexos. Tecnicamente, só os machos são pavões. As fêmeas são pavoas e, em conjunto, são chamadas de pavões. Os pavões são faisões grandes e coloridos (normalmente azuis e verdes), conhecidos pelas suas caudas iridescentes. As duas espécies asiáticas são o pavão azul ou Indiano, originário do subcontinente Indiano, e o pavão verde, do Sudeste Asiático. Segundo a Wikipédia, na antiga grécia acreditava-se que a carne do pavão não se decompunha após a morte, pelo que se tornou um símbolo da imortalidade. Nas imagens helenísticas, o carro da deusa grega Hera era puxado por pavões, aves desconhecidas pelos gregos antes das conquistas de Alexandre. O tutor de Alexandre, Aristóteles, refere-se a ele como “o pássaro persa”. Quando Alexandre viu os pássaros na Índia, ficou tão impressionado com a sua beleza que ameaçou com as mais severas penas a qualquer homem que matasse um deles. Cláudio Aelianus escreve que existiam pavões na Índia, maiores do que em qualquer outro lugar. No Cristianismo, o pavão pode também simbolizar o Cosmos se interpretarmos a sua cauda com os seus muitos “olhos” como a abóbada celeste pontilhada pelo sol, pela lua e pelas estrelas. Devido à adoção por Agostinho da antiga ideia de que a carne do pavão não se decompunha, a ave foi novamente associada à imortalidade.
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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.
Allsky view of the Nortnern Lights above Dark Sky® Alqueva Headquarters and Observatory as seen at 38º Latitude in Portugal
Captured on May 10th, 2024 after a sequence of CME’s which triggered a strongest magnetic storm in the last 20 years. The fulldome fish-eye image, reveals an impressive display of northern lights as seen from my location at 38º. First moment I noticed was around 11PM above our Dark Sky® Alqueva headquarters and observatory, in Cumeada village near Reguengos, Portugal!! I could even see it with my naked eyes around 23h15, specially the vertical fast moving bands. So I did a few fish-eye all sky shots with my Canon 8-15mm. I could photograph more Aurora Borealis than when I visited Iceland for the first time back in 2019. I was expecting something more subtle in reddish hues, but it was full of colors and sometimes going very high almost reaching the Zenith.
PT: Captada em 10 de maio de 2024, após uma sequência de CME’s que desencadeou a tempestade magnética mais forte dos últimos 20 anos, a imagem allsky revela uma exibição impressionante das auroras boreais vista a partir da minha localização a 38º. O primeiro momento que notei foi por volta das 23h, por cima da nossa sede e observatório Dark Sky® Alqueva, na vila da Cumeada, perto de Reguengos, Portugal. Conseguiam-se ver subtilmente a olho nu por volta das 23h15, principalmente as faixas verticais em movimento. Tirei então algumas fotografias do céu com a lente olho de peixe – allsky – 8-15mm da Canon. Interessante também de referir, que consegui fotografar mais Auroras Boreais do que quando visitei a Islândia pela primeira vez em 2019. Esperava algo mais subtil em tons avermelhados, mas estava cheio de cores e por vezes a subir muito alto quase atingindo o zénite.
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Buy a Fine Art Print or Wall Decor of this Image – Make your order Now!
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.
Colorful Northern Lights Display above Dark Sky® Alqueva in Portugal
Captured on May 10th, 2024 after a sequence of CME’s which triggered a strongest magnetic storm in the last 20 years, the panoramic image reveals an impressive display of northern lights as seen from my location at 38º in Dark Sky® Alqueva, Portugal. I could even see it with my naked eyes around 23h15, specially the vertical fast moving bands. I could photograph more Aurora Borealis than when I visited Iceland for the first time back in 2019. I was expecting something more subtle in reddish hues, but it was full of colors and sometimes going very high almost reaching the Zenith.
PT: Captada em 10 de maio de 2024, após uma sequência de CME’s que desencadeou a tempestade magnética mais forte dos últimos 20 anos, a imagem panorâmica revela uma exibição impressionante da aurora boreal vista a partir da minha localização a 38º no Dark Sky® Alqueva, Portugal! Foi impressionante, captei mais Auroras nesta noite, do que quando visitei a Islândia pela primeira vez em 2019. Esperava algo mais subtil e em tons avermelhados, mas foi um espectáculo de cores incrível aos “olhos da câmara”. Visualmente é muito difícil de ver, só mesmo um olho treinado e nos céus escuros do Dark Sky® consegue detectar algum luminosidade estranha – porque as células cones não funcionam nestas circunstâncias.
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Buy a Fine Art Print or Wall Decor of this Image – Make your order Now!
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.
Whispers of Totality
The video reveals the most incredible moments of the Total Solar Eclipse from 8th April 2024, as seen from Clarcksville in Texas, US. It shows the begining of first C2 contact, when Diamond Rings starts to appear from a wide view, until the last glimps of sun rays while crossing mountains and valley’s on the Moon surface revealing the Baily’s Beads, the last seconds before starts the magical moment of Totality when the Sun’s Aura turns visible. The Solar Corona is extremely hot and dynamic, being the outermost layer of the Sun’s atmosphere, it reveals intricate fine structures of delicate details distorted by the strong magnetic fields. The plasma of the corona features a lot of loops and wispy white streamers radiating into space. But due to an immense level of brightness it is only possible to see when the Moon is perfectly covering our Sun.
Whispers of Totality not only shows the beauty of the Total Solar Eclipse in all it’s glory, but also the recorded whispers of our Portuguese voices and the emotions we were living during the Maximum of Totality. This was the most stressful time of our lives, without knowing until the very end, if we could make it. Me and my wife Apolónia, we travelled from Portugal to Pearsall, in Texas, as planned, but the forecast was indeed terrible almost in the entire US, or at least where the path was located. So after many hours driving from Dallas to Houston and then to Pearsall, with the rest of the week monitoring with several different models the evolution of the weather forecast, we have decided – even with a certain risk -that we must need to move back to north, again, to be more close to Oklahoma state. So on the day before the Eclipse, we had to drive back to Dallas during five or six hours and in the morning of the Eclipse, we did an extra two hours drive, to reach a small city called, Clarksville, in the northeast of Texas. At 10 AM the sky was still cloudy, and I only had 2 hours before the Eclipse starts, which means, to prepare the entire setup of 6 cameras with lens, tripods, mounts, filters, cables etc. Fortunately, like a miracle, just 5 minutes before totality starts, the sky cleared up where the Sun was located and during the Maximum it was completely crystal clear, at least, for around 1min and 30 seconds, calm and windless until the end. It was just…Magical!!
Licensed Music from Envato: 80s Wave by MARIAN
Captured and Edited by Miguel Claro.
Taking an high resolution HDR image like that represents an enormous amount of personal and professional efforts, as well as an incredible financial investment! I released an extensive article on my website with all the technical details here.
Fine Art Prints of my Sun’s AURA – Thank you for supporting my work as an independent artist while buying one of my Prints below:
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The Sun’s Aura – Solar Corona Revealed in All It’s Glory During Total Solar Eclipse 2024
Behind the Trip, from Portugal to Texas
Taking an high resolution HDR image like that represents an enormous amount of personal and professional efforts, as well as an incredible financial investment, and everything started many months before the Eclipse itself happened. Planning the trip to be on the right path, booking accommodation several months in advance, before prices went crazy, renting a car to be as much mobile as possible, and all of it without knowing if the weather will collaborate on the place we have choose to be for the special moment. Me and Apolónia, we travelled from Portugal to Pearsall, in Texas, as planned, but the forecast was indeed terrible almost in the entire US, or at least where the path was located. So after many hours driving from Dallas to Houston and then to Pearsall, with the rest of the week monitoring with several different models the evolution of the weather forecast, we have decided – even with a certain risk -that we must need to move back to north, again, to be more close to Oklahoma state. So on the day before the Eclipse, we had to drive back to Dallas during five or six hours and in the morning of the Eclipse, we did an extra two hours drive, to reach a small city called, Clarksville, in the northeast of Texas. At 10 AM the sky was still cloudy, and I only had 2 hours before the Eclipse starts, which means, to prepare my entire setup of 6 cameras with lens, tripods, mounts, filters, cables etc…. We found a nice green calm farm to setup everything. The owner kindly authorised us to stay with our car near by, thanks Ed. This was the most stressful time of our lives, without knowing until the very end, if we could make it, trying to focus and center the sun in between the clouds brought an extra difficulty to my task. Additionally, I only had 3 solar filters for 6 cameras. Fortunately, like a miracle, just 5 minutes before totality starts, the sky cleared up where the Sun was located and during the Maximum it was completely crystal clear, at least, for around 1min and 30 seconds, calm and windless until the end. It was just…Magical!!
Technical preparation and processing
My inspiration came from some of the most finest images I´ve seen so far, from pioneering Dr. Miloslav Druckmuller, and the incredible work of Nicolas Lefaudeux, as well as and the notable results achieved by my friend Petr Horalek. Just few months before the Eclipse I started going deep, researching and studying the processes involved in those kind of HDR Eclipse images. I red some of the papers by Dr. Miloslav, many other articles…and I knew it would be a very hard task. Specially some critical steps, as calibration and precise sub-pixel alignment in the linear stage, must be done using phase correlation, using correlated image structures to align them perfectly, which is done by non-available softwares, mainly developed by each of the authors, programmed and implemented themselves to apply the correct algorithm in a proper way. I don’t have access to a program with such capabilities and I didn’t wrote my own code – at least for now — so I had to find a different alternative for the critical steps. After many weeks testing and learning, I found the proper way to do it manually with pixel precision, using also calibration frames in the linear stage, but aligning and blending the seamless high dynamic range (HDR), free of artifact in the non-linear stage. There were helpful articles and tutorials along the way…from Fred Espenak, Alan’s Dyer (Books), Sean Walker (S&T article), and more recently by Bray Falls tutorial, but anyone was completely perfect on covering every aspects in case you plan to do both (Calibration, Aligning and HDR in Linear and non-linear stage). The image I’m presenting is the result of many hours of study and practice and a refined fusion of some of the techniques I’ve learned over the last years with some of you, so I’m thankful for that knowledge and want to show my deeply appreciation for that. I think that learning is the most beautiful thing, after…a Total Solar Eclipse :). With patience and knowledge, I tried to refine and improve some of the them, while integrating as part of my won developing workflow. It proved to be very efficient, as an example, after aligning all the brackets, and to achieve a perfect HDR merging while matching each exposure brightness levels, totally free of any artifact, I didn’t had to do, one single luminance mask during this non-linear stage, in order to get a well natural balanced light flow, ready for further enhancements of the corona details, such as removing the lowest spatial frequencies. It was incredible simple and it works like magic, I just need to check if also works so well on other different sets of Eclipse images, taken with different setups and exposures. Also important to say, specially nowadays, that this image, or part of it, was not AI generated, it’s of course, the result of a real hard amount of work captured and processed manually by myself. I’ve not even used during the processing stage, any AI fancy softwares, nor even to reduce noise, like Topaz. I used only PixInsight and Layering techniques in Photoshop.
The Sun’s Aura
The Corona is extremely hot and dynamic, being the outermost layer of the Sun’s atmosphere, it reveals intricate fine structures of delicate details distorted by the strong magnetic fields. Specially, close to the Solar maximum expected for 2025 (peak of 11 years cycle of activity), the plasma of the Sun’s corona features a lot of loops and wispy white streamers radiating into space. But due to an immense level of brightness it is only possible to see when the Moon is perfectly covering the Sun. Safe enough to enjoy with our naked-eyes, much more well prepared and efficient to comprise and accommodate a larger high dynamic range, than our cameras, which even nowadays can’t do it at once. This is why we need to cover around 14 stops in the dynamic range and probably even more would be best, but bracketing can help achieve this milestone.
And why is so special ? Because not even SOHO in space, from NASA, can watch the inner corona of the Sun in white light. It only can see the most extensive part of the outer corona, using a coronagraph, from two solar radii distant of the Sun’s centre.
Why Eclipse HDR is so Challenging
Photographing a Total Solar Eclipse, is probably to most advanced and complex task in all of astrophotography fields, not only from preparing and planning which requires a bit of Mat to find the correct set of exposures according to your gear combination, ISO, lens aperture, right place to be, right time to start etc, etc, as well as from executing it in a stressful short amount of time. But also very hard and difficult to process in a time consuming task. First, because the Sun, the Moon and the stars have all different motions across the sky, which are evident in long focal distances and long exposures. Images must be aligned not on the Moon’s disc, not on the stars, and not even on the prominences (as it only works in shorter exposures), so to reveal the corona in full glory, images must be aligned on the coronal structures which are very hard and tricky, as they are faint, subtle and lacking of contrast, and they keep moving too on a lower speed. Noticeable though over the course of all bracketing, but inevitably negligible, for the final fusion in order to naturally reduce the presence of noise. And probably the most difficult final achievement, is to keep as much as possible, everything looking natural without overcooking it. It is a delicate balance between, contrast, light flow, color and detail which I tried to keep in mind and respect until the very end. I hope I did it!
Equipment and Exposures
The High Resolution image was captured with a Sigma lens at 600mm at f6.3, and a Nikon D850 modified (Ha sensitive – not relevant for this type of TSE images) on a Vixen portable mount. I did more than 163 photos (bracketed exposures), but I’ve only selected 72 images (8 bracketed sequences of 9 shots each) to process, where the sky was crystal clear without any high cloud visible. The exposure time for each sequence bracketing was ranging from 1/125s, 1/60s, 1/30s, 1/15s, 1/8s, 1/4, 1/2s, 1s, 2s at ISO100, plus additional fast exposures of 1/4000 for C2 and C3 (Prominences and Baily’s Beads). 93GB of images were acquired just for this setup, being 1446 calibration frames such as flats, darks and bias (in a total of 65GB). Images used were captured during 1 minute and 28 seconds of the Maximum, during the 4 minutes and 19 seconds of Totality as seen from my location in Clarcksville, Texas.
Contacts C2 and C3
I merged the images from contact C2 and C3 in a single final photo, to reveal the best of all prominences visible around the Sun’s limb. This allowed to show the solar prominences and their associated magnetic loops on the final HDR image.
Moon Earthshine
Normally well seen one or two days after the new moon, the Earthshine phenomenon was described and drawn for the first time by the great Leonardo Da Vinci about 500 years ago on his book Codex Leicester, Leonardo da Vinci explained the phenomenon known as Earthshine in the early 16th century, when he realised that both Earth and the Moon reflect sunlight at the same time. Light is reflected from the Earth to the Moon and then back to the Earth as Earthshine. During Totality the Moon is in front of the Sun and can be seen in a long exposure. Indeed, it’s the only moment when is possible to capture the full disc of the Moon during New Moon phase. I was gladly surprised with the level of detail that could be seen, after a stack of the 0,5s, 1s and 2s exposures of all 8 bracketing combined together, comprising a total amount of 28s. The level of detail was then enhancement using a Local Histogram Equalisation with a large scale. Again, is interesting to show that a stack aligned on the moon, reveals the trails of background stars as the moon is moving much more faster then sidereal, and solar motion. Below: The image on the left, shows the natural Moon’s disc after the 28s stack, and before any further detail enhancement. Startrails are shown on the right image as the result of the stack.
Background stars up to 10.8 mag
The stack of the long exposures aligned on the stars, comprises a total amount of 28 seconds too, and can reveal stars down to magnitude 10.8. Interesting to note that the brightest star visible close to the left side of the Moon, – landscape version or upper in the portrait one – is indeed a variable double star in Pisces named: Zeta Piscium (86 Psc).
Coronal motion on finest structures
Loops in the inner corona are normally more slow and tend to not reveal obvious motion in such short amount of time (88 seconds), but streamers and small scale features seems to reveals some noticeable movement in the background. Some of the most interested features that my eyes could caught are highlighted with arrows at the lower left corner, showing what seems to be a displacement of a small scale structure. Besides the evident Moon’s motion, is also possible to notice some subtle radial motion on large scale features, visible in the background. Even not being as precise as sub-pixel phase correlation algorithm, the animation can also attest the high accuracy of manual alignment. Images used for this animation were acquired during 1 minute and 28 seconds of the Maximum during Totality in between 13h45m46s and13h47m14s Local time (-6 UT). Each successive 9 exposures set of images was aligned and processed independently to get 8 successive final composites of the solar corona. Then, the lowest spatial frequencies was removed and all composites were animated as a final Gif at a speed of 0,05 seconds each. Captured from Clarcksville, Texas, US, during Totality on April 8, 2024 with a 600mm lens f/6.3 on a Nikon D850. Note – you might feel seek if you focus your attention for a long period of time on the same spot. Make a few seconds pause, and then look back.
Acknowledgments
To produce a photo like that your investment may easily achieve the amount of a small entry level car, so fortunately, I had some extra support of some good friends that helped to make this possible. They know who are and their place in our thankful hearts. This image is dedicate to them, but specially to my dear girlfriend/wife Apolónia, as she not only planned every detail of the travel and ground trip alone when I was immersed in planning the technical stuffs, gears, cameras, lens etc…as she helped overcome all the single obstacles in our way that we faced since last year…and that, almost…made me give up of making this expensive trip to the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse. Last but not the least, to our lovely Sun, for being just mesmerisingly Beautiful and make it appear in between the clouds, for long enough, to make every drop of sweat count! To summarize the beauty of this event in a 1 minute video, I’ve created the Whispers of Totality.
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Super “Blue” Moon 2023 Rising Over Monsaraz Castle – Photo and Time Lapse
A single shot shows a Super Full “Blue” Moon which don’t have nothing of blue, rising above Monsaraz castle at Dark Sky® Alqueva, in Portugal. Blue Moon is just called when two full moons happen in the same month. Supermoons happen when a full moon approximately coincides with the moon’s perigee, or a point in its orbit at which it is closest to Earth. This makes the moon appear larger and brighter than usual. Below is a time lapse of this singular moment, to watch with sound on.
PT: A imagem de um disparo único, revela a Super Lua Cheia “Azul” – que não tem nada de azul – nascendo sobre o castelo de Monsaraz, no Dark Sky® Alqueva, em Portugal. A “Blue Moon” é assim apelidada sempre que ocorre a segunda luz cheia no mesmo mês. As superluas ocorrem quando a lua cheia coincide aproximadamente com o perigeu, ponto da sua órbita mais próxima da Terra. Nesta alturas a lua parece maior e mais brilhante do que o normal. Em baixo é possível ver um time lapse deste momento singular, para ver com o som ligado.
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Rare RED Aurora Display “SAR arc” over Dark Sky® Alqueva Observatory in Portugal on 24th April 2023
After checking many elements with so many coincidences I have now almost 99,9% certain that two nights ago, from 23th to 24th April, when I was over night at the official Observatory of Dark Sky® Alqueva, in Cumeada village, Portugal, capturing my latest deep sky target in a region of the sky full of galaxies known as Markarian’s Chain, I captured the rare moment of a red aurora borealis display glowing over Alqueva, as low as 38º latitude. It happened during the strong burst of activity with a severe magnetic storm reaching a geomagnetic K-index level of 8 between 00h45 and 02h15 (local time +1UT), and then decreasing to a Level k5. I had one of my cameras pointing to west region on a 300mm lens, covering a short field of view. We had a dark starry night, the sky was clear as shown on radar images. Our SQM system at the Observatory was registering the peak measurement of the red glowing light exactly at the same time that I had it visible on my images and the report from Spaceweather alert. Unfortunately I was too tired after a few consecutive nights shooting and was napping a bit between tasks and while my telescopes were working. I didn’t had my fish-eye all sky lens with me, so I had installed only one extra camera with a wide angle, which was pointing to the Milky Way – opposite direction – and started around 2AM when the level decreased suddenly, being registered only at the beginning of the time lapse. But fortunately the close-up deepsky sequence that covers the galaxy field, was showing at the end of the video an incredible red display which last for about 1h. In a question of a few minutes all the sky was fulfilled by an intense red glow coming apparently from “nowhere”, which impels me to believe that this could only be the result of an extreme aurora activity that was visible from all over northern Europe. My friend and TWAN colleague Alan Dyer pointed me to most plausible cause, an even rare type of auroras called SAR arc (Stable Auroral Red) arcs which were only discovered in 1956. Alan mentioned that “in the northern hemisphere, SARs occur south of the main aurora, and would be seen before any aurora itself appears at lower latitudes. They are almost always sub-visual but cameras pick them up easily”. I never saw something like that in my life, and it was not visible with naked-eye, I only noticed after being notified by Spaceweather alerts about the undergoing storm, and after checking if my deepsky camera was focused, but I remember to look up and think on that “weird reddish” light visible on my lcd screen, and even checked if the white balance was ok, but everything was set up properly as expected. Finally, I looked up to visually confirme if the sky was clean, and it was totally clear. Normally from Alqueva, I usual get green airglow on my photos, as red airglow is normally well seen in high altitude places, like Atacama or La Palma, and is indeed faint comparing to the level of brightness I get on histogram. We have confirmed and radar images shows that the sky was clear too, but I even checked the images from two nights before when I was capturing the same region of the sky but had a few high clouds and the appearance on the image is completely different, the image tends to be more pale white and faint galaxies simply vanish while stars shows a diffuse halo or a glow around them. And during the red aurora display the galaxies were still sharp as before and keep revealing the faint dusty oblong shape. Plus after checking Spaceweather website, I saw that an NLC camera located in Southern Spain (37ºN) captured the Northern Lights too, as well in Calar Alto Observatory.
Conclusion, I think that 24th April 2023 is probably an historic date and special moment for me, as the last confirmed reports about auroras in Portugal were from 85 years ago, on 25th de January 1938, and 66 years ago, on 21th January 1957 according to same archive news about this event, and none of them were about “SAR arc”.
The mosaic above shows single shot images from the time lapse sequence, regarding the wide field camera, and images from the left telescope lens. Centered reddish images was related with the middle of the most intense display around 01h38 (local time, with DST active is +1hUT) | PT: O mosaico acima mostra as imagens de disparo único a apartir da sequência time lapse, em relativas à câmara de grane campo e imagens do telescópio da esquerda a 300mm. A imagem avermelhada central é relativa ao meio do evento quando aintgiu a maior intensidade por volta das 01h38 (hora local, com horário de verão ativo é +1hUT).
PT: Depois de verificar vários elementos e tantas coincidências, tenho agora quase 99,9% de certeza que poderei afirmar sem grande margem para dúvidas que há duas noites atrás, de 23 para 24 de Abril, quando pernoitei no Observatório Oficial do Dark Sky® Alqueva, na vila da Cumeada, Portugal, enquanto captava o meu mais recente objecto de céu profundo em uma região do céu cheia de galáxias conhecida como “Markarian Chain”, captei um raro momento que poderá ficar para a história, de o aparecimento de uma aurora boreal vermelha brilhando sobre os céus do Alqueva, a uma baixa latitude de 38ºN. Aconteceu durante um breve momento de actividade extrema com uma forte tempestade magnética atingindo um nível geomagnético (K-index) de K8 entre 00h45 e 02h15 (hora local portuguesa +1UT), e diminuindo no espaço de uma hora e quase repentinamente, para um nível k5. Eu tinha uma das minhas câmaras apontando para a região sudoeste a cerca de 60º de altura com uma lente de 300 mm, cobrindo um pequeno campo de visão. Tivemos uma noite escura e estrelada, o céu estava límpido como mostram as imagens de radar. O nosso sistema SQM no Observatório que mede em permanência a escuridão do céu, registou a medição de pico da luz vermelha brilhante exactamente ao mesmo tempo em que eu a tinha visível nas minhas imagens e no relatório do alerta Spaceweather. Infelizmente eu estava muito cansado depois de algumas noites consecutivas a fotografar e sem praticamente dormir e estava a dormitar um pouco entre tarefas, enquanto os meus telescópios trabalhavam. Eu não tinha a minha lente olho de peixe de 8mm (all sky) comigo, então instalei apenas uma câmara extra com grande angular, que apontava para a Via Láctea – direcção oposta – e que começou a fotografar por volta das 2 da manhã, quando o nível caiu repentinamente, estando registado apenas no início do time lapse. Mas felizmente, a sequência de céu profundo que cobre o campo da galáxias mostra no final do vídeo uma incrível luz vermelha intensa que durou cerca de 1h. Em questão de minutos todo o céu foi preenchido por um intenso brilho vermelho vindo aparentemente “do nada”, o que me leva a crer que isso só poderia ser resultado da actividade extrema das auroras boreais visível em todo o norte da Europa. O meu amigo e colega do TWAN Alan Dyer indicou-me a causa mais plausível, um tipo ainda mais raro de auroras chamado SAR arc (Stable Auroral Red) que só foi descoberto em 1956. Alan mencionou que “no hemisfério norte, os SARs ocorrem ao sul da aurora principal, e deveriam ser vistos antes que qualquer aurora aparecesse em latitudes mais baixas. Eles são quase sempre subvisuais, mas as câmaras conseguem captá-los facilmente” acrescenta. Eu nunca vi algo assim na minha vida, e não era visível a olho nu, só notei depois de ser avisado pelos alertas do Spaceweather sobre a tempestade em andamento, e depois de verificar se a minha câmara deepsky estava focada, mas recordo-me de olhar para cima e pensar naquela luz “avermelhada estranha” visível no meu lcd, e até verificar se o balanço de brancos estava ok, mas tudo foi configurado correctamente conforme o esperado. Por fim, olhei para cima para confirmar visualmente se o céu estava limpo e estava totalmente limpo. Normalmente do Alqueva, costumo obter airglow verde (luminescência fotoquímica da atmosfera) nas minhas fotos, já que o airglow vermelho é normalmente mais comum em locais de grande altitude, como o Atacama ou La Palma, e é realmente fraco em comparação com o nível de brilho que obtivera no histograma. Confirmámos e as imagens do radar mostram que o céu também estava limpo, mas até verifiquei as imagens de duas noites anteriores, enquanto captava a mesma região do céu mas com algumas nuvens altas visíveis e a aparência na imagem é completamente diferente, a imagem tende a ser mais esbranquiçada e pálida e as galáxias fracas simplesmente desaparecem enquanto as estrelas mostram um halo difuso ao seu redor. Durante a exibição desta rara aurora vermelha, as galáxias continuaram nítidas como antes, a revelar a sua forma oblonga empoeirada e ténue. Além disso, depois de verificar o site do Spaceweather, vi que uma câmera NLC localizada no sul da Espanha (37ºN) também captou as auroras boreais, assim como o Observatório Espanhol de Calar Alto.
Conclusão, penso que o dia 24 de abril de 2023 é provavelmente uma data histórica e um momento especial para mim, pois os últimos relatos confirmados sobre auroras em Portugal datam de há 85 anos, a 25 de janeiro de 1938, e há 66 anos, a 21 de janeiro de 1957, segundo alguns arquivos de notícias sobre este evento, e nenhuma delas foi sobre um “SAR arc”.
Below are a graphic with our SQM system showing the measurments at the Observatory that night, as well as a radar infrared image with a cloud cover above Iberian Peninsula. PT: Abaixo está um gráfico com nosso sistema SQM mostrando as medições no Observatório naquela noite, bem como uma imagem de radar infravermelho com a cobertura de nuvens sobre a Península Ibérica.
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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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Last Full Moon of the Year Featuring a Colorful Corona During a Close Encounter with Mars
The image shows the last Full Moon of the year captured in a double exposure and “immersed” in a layer of clouds. The colourful hue that surrounds the moon, is a lunar corona formed while bright moonlight is diffracted by water droplets in thin clouds, drifting in front of the lunar disk. Mars is also visible as a little yellow-orange dot that lies in the blue boundary of the orange ring from corona circular shape. Located at a few degrees of the Moon for being captured at 18° latitude, from North America and Europe was possible to watch the complete occultation of the planet by the Moon’s disc.
PT: A imagem mostra a última Lua Cheia do ano captada numa dupla exposição e “imersa” em uma camada de nuvens. As tonalidades coloridas que circundam a lua, são provocadas por uma corona lunar, que se forma enquanto o brilho da lua é difractado por gotículas de água em nuvens finas, provocando a iridescência que lhe confere a cor, enquanto flutuam assim na frente do disco lunar. Marte também é visível como um pequeno ponto amarelo-laranja que fica no limite do anel azul que compõe a corona. Situado a poucos graus da Lua por ter sido captado a 18° de latitude, na América do Norte e Europa, foi possível observar a ocultação do planeta pelo disco lunar.
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Waning Gibbous Moon Rising like a Torch of Hope above the Golf of Oman
The image shows a sequence of a waning gibbous moon while rising in a warm night of November, above the Golf of Oman, in Muskat. In the other side of the Sea, close to the horizon where the red-blood moon is visible, there is Iran, a beautiful country full of good and talented people which is now suffering while trying to fight for their freedom. The world is a wonderful place and needs our urgent action, care and attention as a humankind. Let’s choose Love and Beauty as our inner guide to have a plenty life in this short journey through the planet Earth.
PT: A imagem mostra a sequência de uma lua minguante em quanto nasce e se ergue numa noite quente de Novembro, acima do Golfo de Omã, em Muskat. Do outro lado do mar, perto do horizonte onde a lua avermellhada é visível, está o Irão, um país cheio de riqueza paisagística e culturar, com pessoas boas, inteligentes e talentosas mas que agora sofrem enquanto tentam lutar pela sua liberdade. O mundo é um lugar maravilhoso e precisa de nossa ação, cuidado e atenção urgentes, precisa da nossa Humanidade mais do que nunca. O meu apelo nesta foto, é para que todos possamos escolher o Amor e a Beleza como a bússola interior que nos leve a uma vida repleta de alegria e magia, nesta curta viagem pelo planeta Terra.
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Colorful Scenes Before and After the New Moon Reveals a Lunar Earthshine at Dawn and Dusk
Captured one day before the New Moon and the last Partial Solar Eclipse of the year, against the colorful background in the morning twilight of Antalya, Turkey, the image reveals not only a smiling Waning Crescent Moon but also the rare view of planet Mercury, the Inner planet more close to the Sun and by that reason, very difficult to see and spot in the eastern sky. Looking carefully to the end of the pier where is the last lounge roof, we can find the orange bright dot. Now on the right image, captured with the same 200mm lens and almost from the same location on a pier in the beach, reveals the scene while looking to the opposite direction of the sky, this time facing to west just two days after the new moon and 30 minutes after the sunset. The Earthshine is again visible, but the smile has slightly changed due to the Moon position regarding the Sun. Described and drawn for the first time by Leonardo Da Vinci about 500 years ago on his book Codex Leicester, Leonardo da Vinci explained the phenomenon known as Earthshine in the early 16th century, when he realised that both Earth and the Moon reflect sunlight at the same time. Light is reflected from the Earth to the Moon and back to the Earth as earthshine.The image shows a sequence of shots in time lapse mode, while the Moon Earthshine of last October was setting above Bey mountains and close to Mediterranean Sea.
PT: Captada um dia antes da Lua Nova e do último Eclipse Solar Parcial do ano, contra o fundo colorido do crepúsculo matinal de Antalya, na Turquia, a imagem revela não apenas uma Lua Minguante sorridente, mas também a rara visão do planeta Mercúrio, o Planeta interior mais próximo do Sol e por isso, muito difícil de ver e localizar no céu oriental. Olhando atentamente para o final do cais onde fica o último telhado da zona lounge, podemos encontrar um ponto laranja brilhante. Já na imagem à direita, captada com a mesma lente de 200mm e quase do mesmo local do pontão na praia, revela o cenário na direção oposta do céu, desta vez voltado para oeste apenas dois dias após a lua nova e 30 minutos após o pôr do sol. O Earthshine é novamente visível, mas o sorriso mudou ligeiramente devido à posição da Lua em relação ao Sol. Descrito e desenhado pela primeira vez por Leonardo Da Vinci há cerca de 500 anos em seu livro Codex Leicester, Leonardo da Vinci explicou o fenómeno conhecido como Earthshine no início do século XVI, quando percebeu que tanto a Terra quanto a Lua refletem a luz solar ao mesmo tempo. A luz é refletida da Terra para a Lua e de volta para a Terra como Earthshine. A imagem mostra ainda uma sequência fotográfica em modo time lapse, enquanto o Earthshine lunar de Outubro se deitava acima das montanhas Bey e perto do Mar Mediterrâneo.
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Sequence of a Lunar Earthshine as Seen above Bey Mountains in Turkey
Two to three days after the new moon, is the ideal time to enjoy the Earthshine phenomenon (meaning the light is reflected from the Earth to the Moon, and back to the Earth again as earthshine), for being totally visible with the naked eye 30 minutes after the sunset, and not faraway from the western horizon. The image shows a sequence of shots while the Moon Earthshine of October was setting above Bey mountains and close to Mediterranean Sea, in Antalya, Turkey.
PT: Dois a três dias após a lua nova é o momento ideal para apreciar o fenómeno Earthshine (ou seja, a luz é refletida da Terra para a Lua, e novamente de volta da Lua para a Terra em forma de Earthshine), por ser totalmente visível a olho nú cerca de 30 minutos após o pôr-do-sol, e não muito longe do horizonte ocidental. A imagem mostra uma sequência de fotos enquanto o Earthshine lunar de Outubro se deitava atrás das montanhas Bey, perto do Mar Mediterrâneo, em Antalya, Turquia..
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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.
Kicking the Moon Right on Target During a Partial Solar Eclipse
The image shows the entire sequence of last Partial Solar Eclipse of the year in October 25, 2022, seen above the Mediterranean Sea, from Antalya, Turkey. The background captured in the morning twilight of the same day, shows the Earth Shadow and Belt of Venus visible in the back, while my own silhouette was giving a kick…like if the Moon was a black ball crossing in front of the solar disc. The solar disc was captured with a baader filter using a 14-24mm lens set to 22mm. As well as the the foreground image (without the solar filter), which was taken with the same focal distance at approximately the same place. If you want to see another version while throwing the Moon into the Sun, click here.
PT: A imagem mostra o último Eclipse Solar Parcial do ano – ocorrido a 25 de Outubro de 2022 – visto acima do Mar Mediterrâneo e a partir de Antalya, na Turquia. A imagem em pano de fundo foi captada ao crepúsculo náutico do mesmo dia, mostrando a “Sombra da Terra e o Cinturão de Vénus” (faixa azul escura e rosa, visível logo acima do horizonte) enquanto a minha própria silhueta dava um chuto bem forte…na nossa querida Lua, como se esta fosse uma pequena bola preta que subiu tão alto, que cobriu um pedaço do Sol. O disco solar foi captado com um filtro baader usando uma lente 14-24mm ajustada para 22mm. Assim como a imagem de primeiro plano (sem o filtro solar), que foi captada com a mesma distância focal e aproximadamente no mesmo local. Se me quiser ver noutra versão, a lançar uma lua ao Sol, 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.
Sungazers Enjoying the Sequence of the Last Partial Solar Eclipse of the Year
The image shows the entire sequence of last Partial Solar Eclipse of the year in October 25, 2022, seen above the Mediterranean Sea, from Antalya, Turkey. The background captured in the morning twilight of the same day, shows the Earth Shadow and Belt of Venus visible in the back, while a couple of sungazers (me and my girlfriend) were enjoying the sky and simulating to point to the path. The solar disc was captured with a baader filter between 13:40h and 18:00h (+3h UT), when the sun was in the Meridian and until it was setting behind the Bey mountains, using a 14-24mm lens set to 22mm. As well as the the foreground image (without the solar filter), which was taken with the same focal distance at approximately the same place.
PT: A imagem mostra toda a sequência do último Eclipse Solar Parcial do ano – ocorrido a 25 de Outubro de 2022 – visto acima do Mar Mediterrâneo e a partir de Antalya, na Turquia. A imagem em pano de fundo foi captada ao crepúsculo náutico do mesmo dia, mostrando a “Sombra da Terra e o Cinturão de Vénus” (faixa azul escura e rosa, visível logo acima do horizonte) enquanto um casal de sungazers (eu e minha namorada) aproveitavam o céu e simulavam apontar o caminho descrito pelo Sol. O disco solar foi captado com um filtro baader entre 13:40h e 18:00h (+3h UT), quando o sol estava no Meridiano e até este se pôr atrás das montanhas Bey, usando uma lente 14-24mm ajustada para 22mm. Assim como a imagem de primeiro plano (sem o filtro solar), que foi captada com a mesma distância focal e aproximadamente no mesmo local.
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Lonely Tree with Milky Way Immersed in Airglow
Feeling blessed to live so close to Dark Sky® Alqueva reserve where I can easily reach places like this, places that I love and where pristine skies are still possible to see. On this particular night taken during one of my private workshops, the airglow was so active that literally painted with greenish hues the background sky. In the foreground, a wonderful trees stands in the golden fields of Alentejo, while the heart of Milky Way is going away until April of next year, where it starts to appear again but late in the night, just an hour before sunrise.
PT: Sinto-me abençoado por viver tão perto do Dark Sky® Alqueva, onde posso facilmente chegar a lugares como este, lugares que me apaixonam e onde ainda é possível disfrutar de um céu pristino. Nesta noite em particular, que decorreu durante um de meus workshops privados de astrofotografia, o airglow – luminescência fotoquímica da atmosfera – estava tão activo que literalmente “pintou” em tons esverdeados o céu de fundo. Em primeiro plano, uma bonita oliveira frondosa destaca-se nos campos dourados do Alentejo, enquanto o coração da Via Láctea se despede de todos nós até abril do próximo ano, altura em que reaparecerá de forma discreta uma hora antes do sol nascer.
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A Bright Long Perseid Meteor Featuring Its Chemical Elements While Burning
The brightest meteor I’ve ever captured in many years and probably the most prominent from Perseids meteor shower of 2021. Caught in a single frame taken with a 20mm lens with crop factor, during the night of 11th to 12th at 01:25:22 secs (+1h UT), crossing high in the sky between Deneb and Altair star from Summer Triangle. It was a fast and bright meteor featuring a very long tail of about 36º (measured from star Rho Cygni up to Alpha Sagittae), with a half-green and half-pink violet hue due to an elevated concentration of chemical elements like magnesium (green) and calcium (pink-violet), typical in meteors from Perseids. The tail ends up with a little explosion visible as a white bluish bright flash, for hitting a high temperature during the rapidly process of burning. The image was captured from Dark Sky Aldeias do Xisto, in the center of Portugal. Nikon D810a, ISO2500, 20mm Lens at f/1.8, Exp: 20 secs.
PT: O meteoro mais brilhante que já captei em muitos anos e provavelmente o mais proeminente da chuva de meteoros das Perseidas de 2021. Captado em um único disparo através de uma lente de 20 mm com factor crop aplicado, durante a noite de 11 para 12 de Agosto pela 01h25m20 seg (+1UT) cruzou o céu bem alto, entre a estrela Deneb e a estrela Altair do Triângulo de Verão. Era um meteoro rápido e brilhante, apresentando uma cauda muito longa com cerca de 36º de comprimento (medida da estrela Rho Cygni até Alpha Sagittae), com uma tonalidade metade verde e metade rosa-violeta, devido a uma elevada concentração de elementos químicos como magnésio (verde) e cálcio (rosa-violeta), típico em meteoros das Perseidas. A cauda acaba com uma pequena explosão visível como um clarão branco azulado brilhante, por atingir uma alta temperatura durante o rápido processo de queima. A imagem foi captada no Dark Sky Aldeias do Xisto, no centro de Portugal. Nikon D810a, ISO2500, 20mm Lens at f/1.8, Exp: 20 secs.
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Moonrise Crossing an Inversion Layer Showing the Rare Lunar Red Flash
The image and video time lapse shows the full moonrise of last June 24, 2021, vividly orange in color above a hill made by rocky wastes from an extraction of marble, in Borba. In the foreground, blurred greenish hues belongs to a vineyard which is out of focus in the frame for being not faraway from my 600mm telephoto lens. Above the horizon, a sequence of shots shows the moon rising while seems to immerse into a layer of strong temperature inversion, where warm air is above colder air, creating the right conditions to show a rare phenomenon known as lunar “red flash”. On the second moon of the still photo sequence, is visible a red flash below the disc, appearing detach from the main body itself. Expert Les Cowley explains on his Atmospheric Optics website, “when crossing the layers, light rays bend so that they are reflected up and down. This phenomenon is the result of mirages and color separation. We usually see a green flash when the Sun or Moon dips down into the inversion.The near horizon moon has an upper green rim (green because much blue light is scattered away) and a lower red rim. A mirage is needed to magnify these into a green or red flash. The “Etruscan Vase” or “Omega mirage” is formed by refraction across the temperature/density gradients of warm air beneath cooler.” .
PT: A imagem e vídeo time lapse, revelam o nascer da lua cheia no passado dia 24 de Junho de 2021, com uma cor vívida laranja, acima de uma colina formada por resíduos rochosos de uma extração de mármore, em Borba. No primeiro plano, os tons esverdeados pertencem a uma vinha que está desfocado no enquadramento por não estar muito longe da minha teleobjetiva de 600 mm. Acima do horizonte, uma sequência de fotos mostra a lua nascendo enquanto parece imergir de uma camada com uma forte inversão de temperatura, onde o ar quente está acima do ar mais frio, criando as condições certas para mostrar um fenómeno raro, conhecido como “flash vermelho” lunar. Na segunda lua da sequência fotográfica estática, é visível um pequeno “flash” vermelho alongado logo abaixo do limbo, que se parece desprender do próprio disco lunar. O especialista britânico Les Cowley explica no seu site Atmospheric Optics, “ao cruzar as camadas, os raios de luz curvam-se de modo que são refletidos para cima e para baixo. Este fenómeno é o resultado de miragens e separação de cores. Normalmente vemos um flash verde quando o Sol ou a Lua mergulha na inversão. A lua próxima do horizonte, tem uma borda verde superior (verde porque muita da luz azul é espalhada) e uma borda vermelha inferior. Uma miragem é no entanto necessária para ampliar actuante como uma lente gigante, tornando assim visível o flash verde ou vermelho. O “Etruscan Vase” ou “Miragem Omega” é formado pela refração através dos gradientes de temperatura – densidade do ar quente abaixo do mais frio. “.
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Galactic Arm and Greenish Air Glow above Steppe Golden Fields of Mértola – All Sky and VR 360º Scene
Captured on a steppe field from the wonderful region of Mértola in Dark Sky® Alqueva, and featured in a panoramic view as NASA’s APOD – Astronomy Picture of the Day, an all sky and 360º Virtual Reality scene, features the arch of Milky Way shining high in the Sky. Summer Triangle highlights the center of the image, with blueish Vega near the top. At the upper half right side – in the beginning of the Milky Way – a bright elliptic and diffuse dot is the light coming from Andromeda Galaxy. The greenish horizon is surrounded and involved in airglow and some thin high clouds. Located at one o´clock shines an orange dot, it’s not a star, but the close planet Mars in opposition. In the opposite horizon of this large circular field – left upper edge of the all sky scene – lies planets Saturn and Jupiter against the dusty core of our Milky Way Galaxy. Below is available a Virtual Reality 360º image, which you can experience in full resolution using your desktop, or smartphone with gyroscope. A great “in loco” experience can be achieved if you wear a VR glasses.
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The Moon Rising While Crossing the Clouds above a Peaceful Lagoon in a Time Lapse Video
A short time lapse sequence shows the moon rising above a peaceful lagoon from the rural hotel Naveterra, in Alandroal, located in the northern part of @darkskyalqueva Reserve. An interesting game of light and shadows can be enjoyed while the moon is getting high in the sky and crosses a layer of clouds.
PT: Uma breve sequência de lapso de tempo mostra a lua nascendo sobre uma lagoa tranquila do hotel rural Naveterra, no Alandroal, localizado na parte norte da Reserva Dark Sky® Alqueva. Um interessante jogo de luzes e sombras pode ser apreciado enquanto sobe mais alto no céu e atravessa uma camada de nuvens.
Galactic Arm and Greenish Air Glow above Steppe Golden Fields from Dark Sky® Alqueva in Mértola
Captured on a steppe field from the wonderful region of Mértola in Dark Sky® Alqueva, and featured as NASA’s APOD – Astronomy Picture of the Day the image shows the arch of Milky Way shining high in the Sky. Summer Triangle highlights the center of the image, with blueish Vega in the top. At the left side – in the beginning of the Milky Way – a bright elliptic and diffuse dot is the light coming from Andromeda Galaxy and below, near the greenish horizon involved in airglow and some thin high clouds, shines an orange dot, it’s not a star, but the close planet Mars in opposition. In the opposite direction of this large field of view – right edge of the picture – lies planets Saturn and Jupiter against the dusty core of our Milky Way Galaxy.
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A Moon Glory and a Brocken Spectre Shinning above Dark Sky® Vale do Tua
Featured as OPOD – Optics Picture of the Day, the image reveals a starry landscape scene from the viewpoint of Ujo and overlooking to the extensive Tua valley and the current reservoir on a moonlit foggy night, while the Waning Moon was laying down behind the mountains, creating a ringed Moon Glory and a Brocken Spectre shadow, as seen on lower center left of this wide panoramic scene. Resembling an iconic saint’s halo, a Glory happens in rare occasions, when the moonlight is interacting with the tiny water droplets that compose mist or clouds. Consisting in one or more concentric rings successively dimming, in which each is red on the outside and bluish towards the centre, it is centered on the antilunar point, coinciding with the shadow of the observer’s head. Since this point is by definition diametrically opposed to the moon’s position in the night sky, it always lies below the observer’s horizon when the moon is up. When viewed from a mountain, glories are often seen in association with a Brocken spectre, also called Mountain spectre, the apparently enormously magnified shadow, cast when the moon or sun is low, on clouds below the mountain on which the viewer is standing. The name derives from the Brocken, the tallest peak of the Harz mountain range in Germany. Captured from Dark Sky® Vale do Tua, recently certified as an International Starlight Tourist Destination located in the northern part of Portugal.
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Da Vinci Glow Revealed in a High Dynamic Range of a Crescent Moon
Featured as Nasa´s APOD – Astronomy Picture of the Day image shows an High Dynamic Range photo of a Crescent Moon, showing in a detailed way the Da Vinci Glow, as well as revealing the bright side of the Moon full of craters with its disk 22,6% directly illuminated by the Sun. Described and drawn for the first time by the great Leonardo Da Vinci about 500 years ago on his book Codex Leicester, Leonardo da Vinci explained the phenomenon known as Earthshine in the early 16th century, when he realised that both Earth and the Moon reflect sunlight at the same time. Light is reflected from the Earth to the Moon and back to the Earth as earthshine. On the bright side is possible to see in the upper part, craters like Hercules and Atlas, while a bit below the lunar Terminator (line dividing light and shadow) is crossing the large Posidonius crater which also marks in the beginning of Mar Tranquilitatis, the place where the last Apollo mission (17) as landed. Below are also visible Mare Crisium, Mare Fecunditatis and Mare Nectaris.
PT: Destacada como Nasa´s APOD – Astronomy Picture of the Day a imagem de Alta Gama Dinâmica (HDR) revela uma lua crescente exibindo de forma detalhada o brilho de Da Vinci, onde simultaneamente é possível observar o lado mais brilhante repleto de crateras, enquanto o disco se encontrava 22,6% directamente iluminado pelo sol. Descrito e desenhado pela primeira vez pelo grande Leonardo Da Vinci há cerca de 500 anos em seu livro Codex Leicester, Leonardo da Vinci explicou o fenómeno conhecido como Earthshine no início do século XVI, quando percebeu que tanto a Terra quanto a Lua refletiam a luz solar ao mesmo tempo. A luz é refletida da Terra para a Lua e volta para a Terra com Earthshine. No lado mais brilhante, é ainda possível distinguir na zona superior, crateras como Hércules e Atlas, enquanto um pouco abaixo o Terminador lunar (linha que divide luz e sombra) cruza a grande cratera Posidonius, que também marca no início do Mar Tranquilitatis, a local onde aterrou a última missão da Apollo (17). Abaixo, são também visíveis os Mare Crisium, Mare Fecunditatis e Mare Nectaris.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
The photo comprises 15 shots at a speed of 1/250s exposure to reveal the bright side in detail, plus 14 shots of 1,60s exposure to reveal Da Vinci glow. The total of 29 pictures were taken in sequence mode at an ISO1250 on 25/06/2020. Taka FSQ-106ED – EM200 auto-guided | Nikon D810a. Cumeada Observatory from Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, Reguengos de Monsaraz.
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Disk Sequence of a Reddish Moonrise Against Earth Shadow and Belt of Venus
A countryside scene captured from Juromenha inside Dark Sky® Alqueva territory and facing to Spain, shows a disk sequence of a reddish moonrise over the hills of Spanish horizon on 5 June 2020. Even being partially eclipsed due to a Penumbral lunar eclipse – happening when the Moon passes through Earth’s faint outer shadow – during the nautical twilight is difficult to notice this faint shadow on the moon´s disk, although, a second photo shows a related phenomenon visible almost every day known as the Earth’s shadow. This shadow is visible in the opposite half of the sky to the sunset or sunrise, and is seen right above the horizon as a dark blue band. Immediately above, where the evening air is still lit, glows a pink band called the anti-twilight arch, also known as “Belt of Venus”, and is caused by backscattering of refracted sunlight due to fine dust particles high in the atmosphere..
PT: Um cenário rural captado a partir de Juromenha dentro do território Dark Sky® Alqueva e voltado para Espanha, revela uma sequência do disco lunar avermelhado sobre as colinas do horizonte espanhol em 5 de junho de 2020. Já nascendo parcialmente eclipsada devido a um eclipse lunar Penumbral – que ocorre quando a Lua atravessa a fraca sombra externa da Terra – durante o crepúsculo náutico é difícil perceber essa sombra fraca projectada no disco da lua, no entanto, um fenémeno relacionado pode ser visível quase todos os dias. Conhecido como “Earth Shadow” ou sombra da Terra. Essa sombra é visível na metade do céu oposta ao pôr do sol, ou ao nascer do sol. É visível logo acima do horizonte como uma faixa azul escura. Imediatamente acima, onde o ar da tarde ainda está iluminado, brilha uma faixa rosa chamada arco anti-crepuscular, também conhecido como “Cinturão de Vénus”, e é causada pelo retroespalhamento da luz solar refractada devido a finas partículas de poeira na atmosfera!
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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.
Reddish “Eclipsed” Full Moon Rising above Spain
A countryside scene captured from Juromenha inside Dark Sky® Alqueva territory and facing to Spain, shows a reddish moonrise over the hills of Spanish horizon on 5 June 2020. Even being partially eclipsed due to a Penumbral lunar eclipse – happening when the Moon passes through Earth’s faint outer shadow – during the nautical twilight is difficult to notice this faint shadow on the moon´s disk, although, a second photo shows a related phenomenon visible almost every day known as the Earth’s shadow. This shadow is visible in the opposite half of the sky to the sunset or sunrise, and is seen right above the horizon as a dark blue band. Immediately above, where the evening air is still lit, glows a pink band called the anti-twilight arch, also known as “Belt of Venus”, and is caused by backscattering of refracted sunlight due to fine dust particles high in the atmosphere..
PT: Um cenário rural captado a partir de Juromenha dentro do território Dark Sky® Alqueva e voltado para Espanha, revela um nascer de uma lua cheia avermelhado sobre as colinas do horizonte espanhol em 5 de junho de 2020. Já nascendo parcialmente eclipsada devido a um eclipse lunar Penumbral – que ocorre quando a Lua atravessa a fraca sombra externa da Terra – durante o crepúsculo náutico é difícil perceber essa sombra fraca projectada no disco da lua, no entanto, um fenémeno relacionado pode ser visível quase todos os dias. Conhecido como “Earth Shadow” ou sombra da Terra. Essa sombra é visível na metade do céu oposta ao pôr do sol, ou ao nascer do sol. É visível logo acima do horizonte como uma faixa azul escura. Imediatamente acima, onde o ar da tarde ainda está iluminado, brilha uma faixa rosa chamada arco anti-crepuscular, também conhecido como “Cinturão de Vénus”, e é causada pelo retroespalhamento da luz solar refractada devido a finas partículas de poeira na atmosfera!
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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.
Hurricane Leslie Arriving in Alqueva´s Starry Night – Photo and Time Lapse
Back in 13th October 2018, this winter scene features the stormy night of Leslie hurricane, captured just few minutes before starting the worst winds and strong rain we had in a long time. Leslie was the strongest cyclone we had in Portugal after 1842. While in the background sky we can appreciate a starry view, in the foreground is visible a small and peaceful lagoon from the rural hotel Naveterra, in Alandroal, located in the northern part of Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve. Below is visible a short video time lapse sequence, while the Milky Way is setting behind the moving clouds.
Corona Venus – Not a Virus, but a Beautiful Show Visible in Front of Pleiades Star Cluster
The image shows a Venus Corona visible while the planet was transiting the Pleiades star cluster M45 as seen from Dark Sky® Alqueva Observatory on April 3, 2020. A Corona, is produced by the diffraction of light from either the Sun, the Moon or some bright planets by individual small water droplets and sometimes tiny ice crystals of a cloud. Pleiades is an open star cluster containing middle-aged, hot B-type stars located in the constellation of Taurus. It is among the nearest star clusters to Earth and is the cluster most obvious to the naked eye in the night sky. The cluster contains 1,000 stars, of which more than a dozen can be seen with the unaided eye. The celestial entity has several meanings in different cultures and traditions.
The blue nebulosity that surrounds the cluster is a reflection nebula – visible in the last image below, captured without the moon glow. The cluster is dominated by hot blue and extremely luminous stars that have formed within the last 100 million years, and are located 391 light-years away according to measurements made by the Hipparcos satellite. The named members of the Pleiades and their magnitudes are: Pleione – 5.2 | Atlas – 3.8 | Alcyone – 3.0 | Merope – 4.3 | Electra – 3.8 | Celaeno – 5.4 | Taygeta – 4.4 | Maia – 4.0 | Sterope – 5.9.
The last deep sky image – below – is a composite of frames captured on April 3, 2020 while Venus was in conjunction with Pleiades with the presence of the Moon, plus data collected in 2016 with the same equipment, to help revealing a deeper view of all the faint dust surrounding the cluster.
PT: A imagem revela o Planeta Vénus envolto numa Corona, enquanto este transitava sobre o enxame de estrelas Pleiades, ou Sete Irmãs (Messier 45 ou M45) no dia 3 de Abril de 2020. A Corona é produzida pela difração da luz do Sol, da Lua ou de alguns planetas brilhantes, por pequenas gotículas de água, ou por vezes, por minúsculos cristais de gelo presentes nas nuvens da atmofesra. As Pleiades são um aglomerado de estrelas aberto contendo estrelas de meia-idade, tipo B quentes, localizadas na constelação do Touro. Está entre os aglomerados de estrelas mais próximos da Terra e é o aglomerado mais óbvio a olho nu no céu noturno. Este cluster, contém cerca de 1000 estrelas das quais mais de uma dúzia podem ser vistas a o olho nu para um observador experiente e com boa acuidade visual. Este objecto celeste tem vários significados em diferentes culturas e tradições.
A nebulosidade azul que circunda o cluster – visível na imagem de baixo sem a presença da Lua – é uma nebulosa de reflexão. O cluster é dominado por estrelas azuis quentes e extremamente luminosas que se formaram nos últimos 100 milhões de anos e estão localizadas a 391 anos-luz de distância da Terra de acordo com as medições feitas pelo satélite Hipparcos. As principais estrelas das Plêiades e suas magnitudes aparentes são: Pleione – 5.2 | Atlas – 3,8 | Alcyone – 3.0 | Merope – 4.3 | Electra – 3.8 | Celaeno – 5.4 | Taygeta – 4.4 | Maia – 4.0 | Sterope – 5,9
A imagem de céu profundo- disponível no fim da página – é o resultado de um composto de exposições captadas em 3 de abril de 2020, enquanto Vénus se encontrava em conjunção com as Pleiades na presença da Lua crescente, e imagens captadas em 2016 sem a presença da Lua e com o mesmo equipamento, para permitir assim revelar uma visão mais profunda de toda a poeira envolvente ao redor deste aglomerado.
Above is a time lapse short sequence showing the formation of the Corona, around Venus. Below a deep sky view with the presence of moon glow. For more details, visit the original post of the deep field.
Technical details regarding the image above | Detalhes Técnicos em relação à imagem acima
Taka FSQ-106ED + Extender-Q 1.6x – EM200 auto-guided | Nikon D810A | ISO2500 – Exp. 300 seconds x 15 lights + ISO3200 – Exp. 210 seconds x 10 lights + ISO2500 – Exp. 270 seconds x 13 lights plus 4 additional shots captured on April 3, 2020| Total integration of 38 + 4 Lights: 2h48 minutes. Processing on PixInsight 1.8 and CS6 + CC 2020. Cumeada Observatory from Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, Reguengos de Monsaraz.
Planet Venus Transiting The Pleiades Star Sluster Revealed in a Deep Blue Dusty Field
The images shows planet Venus transiting in front of Pleiades star cluster, seen as an extra bright star over the Seven Sisters (Messier 45 or M45) on April 3, 2020. Pleiades is an open star cluster containing middle-aged, hot B-type stars located in the constellation of Taurus. It is among the nearest star clusters to Earth and is the cluster most obvious to the naked eye in the night sky. The cluster contains 1,000 stars, of which more than a dozen can be seen with the unaided eye. The celestial entity has several meanings in different cultures and traditions.
The blue nebulosity that surrounds the cluster is a reflection nebula. The cluster is dominated by hot blue and extremely luminous stars that have formed within the last 100 million years, and are located 391 light-years away according to measurements made by the Hipparcos satellite. The named members of the Pleiades and their magnitudes are: Pleione – 5.2 | Atlas – 3.8 | Alcyone – 3.0 | Merope – 4.3 | Electra – 3.8 | Celaeno – 5.4 | Taygeta – 4.4 | Maia – 4.0 | Sterope – 5.9.
The image above is a composite of frames captured on April 3, 2020 while Venus was in conjunction with Pleiades with the presence of the Moon, plus data collected in 2016 with the same equipment, to help revealing a deeper view of all the faint dust surrounding the cluster.
PT: A imagem revela o Planeta Vénus transitando sobre o enxame aberto de estrelas, Pleiades, no passado dia 3 de Abril de 2020, como se de uma estrela extra se tratasse no meio das “Sete Irmãs”, como é popularmente designado, sendo que é tecnicamente conhecido por Messier 45 ou M45. As Pleiades são um aglomerado de estrelas aberto contendo estrelas de meia-idade, tipo B quentes, localizadas na constelação do Touro. Está entre os aglomerados de estrelas mais próximos da Terra e é o aglomerado mais óbvio a olho nu no céu noturno. Este cluster, contém cerca de 1000 estrelas das quais mais de uma dúzia podem ser vistas a o olho nu para um observador experiente e com boa acuidade visual. Este objecto celeste tem vários significados em diferentes culturas e tradições.
A nebulosidade azul que circunda o cluster é uma nebulosa de reflexão. O cluster é dominado por estrelas azuis quentes e extremamente luminosas que se formaram nos últimos 100 milhões de anos e estão localizadas a 391 anos-luz de distância da Terra de acordo com as medições feitas pelo satélite Hipparcos. As principais estrelas das Plêiades e suas magnitudes aparentes são: Pleione – 5.2 | Atlas – 3,8 | Alcyone – 3.0 | Merope – 4.3 | Electra – 3.8 | Celaeno – 5.4 | Taygeta – 4.4 | Maia – 4.0 | Sterope – 5,9
A imagem é o resultado de um composto de exposições captadas em 3 de abril de 2020, enquanto Vénus se encontrava em conjunção com as Pleiades na presença da Lua crescente, e imagens captadas em 2016 sem a presença da Lua e com o mesmo equipamento, para permitir assim revelar uma visão mais profunda de toda a poeira envolvente ao redor deste aglomerado.
Below is a time lapse short sequence showing the formation of the Corona, around Venus.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
Taka FSQ-106ED + Extender-Q 1.6x – EM200 auto-guided | Nikon D810A | ISO2500 – Exp. 300 seconds x 15 lights + ISO3200 – Exp. 210 seconds x 10 lights + ISO2500 – Exp. 270 seconds x 13 lights plus 4 additional shots captured on April 3, 2020| Total integration of 38 + 4 Lights: 2h48 minutes. Processing on PixInsight 1.8 and CS6 + CC 2020. Cumeada Observatory from Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, Reguengos de Monsaraz.
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.
Penumbral Lunar Eclipse and Anti-twilight Arch as Seen from Lisbon City
A cityscape view captured from the highest point of Lisbon, shows the first Full Moon of the year, rising above the capital of Portugal on 10th January, 2020, with Tagus River visible in the background. Even being partially eclipsed due to a Penumbral lunar eclipse – happening when the Moon passes through Earth’s faint outer shadow – during the nautical twilight is difficult to notice this faint shadow on the moon´s disk, although, a related phenomenon is visible almost every day known as the Earth’s shadow. This shadow is visible in the opposite half of the sky to the sunset or sunrise, and is seen right above the horizon as a dark blue band. Immediately above, where the evening air is still lit, glows a pink band called the anti-twilight arch, also known as “Belt of Venus”, and is caused by backscattering of refracted sunlight due to fine dust particles high in the atmosphere. While the first Eclipsed Full Moon of the year was rising above Lisbon, by coincidence, a flying seagull was luckily caught in the scene. The image also reveals a strong atmospheric turbulence happening, causing a clearly distortion on the “round” moon´s disc.
PT: Um cenário da paisagem urbana captado no ponto mais alto de Lisboa, revela a primeira Lua Cheia do ano elevando-se acima da capital, a 10 de janeiro de 2020, com o Rio Tejo visível em pano de fundo. Já nascendo parcialmente eclipsada devido a um eclipse lunar Penumbral – que ocorre quando a Lua atravessa a fraca sombra externa da Terra – durante o crepúsculo náutico é difícil perceber essa sombra fraca projectada no disco da lua, no entanto, um fenémeno relacionado pode ser visível quase todos os dias. Conhecido como “Earth Shadow” ou sombra da Terra. Essa sombra é visível na metade do céu oposta ao pôr do sol, ou ao nascer do sol. É visível logo acima do horizonte como uma faixa azul escura. Imediatamente acima, onde o ar da tarde ainda está iluminado, brilha uma faixa rosa chamada arco anti-crepuscular, também conhecido como “Cinturão de Vénus”, e é causada pelo retroespalhamento da luz solar refractada devido a finas partículas de poeira na atmosfera. Enquanto a primeira lua cheia eclipsada do ano se elevava acima de Lisboa, por coincidência, uma gaivota voou na direcção certa, alinhado-se em cena. A imagem revela ainda uma forte turbulência atmosférica, causando uma clara distorção no expectável disco “redondo” da lua.
The Path of a Winter Earthshine – Photo and Time Lapse
A still composition shows an Earthshine time lapse sequence with the path of a Crescent Moon captured at the end of nautical twilight, after an unusual – hot for the season – crystal clear day not so expected during the winter time, perhaps related with global warming and climate changes, when the Moon was setting behind a hill full of trees from the fluvial beach of Amieira, in Dark Sky® Alqueva territory, Portugal. The intensity of Earthshines could vary throughout the year, as they are connected with the Albedo of Earth, the incident light that is reflected to space by the surface of our planet and reaches the Moon. This impressive phenomenon known as Earthshine, was described and drawn for the first time, by the talented Leonardo Da Vinci about 500 years ago on his book Codex Leicester. Below is available a short time lapse footage of this sequence. At the end of the video, a cumulative trailed sequence shows the path of the moon moving in reverse mode.
PT: Uma composição estática revela uma sequência de lapso de tempo de um Earthshine lunar com o rasto de uma Lua Crescente visível no final do Crepúsculo Náutico, após um dia incomum – quente e cristalino para a estação do ano – pouco expectável durante o inverno, talvez relacionado com o aquecimento global e mudanças climáticas, quando a Lua se punha por detrás de uma colina cheia de árvores da praia fluvial de Amieira, no território do Dark Sky® Alqueva, Portugal. A intensidade dos Earthshines pode variar ao longo do ano, pois está relacionada com o Albedo da Terra, a luz incidente que é refletida para o espaço pela superfície do nosso planeta e chega assim à superfície da Lua. Este impressionante fenómeno conhecido como Earthshine, foi descrito e desenhado pela primeira vez pelo talentoso Leonardo Da Vinci há cerca de 500 anos atrás, no seu livro Codex Leicester. Em baixo está disponível um vídeo time lapse durante o pôr-da-lua. No final deste, uma sequência cumulativa revela o rasto da lua em modo reverso.
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.
Moon Earthshine and Sun´s Corona in All of It´s Glory – Total Solar Eclipse 2019 in Chile
One of the most beautiful things about viewing and photographing a total solar eclipse, is the light from the inner corona which reveals fine structures and curved lines by the strong magnetic fields, as well as the faint white light that extends far out into space, known as the Sun´s outer corona. On 2nd July, 2019, thousands of people located in some parts of Chile and Argentina had the incredible opportunity to witness the unique and unforgettable moment when the Moon itself completely blocks the sun´s disc showing also some prominences visible around the limb and a phenomenon known as the Moon Earthshine, even not being visible with our naked eyes during an eclipse due to the huge differnce of light, is the reflected light from our planet Earth that illuminates with a faint light, the moon´s dark disc and it can be revealed during a photographic long exposure. The image above is a result of a series of shots taken with different exposures over the course of 2 minutes and combined together to reveal a dramatic high dynamic range. The sequence was captured in Lambert, 30km northeast of La Serena, Chile, using a Nikon D850 with a 600mm lens and a Star Adventure portable mount.
Also interesting to know: “The maximum temperature inside of our star is about 16 million degrees (Celsius). The photosphere – the visible surface of the Sun – has a temperature of about 6000 degrees C. However, the temperature increases very steeply from 6000 degrees to a few million degrees in the corona, in the region 500 kilometers above the photosphere.”
PT: Uma das coisas mais bonitas sobre ver e fotografar um eclipse solar total, é a luz da coroa interna que revela finas estruturas e linhas curvas pelos fortes campos magnéticos, bem como a fraca luz branca que se estende até o espaço, conhecida como a coroa externa do Sol. A 2 de Julho de 2019, milhares de pessoas localizadas em algumas partes do Chile e da Argentina, tiveram a incrível oportunidade de testemunhar o momento único e inesquecível em que a própria Lua bloqueia completamente o disco solar, revelando também algumas proeminências visíveis ao redor do limbo e um fenómeno conhecido como Moon Earthshine, que mesmo não sendo visível a olho nu durante um eclipse devido à enorme diferença de luz, é a luz refletida do nosso prórpio planeta Terra que ilumina com uma luz ténue, o disco escurecido da lua, que se torna assim visível durante uma longa exposição fotográfica. A imagem acima é o resultado de uma série de fotos captadas com diferentes tempos de exposição ao longo de 2 minutos e combinadas para revelar uma dramática gama dinâmica. A sequência foi captada em Lambert, 30 km a nordeste de La Serena, no Chile, usando uma Nikon D850 com uma lente de 600 mm e uma montagem portátil Star Adventure.
Também é interessante referir que: “A temperatura máxima dentro da nossa estrela é de cerca de 16 milhões de graus (Celsius). A fotosfera – a superfície visível do Sol – tem uma temperatura de cerca de 6000 graus C. No entanto, a temperatura aumenta drasticamente de “simples milhares” para a alguns milhões de graus na região denominada coroa solar, localizada a proximadamente 500 quilómetros acima da fotosfera “.
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Inner and Outer Corona Shinning during a Total Solar Eclipse 2019 in Chile
One of the most beautiful things about viewing and photographing a total solar eclipse, is the light from the inner corona which reveals fine structures and curved lines by the strong magnetic fields, as well as the faint white light that extends far out into space, known as the Sun´s outer corona. On 2nd July, 2019, thousands of people located in some parts of Chile and Argentina had the incredible opportunity to witness the unique and unforgettable moment when the Moon itself completely blocks the sun´s disc showing also some prominences visible around the limb. This image above is a result of a series of shots taken with different exposures over the course of 2 minutes and combined together to reveal a dramatic high dynamic range. The sequence was captured in Lambert, 30km northeast of La Serena, Chile, using a Nikon D850 with a 600mm lens and a Star Adventure portable mount.
Also interesting to know: “The maximum temperature inside of our star is about 16 million degrees (Celsius). The photosphere – the visible surface of the Sun – has a temperature of about 6000 degrees C. However, the temperature increases very steeply from 6000 degrees to a few million degrees in the corona, in the region 500 kilometers above the photosphere.”
PT: Uma das coisas mais bonitas sobre ver e fotografar um eclipse solar total, é a luz da coroa interna que revela finas estruturas e linhas curvas pelos fortes campos magnéticos, bem como a fraca luz branca que se estende até o espaço, conhecida como a coroa externa do Sol. A 2 de Julho de 2019, milhares de pessoas localizadas em algumas partes do Chile e da Argentina, tiveram a incrível oportunidade de testemunhar o momento único e inesquecível em que a própria Lua bloqueia completamente o disco solar, revelando também algumas proeminências visíveis ao redor do limbo. A imagem acima é o resultado de uma série de fotos captadas com diferentes tempos de exposição ao longo de 2 minutos e combinadas para revelar uma dramática gama dinâmica. A sequência foi captada em Lambert, 30 km a nordeste de La Serena, no Chile, usando uma Nikon D850 com uma lente de 600 mm e uma montagem portátil Star Adventure.
Também é interessante referir que: “A temperatura máxima dentro da nossa estrela é de cerca de 16 milhões de graus (Celsius). A fotosfera – a superfície visível do Sol – tem uma temperatura de cerca de 6000 graus C. No entanto, a temperatura aumenta drasticamente de “simples milhares” para a alguns milhões de graus na região denominada coroa solar, localizada a proximadamente 500 quilómetros acima da fotosfera “.
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Full Dome View of the Total Solar Eclipse 2019 in Chile
One of the most beautiful things about viewing a total solar eclipse, is the light from the inner and outer corona which starts to be visible showing fine structures and the lines from magnetic fields. On 2nd July, 2019, thousands of people located in some parts of Chile and Argentina had the incredible opportunity to witness the unique and unforgettable moment when the Moon itself completely blocks the sun´s disc and the atmosphere features a “U” shape, due to the low position regarding the horizon. This 8mm circular fish-eye view was captured in Lambert, 30km northeast of La Serena, Chile.
PT: Uma das experiências mais incríveis ao testemunhar um Eclipse Total do Sol, é poder observar a luz da Corona interna e mais externa do Sol, que durante a totalidade se torna visível revelando estruturas finas e linhas que se curvam pelos inensos campos magnéticos. A 2 de Julho de 2019, milhares de pessoas localizadas em algumas partes do Chile e da Argentina, tiveram a incrível oportunidade de testemunhar o momento único e inesquecível em que a própria Lua bloqueia completamente o disco solar e atmosfera revela uma sombra em forma de “U”, devido ao facto do Sol estar relativamente baixo e próximo do horizonte. A imagem de cima exibe uma visão fish-eye ciruclar de 8mm captada em Lambert, 30 km a nordeste de La Serena, no Chile.
Total Solar Eclipse 2019 from La Serena, Chile
One of the most beautiful things about viewing a total solar eclipse, is the light from the inner and outer corona which starts to be visible showing fine structures and the lines from magnetic fields. On 2nd July, 2019, thousands of people located in some parts of Chile and Argentina had the incredible opportunity to witness the unique and unforgettable moment when the Moon itself completely blocks the sun´s disc. The image above was captured in Lambert, 30km northeast of La Serena, Chile.
PT: Uma das experiências mais incríveis ao testemunhar um Eclipse Total do Sol, é poder observar a luz da Corona interna e mais externa do Sol, que durante a totalidade se torna visível revelando estruturas finas e linhas que se curvam pelos inensos campos magnéticos. A 2 de Julho de 2019, milhares de pessoas localizadas em algumas partes do Chile e da Argentina, tiveram a incrível oportunidade de testemunhar o momento único e inesquecível em que a própria Lua bloqueia completamente o disco solar. A imagem acima foi capturada em Lambert, 30 km a nordeste de La Serena, no Chile.
Bright Greenish Aurora Shapes a Bird Flying with a Running Rabbit in an Epic Scene over Iceland
Being March the best time to spot the northern lights over the Arctic Circle, during Springtime cracks are opening the Earth’s magnetic field and Solar Wind can penetrate more easily, firing the show in a phenomenon known as the “Russell-McPherron effect. On March 27 and March 28, a network of holes in the sun’s atmosphere was facing Earth, “spewing a filamentary stream of solar wind in our direction” according to Spaceweather. With a K-index expected to reach Kp= 3 on the first night and Kp=4 on the second one, the approaching stream was not so potent as a CME, although, it was powerful enough the spread bright auroras visible from Vesturhopsvatn, in Northern Iceland. Auroras can be seen in a wonderful variety of colours combined in different ways regarding altitude and the type of gas, forming beautiful and phantasmagoric shapes that can last during several minutes. The vertical panorama above, seems to reveal one of these epic moments with the incredible shape of a bird flying with a running rabbit. In the background sky, Ursa Major constellation is well visible in the top center, with Alioth star marking the “eye of the bird”. Below, a version of the image with lines drawn over it, helps to reveal this personal interpretation of the scene.
When the Solar Wind charged with energetic particles strikes the ionosphere, photons of oxygen and nitrogen in the upper atmosphere release the aurora light, due to a process of ionisation. While oxygen is mainly responsible for pure green, greenish yellow light can result from excited oxygen, although, oxygen can also produce red aurorae. Nitrogen is responsible to produce purple blue aurorae at high altitudes while excited nitrogen molecules in low altitudes, can produce pink and red hues. To know more about, visit: aurora colours, and glowing gases.
PT: Sendo março a melhor época do ano para apreciar as auroras boreais sobre o Círculo Polar Ártico, durante a primavera abrem-se fendas no campo magnético da Terra e o Vento Solar consegue penetrar mais facilmente, proporcionando um fenómeno conhecido como “efeito Russell-McPherron”. A 27 e 28 de Março, uma “rede de buracos” na atmosfera do Sol estava direcionado para a Terra, “lançando uma corrente filamentar de vento solar na nossa direção”, de acordo com Spaceweather deste dia. Com um índice K esperado que poderia alcançar Kp = 3 na primeira noite e Kp = 4 na segunda noite, o fluxo que se aproximava não era tão potente quanto uma CME, no entanto seria suficientemente poderoso para espalhar auroras brilhantes que se tornaram visíveis em Vesturhopsvatn, no norte da Islândia. As auroras podem ser vistas em uma maravilhosa variedade de cores combinadas de diferentes maneiras, tendo em conta a altitude e o tipo de gás envolvido no processo, assumindo formas belas e fantasmagóricas que podem durar vários minutos, reaparecendo diversas vezes ao longo de uma noite. A Natureza é assim capaz de produzir autenticas pinturas artísticas nos céus, com formas verdadeiramente incríveis, como é o caso deste panorama vertical, que com alguma imaginação nos revela a enigmática forma de um pássaro que parece voar atrás de um coelho a correr. No céu de fundo, a constelação da Ursa Maior encontra-se bem visível no centro superior da imagem, com a estrela Alioth marcando o “olho do pássaro”. Para ajudar melhor a interpretar estas formas, é possível ver as linhas desenhadas sobre a segunda versão da fotografia.
Quando o vento solar carregado de partículas energéticas atinge a Ionosfera, os fotões de oxigénio e nitrogénio na atmosfera superior, liberam a luz da aurora, devido a um processo de ionização. Embora o oxigénio seja o principal responsável pelo verde puro, a luz amarela esverdeada pode resultar do oxigénio excitado, contudo, este pode ainda produzir auroras vermelhas. O nitrogénio é responsável por produzir auroras azuis púrpuras em altas altitudes, enquanto moléculas de nitrogénio excitadas em baixas altitudes, podem produzir tons rosa e vermelho.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
A vertical panorama captured with a Nikon D810a | 14mm at f/2,8 | ISO2500 | Exp. 15 secs.
Northern Lights, Andromeda and Milky Way Galaxy Shinning Together in a Epic Scene over Iceland
Being March the best time to spot the northern lights over the Arctic Circle, during Springtime cracks are opening the Earth’s magnetic field and Solar Wind can penetrate more easily, firing the show in a phenomenon known as the “Russell-McPherron effect. On March 27 and March 28, a network of holes in the sun’s atmosphere was facing Earth, “spewing a filamentary stream of solar wind in our direction” according to Spaceweather. With a K-index expected to reach Kp= 3 on the first night and Kp=4 on the second one, the approaching stream was not so potent as a CME, although, it was powerful enough the spread bright auroras visible from Fornihvammur, in Northern Iceland. Auroras can be seen in a wonderful variety of colours combined in different ways regarding altitude and the type of gas, forming beautiful and phantasmagoric shapes that can last during several minutes. The panoramic image reveals the beautiful Andromeda Galaxy (the oblong shape of faint light visible in the center) standing below the arched bow of glowing green gas from a colourful Aurora Borealis. Above it, mixed with the Northern Lights, our Milky Way Galaxy is shinning in the background sky as another arch of light, made of cosmic dust.
When the Solar Wind charged with energetic particles strikes the ionosphere, photons of oxygen and nitrogen in the upper atmosphere release the aurora light, due to a process of ionisation. While oxygen is mainly responsible for pure green, greenish yellow light can result from excited oxygen, although, oxygen can also produce red aurorae. Nitrogen is responsible to produce purple blue aurorae at high altitudes while excited nitrogen molecules in low altitudes, can produce pink and red hues. To know more about, visit: aurora colours, and glowing gases.
PT: Sendo março a melhor época do ano para apreciar as auroras boreais sobre o Círculo Polar Ártico, durante a primavera abrem-se fendas no campo magnético da Terra e o Vento Solar consegue penetrar mais facilmente, proporcionando um fenómeno conhecido como “efeito Russell-McPherron”. A 27 e 28 de Março, uma “rede de buracos” na atmosfera do Sol estava direcionado para a Terra, “lançando uma corrente filamentar de vento solar na nossa direção”, de acordo com Spaceweather deste dia. Com um índice K esperado que poderia alcançar Kp = 3 na primeira noite e Kp = 4 na segunda noite, o fluxo que se aproximava não era tão potente quanto uma CME, no entanto seria suficientemente poderoso para espalhar auroras brilhantes que se tornaram visíveis no norte da Islândia. As auroras podem ser vistas em uma maravilhosa variedade de cores combinadas de diferentes maneiras, tendo em conta a altitude e o tipo de gás envolvido no processo, assumindo formas belas e fantasmagóricas que podem durar vários minutos, reaparecendo diversas vezes ao longo de uma noite. A imagem revela a magnífica galáxia de Andromeda (a forma oblonga de luz fraca visível no centro) e que se destaca por debaixo do arco brilhante de gás verde proveniente de uma colorida Aurora Boreal. Acima, numa mistura com as Luzes do Norte, a nossa Via Láctea brilha no céu de fundo como outro arco de luz, feito de poeira cósmica.
Quando o vento solar carregado de partículas energéticas atinge a Ionosfera, os fotões de oxigénio e nitrogénio na atmosfera superior, liberam a luz da aurora, devido a um processo de ionização. Embora o oxigénio seja o principal responsável pelo verde puro, a luz amarela esverdeada pode resultar do oxigénio excitado, contudo, este pode ainda produzir auroras vermelhas. O nitrogénio é responsável por produzir auroras azuis púrpuras em altas altitudes, enquanto moléculas de nitrogénio excitadas em baixas altitudes, podem produzir tons rosa e vermelho.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
A panoramic image captured with a Nikon D810a | 14mm at f/2,8 | ISO2500 | Exp. 30 secs.
The Glowing Gas Arch of Aurora Shinning Against the Dusty Starry Arch of Milky Way
Being March the best time to spot the northern lights over the Arctic Circle, during Springtime cracks are opening the Earth’s magnetic field and Solar Wind can penetrate more easily, firing the show in a phenomenon known as the “Russell-McPherron effect. On March 27 and March 28, a network of holes in the sun’s atmosphere was facing Earth, “spewing a filamentary stream of solar wind in our direction” according to Spaceweather. With a K-index expected to reach Kp= 3 on the first night and Kp=4 on the second one, the approaching stream was not so potent as a CME, although, it was powerful enough the spread bright auroras visible from Fornihvammur, in Northern Iceland. Auroras can be seen in a wonderful variety of colours combined in different ways regarding altitude and the type of gas, forming beautiful and phantasmagoric shapes that can last during several minutes. The panoramic image reveals a beautiful “rainbow” of glowing gas from a colourful Aurora Borealis. Above it, mixed with the Northern Lights, our Milky Way Galaxy is shinning in the background sky as another arch of cosmic dust. Behind the greenish band of light, is shinning Andromeda Galaxy, the oblong shape of faint light visible in the right center of the bow.
When the Solar Wind charged with energetic particles strikes the ionosphere, photons of oxygen and nitrogen in the upper atmosphere release the aurora light, due to a process of ionisation. While oxygen is mainly responsible for pure green, greenish yellow light can result from excited oxygen, although, oxygen can also produce red aurorae. Nitrogen is responsible to produce purple blue aurorae at high altitudes while excited nitrogen molecules in low altitudes, can produce pink and red hues. To know more about, visit: aurora colours, and glowing gases.
PT: Sendo março a melhor época do ano para apreciar as auroras boreais sobre o Círculo Polar Ártico, durante a primavera abrem-se fendas no campo magnético da Terra e o Vento Solar consegue penetrar mais facilmente, proporcionando um fenómeno conhecido como “efeito Russell-McPherron”. A 27 e 28 de Março, uma “rede de buracos” na atmosfera do Sol estava direcionado para a Terra, “lançando uma corrente filamentar de vento solar na nossa direção”, de acordo com Spaceweather deste dia. Com um índice K esperado que poderia alcançar Kp = 3 na primeira noite e Kp = 4 na segunda noite, o fluxo que se aproximava não era tão potente quanto uma CME, no entanto seria suficientemente poderoso para espalhar auroras brilhantes que se tornaram visíveis no norte da Islândia. As auroras podem ser vistas em uma maravilhosa variedade de cores combinadas de diferentes maneiras, tendo em conta a altitude e o tipo de gás envolvido no processo, assumindo formas belas e fantasmagóricas que podem durar vários minutos, reaparecendo diversas vezes ao longo de uma noite. A imagem revela um magnífico “arco-íris” de gás brilhante proveniente de uma colorida e intensa Aurora Boreal. Acima, numa mistura com as Luzes do Norte, a nossa Via Láctea brilha em pano de fundo como um arco de luz de poeira cósmica, enquanto que por detrás da faixa esverdeado, é ainda possível observar outra galáxia, a de Andromeda, visível na imagem como uma forma oblonga de luz fraca no centro direito do arco.
Quando o vento solar carregado de partículas energéticas atinge a Ionosfera, os fotões de oxigénio e nitrogénio na atmosfera superior, liberam a luz da aurora, devido a um processo de ionização. Embora o oxigénio seja o principal responsável pelo verde puro, a luz amarela esverdeada pode resultar do oxigénio excitado, contudo, este pode ainda produzir auroras vermelhas. O nitrogénio é responsável por produzir auroras azuis púrpuras em altas altitudes, enquanto moléculas de nitrogénio excitadas em baixas altitudes, podem produzir tons rosa e vermelho.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
A panoramic image captured with a Nikon D810a | 14mm at f/2,8 | ISO2500 | Exp. 30 secs.
Andromeda Galaxy Shines Below the Glowing Green Gas of an Aurora Borealis
Being March the best time to spot the northern lights over the Arctic Circle, during Springtime cracks are opening the Earth’s magnetic field and Solar Wind can penetrate more easily, firing the show in a phenomenon known as the “Russell-McPherron effect. On March 27 and March 28, a network of holes in the sun’s atmosphere was facing Earth, “spewing a filamentary stream of solar wind in our direction” according to Spaceweather. With a K-index expected to reach Kp= 3 on the first night and Kp=4 on the second one, the approaching stream was not so potent as a CME, although, it was powerful enough the spread bright auroras visible from Fornihvammur, in Northern Iceland. Auroras can be seen in a wonderful variety of colours combined in different ways regarding altitude and the type of gas, forming beautiful and phantasmagoric shapes that can last during several minutes. The image reveals the beautiful Andromeda Galaxy (the oblong shape of faint light visible in the center) standing below the band of glowing green gas from a colourful Aurora Borealis. Above it, our dusty Milky Way Galaxy is visible in the background up to the right top corner, where another type of gas is shinning, the reddish H-alpha emission from North America Nebula, also known as NGC7000.
When the Solar Wind charged with energetic particles strikes the ionosphere, photons of oxygen and nitrogen in the upper atmosphere release the aurora light, due to a process of ionisation. While oxygen is mainly responsible for pure green, greenish yellow light can result from excited oxygen, although, oxygen can also produce red aurorae. Nitrogen is responsible to produce purple blue aurorae at high altitudes while excited nitrogen molecules in low altitudes, can produce pink and red hues. To know more about, visit: aurora colours, and glowing gases.
PT: Sendo março a melhor época do ano para apreciar as auroras boreais sobre o Círculo Polar Ártico, durante a primavera abrem-se fendas no campo magnético da Terra e o Vento Solar consegue penetrar mais facilmente, proporcionando um fenómeno conhecido como “efeito Russell-McPherron”. A 27 e 28 de Março, uma “rede de buracos” na atmosfera do Sol estava direcionado para a Terra, “lançando uma corrente filamentar de vento solar na nossa direção”, de acordo com Spaceweather deste dia. Com um índice K esperado que poderia alcançar Kp = 3 na primeira noite e Kp = 4 na segunda noite, o fluxo que se aproximava não era tão potente quanto uma CME, no entanto seria suficientemente poderoso para espalhar auroras brilhantes que se tornaram visíveis no norte da Islândia. As auroras podem ser vistas em uma maravilhosa variedade de cores combinadas de diferentes maneiras, tendo em conta a altitude e o tipo de gás envolvido no processo, assumindo formas belas e fantasmagóricas que podem durar vários minutos, reaparecendo diversas vezes ao longo de uma noite. A imagem revela a magnífica galáxia de Andromeda (a forma oblonga de luz fraca visível no centro) e que se destaca por debaixo da faixa brilhante de gás verde proveniente de uma colorida Aurora Boreal. Acima, é visível a Via Láctea em segundo plano, estendendo-se até ao canto superior direito, onde outro tipo de gás brilha, a emissão avermelhada do H-alpha proveniente da nebulosa de emissão América do Norte, também conhecida como NGC7000.
Quando o vento solar carregado de partículas energéticas atinge a Ionosfera, os fotões de oxigénio e nitrogénio na atmosfera superior, liberam a luz da aurora, devido a um processo de ionização. Embora o oxigénio seja o principal responsável pelo verde puro, a luz amarela esverdeada pode resultar do oxigénio excitado, contudo, este pode ainda produzir auroras vermelhas. O nitrogénio é responsável por produzir auroras azuis púrpuras em altas altitudes, enquanto moléculas de nitrogénio excitadas em baixas altitudes, podem produzir tons rosa e vermelho.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
A single shot captured with a Nikon D810a | 20mm at f/2,8 | ISO3200 | Exp. 30 secs.
Green Lights over Snowy Mountains from Iceland
Being March the best time to spot the northern lights over the Arctic Circle, during Springtime cracks are opening the Earth’s magnetic field and Solar Wind can penetrate more easily, firing the show in a phenomenon known as the “Russell-McPherron effect. On March 27 and March 28, a network of holes in the sun’s atmosphere was facing Earth, “spewing a filamentary stream of solar wind in our direction” according to Spaceweather. With a K-index expected to reach Kp= 3 on the first night and Kp=4 on the second one, the approaching stream was not so potent as a CME, although, it was powerful enough the spread bright auroras visible from Vesturhopsvatn, in Northern Iceland. Auroras can be seen in a wonderful variety of colours combined in different ways regarding altitude and the type of gas, forming beautiful and phantasmagoric shapes that can last during several minutes. The image features a green aurora above a mountain range from Iceland. In the background sky, two bright stars are visible near the center, at left, Vega from Lyra constellation, and in the opposite direction, star Arcturus from Bootes is also shinning bright. In the middle is also visible the constellation of Corona Borealis.
When the Solar Wind charged with energetic particles strikes the ionosphere, photons of oxygen and nitrogen in the upper atmosphere release the aurora light, due to a process of ionisation. While oxygen is mainly responsible for pure green, greenish yellow light can result from excited oxygen, although, oxygen can also produce red aurorae. Nitrogen is responsible to produce purple blue aurorae at high altitudes while excited nitrogen molecules in low altitudes, can produce pink and red hues.
PT: Sendo Março a melhor época do ano para apreciar as auroras boreais sobre o Círculo Polar Ártico, durante a primavera abrem-se fendas no campo magnético da Terra e o Vento Solar consegue penetrar mais facilmente, proporcionando um fenómeno conhecido como “efeito Russell-McPherron”. A 27 e 28 de Março, uma “rede de buracos” na atmosfera do Sol estava direcionado para a Terra, “lançando uma corrente filamentar de vento solar na nossa direção”, de acordo com Spaceweather deste dia. Com um índice K esperado que poderia alcançar Kp = 3 na primeira noite e Kp = 4 na segunda noite, o fluxo que se aproximava não era tão potente quanto uma CME, no entanto seria suficientemente poderoso para espalhar auroras brilhantes que se tornaram visíveis de Vesturhopsvatn, no norte da Islândia. As auroras podem ser vistas em uma maravilhosa variedade de cores combinadas de diferentes maneiras, tendo em conta a altitude e o tipo de gás envolvido no processo, assumindo formas belas e fantasmagóricas que podem durar vários minutos, reaparecendo diversas vezes ao longo de uma noite. No céu de fundo, duas estrelas brilhantes são visíveis perto do centro, à esquerda, Vega da constelação de Lyra, e na direção oposta, a estrela Arcturus da constelação Bootes. No meio também é visível a constelação Corona Borealis.
Quando o vento solar carregado de partículas energéticas atinge a Ionosfera, os fotões de oxigénio e nitrogénio na atmosfera superior, liberam a luz da aurora, devido a um processo de ionização. Embora o oxigénio seja o principal responsável pelo verde puro, a luz amarela esverdeada pode resultar do oxigénio excitado, contudo, este pode ainda produzir auroras vermelhas. O nitrogénio é responsável por produzir auroras azuis púrpuras em altas altitudes, enquanto moléculas de nitrogénio excitadas em baixas altitudes, podem produzir tons rosa e vermelho.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
Single shot captured with a Canon 6D | 24mm at f/2 | ISO2500 | Exp. 25 secs.
The Dazzling Show of Glowing Gas from Purple to Greenish
Being March the best time to spot the northern lights over the Arctic Circle, during Springtime cracks are opening the Earth’s magnetic field and Solar Wind can penetrate more easily, firing the show in a phenomenon known as the “Russell-McPherron effect. On March 27 and March 28, a network of holes in the sun’s atmosphere was facing Earth, “spewing a filamentary stream of solar wind in our direction” according to Spaceweather. With a K-index expected to reach Kp= 3 on the first night and Kp=4 on the second one, the approaching stream was not so potent as a CME, although, it was powerful enough the spread bright auroras visible from Vesturhopsvatn and Fornihvammur, in Northern Iceland. Auroras can be seen in a wonderful variety of colours combined in different ways regarding altitude and the type of gas, forming beautiful and phantasmagoric shapes that can last during several minutes. The image reveals a background sky full of winter stars and constellations shinning behind the bright pink-violet and vivid green aurora band.
When the Solar Wind charged with energetic particles strikes the ionosphere, photons of oxygen and nitrogen in the upper atmosphere release the aurora light, due to a process of ionisation. While oxygen is mainly responsible for pure green, greenish yellow light can result from excited oxygen, although, oxygen can also produce red aurorae. Nitrogen is responsible to produce purple blue aurorae at high altitudes while excited nitrogen molecules in low altitudes, can produce pink and red hues. To know more about, visit: aurora colours, and glowing gases.
PT: Sendo março a melhor época do ano para apreciar as auroras boreais sobre o Círculo Polar Ártico, durante a primavera abrem-se fendas no campo magnético da Terra e o Vento Solar consegue penetrar mais facilmente, proporcionando um fenómeno conhecido como “efeito Russell-McPherron”. A 27 e 28 de Março, uma “rede de buracos” na atmosfera do Sol estava direcionado para a Terra, “lançando uma corrente filamentar de vento solar na nossa direção”, de acordo com Spaceweather deste dia. Com um índice K esperado que poderia alcançar Kp = 3 na primeira noite e Kp = 4 na segunda noite, o fluxo que se aproximava não era tão potente quanto uma CME, no entanto seria suficientemente poderoso para espalhar auroras brilhantes que se tornaram visíveis no norte da Islândia. As auroras podem ser vistas em uma maravilhosa variedade de cores combinadas de diferentes maneiras, tendo em conta a altitude e o tipo de gás envolvido no processo, assumindo formas belas e fantasmagóricas que podem durar vários minutos, reaparecendo diversas vezes ao longo de uma noite. A imagem revela um céu de fundo cheio de estrelas de inverno e constelações que cintilam por detrás da brilhante aurora de rosa-violeta e verde vívido.
Quando o vento solar carregado de partículas energéticas atinge a Ionosfera, os fotões de oxigénio e nitrogénio na atmosfera superior, liberam a luz da aurora, devido a um processo de ionização. Embora o oxigénio seja o principal responsável pelo verde puro, a luz amarela esverdeada pode resultar do oxigénio excitado, contudo, este pode ainda produzir auroras vermelhas. O nitrogénio é responsável por produzir auroras azuis púrpuras em altas altitudes, enquanto moléculas de nitrogénio excitadas em baixas altitudes, podem produzir tons rosa e vermelho.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
Captured with a Nikon D810a | 14mm at f/2,8 | ISO2500 | Exp. 30 secs.
Aurora Borealis Rainbow in a Panoramic Scene from Iceland
Being March the best time to spot the northern lights over the Arctic Circle, during Springtime cracks are opening the Earth’s magnetic field and Solar Wind can penetrate more easily, firing the show in a phenomenon known as the “Russell-McPherron effect. On March 27 and March 28, a network of holes in the sun’s atmosphere was facing Earth, “spewing a filamentary stream of solar wind in our direction” according to Spaceweather. With a K-index expected to reach Kp= 3 on the first night and Kp=4 on the second one, the approaching stream was not so potent as a CME, although, it was powerful enough the spread bright auroras visible from Fornihvammur, in Northern Iceland. Auroras can be seen in a wonderful variety of colours combined in different ways regarding altitude and the type of gas, forming beautiful and phantasmagoric shapes that can last during several minutes. The panoramic image reveals a beautiful “rainbow” of glowing gas from a colourful Aurora Borealis. Above it, mixed with the Northern Lights, our Milky Way Galaxy is shinning in the background sky. Behind the greenish band of light, is shinning Andromeda Galaxy, the oblong shape of faint light visible in the right center of the bow.
When the Solar Wind charged with energetic particles strikes the ionosphere, photons of oxygen and nitrogen in the upper atmosphere release the aurora light, due to a process of ionisation. While oxygen is mainly responsible for pure green, greenish yellow light can result from excited oxygen, although, oxygen can also produce red aurorae. Nitrogen is responsible to produce purple blue aurorae at high altitudes while excited nitrogen molecules in low altitudes, can produce pink and red hues. To know more about, visit: aurora colours, and glowing gases.
PT: Sendo março a melhor época do ano para apreciar as auroras boreais sobre o Círculo Polar Ártico, durante a primavera abrem-se fendas no campo magnético da Terra e o Vento Solar consegue penetrar mais facilmente, proporcionando um fenómeno conhecido como “efeito Russell-McPherron”. A 27 e 28 de Março, uma “rede de buracos” na atmosfera do Sol estava direcionado para a Terra, “lançando uma corrente filamentar de vento solar na nossa direção”, de acordo com Spaceweather deste dia. Com um índice K esperado que poderia alcançar Kp = 3 na primeira noite e Kp = 4 na segunda noite, o fluxo que se aproximava não era tão potente quanto uma CME, no entanto seria suficientemente poderoso para espalhar auroras brilhantes que se tornaram visíveis no norte da Islândia. As auroras podem ser vistas em uma maravilhosa variedade de cores combinadas de diferentes maneiras, tendo em conta a altitude e o tipo de gás envolvido no processo, assumindo formas belas e fantasmagóricas que podem durar vários minutos, reaparecendo diversas vezes ao longo de uma noite. A imagem revela um magnífico “arco-íris” de gás brilhante proveniente de uma colorida e intensa Aurora Boreal. Acima, numa mistura com as Luzes do Norte, a nossa Via Láctea brilha em pano de fundo, enquanto que por detrás do arco esverdeado, é ainda possível observar outra galáxia, a de Andromeda, visível na imagem como uma forma oblonga de luz fraca no centro direito do arco.
Quando o vento solar carregado de partículas energéticas atinge a Ionosfera, os fotões de oxigénio e nitrogénio na atmosfera superior, liberam a luz da aurora, devido a um processo de ionização. Embora o oxigénio seja o principal responsável pelo verde puro, a luz amarela esverdeada pode resultar do oxigénio excitado, contudo, este pode ainda produzir auroras vermelhas. O nitrogénio é responsável por produzir auroras azuis púrpuras em altas altitudes, enquanto moléculas de nitrogénio excitadas em baixas altitudes, podem produzir tons rosa e vermelho.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
A panoramic image captured with a Canon 6D | 24mm at f/2 | ISO2500 | Exp. 25 secs.
Enjoying the Northern Lights Show from Iceland
Being March the best time to spot the northern lights over the Arctic Circle, during Springtime cracks are opening the Earth’s magnetic field and Solar Wind can penetrate more easily, firing the show in a phenomenon known as the “Russell-McPherron effect. On March 27 and March 28, a network of holes in the sun’s atmosphere was facing Earth, “spewing a filamentary stream of solar wind in our direction” according to Spaceweather. With a K-index expected to reach Kp= 3 on the first night and Kp=4 on the second one, the approaching stream was not so potent as a CME, although, it was powerful enough the spread bright auroras visible from Vesturhopsvatn and Fornihvammur, in Northern Iceland. My first attempt ever to watch and photograph auroras was definitely a truly experience! With a short travel of 3 days booked to Iceland, I had only two nights of try, although, the forecast was very bad for Reykjavic and for the western part of the island, with cloudy sky, snow and strong winds. So me and my girlfriend we start a chasing trip to catch some auroras, riding to the northern part of Iceland where some openings in the weather were expected. Fortunately, after 3 hours driving we found a nice spot in Vesturhopsvatn, where the sky seemed more clear, and after a few minutes outside the northern lights appeared in a very nice show of a greenish hue. Even appearing faint in the beginning, suddenly they start to increase its brightness in an intense live show where I could distinguish the movement of the northern lights with my own eyes. We repeat the same steps for the second night, but with a worst forecast. Snow and cold with a feel sensation of -11, due to the strong winds of 50km/h, a partial cloudy sky was expected and additional efforts from our side were necessary. After driving for a while with this hard conditions, in the direction of Fornihvammur, Northern Iceland, we finally had an opening in the weather. With less wind, during half an hour the sky was almost totally clear and again, I felt blessed by the Universe! As soon as I prepared my camera, the live show has started, but this time, with an explosion of dancing colors from purple to red, with a strong vivid green aurora bow shinning in front of the Milky Way.
Auroras can be seen in a wonderful variety of colours combined in different ways regarding altitude and the type of gas, forming beautiful and phantasmagoric shapes that can last during several minutes. When the Solar Wind charged with energetic particles strikes the ionosphere, photons of oxygen and nitrogen in the upper atmosphere release the aurora light, due to a process of ionisation. While oxygen is mainly responsible for pure green, greenish yellow light can result from excited oxygen, although, oxygen can also produce red aurorae. Nitrogen is responsible to produce purple blue aurorae at high altitudes while excited nitrogen molecules in low altitudes, can produce pink and red hues. To know more about, visit: aurora colours, and glowing gases.
PT: Sendo março a melhor época do ano para apreciar as auroras boreais sobre o Círculo Polar Ártico, durante a primavera abrem-se fendas no campo magnético da Terra e o Vento Solar consegue penetrar mais facilmente, proporcionando um fenómeno conhecido como “efeito Russell-McPherron”. A 27 e 28 de Março, uma “rede de buracos” na atmosfera do Sol estava direcionado para a Terra, “lançando uma corrente filamentar de vento solar na nossa direção”, de acordo com Spaceweather deste dia. Com um índice K esperado que poderia alcançar Kp = 3 na primeira noite e Kp = 4 na segunda noite, o fluxo que se aproximava não era tão potente quanto uma CME, no entanto seria suficientemente poderoso para espalhar auroras brilhantes que se tornaram visíveis no norte da Islândia. Foi a minha primeira tentativa de sempre para ver e fotografar auroras boreais e foi definitivamente uma experiência verdadeiramente incrível! Com uma curta viagem de 3 dias reservada para a Islândia, tive apenas duas noites para conseguir esta experiência, embora a previsão fosse muito má para Reykjavic e para a parte ocidental da ilha, com céu nublado, neve e ventos fortes. Assim, eu e a minha namorada começámos uma viagem para tentar ver algumas auroras, viajando para a parte norte da Islândia, onde algumas aberturas no tempo eram esperadas. Felizmente, depois de 3 horas a conduzir encontrámos um local agradável em Vesturhopsvatn, onde o céu parecia mais limpo e após alguns minutos fora do carro, as luzes do norte apareceram em um espetáculo muito bonito de uma cor esverdeada que apesar dos nossos olhos não conseguirem discernir, a câmara conseguia claramente revelar. Mesmo parecendo fraco no começo, repentinamente as auroras boreais começaram a aumentar o seu brilho, num intenso espectáculo celeste onde se podiam distinguir o movimento das luzes do norte,, mesmo à vista desarmada. Repetimos os mesmos passos para a segunda noite, mas com uma previsão de tempo a pior. Neve e frio, com uma sensação térmica de -11, devido aos ventos fortes de 50km/h que se faziam sentir, um céu parcialmente nublado obrigava-nos a um esforço e persistência adicional. Depois de conduzirmos durante algum tempo com estas condições difíceis, na direção de Fornihvammur, no norte da Islândia, finalmente tivemos uma abertura. Com menos vento, durante cerca de 30 minutos o céu ficou quase totalmente limpo, senti-me verdadeiramente abençoado pelo Universo! Assim que preparei a minha câmara, as auroras boreais reapareceram ainda mais fortes que na primeira noite, desta vez numa explosão de cores dançantes entre roxo, violeta e vermelho, formando-se um enorme arco de aurora, de um verde vívido mágico que reluzia em frente à Via Láctea.
As auroras podem ser vistas em uma maravilhosa variedade de cores combinadas de diferentes maneiras, tendo em conta a altitude e o tipo de gás envolvido no processo, assumindo formas belas e fantasmagóricas que podem durar vários minutos, reaparecendo diversas vezes ao longo de uma noite. Quando o vento solar carregado de partículas energéticas atinge a Ionosfera, os fotões de oxigénio e nitrogénio na atmosfera superior, liberam a luz da aurora, devido a um processo de ionização. Embora o oxigénio seja o principal responsável pelo verde puro, a luz amarela esverdeada pode resultar do oxigénio excitado, contudo, este pode ainda produzir auroras vermelhas. O nitrogénio é responsável por produzir auroras azuis púrpuras em altas altitudes, enquanto moléculas de nitrogénio excitadas em baixas altitudes, podem produzir tons rosa e vermelho.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
Single shot captured with a Canon 6D | 24mm at f/2 | ISO3200 | Exp. 25 secs.
Aurora Borealis in a Magical Dance of Colors
Being March the best time to spot the northern lights over the Arctic Circle, during Springtime cracks are opening the Earth’s magnetic field and Solar Wind can penetrate more easily, firing the show in a phenomenon known as the “Russell-McPherron effect. On March 27 and March 28, a network of holes in the sun’s atmosphere was facing Earth, “spewing a filamentary stream of solar wind in our direction” according to Spaceweather. With a K-index expected to reach Kp= 3 on the first night and Kp=4 on the second one, the approaching stream was not so potent as a CME, although, it was powerful enough the spread bright auroras visible from Vesturhopsvatn and Fornihvammur, in Northern Iceland. Auroras can be seen in a wonderful variety of colours combined in different ways regarding altitude and the type of gas, forming beautiful and phantasmagoric shapes that can last during several minutes. The image reveals a background sky full of winter stars and constellations shinning behind the bright pink-red and green aurora band. On the left side, is visible the Beehive Cluster in Cancer and in the center of the image, stars Castor and Pollux are almost hidden in the greenish curtain. In right edge, Capella and all the stars of Auriga constellation are also visible.
When the Solar Wind charged with energetic particles strikes the ionosphere, photons of oxygen and nitrogen in the upper atmosphere release the aurora light, due to a process of ionisation. While oxygen is mainly responsible for pure green, greenish yellow light can result from excited oxygen, although, oxygen can also produce red aurorae. Nitrogen is responsible to produce purple blue aurorae at high altitudes while excited nitrogen molecules in low altitudes, can produce pink and red hues. To know more about, visit: aurora colours, and glowing gases.
PT: Sendo março a melhor época do ano para apreciar as auroras boreais sobre o Círculo Polar Ártico, durante a primavera abrem-se fendas no campo magnético da Terra e o Vento Solar consegue penetrar mais facilmente, proporcionando um fenómeno conhecido como “efeito Russell-McPherron”. A 27 e 28 de Março, uma “rede de buracos” na atmosfera do Sol estava direcionado para a Terra, “lançando uma corrente filamentar de vento solar na nossa direção”, de acordo com Spaceweather deste dia. Com um índice K esperado que poderia alcançar Kp = 3 na primeira noite e Kp = 4 na segunda noite, o fluxo que se aproximava não era tão potente quanto uma CME, no entanto seria suficientemente poderoso para espalhar auroras brilhantes que se tornaram visíveis no norte da Islândia. As auroras podem ser vistas em uma maravilhosa variedade de cores combinadas de diferentes maneiras, tendo em conta a altitude e o tipo de gás envolvido no processo, assumindo formas belas e fantasmagóricas que podem durar vários minutos, reaparecendo diversas vezes ao longo de uma noite. A imagem revela um céu de fundo cheio de estrelas de inverno e constelações que cintilam por detrás da brilhante aurora rosa-avermelhada e verde. No lado esquerdo, é visível o aglomerado da Colmeia em Cancer, e no centro da imagem, as estrelas Castor e Pollux estão quase escondidas na cortina esverdeada. No extremo direito da imagem, é visível Capella e todas as estrelas que compõem a constelação Auriga.
Quando o vento solar carregado de partículas energéticas atinge a Ionosfera, os fotões de oxigénio e nitrogénio na atmosfera superior, liberam a luz da aurora, devido a um processo de ionização. Embora o oxigénio seja o principal responsável pelo verde puro, a luz amarela esverdeada pode resultar do oxigénio excitado, contudo, este pode ainda produzir auroras vermelhas. O nitrogénio é responsável por produzir auroras azuis púrpuras em altas altitudes, enquanto moléculas de nitrogénio excitadas em baixas altitudes, podem produzir tons rosa e vermelho.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
Single shot captured with a Canon 6D | 24mm at f/2 | ISO2500 | Exp. 25 secs.
Raining Colours over Iceland
Being March the best time to spot the northern lights over the Arctic Circle, during Springtime cracks are opening the Earth’s magnetic field and Solar Wind can penetrate more easily, firing the show in a phenomenon known as the “Russell-McPherron effect. On March 27 and March 28, a network of holes in the sun’s atmosphere was facing Earth, “spewing a filamentary stream of solar wind in our direction” according to Spaceweather. With a K-index expected to reach Kp= 3 on the first night and Kp=4 on the second one, the approaching stream was not so potent as a CME, although, it was powerful enough the spread bright auroras visible from Vesturhopsvatn and Fornihvammur, in Northern Iceland. It was my first attempt ever to watch and photograph auroras borealis and I must say that it was definitely a truly amazing experience! With a short travel of 3 days booked to Iceland, I had only two nights of try, although, the forecast was very bad for Reykjavic and for the western part of the island, with cloudy sky, snow and strong winds. So me and my girlfriend we start a chasing trip to catch some auroras, riding to the northern part of Iceland where some openings in the weather were expected. Fortunately, after 3 hours driving we found a nice spot in Vesturhopsvatn, where the sky seemed more clear, and after a few minutes outside the northern lights appeared in a very nice show of a greenish hue. Even appearing faint in the beginning, suddenly they start to increase its brightness in an intense live show where I could distinguish the movement of the northern lights with my own eyes.
Auroras can be seen in a wonderful variety of colours combined in different ways regarding altitude and the type of gas, forming beautiful and phantasmagoric shapes that can last during several minutes. When the Solar Wind charged with energetic particles strikes the ionosphere, photons of oxygen and nitrogen in the upper atmosphere release the aurora light, due to a process of ionisation. While oxygen is mainly responsible for pure green, greenish yellow light can result from excited oxygen, although, oxygen can also produce red aurorae. Nitrogen is responsible to produce purple blue aurorae at high altitudes while excited nitrogen molecules in low altitudes, can produce pink and red hues. To know more about, visit: aurora colours, and glowing gases.
PT: Sendo março a melhor época do ano para apreciar as auroras boreais sobre o Círculo Polar Ártico, durante a primavera abrem-se fendas no campo magnético da Terra e o Vento Solar consegue penetrar mais facilmente, proporcionando um fenómeno conhecido como “efeito Russell-McPherron”. A 27 e 28 de Março, uma “rede de buracos” na atmosfera do Sol estava direcionado para a Terra, “lançando uma corrente filamentar de vento solar na nossa direção”, de acordo com Spaceweather deste dia. Com um índice K esperado que poderia alcançar Kp = 3 na primeira noite e Kp = 4 na segunda noite, o fluxo que se aproximava não era tão potente quanto uma CME, no entanto seria suficientemente poderoso para espalhar auroras brilhantes que se tornaram visíveis no norte da Islândia. Foi a minha primeira tentativa de sempre para ver e fotografar auroras boreais e foi definitivamente uma experiência verdadeiramente incrível! Com uma curta viagem de 3 dias reservada para a Islândia, tive apenas duas noites para conseguir esta experiência, embora a previsão fosse muito má para Reykjavic e para a parte ocidental da ilha, com céu nublado, neve e ventos fortes. Assim, eu e a minha namorada começámos uma viagem para tentar ver algumas auroras, viajando para a parte norte da Islândia, onde algumas aberturas no tempo eram esperadas. Felizmente, depois de 3 horas a conduzir encontrámos um local agradável em Vesturhopsvatn, onde o céu parecia mais limpo e após alguns minutos fora do carro, as luzes do norte apareceram em um espetáculo muito bonito de uma cor esverdeada que apesar dos nosso olhos não conseguirem discernir, a câmara conseguia claramente revelar. Mesmo parecendo fraco no começo, repentinamente as auroras boreais começaram a aumentar o seu brilho, num intenso espectáculo celeste onde se podiam distinguir o movimento das luzes do norte,, mesmo à vista desarmada.
As auroras podem ser vistas em uma maravilhosa variedade de cores combinadas de diferentes maneiras, tendo em conta a altitude e o tipo de gás envolvido no processo, assumindo formas belas e fantasmagóricas que podem durar vários minutos, reaparecendo diversas vezes ao longo de uma noite. Quando o vento solar carregado de partículas energéticas atinge a Ionosfera, os fotões de oxigénio e nitrogénio na atmosfera superior, liberam a luz da aurora, devido a um processo de ionização. Embora o oxigénio seja o principal responsável pelo verde puro, a luz amarela esverdeada pode resultar do oxigénio excitado, contudo, este pode ainda produzir auroras vermelhas. O nitrogénio é responsável por produzir auroras azuis púrpuras em altas altitudes, enquanto moléculas de nitrogénio excitadas em baixas altitudes, podem produzir tons rosa e vermelho.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
Single shot captured with a Canon 6D | 24mm at f/2 | ISO2500 | Exp. 25 secs.
Chasing Northern Lights in Iceland
Being March the best time to spot the northern lights over the Arctic Circle, during Springtime cracks are opening the Earth’s magnetic field and Solar Wind can penetrate more easily, firing the show in a phenomenon known as the “Russell-McPherron effect. On March 27 and March 28, a network of holes in the sun’s atmosphere was facing Earth, “spewing a filamentary stream of solar wind in our direction” according to Spaceweather. With a K-index expected to reach Kp= 3 on the first night and Kp=4 on the second one, the approaching stream was not so potent as a CME, although, it was powerful enough the spread bright auroras visible from Vesturhopsvatn and Fornihvammur, in Northern Iceland. It was my first attempt ever to watch and photograph auroras borealis and I must say that it was definitely a truly amazing experience! With a short travel of 3 days booked to Iceland, I had only two nights of try, although, the forecast was very bad for Reykjavic and for the western part of the island, with cloudy sky, snow and strong winds. So me and my girlfriend we start a chasing trip to catch some auroras, riding to the northern part of Iceland where some openings in the weather were expected. Fortunately, after 3 hours driving we found a nice spot in Vesturhopsvatn, where the sky seemed more clear, and after a few minutes outside the northern lights appeared in a very nice show of a greenish hue. Even appearing faint in the beginning, suddenly they start to increase its brightness in an intense live show where I could distinguish the movement of the northern lights with my own eyes.
Auroras can be seen in a wonderful variety of colours combined in different ways regarding altitude and the type of gas, forming beautiful and phantasmagoric shapes that can last during several minutes. When the Solar Wind charged with energetic particles strikes the ionosphere, photons of oxygen and nitrogen in the upper atmosphere release the aurora light, due to a process of ionisation. While oxygen is mainly responsible for pure green, greenish yellow light can result from excited oxygen, although, oxygen can also produce red aurorae. Nitrogen is responsible to produce purple blue aurorae at high altitudes while excited nitrogen molecules in low altitudes, can produce pink and red hues. To know more about, visit: aurora colours, and glowing gases.
PT: Sendo março a melhor época do ano para apreciar as auroras boreais sobre o Círculo Polar Ártico, durante a primavera abrem-se fendas no campo magnético da Terra e o Vento Solar consegue penetrar mais facilmente, proporcionando um fenómeno conhecido como “efeito Russell-McPherron”. A 27 e 28 de Março, uma “rede de buracos” na atmosfera do Sol estava direcionado para a Terra, “lançando uma corrente filamentar de vento solar na nossa direção”, de acordo com Spaceweather deste dia. Com um índice K esperado que poderia alcançar Kp = 3 na primeira noite e Kp = 4 na segunda noite, o fluxo que se aproximava não era tão potente quanto uma CME, no entanto seria suficientemente poderoso para espalhar auroras brilhantes que se tornaram visíveis no norte da Islândia. Foi a minha primeira tentativa de sempre para ver e fotografar auroras boreais e foi definitivamente uma experiência verdadeiramente incrível! Com uma curta viagem de 3 dias reservada para a Islândia, tive apenas duas noites para conseguir esta experiência, embora a previsão fosse muito má para Reykjavic e para a parte ocidental da ilha, com céu nublado, neve e ventos fortes. Assim, eu e a minha namorada começámos uma viagem para tentar ver algumas auroras, viajando para a parte norte da Islândia, onde algumas aberturas no tempo eram esperadas. Felizmente, depois de 3 horas a conduzir encontrámos um local agradável em Vesturhopsvatn, onde o céu parecia mais limpo e após alguns minutos fora do carro, as luzes do norte apareceram em um espetáculo muito bonito de uma cor esverdeada que apesar dos nosso olhos não conseguirem discernir, a câmara conseguia claramente revelar. Mesmo parecendo fraco no começo, repentinamente as auroras boreais começaram a aumentar o seu brilho, num intenso espectáculo celeste onde se podiam distinguir o movimento das luzes do norte,, mesmo à vista desarmada.
As auroras podem ser vistas em uma maravilhosa variedade de cores combinadas de diferentes maneiras, tendo em conta a altitude e o tipo de gás envolvido no processo, assumindo formas belas e fantasmagóricas que podem durar vários minutos, reaparecendo diversas vezes ao longo de uma noite. Quando o vento solar carregado de partículas energéticas atinge a Ionosfera, os fotões de oxigénio e nitrogénio na atmosfera superior, liberam a luz da aurora, devido a um processo de ionização. Embora o oxigénio seja o principal responsável pelo verde puro, a luz amarela esverdeada pode resultar do oxigénio excitado, contudo, este pode ainda produzir auroras vermelhas. O nitrogénio é responsável por produzir auroras azuis púrpuras em altas altitudes, enquanto moléculas de nitrogénio excitadas em baixas altitudes, podem produzir tons rosa e vermelho.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
Single shot captured with a Canon 6D | 24mm at f/2 | ISO2500 | Exp. 25 secs.
Northern Lights Over Iceland Revealed in a Photo and Time Lapse Video
Being March the best time to spot the northern lights over the Arctic Circle, during Springtime cracks are opening the Earth’s magnetic field and Solar Wind can penetrate more easily, firing the show in a phenomenon known as the “Russell-McPherron effect. On March 27 and March 28, a network of holes in the sun’s atmosphere was facing Earth, “spewing a filamentary stream of solar wind in our direction” according to Spaceweather. With a K-index expected to reach Kp= 3 on the first night and Kp=4 on the second one, the approaching stream was not so potent as a CME, although, it was powerful enough the spread bright auroras visible from Vesturhopsvatn, in Northern Iceland. Auroras can be seen in a wonderful variety of colours combined in different ways regarding altitude and the type of gas, forming beautiful and phantasmagoric shapes that can last during several minutes. The image features a green aurora above a mountain range from Iceland. In the background sky is visible a bright star called Vega, from Lyra constellation, and in the top center, the constellation of Corona Borealis.
When the Solar Wind charged with energetic particles strikes the ionosphere, photons of oxygen and nitrogen in the upper atmosphere release the aurora light, due to a process of ionisation. While oxygen is mainly responsible for pure green, greenish yellow light can result from excited oxygen, although, oxygen can also produce red aurorae. Nitrogen is responsible to produce purple blue aurorae at high altitudes while excited nitrogen molecules in low altitudes, can produce pink and red hues. Below we can enjoy a short time lapse sequence of a few seconds, with sound on.
PT: Sendo março a melhor época do ano para apreciar as auroras boreais sobre o Círculo Polar Ártico, durante a primavera abrem-se fendas no campo magnético da Terra e o Vento Solar consegue penetrar mais facilmente, proporcionando um fenómeno conhecido como “efeito Russell-McPherron”. A 27 e 28 de Março, uma “rede de buracos” na atmosfera do Sol estava direcionado para a Terra, “lançando uma corrente filamentar de vento solar na nossa direção”, de acordo com Spaceweather deste dia. Com um índice K esperado que poderia alcançar Kp = 3 na primeira noite e Kp = 4 na segunda noite, o fluxo que se aproximava não era tão potente quanto uma CME, no entanto seria suficientemente poderoso para espalhar auroras brilhantes que se tornaram visíveis em Vesturhopsvatn, no norte da Islândia. As auroras podem ser vistas em uma maravilhosa variedade de cores combinadas de diferentes maneiras, tendo em conta a altitude e o tipo de gás envolvido no processo, assumindo formas belas e fantasmagóricas que podem durar vários minutos, reaparecendo diversas vezes ao longo de uma noite. No céu de fundo, à esquerda, é visível a estrela Vega da constelação de Lyra, e no centro superior da imagem é visível a constelação Corona Borealis.
Quando o vento solar carregado de partículas energéticas atinge a Ionosfera, os fotões de oxigénio e nitrogénio na atmosfera superior, liberam a luz da aurora, devido a um processo de ionização. Embora o oxigénio seja o principal responsável pelo verde puro, a luz amarela esverdeada pode resultar do oxigénio excitado, contudo, este pode ainda produzir auroras vermelhas. O nitrogénio é responsável por produzir auroras azuis púrpuras em altas altitudes, enquanto moléculas de nitrogénio excitadas em baixas altitudes, podem produzir tons rosa e vermelho. Acima, é possível apreciar uma pequena sequência time lapse de alguns segundos, acompanhada de som.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
Single shot captured with a Canon 6D | 24mm at f/2 | ISO2500 | Exp. 25 secs. The time lapse is a result of a sequence of shots with the same settings.
Green Aurora Over Iceland
Being March the best time to spot the northern lights over the Arctic Circle, during Springtime cracks are opening the Earth’s magnetic field and Solar Wind can penetrate more easily, firing the show in a phenomenon known as the “Russell-McPherron effect. On March 27 and March 28, a network of holes in the sun’s atmosphere was facing Earth, “spewing a filamentary stream of solar wind in our direction” according to Spaceweather. With a K-index expected to reach Kp= 3 on the first night and Kp=4 on the second one, the approaching stream was not so potent as a CME, although, it was powerful enough the spread bright auroras visible from Vesturhopsvatn, in Northern Iceland. Auroras can be seen in a wonderful variety of colours combined in different ways regarding altitude and the type of gas, forming beautiful and phantasmagoric shapes that can last during several minutes. The image features a green aurora above a mountain range from Iceland. In the background sky, two bright stars are visible near the center, at left, Vega from Lyra constellation, and in the opposite direction, star Arcturus from Bootes is also shinning bright. In the middle is also visible the constellation of Corona Borealis. In the top center are also visible the main stars from the tail of Ursa Major.
When the Solar Wind charged with energetic particles strikes the ionosphere, photons of oxygen and nitrogen in the upper atmosphere release the aurora light, due to a process of ionisation. While oxygen is mainly responsible for pure green, greenish yellow light can result from excited oxygen, although, oxygen can also produce red aurorae. Nitrogen is responsible to produce purple blue aurorae at high altitudes while excited nitrogen molecules in low altitudes, can produce pink and red hues.
PT: Sendo março a melhor época do ano para apreciar as auroras boreais sobre o Círculo Polar Ártico, durante a primavera abrem-se fendas no campo magnético da Terra e o Vento Solar consegue penetrar mais facilmente, proporcionando um fenómeno conhecido como “efeito Russell-McPherron”. A 27 e 28 de Março, uma “rede de buracos” na atmosfera do Sol estava direcionado para a Terra, “lançando uma corrente filamentar de vento solar na nossa direção”, de acordo com Spaceweather deste dia. Com um índice K esperado que poderia alcançar Kp = 3 na primeira noite e Kp = 4 na segunda noite, o fluxo que se aproximava não era tão potente quanto uma CME, no entanto seria suficientemente poderoso para espalhar auroras brilhantes que se tornaram visíveis de Vesturhopsvatn, no norte da Islândia. As auroras podem ser vistas em uma maravilhosa variedade de cores combinadas de diferentes maneiras, tendo em conta a altitude e o tipo de gás envolvido no processo, assumindo formas belas e fantasmagóricas que podem durar vários minutos, reaparecendo diversas vezes ao longo de uma noite. No céu de fundo, duas estrelas brilhantes são visíveis perto do centro, à esquerda, Vega da constelação de Lyra, e na direção oposta, a estrela Arcturus da constelação Bootes. No meio também é visível a constelação Corona Borealis. Na parte superior central são ainda visíveis as principais estrelas da cauda da Ursa Maior.
Quando o vento solar carregado de partículas energéticas atinge a Ionosfera, os fotões de oxigénio e nitrogénio na atmosfera superior, liberam a luz da aurora, devido a um processo de ionização. Embora o oxigénio seja o principal responsável pelo verde puro, a luz amarela esverdeada pode resultar do oxigénio excitado, contudo, este pode ainda produzir auroras vermelhas. O nitrogénio é responsável por produzir auroras azuis púrpuras em altas altitudes, enquanto moléculas de nitrogénio excitadas em baixas altitudes, podem produzir tons rosa e vermelho.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
A single shot captured with a Nikon D810a | 14mm at f/2,8 | ISO3200 | Exp. 25 secs.
Fighting Light Pollution – Scientific Evidence Instead of Weapons
The Judean Desert, or the Judean Wilderness as it is has been known throughout history, is one of the world’s smallest, yet most unique desert regions with approximately 1,500 square kilometers, is located in Israel and the West Bank that lies east of Jerusalem and descends to the Dead Sea. Major urban areas in the region includes Jerusalem, Bethlehem, the Gush Etzion, Jericho and Hebron. For being so small, the night sky can be easily affected by light pollution coming from those cities and villages. The image features an abandoned war tank, near a military base located in the middle of the desert, taken in one night filled with dust and mixed with some fog. This hazy scene leads to reveal the worst effect of light pollution as it is spread against the night sky which fade out most of the brightest stars, a major effect that nowadays affect most of the metropolitan areas and the largest cities where most of the world’s population lives. Fighting the increasing light pollution – not with weapons, but with proofs given by studies and irrefutable evidences – is now one of the modern battles that scientists in different fields, environmentalists and the astronomy community are facing to raise awareness among politicians, companies, entrepreneurs and world leaders about the problem of bad and strong illumination. Changing the natural light of any environment can have devastating effects in our human healthy, on the plants, animals and natural life also increasing the energy consumption and washes out our view of the Universe in unnecessarily way.
Biblically and throughout history, the Judean Desert has been an important, and much documented place. It was the main entry route to the Holy City of Jerusalem from the east, and Moses famously looked out across it, and the Holy Land into which he never entered, from the Moab Mountains of Jordan which lie across the Dead Sea from Israel. Scripture from the Bible reveals in this desert wilderness one the most important victories in the life of Jesus is when He overcame temptation after his baptism by John the Baptist. Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him.” (Mark 1:12-13).
PT: O Deserto da Judeia, ou “Judean Wilderness” como é conhecido ao longo da história, é uma das menores e mais exclusivas regiões desérticas do mundo, com aproximadamente 1.500km quadrados, localizado em Israel e na Cisjordânia, fica a leste de Jerusalém e desce em direcção ao Mar Morto. As principais áreas urbanas da região incluem Jerusalém, Belém, o Gush Etzion, Jericó e Hebron. Por ser tão pequeno, o céu noturno é facilmente afetado pela poluição luminosa proveniente dessas cidades e povoações. Na imagem é possível ver um tanque de guerra abandonado, perto de uma base militar localizada no meio do deserto, numa noite envolta em poeiras e que se misturam com algum nevoeiro presente. O cenário nebuloso em pano de fundo, permitir revelar o pior efeito da poluição luminosa, à medida que esta se espalha contra o céu noturno desvanecendo a maioria das estrelas mais brilhantes. Um efeito importante que afecta hoje em dia a maioria das áreas metropolitanas e as grandes cidades onde vive a maior parte do população mundial. Lutar contra o aumento da poluição luminosa – não com armas, mas com estudos e evidências científicas irrefutáveis - é hoje uma das batalhas modernas que cientistas de diferentes áreas, ambientalistas e a comunidade astronómica internacional enfrenta, para tentar conscientizar políticos, empresas, empresários e líderes mundiais sobre o problema da má e forte iluminação pública. Mudar a luz natural de qualquer ambiente pode ter efeitos devastadores em nossa saúde humana, nas plantas, nos animais e na vida natural, aumentando também o consumo de energia e eliminando desnecessariamente nossa visão do Universo.
Biblicamente e ao longo da história, o deserto da Judéia tem sido um lugar importante e muito documentado. Foi a principal rota de entrada para a Cidade Santa de Jerusalém a partir do leste, e Moisés ficou famoso por ela e a Terra Santa na qual ele nunca entrou, das Montanhas Moabe da Jordânia que estão do outro lado do Mar Morto, vindo de Israel. As escrituras da Bíblia revelam que neste deserto uma das vitórias mais importantes na vida de Jesus foi quando “ele venceu a tentação após o seu baptismo por João Batista. Imediatamente o Espírito levou-o ao deserto; e esteve no deserto quarenta dias, tentado por Satanás, e estava com as feras; e os anjos ministraram a ele ”(Marcos 1: 12-13).
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
A single frame with a Canon 6D | 24mm at f/8 | ISO1600 | Exp. 30 secs.
Venus and Jupiter shinning at Dawn in the Final Stage of the Lunar Eclipse
A panorama captured at dawn in the final stage of the Lunar Eclipse, reveals an increasing light of the lunar disk immersed in a thin layer of clouds, while in the opposite direction (at left) the brightest planets of the night sky – Venus and Jupiter – are shinning in a very close alignment, only separated by approximately 2,5 degrees from Jupiter, Venus is also featuring a blueish nice corona, due to a presence of tiny water droplets in thin clouds, which diffract the light of bright heavenly bodies working as a natural diffuse filter. During a celestial event like that, is incredible to notice huge changes on the reflected light that illuminates the ground. The image was captured in Mina de São Domingos, an old mine near Mértola, Dark Sky® Alqueva, Portugal, that was the center of metallurgical activities on extracted minerals dozens years ago. The areas of heaps, slag and channels of water, give the landscape a “lunar” aspect.
PT: Um panorama captado ao amanhecer no estágio final do Eclipse Lunar de 2019, revela uma luz crescente do disco lunar imerso em uma fina camada de nuvens, enquanto na direção oposta (à esquerda) os planetas mais brilhantes do céu noturno – Vénus e Júpiter – brilham num alinhamento próximo. Separado apenas por cerca de 2,5 graus de Júpiter, Vénus apresenta uma corona azulada, devido à presença de pequenas gotículas de água em nuvens finas, que difractam a luz de corpos celestes brilhantes trabalhando como um filtro difuso natural. Durante um evento celestial como este, é incrível notar grandes mudanças na luz refletida que ilumina o solo. A imagem foi captada na Mina de São Domingos, numa antiga mina perto de Mértola, na reserva Dark Sky® Alqueva, Portugal, que foi no passado o centro das atividades metalúrgicas dos minerais extraídos da região. As áreas de escombreiras, escórias e canais de água, dão à paisagem um aspecto “lunar”..
The Path of Totality and a Lunar Corona
A photo time lapse sequence shows the path of totality during the Total Lunar Eclipse of 2019, on 21th January, as seen from Mina de São Domingos in Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, Portugal, ending with a Lunar Corona that was formed while bright moonlight was diffracted by water droplets in thin clouds, drifting in front of the lunar disk. During a lunar eclipse, the moon passes through Earth’s shadow, giving the natural satellite a blood-red hue. For being near the closest point to our planet Earth, this Moon was also called a “Super Moon”. The next total lunar eclipse will be in 2021. During a celestial event like that, is incredible to notice huge changes on the reflected light that illuminates the ground. Some stars are also reflected in a small puddle of acid water from Achada do Gamo, that was – since the beginning of modern mining activities in the São Domingos Mine – the center of metallurgical activities on extracted minerals. The areas of heaps, slag and channels of water, give the landscape a “lunar” aspect. The heaps are composed of different materials with high levels of metals, such as slag and ash, whose leaching through the rainwater leads to the production of acid mine drainage, usually with an ocher or reddish color. Below is also visible a poster with a close-up view of the Moon immersed in the blue hue from the corona.
PT: A imagem mostra uma foto-sequência onde é possível ver o caminho da Lua percorrido durante a fase da totalidade durante o Eclipse Total Lunar ocorrido a 21 de Janeiro de 2019, captado a partir do complexo da Mina de São Domingos, no Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, em Portugal. A sequência termina com uma corona lunar, que se forma enquanto o brilho da lua é difractado por gotículas de água em nuvens finas, flutuando assim na frente do disco lunar.. Durante um eclipse lunar, a lua passa pela sombra da Terra, dando ao nosso satélite natural uma tonalidade vermelho-sangue. Por se encontrar no ponto orbital mais próximo da Terra, esta Lua é também apelidada de Super Lua. O próximo Eclipse Total da Lua ocorrerá em 2021. Durante um evento celestial como este, é incrível como se notam grandes mudanças na luz refletida que ilumina o solo. Algumas estrelas reflectem-se também nas águas ácidas da Achada do Gamo, que foi desde o início das atividades modernas de mineração na Mina de São Domingos, o centro das atividades metalúrgicas sobre os minérios extraídos. As áreas de escombreiras, escórias e canais de água, dão à paisagem um aspecto “lunar”. As escombreiras são constituídas por diferentes materiais com teores elevados em metais, como escórias e cinzas, cuja lixiviação através das águas das chuvas leva à produção de águas ácidas (‘acid mine drainage’), geralmente com uma cor ocre ou avermelhada. Acima, é ainda possível ver um poster com um close-up da Lua enquanto esta estava envolta pelo azul da corona.
Winter Corona Surrounding a Full Cold Moon
This relatively abstract view captured in a double exposure with focus stacking, shows the Full Moon of December, behind a layer of clouds and immersed between dozens of branches from a foreground tree. The colourful hue that surrounds the moon, is a lunar corona formed while bright moonlight is diffracted by water droplets in thin clouds, drifting in front of the lunar disk. The image was captured in the historic centre of Évora, a UNESCO World Heritage site, located in Dark Sky® Alqueva reserve, Portugal. According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, the December full moon is also called the “Full Cold Moon”. The last time a full moon coincided with the solstice was in 2010, and the next will be in 2094.
PT: Uma visão relativamente abstrata captada em uma dupla exposição com focus stacking, mostra uma Lua Cheia envolta numa fina camada de nuvens e imersa entre dezenas de galhos de uma árvore que em contra-luz, se destaca em primeiro plano. As tonalidades coloridas que circundam a lua, são provocadas por um corona lunar, que se forma enquanto o brilho da lua é difractado por gotículas de água em nuvens finas, flutuando assim na frente do disco lunar. A imagem foi captada no centro histórico de Évora, Património Mundial da UNESCO, e inserido na reserva Dark Sky® Alqueva. De acordo com o Almanaque do Velho Fazendeiro, a lua cheia de dezembro também é chamada de “Full Cold Moon”. A última vez que uma lua cheia coincidiu com o solstício de inverno foi em 2010, sendo que a próxima só voltará a ocorrer em 2094.
A Pinky Sky with a Golden Moon above Niagara Falls
Created by glacier activity around 10000 years ago, Niagara Falls is one the of the World’s Natural Wonders. Located on the border of Ontario, Canada and New York State, USA, Niagara Falls are made up of 3 waterfalls, the American Falls, the Bridal Veil Falls and the Horseshoe Falls. The 3 waterfalls combined, is producing the highest flow rate of any waterfall on Earth. The Horseshoe Falls are 180 feet (57 meters) high and allow 6 million cubic feet (168,000 cubic meters) of water every minute during peak daytime tourist hours, “that is about a million bathtubs full of water every minute”! Although, according this and having in mind the total volume of our natural satellite, the Moon, with 2.1958e10 km3 it would need to take of about 248 years to fill up the entire sphere that represents the body of the Moon. The rapids above the Falls reach a maximum speed of 40 km/h, but the fastest speeds occur at the Falls with 109 km/h. Niagara River expert, Wes Hill, estimates that 90 % of the fish can survive from the huge drop. At the current rate of erosion, scientists believe that the Niagara Falls will be gone in around 50000 years, luckily you still have time to be one of the 30 million people that every year are visiting the place. The image shows a golden crescent moon against the pink band from anti-twilight arch, or “Belt of Venus”, visible few minutes after the sunset when lots of birds are flying above American Falls & Bridal Veil Falls. Below, a boat from Hornblower Niagara Cruises, not so iconic as The Maid of the Mist that made its first trip in 1846, is carrying aboard hundreds of people that in the background has a massive flow of 567,811 liters of water falling each second.
PT: Criada pela atividade glacial há cerca de 10000 anos, as Cataratas do Niágara são uma das maravilhas naturais do mundo. Localizadas na fronteira de Ontário, Canadá e Estado de Nova York, EUA, as Cataratas do Niágara são compostas por 3 cataratas, as Cataratas Americanas, as Cataratas de Bridal Veil e as Cataratas Canadenses. As Cataratas Horseshoe têm 180 pés (57 metros) de altura e permitem a passagem de 168.000 metros cúbicos de água a cada minuto, durante o dia e no horário de pico turístico, isto é, cerca de um milhão de banheiras cheias de água a cada minuto! No entanto, de acordo com esses dados e tendo em mente o volume total de nosso satélite natural da Tera, a Lua, com 2.1958e10 km3, seria necessário cerca de 248 anos para preencher toda a esfera que representa o corpo da Lua. Acima das Cataratas a água atinge uma velocidade máxima de 40 km/h, mas as velocidades mais rápidas ocorrem nas Cataratas onde a água se precipita em queda livre atingindo os 109 km/h. O especialista do Rio Niágara, Wes Hill, estima que 90% dos peixes conseguem sobreviver da enorme queda. No ritmo atual de erosão, os cientistas acreditam que as Cataratas do Niágara terão desaparecido em cerca de 50000 anos, felizmente ainda terá tempo de ser uma das 30 milhões de pessoas que todos os anos visitam o local. A imagem mostra uma lua crescente dourada contra a faixa rosa do arco anti-crepuscular, ou também conhecido por Belt of Venus, poucos minutos após o pôr do sol, quando muitos pássaros voam acima de American Falls e Bridal Veil Falls. Abaixo, um barco da Hornblower Niagara Cruises, não tão icónico como o Maid of the Mist que fez a sua primeira viagem em 1846, carrega a bordo centenas de pessoas que em pano de fundo têm um fluxo de 567.811 litros de água caindo a cada segundo da viagem.
Visible Corona during the Partial Phase of the Total Lunar Eclipse
Sequence of the partial ending phase of the longest Total Lunar Eclipse of the Century, where during a few seconds some iridescent clouds and a short Lunar Corona around the eclipsed disk of the moon showed up, due to a short presence of passing clouds. While the partial phase is moving forward, we can also see the intense light of the sun catching and hiding the well known Tycho Crater.
PT: Sequência da fase final parcial do mais longo Eclipse Lunar Total do Século, onde durante alguns segundos apareceram algumas nuvens iridescentes formando uma Corona Lunar ao redor do disco eclipsado da lua. Estas formações ocorrem devido à presença de uma camada fina de nuvens que contém normalmente micro cristais de gelo que refractam a luz de Lua. Enquanto a fase parcial avança na sequência Time Lapse, também podemos ver a intensa luz solar que vai ocultando por sobre exposição a conhecida cratera Tycho.
Andromeda Galaxy Shinning above the Landscape
The photo shows a single shot made with a tracking mount of the entire Andromeda constellation rising above a puddle of acid water from Achada do Gamo. Andromeda Galaxy M31 stands very well visible and aligned between two chimneys from the century old mine of São Domingos, in Dark Sky® Alqueva – Mértola, highlighted against a faint greenish background from a thin band of airglow. With approximately 4 times the angular size of the full moon as seen from Earth, the great spiral galaxy Andromeda is at a mere 2.5 million light-years distant from us, being the closest large spiral to our own Milky Way. In really dark places we can clearly distinguish this naked eye galaxy, but how to find it? Start to identify the star Alpheratz, as the constellation Andromeda begins here, then follow down two stars and we will end up on Mirach. You should see two stars stacked one on top of each other, are they Mirach and Mu Andromedae. If you draw a line through the two stars and extend it past Mu Andromedae star, you should run into the Andromeda galaxy, which is located at about the same distance that separates this last two stars mentioned, being Mu Andromedae much dimmer than Mirach star. Very close to Andromeda galaxy is also visible an even week star called Nu Andromedae. The annotated version that can be found below, also shows galaxy M33 and the well known double cluster in Perseus.
PT: Nesta foto captada numa única exposição com seguimento, é possível ver toda a constelação de Andromeda enquanto nasce acima das águas ácidas da Achada do Gamo. A galáxia de Andromeda M31 está assim bem visível e alinhada entre as duas chaminés da centenária Mina de São Domingos, no Dark Sky® Alqueva – Mértola, destacando-se contra um fundo esverdeado proveniente de uma fina faixa de airglow (luminescência foto-química). Com aproximadamente 4 vezes o tamanho angular da Lua Cheia quando vista a partir da Terra, a grande galáxia espiral de Andromeda está a meros 2,5 milhões de anos-luz de nós, sendo a maior galáxia espiral próxima à nossa Via Láctea. Em lugares realmente escuros, podemos distinguir claramente esta galáxia a olho nu, mas como localizá-la no céu? Comece por identificar a estrela Alpheratz onde se inicia a constelação de Andromeda, depois siga duas estrelas até chegar a Mirach. A partir daqui deve ver duas estrelas que parecem estar uma por cima da outra, são elas Mirach e Mu Andromedae. Se traçar uma linha imaginária através destas duas estrelas e estender à estrela de Mu Andromedae, deverá se deparar com a galáxia de Andromeda, que está assim localizada sensivelmente à mesma distância que separa estas duas últimas estrelas mencionadas, sendo Mu Andromedae de brilho muito mais fraco que a estrela Mirach. Muito perto da galáxia de Andromeda encontra-se ainda uma estrela mais fraca de nome Nu Andromedae. A versão da imagem com legenda pode ser encontrada abaixo, e também mostra a galáxia M33 e o conhecido Duplo Enxame de Estrelas do Perseus.
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.
A Strong Gegenschein Between the Winter Constellations
A night scene captured in Pulo do Lobo, Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, shows a path of light from the winter Milky Way full of bright stars like the ones that are composing the constellations of Orion. Above the horizon, Sirius is the brightest star that dominates the night, but due to the little presence of haze, stars like Pollux and Castor from Gemini constellation are also showing their beautiful natural colors. But between Procyon, Castor and Betelgeuse, near the Zenith spotted in the center of the image, is noticeable a rare and faint white light known as Gegenschein, that is a faint brightening of the night sky in the region of the antisolar point. like the zodiacal light, the gegenschein is sunlight scattered by interplanetary dust. Most of this dust is orbiting the Sun in about the ecliptic plane. It is distinguished from zodiacal light by its high angle of reflection of the incident sunlight on the dust particles.
PT: Uma cena nocturna captada no Pulo do Lobo, Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, mostra o ténue caminho de luz da Via Láctea invernal repleto de estrelas brilhantes como as que compõem as constelações de Orion. Acima do horizonte, Sirius é a estrela mais brilhante que domina a noite, mas devido à pequena presença de neblina, estrelas como Pollux e Castor da constelação de Gémeos também mostram suas lindas cores naturais. No entanto, entre Procyon, Castor e Betelgeuse, perto do Zénite, localizado no centro da imagem, é possível percepcionar uma luz branca rara e fraca, conhecida como Gegenschein, que é um leve brilho do céu noturno na região do ponto antissolar. Tal como a luz Zodiacal, a Gegenschein é a luz solar espalhada pelo poeira interplanetária. A maior parte desta poeira está orbitando o Sol em aproximadamente o plano da Eclíptica. Distingue-se da luz Zodiacal pelo seu alto ângulo de reflexão da luz solar incidente sobre as partículas de poeira.
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.
The Path of Light from a Super Blue Moon
The path of light from a Super Blue Moon is rising behind a windmill from Sesimbra, in Portugal. The second Full Moon of the month is well known as the “Blue Moon”. Supermoons happen when a full moon approximately coincides with the moon’s perigee, or a point in its orbit at which it is closest to Earth. This makes the moon appear up to 8 percent larger and 16 percent brighter than usual. The Super Moon from January 2018 was very unusual because it also happened a Total Lunar Eclipse, although, it was not visible from Portugal. Below is a Time Lapse sequence captured during Moonrise.
PT: O rasto de luz de uma Super “Blue Moon” ergue-se por detrás de um moinho de vento de Sesimbra, em Portugal. A segunda Lua cheia do mês é conhecida como a “Lua Azul” ou “Blue Moon”. As popularmente designadas Super Luas acontecem, quando uma lua cheia coincide aproximadamente com o perigeu da lua, o ponto em sua órbita que está mais próximo da Terra. Isso faz com que a lua apareça até 8% maior e 16% mais brilhante do que o normal. A Super Lua de janeiro de 2018 foi muito incomum porque também permitiu a ocorrência de um Eclipse Lunar Total, embora não fosse visível de Portugal. Abaixo está uma sequência Time Lapse captada durante o nascer da lua.
Lunar Corona above Town Hall in Grand Place
This cityscape shows a colourful lunar corona at the left side of the Town Hall in the city of Brussels, capital of European Union (EU). The lunar corona is formed while bright moonlight is diffracted by water droplets in thin clouds, drifting in front of the lunar disk. The beautiful building in the foreground is the Town Hall of the City of Brussels, a Gothic building from the Middle Ages – between 1401 and 1455 – and made the Grand Place the seat of municipal power. The major tower have 96 metres (315 ft) high, and is capped by a 4-metre (12 ft) statue of Saint Michael slaying a demon. It is located on the famous Grand Place in Brussels, Belgium, and is the only remaining medieval building of the Grand Place and is considered a masterpiece of civil Gothic architecture and more particularly of Brabantine Gothic. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Grand-Place testifies in particular to the success of Brussels, mercantile city of northern Europe that, at the height of its prosperity, rose from the terrible bombardment inflicted by the troops of Louis XIV in 1695. Destroyed in three days, this gothic building has survived.
PT: Esta paisagem urbana mostra uma colorida coroa lunar à esquerda da Câmara Municipal da cidade de Bruxelas, capital da União Europeia (UE). A coroa lunar é formada devido à difração da luz brilhante do luar nas gotas de água presentes em nuvens finas, que transitam na frente do disco lunar. O magnífico edifício em primeiro plano, é a Câmara Municipal da Cidade de Bruxelas, um edifício gótico da Idade Média – entre 1401 e 1455 – que fez da Grand Place o lugar do poder municipal. A torre principal tem 96 metros (315 pés) de altura e está coberta por uma estátua de 4 metros (12 pés) de Saint Michael, matando um demónio. Localizado na famosa Grand Place, em Bruxelas, na Bélgica, é o único edifício medieval que permanece da Grand Place original e é considerado uma obra-prima da arquitetura gótica civil e mais particularmente do Brabantine Gothic. Incluído na lista do Património Mundial da UNESCO, a Grand-Place atesta, em particular, o sucesso de Bruxelas, cidade mercantil do norte da Europa, que, no auge de sua prosperidade, surgiu do terrível bombardeamento infligido pelas tropas de Louis XIV em 1695. Totalmente destruída em três dias, este edifício gótico foi dos únicos que sobreviveu ao bombardeamento
Slightly Crescent Moon above Mértola Village
Captured one day after the new moon during the Christmas week, the moon was only 2% illuminated by the sunlight. Though, we can clearly distinguish the entire disk due to a phenomenon called Lunar Earthshine. In the foreground, located in a top hill, is a beautiful well-preserved medieval castle from Mértola village, in Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, decorated with Christmas lights around the walls and by coincidence very well aligned with the crescent moon, forming the perfect frame for a Christmas Card.
PT: Captada no dia após a lua nova e durante a semana que antecede o Natal, a lua encontrava-se 2% iluminada pela luz solar directa. No entanto, é possível distinguir claramente todo o disco devido a um fenómeno chamado Lunar Earthshine. Em primeiro plano, localizado numa colina superior, encontra-se o bem preservado e belo castelo da vila de Mértola, na Reserva Dark Sky® Alqueva, decorado com luzes de Natal ao redor das paredes e por coincidência muito bem alinhado com a lua crescente, forma o par perfeito para um Postal de Natal.
Bright Milky Way Mixed with Airglow and Clouds above Mina de São Domingos
A wide view of the Milky Way with planet Saturn shinning against the galaxy core above Scorpius constellation, while in the opposite direction, bright star Arcturus is setting behind a layer of orange clouds. In the background horizon, a smooth presence of green airglow is also mixed with a starry sky. In the top right corner of the image, a pink/red emission from North America Nebula (NGC7000) is well visible near Deneb star, forming a perfect triangle with the blue star Vega (top center) and Altair star (left center). This mosaic of the Milky Way was captured above a puddle of acid water from Achada do Gamo, that was – since the beginning of modern mining activities in the São Domingos Mine – the center of metallurgical activities on extracted minerals. Already during the 20th century, between the 30s and 40s, a new direction of industrial exploration took place: the sulfur, however much valued, began to be extracted from the copper pyrites through furnaces (Orkla process) in two plants installed in the Achada do Gamo during the years of 1934 and 1943.
São Domingos Mine is located in Baixo Alentejo, about 240 km from Lisbon, in the municipality of Mértola, which recently joined the Dark Sky® Alqueva Route for the great quality of the night sky. The São Domingos mining area is part of the Iberian Pyrite Range and is a decisive source of basic metals (S, Zn, Pb, Sn, Ag, Au, Fe, Co, Cd, etc.) and other elements such as sulfur (S). It has been a sought after place for the extraction of ores since antiquity, with evidence of gold, silver and copper mining in the pre-Roman and Roman times. The pyritic deposit of São Domingos (St. Dominic) was explored in various historical periods, namely: for several centuries of the first millennium BC (Eastern period), during the period between 14 BC and 395 AD (Roman period), during the Islamic period and during the modern period that was initiated in 1858 for the extraction of copper, gold and silver and was maintained until 1966, the year in which the reserves were considered exhausted. During this period, the work was done in the open air up to 120 meters deep, with work continued through wells and galleries up to 400 meters. Over 108 years of regular exploration, more than 20 million tons of materials were removed from the site, producing about 14.7 million tons of waste accumulated in heaps up to 14 meters high with a dozen different materials such as pyrite , gossan, slag, ash, iron oxides, barren rock, sludge, debris, etc. The areas of heaps, slag and channels of water, give the landscape a “lunar” aspect. The heaps are composed of different materials with high levels of metals, such as slag and ash, whose leaching through the rainwater leads to the production of acid mine drainage, usually with an ocher or reddish color.|
PT: Nesta imagem é possível aceder a uma ampla visão da Via Láctea com o planeta Saturno brilhando contra o núcleo da galáxia acima da constelação do Escorpião, enquanto na direção oposta, a estrela brilhante Arcturus se põe atrás de uma camada de nuvens alaranjada. Logo acima do horizonte e em pano de fundo, uma presença suave de airglow (luminescência foto-química) mistura-se com um céu estrelado. No canto superior direito da imagem, uma emissão rosa/vermelha proveniente da Nebulosa América do Norte (NGC7000) é bem visível perto da estrela Deneb, formando um triângulo perfeito com a estrela azul Vega (centro superior) e a estrela Altair (centro esquerdo). Este mosaico da Via Láctea foi captado acima das águas ácidas da Achada do Gamo, que foi desde o início das atividades modernas de mineração na Mina de São Domingos, o centro das atividades metalúrgicas sobre os minérios extraídos. Já durante o século XX, entre as décadas de 30 e 40, uma nova direção de exploração industrial tomou lugar: o enxofre, entretanto muito valorizado, passou a ser extraído das pirites cupríferas através de fornos (processo Orkla) em duas unidades fabris instaladas na Achada do Gamo durante os anos de 1934 e 1943.
A Mina de São Domingos, situa-se no Baixo Alentejo, a cerca de 240 km de Lisboa, no concelho de Mértola, que passou a integrar recentemente a Rota Dark Sky® Alqueva pela grande qualidade do seu céu escuro. A área mineira de São Domingos, está inserida na Faixa Piritosa Ibérica e constitui uma fonte decisiva de metais básicos (Cu, Zn, Pb, Sn, Ag, Au, Fe, Co, Cd, etc.) e de outros elementos como o enxofre (S). Foi desde a Antiguidade um local procurado para a extracção de minérios, existindo indícios de trabalhos de extracção de ouro, prata e cobre no período pré-romano e romano. O depósito pirítico de São Domingos foi explorado em diversos períodos históricos, nomeadamente: durante vários séculos do primeiro milénio a.C. (período Oriental), durante o período que mediou entre o ano 14 a.C. e o ano de 395 d.C. (período romano), durante o período islâmico e durante o período moderno que se iniciou em 1858 para a extracção de cobre, ouro e prata e manteve-se até 1966, ano em que as reservas foram consideradas esgotadas. Neste período, a lavra foi feita a céu aberto até aos 120 metros de profundidade, tendo os trabalhos continuado por meio de poços e galerias até aos 400 metros. Ao longo de 108 anos de exploração regular, foram retirados do local mais de 20 milhões de toneladas de materiais, tendo produzido cerca 14,7 milhões de toneladas de resíduos acumulados em escombreiras de até 14 metros de altura, com uma dezena de materiais diferentes como pirite, gossan, escórias, cinzas, óxidos de ferro, rocha estéril, lamas, entulhos, etc. As áreas de escombreiras, escórias e canais de água, dão à paisagem um aspecto “lunar”. As escombreiras são constituídas por diferentes materiais com teores elevados em metais, como escórias e cinzas, cuja lixiviação através das águas das chuvas leva à produção de águas ácidas (‘acid mine drainage’), geralmente com uma cor ocre ou avermelhada.
The Arch of Milky Way Shinning Against the Acid Landscape of Achada do Gamo
The arch of Milky Way galaxy behind a tiny layer of clouds mixed with a smooth presence of green airglow, is shinning above a puddle of acid water from Achada do Gamo, that was – since the beginning of modern mining activities in the São Domingos Mine – the center of metallurgical activities on extracted minerals. Already during the 20th century, between the 30s and 40s, a new direction of industrial exploration took place: the sulfur, however much valued, began to be extracted from the copper pyrites through furnaces (Orkla process) in two plants installed in the Achada do Gamo during the years of 1934 and 1943. Near the left chimney is visible the Andromeda galaxy, seen from here as an elongated diffuse dot.
São Domingos Mine is located in Baixo Alentejo, about 240 km from Lisbon, in the municipality of Mértola, which recently joined the Dark Sky® Alqueva Route for the great quality of the night sky. The São Domingos mining area is part of the Iberian Pyrite Range and is a decisive source of basic metals (S, Zn, Pb, Sn, Ag, Au, Fe, Co, Cd, etc.) and other elements such as sulfur (S). It has been a sought after place for the extraction of ores since antiquity, with evidence of gold, silver and copper mining in the pre-Roman and Roman times. The pyritic deposit of São Domingos (St. Dominic) was explored in various historical periods, namely: for several centuries of the first millennium BC (Eastern period), during the period between 14 BC and 395 AD (Roman period), during the Islamic period and during the modern period that was initiated in 1858 for the extraction of copper, gold and silver and was maintained until 1966, the year in which the reserves were considered exhausted. During this period, the work was done in the open air up to 120 meters deep, with work continued through wells and galleries up to 400 meters. Over 108 years of regular exploration, more than 20 million tons of materials were removed from the site, producing about 14.7 million tons of waste accumulated in heaps up to 14 meters high with a dozen different materials such as pyrite , gossan, slag, ash, iron oxides, barren rock, sludge, debris, etc. The areas of heaps, slag and channels of water, give the landscape a “lunar” aspect. The heaps are composed of different materials with high levels of metals, such as slag and ash, whose leaching through the rainwater leads to the production of acid mine drainage, usually with an ocher or reddish color.|
PT: O arco da Via Láctea ergue-se por detrás de uma fina camada de nuvens que se mistura em pano de fundo com a presença suave de airglow, tornando-se visível acima das águas ácidas da Achada do Gamo, que foi desde o início das atividades modernas de mineração na Mina de São Domingos, o centro das atividades metalúrgicas sobre os minérios extraídos. Já durante o século XX, entre as décadas de 30 e 40, uma nova direção de exploração industrial tomou lugar: o enxofre, entretanto muito valorizado, passou a ser extraído das pirites cupríferas através de fornos (processo Orkla) em duas unidades fabris instaladas na Achada do Gamo durante os anos de 1934 e 1943. Logo acima do horizonte esquerdo, e perto da primeira chaminé, é visível a galáxia de Andrómeda, vista a partir daqui como um ponto difuso alongado.
A Mina de São Domingos, situa-se no Baixo Alentejo, a cerca de 240 km de Lisboa, no concelho de Mértola, que passou a integrar recentemente a Rota Dark Sky® Alqueva pela grande qualidade do seu céu escuro. A área mineira de São Domingos, está inserida na Faixa Piritosa Ibérica e constitui uma fonte decisiva de metais básicos (Cu, Zn, Pb, Sn, Ag, Au, Fe, Co, Cd, etc.) e de outros elementos como o enxofre (S). Foi desde a Antiguidade um local procurado para a extracção de minérios, existindo indícios de trabalhos de extracção de ouro, prata e cobre no período pré-romano e romano. O depósito pirítico de São Domingos foi explorado em diversos períodos históricos, nomeadamente: durante vários séculos do primeiro milénio a.C. (período Oriental), durante o período que mediou entre o ano 14 a.C. e o ano de 395 d.C. (período romano), durante o período islâmico e durante o período moderno que se iniciou em 1858 para a extracção de cobre, ouro e prata e manteve-se até 1966, ano em que as reservas foram consideradas esgotadas. Neste período, a lavra foi feita a céu aberto até aos 120 metros de profundidade, tendo os trabalhos continuado por meio de poços e galerias até aos 400 metros. Ao longo de 108 anos de exploração regular, foram retirados do local mais de 20 milhões de toneladas de materiais, tendo produzido cerca 14,7 milhões de toneladas de resíduos acumulados em escombreiras de até 14 metros de altura, com uma dezena de materiais diferentes como pirite, gossan, escórias, cinzas, óxidos de ferro, rocha estéril, lamas, entulhos, etc. As áreas de escombreiras, escórias e canais de água, dão à paisagem um aspecto “lunar”. As escombreiras são constituídas por diferentes materiais com teores elevados em metais, como escórias e cinzas, cuja lixiviação através das águas das chuvas leva à produção de águas ácidas (‘acid mine drainage’), geralmente com uma cor ocre ou avermelhada.
Star Spica and Planet Jupiter above the Acid Water of Mina de São Domingos
A moonlight scene with blue star Spica and planet Jupiter setting and shinning behind a layer of clouds, while their lights are reflecting in a puddle of acid water from Achada do Gamo, that was – since the beginning of modern mining activities in the São Domingos Mine – the center of metallurgical activities on extracted minerals. The areas of heaps, slag and channels of water, give the landscape a “lunar” aspect. The heaps are composed of different materials with high levels of metals, such as slag and ash, whose leaching through the rainwater leads to the production of acid mine drainage, usually with an ocher or reddish color.
São Domingos Mine is located in Baixo Alentejo, about 240 km from Lisbon, in the municipality of Mértola, which recently joined the Dark Sky® Alqueva Route for the great quality of the night sky. The São Domingos mining area is part of the Iberian Pyrite Range and is a decisive source of basic metals (S, Zn, Pb, Sn, Ag, Au, Fe, Co, Cd, etc.) and other elements such as sulfur (S). It has been a sought after place for the extraction of ores since antiquity, with evidence of gold, silver and copper mining in the pre-Roman and Roman times. The pyritic deposit of São Domingos (St. Dominic) was explored in various historical periods, namely: for several centuries of the first millennium BC (Eastern period), during the period between 14 BC and 395 AD (Roman period), during the Islamic period and during the modern period that was initiated in 1858 for the extraction of copper, gold and silver and was maintained until 1966, the year in which the reserves were considered exhausted. During this period, the work was done in the open air up to 120 meters deep, with work continued through wells and galleries up to 400 meters. Over 108 years of regular exploration, more than 20 million tons of materials were removed from the site, producing about 14.7 million tons of waste accumulated in heaps up to 14 meters high with a dozen different materials such as pyrite , gossan, slag, ash, iron oxides, barren rock, sludge, debris, etc.|
PT: Uma cena de luar com a estrela azul Spica e o planeta Jupiter se pondo e brilhando atrás de uma fina camada de nuvens, enquanto o seu brilho se reflecte nas águas ácidas da Achada do Gamo, que foi desde o início das atividades modernas de mineração na Mina de São Domingos, o centro das atividades metalúrgicas sobre os minérios extraídos. As áreas de escombreiras, escórias e canais de água, dão à paisagem um aspecto “lunar”. As escombreiras são constituídas por diferentes materiais com teores elevados em metais, como escórias e cinzas, cuja lixiviação através das águas das chuvas leva à produção de águas ácidas (‘acid mine drainage’), geralmente com uma cor ocre ou avermelhada.
A Mina de São Domingos, situa-se no Baixo Alentejo, a cerca de 240 km de Lisboa, no concelho de Mértola, que passou a integrar recentemente a Rota Dark Sky® Alqueva pela grande qualidade do seu céu escuro. A área mineira de São Domingos, está inserida na Faixa Piritosa Ibérica e constitui uma fonte decisiva de metais básicos (Cu, Zn, Pb, Sn, Ag, Au, Fe, Co, Cd, etc.) e de outros elementos como o enxofre (S). Foi desde a Antiguidade um local procurado para a extracção de minérios, existindo indícios de trabalhos de extracção de ouro, prata e cobre no período pré-romano e romano. O depósito pirítico de São Domingos foi explorado em diversos períodos históricos, nomeadamente: durante vários séculos do primeiro milénio a.C. (período Oriental), durante o período que mediou entre o ano 14 a.C. e o ano de 395 d.C. (período romano), durante o período islâmico e durante o período moderno que se iniciou em 1858 para a extracção de cobre, ouro e prata e manteve-se até 1966, ano em que as reservas foram consideradas esgotadas. Neste período, a lavra foi feita a céu aberto até aos 120 metros de profundidade, tendo os trabalhos continuado por meio de poços e galerias até aos 400 metros. Ao longo de 108 anos de exploração regular, foram retirados do local mais de 20 milhões de toneladas de materiais, tendo produzido cerca 14,7 milhões de toneladas de resíduos acumulados em escombreiras de até 14 metros de altura, com uma dezena de materiais diferentes como pirite, gossan, escórias, cinzas, óxidos de ferro, rocha estéril, lamas, entulhos, etc.
Shadows from a Fragmented Chair by the Moonlight
Shadows from a fragmented chair illuminated by the light of a smooth Lunar Halo above a puddle of acid water from Achada do Gamo, that was – since the beginning of modern mining activities in the São Domingos Mine – the center of metallurgical activities on extracted minerals. The areas of heaps, slag and channels of water, give the landscape a “lunar” aspect. The heaps are composed of different materials with high levels of metals, such as slag and ash, whose leaching through the rainwater leads to the production of acid mine drainage, usually with an ocher or reddish color.
São Domingos Mine is located in Baixo Alentejo, about 240 km from Lisbon, in the municipality of Mértola, which recently joined the Dark Sky® Alqueva Route for the great quality of the night sky. The São Domingos mining area is part of the Iberian Pyrite Range and is a decisive source of basic metals (S, Zn, Pb, Sn, Ag, Au, Fe, Co, Cd, etc.) and other elements such as sulfur (S). It has been a sought after place for the extraction of ores since antiquity, with evidence of gold, silver and copper mining in the pre-Roman and Roman times. The pyritic deposit of São Domingos (St. Dominic) was explored in various historical periods, namely: for several centuries of the first millennium BC (Eastern period), during the period between 14 BC and 395 AD (Roman period), during the Islamic period and during the modern period that was initiated in 1858 for the extraction of copper, gold and silver and was maintained until 1966, the year in which the reserves were considered exhausted. During this period, the work was done in the open air up to 120 meters deep, with work continued through wells and galleries up to 400 meters. Over 108 years of regular exploration, more than 20 million tons of materials were removed from the site, producing about 14.7 million tons of waste accumulated in heaps up to 14 meters high with a dozen different materials such as pyrite , gossan, slag, ash, iron oxides, barren rock, sludge, debris, etc.|
PT: Sombras de uma cadeira fragmentada iluminada pela luz de um quase imperceptível Halo lunar, que se formava acima da paisagem ácida de Achada do Gamo, que foi desde o início das atividades modernas de mineração na Mina de São Domingos, o centro das atividades metalúrgicas sobre os minérios extraídos. As áreas de escombreiras, escórias e canais de água, dão à paisagem um aspecto “lunar”. As escombreiras são constituídas por diferentes materiais com teores elevados em metais, como escórias e cinzas, cuja lixiviação através das águas das chuvas leva à produção de águas ácidas (‘acid mine drainage’), geralmente com uma cor ocre ou avermelhada.
A Mina de São Domingos, situa-se no Baixo Alentejo, a cerca de 240 km de Lisboa, no concelho de Mértola, que passou a integrar recentemente a Rota Dark Sky® Alqueva pela grande qualidade do seu céu escuro. A área mineira de São Domingos, está inserida na Faixa Piritosa Ibérica e constitui uma fonte decisiva de metais básicos (Cu, Zn, Pb, Sn, Ag, Au, Fe, Co, Cd, etc.) e de outros elementos como o enxofre (S). Foi desde a Antiguidade um local procurado para a extracção de minérios, existindo indícios de trabalhos de extracção de ouro, prata e cobre no período pré-romano e romano. O depósito pirítico de São Domingos foi explorado em diversos períodos históricos, nomeadamente: durante vários séculos do primeiro milénio a.C. (período Oriental), durante o período que mediou entre o ano 14 a.C. e o ano de 395 d.C. (período romano), durante o período islâmico e durante o período moderno que se iniciou em 1858 para a extracção de cobre, ouro e prata e manteve-se até 1966, ano em que as reservas foram consideradas esgotadas. Neste período, a lavra foi feita a céu aberto até aos 120 metros de profundidade, tendo os trabalhos continuado por meio de poços e galerias até aos 400 metros. Ao longo de 108 anos de exploração regular, foram retirados do local mais de 20 milhões de toneladas de materiais, tendo produzido cerca 14,7 milhões de toneladas de resíduos acumulados em escombreiras de até 14 metros de altura, com uma dezena de materiais diferentes como pirite, gossan, escórias, cinzas, óxidos de ferro, rocha estéril, lamas, entulhos, etc.
Super Full Cold Moon Rising above Lake Alqueva in Monsaraz
With the disk illuminated 98%, the photo shows the moon rising against the pink background from “Belt of Venus”, anti-twilight arch phenomenon, above Monsaraz and lake Alqueva, in Dark Sky® Alqueva reserve, one day before the “Full Cold Moon” of December – as it is known – reaches a 100% of light. It will also be the first (and last) “supermoon” of 2017. Supermoons happen when a full moon approximately coincides with the moon’s perigee, or a point in its orbit at which it is closest to Earth. This makes the moon appear up to 8 percent larger and 16 percent brighter than usual.
Milky Way and a Reddish Moon Behind the Smoke of Fire in Yosemite
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 in Yosemite National Park have create smoky skies. The South Fork Fire, started about a mile east of Wawona grew to more than 5,100 acres, while to the north, near Glacier Point Road, the Empire Fire, started by a lightning, and grew to more than 2,300 acres. In the park, areas like Yosemite Valley, Half Dome, and El Capitan have remained smoky for days. Due to this effect, we can see on the image taken in the Yosemite Valley, a reddish moon behind the smoke while at left side, the Milky Way is trying to shine. There are hints of red and brown but also blues in the clouds. Smoke particles are much smaller than the wavelengths of sunlight and scatter blue light much more strongly than red (Rayleigh scattering). The blues of the rays are strengthened whereas the clouds seen by transmission through shadowed smoky air have their light reddened because the blues are more strongly scattered from the direct beam.
The Shadow of Earth and Belt of Venus above Alqueva
In the background sky of this beautiful spring field scene from Alqueva region, is strongly visible above the horizon of Campinho village, the Earth’s shadow, which is the shadow that the Earth itself casts on its atmosphere. This shadow is visible in the opposite half of the sky to the sunset or sunrise, and is seen right above the horizon as a dark blue band. Immediately above, where the evening air is still lit, glows a pink band called the anti-twilight arch, also known as “Belt of Venus”, and is caused by backscattering of refracted sunlight due to fine dust particles high in the atmosphere. Captured during the twilight in Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve.
PT: No céu de fundo desta paisagem primaveril alentejana, é possível ver logo acima do horizonte da aldeia do Campinho, um fenómeno conhecido como “Earth Shadow”, que é a sombra da própria Terra projectada na atmosfera. Apesar deste fenómeno atmosférico ser relativamente comum e visível durante o amanhecer e crepúsculo nem sempre é visível com tanta intensidade, passando despercebido a muitas das pessoas. Logo acima do tom azul escuro associada à sombra da Terra, encontramos numa tonalidade rosa o “Cinturão de Vénus” (Belt of Venus). Esta esplendorosa tonalidade rosácea ou arco anti-crepuscular, torna-se visível estendendo-se por cerca de 10°a 20 ° acima do horizonte. A cor rosa do arco deve-se à retro-difusão da luz avermelhada do nascer ou pôr do Sol. Imagem captada durante o crepúsculo no Campinho, Dark Sky® Alqueva.
Bright Meteor and Planet Jupiter above Alqueva
In this winter scene of a cloudy night, a bright and fast meteor have crossed the sky near Arcturus while at the right side planet Jupiter were shinning near the blue star Spica. Below, in the small lagoon from the rural hotel Naveterra, in Alandroal, northern part of Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, two horses were spotted near the water that is reflecting the greenish color of the sky.
Zodiacal light in the glacial valley of Glendalough
Zodiacal light and planet Venus in the forest of Glendalough. Meaning “Valley of two lakes”, is a glacial valley in County Wicklow, Ireland, renowned for an Early Medieval monastic settlement founded in the 6th century by St Kevin. It combines extensive monastic ruins with a stunning natural setting in the Wicklow Mountains. The beauty and tranquility of the lakes and glacial-carved valley no doubt appealed to St Kevin, a hermit monk, who founded the monastic site near the Lower Lake in the 6th Century. Most of the buildings that survive today date from the 10th through 12th centuries. Despite attacks by Vikings over the years, Glendalough thrived as one of Irelands great ecclesiastical foundations and schools of learning until the Normans destroyed the monastery in 1214 and the dioceses of Glendalough and Dublin were united. The settlement was destroyed by English forces in 1398. A reconstruction program was started in 1878 and today the valley boasts a visitor centre, wooded trails, walkways and rock climbing. The monastic ruins include a round tower, seven churches, a gateway into the settlement with a Sanctuary Stone, two High Crosses, the priest’s house, a graveyard, Reeferts Church, St. Kevin’s Bed (Cave) and St. Kevin’s Cell (hermitage hut). More about.
PT: Luz zodiacal e o planeta Vénus na floresta de Glendalough. Com o significado “Vale dos dois lagos”, é um vale glacial no condado de Wicklow, na Irlanda, conhecida por uma povoação monástica medieval precoce fundada no século 6 pelo St Kevin. Combina extensas ruínas monásticas com um cenário natural deslumbrante nas montanhas de Wicklow. A beleza e tranquilidade dos lagos e do vale glacial esculpido, sem dúvida, chamaram a atenção do monge eremita St Kevin . A maioria dos edifícios que sobreviveram até aos dias de hoje datam do século 12. Apesar dos ataques de Vikings ao longo dos anos, Glendalough prosperou como uma das grandes fundações eclesiásticas irlandesas e escolas de aprendizagem até que os normandos destruiram o mosteiro em 1214 e as dioceses de Glendalough e Dublin foram unidos. A liquidação foi destruída por forças inglesas em 1398. Um programa de reconstrução foi iniciado em 1878 e hoje o vale dispõe de um centro de visitantes, trilhas arborizadas, calçadas e escalada. As ruínas monásticas incluem uma torre redonda, sete igrejas, uma porta de entrada para a povoação com um Santuário de pedra, duas cruzes celtas altas, casa do padre e um cemitério.
Moon Reflections in the Atlantic Ocean
Moon reflections in the Atlantic Ocean. The air his filled with a thin layer of smoke coming from a fire that broke out in the afternoon on a nearby mountain. At the right side of the bright water, we can see a small lighthouse from Vilamoura marina.
PT: Reflexos do luar nas águas do Oceano Atlântico. Este pôr-da-lua incomum estava rodeado pelas cinzas que pairavam na marina de Vilamoura, no Algarve, provenientes de um incêndio que deflagrou numa serra próxima da região. A ligeira neblina conferiu à imagem uma tonalidade rosada, com uma mística muito particular e a condizer com o pequeno farol vermelho que se pode ver em baixo à direita.
Venus Reflecting on Causeway Coast of Northern Ireland
Venus is the second-brightest natural object in the night sky after the Moon, reaching an apparent magnitude of −4.6, bright enough to cast shadows. Is the second planet from the Sun, orbiting it every 224.7 Earth days. It has the longest rotation period (243 days) of any planet in the Solar System and rotates in the opposite direction to most other planets. It has no natural satellite. It is named after the Roman goddess of love and beauty. Normally visible at Dawn or other times at Dusk, Venus has been a major fixture in human culture for as long as records have existed. It has been made sacred to gods of many cultures, and has been a prime inspiration for writers and poets as the “morning star” and “evening star”. In the image above, the brightness of this planet is reflecting in the ocean surface from Causeway Coast in Northern Ireland, due to a presence of tiny water droplets in thin clouds – which diffract the light of bright heavenly bodies working as a natural diffuse filter – we also can see a blueish color from its corona. The Giant’s Causeway is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic eruption. It is located in County Antrim on the northeast coast of Northern Ireland, about three miles (4.8 km) northeast of the town of Bushmills. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986, and a national nature reserve in 1987 by the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland.
Beyond the Limits of Earth – Astrophotography from an Airplane
When I was back to Lisbon from a large trip between Chile, Argentina and Uruguay with a stopover in São Paulo, Brazil, I had a rare opportunity somewhere in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean and under the moonlight to take some images from the window of an airplane, during the sleeping hours, when the lights of the plane were shut off. I asked my colleague Apolónia Rodrigues to cover my head with a black jacket around the window to avoid any reflections from inside. The shutter speed had to be very fast for a night sky photography because it was very difficult to have a pinpoint stars without shaking with the movements of the plane. After a few attempts and efforts, I could capture some nice views with the stars and the night sky above Earth taken at a high altitude, probably between 10,000 to 12,000 meters at a cruise speed of ~900km/h, some of them with lightning below.
Due to the presence of moonlight we can distinguish very well the limb and transition between the blue color from our atmosphere and the black from outer space. Blue light is scattered more than other wavelengths by the gases in the atmosphere, giving Earth a blue halo. The atmosphere of Earth is the layer of gases, commonly known as air, that surrounds the planet Earth and is retained by Earth’s gravity. The atmosphere protects life on Earth by absorbing ultraviolet solar radiation, warming the surface through heat retention (greenhouse effect), and reducing temperature extremes between day and night (the diurnal temperature variation). The atmosphere has a mass of about 5.15×1018 kg, three quarters of which is within about 11 km (6.8 mi; 36,000 ft) of the surface. The atmosphere becomes thinner and thinner with increasing altitude, with no definite boundary between the atmosphere and outer space. The Kármán line, at 100 km (62 mi), or 1.57% of Earth’s radius, is often used as the border between the atmosphere and outer space.
PT: De regresso a Lisboa a partir de uma grande viagem entre o Chile, Argentina e Uruguai com escala em São Paulo, Brasil, eu tive uma oportunidade rara enquanto estava algures a sobrevoar o Oceano Atlântico, de captar imagens ao luar a partir da janela de um avião comercial, durante as horas de sono e enquanto as luzes do avião foram desligados. Pedi à minha colega de equipa Apolónia Rodrigues para me cobrir a cabeça e ao redor da janela com um casaco preto, no sentido de evitar quaisquer reflexos a partir do interior do avião. A velocidade do obturador tinha que ser muito rápida para uma fotografia de céu noturna, porque era muito difícil ter estrelas pontuais com a agitação do avião. Depois de algumas tentativas e esforços, tive a felicidade de captar algumas imagens com as estrelas pontuais onde se distinguem as estrelas que compõem o Cão Maior e Orion e onde é possível ver também o contorno da atmosfera acima da Terra. As imagens foram tiradas a uma alta altitude, provavelmente entre 10.000 a 12.000 metros e a uma velocidade de cruzeiro de ~ 900 km/h, alguns deles com relâmpagos abaixo .
The troposphere is the lowest layer of Earth’s atmosphere. It extends from Earth’s surface to an average height of about 12 km, although this altitude actually varies from about 9 km (30,000 ft) at the poles to 17 km (56,000 ft) at the equator, with some variation due to weather. Most conventional aviation activity takes place in the troposphere, and it is the only layer that can be accessed by propeller-driven aircraft.
In one of the pictures I made an annotation with the main constellations visible. Orion and Sirius are very well spotted. Each one is a single shot: Canon 6D, Exp: 1/3s; ISO8000 24mm f/2.8
Penumbral Lunar Eclipse in the Harvest Moon above Sesimbra Castle
On september 16h the disc of the moon has reached the 100% illumination exactly at the same time he was rising in the portuguese sky. This september Full Moon is known, according to folklore, as the Harvest Moon, “a bright orb that shines down on the ripening fields of the northern hemisphere, allowing farmers to harvest their crops late into the night”. Besides his normal brightness when it is Full, this particular Moon was a bit darker then normal, due to a penumbral lunar eclipse, that happens when the Moon passes through the pale outskirts of Earth’s shadow. It is much less dramatic than a total lunar eclipse. The final image is a sequence shot captured during 25 minutes, at the moonrise, with a 200mm lens at about 700 meters away from the Sesimbra Castle, in Portugal.
PT: Eclipse penumbral da Lua captada no dia 16 de Setembro. Nesta sequência de disparos combinada, é possível o nascer da Lua acima do Castelo de Sesimbra. Como o eclipse é penumbral, apenas a região superior da lua é ligeiramente escurecida pelo cone de sombra da terra.
Lightning Storm during Full Moon in Dominican Republic
While the Full Moon of June was rising above the clouds, a Lightning Storm has spread in the sky of Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. In the foreground, a group of coconut trees is standing up while resists to the wild power of nature, with strong winds, humidity and the danger of a falling thunderbolt.
PT: Enquanto a Lua cheia de junho nasce acima das nuvens, uma tempestade de relâmpagos rapidamente se espalha nos céus de Punta Cana, na República Dominicana. Em primeiro plano, um grupo de coqueiros mantém-se firme de pé, enquanto resiste ao poder selvagem da natureza, com ventos fortes, humidade muito elevada e o perigo iminente de um raio se precipitar sobre eles.
Rainbow Bands of Airglow in Gravity Waves above Pico Island Were seen from NOAA/NASA Satellite in Space
Featured as NASA´s Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD).
PT | EN During a climb to the highest mountain of Portugal (2351m) – Pico mountain, located in Pico island, Azores – with a very hard weather conditions due to a strong winds and rain during almost the entire photo expedition with my team colleagues, I stopped at about 1200 meters to appreciate the views and photograph the lights coming from the island of Faial in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, in a rare occasion with only a few clouds and part of the “winter” Milky Way visible as a background of a temporarily clear sky. Above the low clouds, I have captured strange “rainbow bands” of airglow and between them, the Andromeda Galaxy M31 on the top left of the picture. The air glows all of the time, but it is usually hard to see. A disturbance however – like an approaching storm – may cause noticeable rippling in the Earth’s atmosphere. The bands are actually huge parallel structures in the thermosphere 90 km upwards. Perspective makes them appear to converge. These atmospheric Gravity Waves* (not confound with gravitational waves related to Einstein) propagating upwards from disturbances lower down in the atmosphere, are likely the source of the bands. The wave amplitude increases with height (reducing density) and wavelengths can be thousands of kilometers.
Dr. Martin Setvák from Czech Hydrometeorological Institute Satellite Department, Praha, Czech Republic, has processed the Suomi-NPP VIIRS data to check if these gravity waves in airglow can be found in NOAA/NASA Soumi-NPP satellite Day/Night Band (DNB) image. The “day-night band,” of the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on the Suomi NPP satellite has indeed captured these glowing ripples in the night sky. The day-night band detects lights over a range of wavelengths from green to near-infrared and uses highly sensitive electronics to observe low light signals. The structures of the bands can be seen below, above the Pico and Faial islands in Azores, Portugal.
Airglow is a layer of nighttime light emissions caused by chemical reactions, light of electronically and/or vibration-rotationally excited atoms and molecules high in Earth’s atmosphere, by solar ultra-violet radiation. A variety of reactions involving oxygen, sodium, ozone, and nitrogen result in the production of a very faint amount of light. In fact, it’s approximately one billion times fainter than sunlight. Technically speaking, airglow occurs at all times. During the day it is called “dayglow,” at twilight “twilightglow,” and at night “nightglow”. There are slightly different processes taking place in each case, but in the image above the source of light is nightglow or airglow.
In the first colorful image captured above Pico, we can see a rare event where is distinguished almost each possible airglow color that is appearing on a single band (Gravity Wave) showed like a rainbow. Below is the Airglow Spectrum designed and explained by the expert Dr. Les Cowley from Atmospheric Optics. Green light from excited oxygen atoms dominates the glow. The atoms are 90-100 km (56-62 mile) high in the thermosphere. The weaker red light is from oxygen atoms further up. Sodium atoms, hydroxyl radicals (OH) and molecular oxygen add to the light.
Dr. Steve Smith, Senior Research Scientist at Center for Space Physics of Boston University, is a specialist in airglow and has explained the rare phenomenon captured on these images: “The photo is very other-worldly but it is indeed a photo of two, maybe three, airglow layers with gravity waves propagating through them in the upper mesosphere. The green is most likely due to atomic oxygen near 96 km. The red is probably due to hydroxyl (OH) near 87 km. Possibly sodium from near 90 k m also but the orange may also just be the response of the system to the combination of the red and green airglow. The awesome rainbow appearance of the patterns is easily explained. A GW wave propagates upwards at an angle and because airglow layers reside at slightly different altitudes, the waves reach each layer at a slightly different times. The vertical scale size of the gravity waves is also much larger than the height differences between the layers: OH = 87 km | Na = 90 km | O2 = 94 km | OI = 96 km.
I exploit the fact of the altitude separation of the four brightest airglow layers in my work to determine the scale sizes and other things associated with the GWs. Sometimes atomic oxygen can also produce red emission. This occurs due times of auroral activity particularly at high latitudes but occasionally in the mid-latitudes during strong aurora. This red-line OI emission, as it is called, originates from 250 km (much higher) in the thermosphere and would not match wave patterns seen in the green-line OI emission.
Solar activity has little effect on gravity wave activity in the mesosphere, at least at the latitude of the Azores. There may be effects at high latitudes though. Also solar activity seen on the sun’s disc doesn’t necessarily impact the Earth. Flares and other solar phenomena that are rich in x-rays and UV radiation can cause immediate effects in the earth’s upper atmosphere. Also, even though a CME my be observed occurring on the sun, it may not affect the Earth because they usually miss us because of the sun’s rotation. The Kp index – a measure of the solar activity prior to the time of this photo was at 2-3, which means a relatively quiet time. At the location of the Azores, one would need a Kp index of 6-7 to see auroral emission.”
Dr. Steven D. Miller, Senior Research Scientist – Deputy Director Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere – Colorado State University, have commented the fact that the photos were taken at high altitude and this would probably be the reason why the greens are seen so well, since oxygen in the lower atmosphere will absorb much of that downwelling emission.
Dr. Les Cowley, explain in Atmospheric Optics page that red/orange could be yet more oxygen airglow, this time from atoms 150-300km high where the atmosphere is so sparse and collisions so infrequent that the atoms have time to radiate ‘forbidden’ light (1D ->3P) before losing their electronic excitation in impacts with other atoms and molecules. Deep red banded airglow is likely emission from vibrationally excited OH radicals in a layer ~86km high. Blue airglow is much much fainter and not very obvious on the image. Excited molecular oxygen at ~95 km high can produce it. The excitation is indirect. Possible routes are via daylight dissociation of N2 and NO or twilight recombination of NO+ whose reaction products generate excited O2. The oxygen then decays by emitting blue multi-wavelength banded radiation (Herzberg bands) if it is not first collisionally de-excited.
After receiving the first results of the Suomi-NPP VIIRS satellite, I decided to start processing another 12 images taken in the same place and time, to create a wide-angle – panoramic view – of more than 200º where it is clearly visible the airglow activity combined with strong ripples from gravity waves occurring in a huge part of the sky from West to Northeast (from left to right on the panoramic image above). At the same time, Dr. Martin Stevák, starts the final stage of processing the images taken by Suomi-NPP VIIRS satellite but in different bands and the result is shown below. These are in Transverse Mercator projection, centered at 38.5N 28W, remapped to 1km pixel size (for Azores).
DNB image
M15 IR band image
Night-Microphysical RGB image
More information about Suomi-NPP satellite and its bands can be found on the following links: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/NPP/main/index.html | http://npp.gsfc.nasa.gov/suomi.html | http://rammb.cira.colostate.edu/projects/npp/ | http://www.pnas.org/content/109/39/15706.full.pdf | http://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/5/12/6717
Below, on (A) we can see the DNB image, that can show the Gravity Waves appearing high in the atmosphere, but on (B) Night-Microphysical RGB image can show a different waves from low atmosphere, they are very likely part of the same spectrum of waves launched by the small island of Flores. The (C) is an output from EUMETRAIN’s ePort (http://www.eumetrain.org/eport.html), for 2015-11-17 00 UTC, based on Meteosat WV6.2 band and showing the geopotential (“height”) of the 300 hPa pressure level (in cyan) and isotachs (yellow) at the same level (both from the ECMWF model). The red arrow indicates the jet-stream above the Azores. The (D) is the WV band 27 from Terra MODIS satellite taken at 00:20 UTC. The images are in the same projection and pixel size as the Soumi-NPP images (A & B). The (E) is a Meteosat-10 satellite in the Airmass-RGB product, documenting the dynamics of the atmosphere in the area, and namely showing the jet stream above Azores, taken at 03:00 UTC, the arrow points to the jet-stream band, and the polygon indicates roughly the area covered by NPP images. To watch a 24h loop from Meteosat-10 satellite, click here.
Below is a illustration from a combination of Google Earth Maps from Azores region and Stellarium planetarium software, that can show through the yellow dot, where I was located in the island and which direction my camera was pointing to the sky – as we can see in the illustration at right.
Gravity waves (disturbances to the density structure of the atmosphere whose restoring forces are gravity and buoyancy) comprise the principal form of energy exchange between the lower and upper atmosphere. Wave breaking drives the mean upper atmospheric circulation, determining boundary conditions to stratospheric processes, which in turn influence tropospheric weather and climate patterns on various spatial and temporal scales. Despite their recognized importance, very little is known about upper-level gravity wave characteristics. The knowledge gap is mainly due to lack of global, high-resolution observations from currently available satellite observing systems. The capability of the Day/Night Band (DNB) on the NOAA/NASA Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership environmental satellite to resolve gravity structures near the mesopause via nightglow emissions at unprecedented subkilometric detail, are impressive. On moonless nights, the Day/Night Band observations provide all-weather viewing of waves as they modulate the nightglow layer located near the mesopause (∼90 km above mean sea level). These waves are launched by a variety of physical mechanisms, ranging from orography to convection, intensifying fronts, and even seismic and volcanic events. Cross-referencing the Day/Night Band imagery with conventional thermal infrared imagery also available helps to discern nightglow structures and in some cases to attribute their sources. The capability stands to advance our basic understanding of a critical yet poorly constrained driver of the atmospheric circulation. More about this study and scientific paper which includes the picture of my TWAN colleague Jeff Dai , led by Dr. Steven D. Miller, Dr. Steve Smith and others…
Below in gray scale are DNB images captured by Suomi-NPP VIIRS satellite above Pico island, Azores, as a result of a pre-processing enhanced by a High-Pass filter. Taken on 17th November of 2015 at 02h05AM (03h05 GMT. Local time for the Azores is GMT-1,) approximately at same time I took the pictures from Earth between 1h43 and 2h00AM, pointing to the same direction of the sky. Those waves seen at ~2AM local were right overhead at that time. The waves can change rapidly over the course of an hour, so must have been a very expansive wave train, which seems to be consistent with a large-scale forcing like a frontal system. The result shows the ripples of atmospheric Gravity Waves (left and right image).
Suomi NPP is in orbit around Earth at 834 kilometers (about 518 miles), well above the nightglow layer. The day-night band imagery contains signals from the upward emission of the nightglow layer and the reflection of the nightglow emissions from clouds and Earth’s surface. While nightglow is a well-known phenomenon, it is not typically considered by meteorological sensors. In fact, scientists were surprised at Suomi NPP’s ability to detect it. During the satellite’s check-out procedures, scientists thought this light source was a problem with the sensor until they realized that they were seeing the faintest light in the darkness of night. Learn more about the VIIRS day-night band and nighttime imaging of Earth in this story: Out of the Blue and Into the Black.
In conclusion, Dr. Steven D. Miller, has shared his thoughts related to this picture and beyond…by saying: “is that it would be very nice to have such observations on a geostationary satellite platform so as to be able to observe the wave motion and from that information infer important properties of the energy transfer. The community has a growing interest for such observations now that we are seeing them in “snapshot mode” from the Day/Night Band. The hope is that the publicity gained by such nice photos as yours will help to raise awareness on our need to better characterize the full atmospheric circulation if we hope to represent climate processes accurately in the models we appeal to for insight on climate change.”
The resulted image was also published in a Poster from Dr. Martin Setvák and Dr. Steven D. Miller entitled:
The TWAN ( The World at Night ) have now one of the best collection of hight quality images in the world with many different views of Airglow and Gravity Waves phenomenon captured by TWAN photographers spread around the globe, that could be a great scientific tool to help scientists understanding better this atmospheric phenomenon, as seen from different places on Earth and comparing them to the satellite images from Space.
Professional astronomer and TWAN photographer Yuri Beletsky, in an interesting answer to a question made by our colleague Anthony Ayiomamitis about how does airglow could impact the professional work done by astronomers in places with professional telescopes in sites like ESO – European Southern Observatory, saying that: “It really depends on many factors (imaging vs spectroscopy, field of view, overlapping with interesting spectroscopic lines, etc..). Therefore the answer is – it does affect the observations, but it does not necessarily affect particular scientific case you are trying to solve using those observations.”
* “Drop a stone into a pool of water. The spreading ripples are gravity waves. The waves occur between any stable layers of fluids of different density. When the fluid boundary is disturbed, buoyancy forces try to restore the equilibrium. The fluid returns to its original shape, overshoots and oscillations then set in which propagate as waves. Gravity or buoyancy is the restoring force hence the term – gravity waves.”
Airglow photographs and compiled text with story by © Miguel Claro – The article was written based in the collected information and collaboration of each specialist and intervenient in different fields of working that has analyzed this images from Pico, and that have been specifically mentioned along the article, now published at (www.miguelclaro.com) with his knowledge and review.
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A Cork Tree Surrounded by a Strong Presence of Airglow
EN: An all sky – fulldome view – of a huge Cork trees with a background full of green yellowed Air Glow (Atmospheric Chemiluminescence) that surrounds the entire Earth and can be seen from space. Sky of Alandroal | Alqueva Dark Sky
PT: Uma visão all sky de um grande sobreiro, onde por detrás deste e em pano de fundo, é possível observar a forte presença de Air glow, um fenómeno conhecido por luminescência fotoquímica da atmosfera com a presença de um tom verde amarelado junto ao horizonte, é uma emissão que rodeia todo o planeta Terra e pode ser vista do espaço. Céu do Alandroal | Dark Sky Alqueva
Zodiacal Light and Milky Way above Dark Sky Alqueva
EN: Only possible to observe in a really dark and special sky, like it is the Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve, the tenuous presence of the Zodiacal Light forming almost a “V” with the opposite direction of Milky Way. 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 | Naveterra homestead, Sky of Alandroal
PT: Só possível de observar num céu bem escuro e especial como o da Reserva Dark Sky® Alqueva, a ténue presença da Luz Zodiacal forma quase um “V” em oposição à Via Láctea. 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 | Herdade Naveterra, Céu do Alandroal
“Boat of Fire” – The Battle Against Light Pollution
EN: The effects of light pollution can be dramatically noticeable, when there are clouds around. Using lighting and proper intensity is one of the most effective ways, to fight it. Before starting the programme of Dark Sky Alqueva reserve, and his fighting against light pollution, the castle of Monsaraz could be seen from far away looking like if it was a boat of fire, suspended in the clouds above
PT: Os efeitos da poluição luminosa podem ser drasticamente perceptíveis quando existem nuvens por perto. Usar iluminação e intensidade apropriada é uma das forma mais eficazes de a combater. Antes de se iniciar o programa da reserva Dark Sky Alqueva, e a sua luta contra a poluição luminosa, o castelo de Monsaraz, podia ser visto a dezenas de quilómetros de distância sendo apelidado de “barco de fogo”, pela sua forma característica e quantidade excessiva de luz projectada para as nuvens | Captado a partir de Mourão
A nostalgic view of the full moon
EN: A nostalgic view of the full moon shrouded in the thick fog that is felt in certain cold mornings of Alentejo winter | Sky of Monsaraz
PT: Uma visão nostálgica da lua cheia envolta no nevoeiro cerrado que se faz sentir em certas madrugadas frias do inverno alentejano | Céu de Monsaraz
Milky Way Arm in the Dark Sky Alqueva Reserve
The beauty of the entire arched arm of Milky Way as seen from the northern hemisphere, a panoramic view that rises above the lands included on the route of Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve. Nature Park of Noudar | Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve – Portugal
Reddish Airglow Bands on ALMA sky
In the background, we can see the arm of Milky Way full of gas and dust with the Zodiacal Light crossing the sky. In the upper left part of the image, is also visible a reddish airglow bands. In the foreground, is also visible one antenna (DV-21) of 12 meters in diameter, pointing to some place of the cold Universe. This are the first tests to experiment the largest configuration that ALMA can support, with antennas spreaded over distances up to 16 km. The array thus simulates a giant, single telescope much larger than any that could actually be built. In fact, ALMA has a maximum resolution which is even better than that achieved, at visible wavelengths, by the Hubble Space Telescope.
The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) is an astronomical interferometer of radio telescopes in the Atacama desert of northern Chile. Since a high and dry site is crucial to millimeter wavelength operations, the array has been constructed on the Chajnantor plateau at 5,000 meters altitude, near Llano de Chajnantor Observatory and Atacama Pathfinder Experiment. Consisting of 66 12-meter (39 ft), and 7-meter (23 ft) diameter radio telescopes observing at millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths, ALMA is expected to provide insight on star birth during the early universe and detailed imaging of local star and planet formation. ALMA is a single telescope of revolutionary design, composed initially of 66 high-precision antennas, and operating at wavelengths of 0.32 to 3.6 mm. Its main 12-metre array has fifty antennas, 12 metres in diameter, acting together as a single telescope — an interferometer. An additional compact array of four 12-metre and twelve 7-metre antennas complements this. The 66 ALMA antennas can be arranged in different configurations, where the maximum distance between antennas can vary from 150 metres to 16 kilometres, which will give ALMA a powerful variable “zoom”. It will be able to probe the Universe at millimetre and submillimetre wavelengths with unprecedented sensitivity and resolution, with a vision up to ten times sharper than the Hubble Space Telescope, and complementing images made with the VLT Interferometer. Light at these wavelengths comes from vast cold clouds in interstellar space, at temperatures only a few tens of degrees above absolute zero, and from some of the earliest and most distant galaxies in the Universe. Astronomers can use it to study the chemical and physical conditions in molecular clouds — the dense regions of gas and dust where new stars are being born. Often these regions of the Universe are dark and obscured in visible light, but they shine brightly in the millimetre and submillimetre part of the spectrum. ALMA is the most powerful telescope for observing the cool Universe — molecular gas and dust.
ALMA will study the building blocks of stars, planetary systems, galaxies and life itself. By providing scientists with detailed images of stars and planets being born in gas clouds near our Solar System, and detecting distant galaxies forming at the edge of the observable Universe, which we see as they were roughly ten billion years ago, it lets astronomers address some of the deepest questions of our cosmic origins.
Image taken taken in 14/10/2015 from Chajnantor plateau, Atacama desert, Chile.
Cerro Paranal Shadow projected in Cerro Armazones
Above the horizon we can see Cerro Armazones mountain illuminated by the sunset reddish color that is reflected in the land and high clouds, also with the projected shadow of Cerro Paranal. With an altitude of 3060 meterss in the central part of Chiles Atacama Desert, some 130 kilometers south of the town of Antofagasta and about 20 kilometers from Cerro Paranal, home of ESOs Very Large Telescope. Cerro Armazones will be the baseline site for the planned 39-metre-class European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT), with a planned construction period of about a decade. The telescope’s “eye” will be almost half the length of a soccer pitch in diameter and will gather 15 times more light than the largest optical telescopes operating today. The telescope has an innovative five-mirror design that includes advanced adaptive optics to correct for the turbulent atmosphere, giving exceptional image quality. The main mirror will be made up from almost 800 hexagonal segments.
Image taken taken in 16/10/2015 from Cerro Paranal, Atacama desert, Chile.
Fulldome View of Reddish Airglow Bands and Milky Way on ALMA
In the background, we can see in this fish-eye fulldome view, the arm of Milky Way full of gas and dust with the Zodiacal Light crossing the sky. In the upper left part of the image, is also visible a reddish airglow bands. In the foreground, is also visible one antenna (DV-21) of 12 meters in diameter, pointing to some place of the cold Universe. This are the first tests to experiment the largest configuration that ALMA can support, with antennas spread over distances up to 16 km. The array thus simulates a giant, single telescope much larger than any that could actually be built. In fact, ALMA has a maximum resolution which is even better than that achieved, at visible wavelengths, by the Hubble Space Telescope.
The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) is an astronomical interferometer of radio telescopes in the Atacama desert of northern Chile. Since a high and dry site is crucial to millimeter wavelength operations, the array has been constructed on the Chajnantor plateau at 5,000 meters altitude, near Llano de Chajnantor Observatory and Atacama Pathfinder Experiment. Consisting of 66 12-meter (39 ft), and 7-meter (23 ft) diameter radio telescopes observing at millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths, ALMA is expected to provide insight on star birth during the early universe and detailed imaging of local star and planet formation. ALMA is a single telescope of revolutionary design, composed initially of 66 high-precision antennas, and operating at wavelengths of 0.32 to 3.6 mm. Its main 12-metre array has fifty antennas, 12 metres in diameter, acting together as a single telescope — an interferometer. An additional compact array of four 12-metre and twelve 7-metre antennas complements this. The 66 ALMA antennas can be arranged in different configurations, where the maximum distance between antennas can vary from 150 metres to 16 kilometres, which will give ALMA a powerful variable “zoom”. It will be able to probe the Universe at millimetre and submillimetre wavelengths with unprecedented sensitivity and resolution, with a vision up to ten times sharper than the Hubble Space Telescope, and complementing images made with the VLT Interferometer. Light at these wavelengths comes from vast cold clouds in interstellar space, at temperatures only a few tens of degrees above absolute zero, and from some of the earliest and most distant galaxies in the Universe. Astronomers can use it to study the chemical and physical conditions in molecular clouds — the dense regions of gas and dust where new stars are being born. Often these regions of the Universe are dark and obscured in visible light, but they shine brightly in the millimetre and submillimetre part of the spectrum. ALMA is the most powerful telescope for observing the cool Universe — molecular gas and dust.
ALMA will study the building blocks of stars, planetary systems, galaxies and life itself. By providing scientists with detailed images of stars and planets being born in gas clouds near our Solar System, and detecting distant galaxies forming at the edge of the observable Universe, which we see as they were roughly ten billion years ago, it lets astronomers address some of the deepest questions of our cosmic origins.
Image taken taken in 14/10/2015 from Chajnantor plateau, Atacama desert, Chile.
Moon Corona in the Twilight of Very Large Telescope
After sunset a partial cloudy sky can promote the appearance of a beautiful show of colors, as well as some optical phenomenon, specially if we have a night of Moonlight that can show an effect called “Corona”, produced by the diffraction of light coming from the Moon by individual small water droplets and sometimes tiny ice crystals of a cloud. In the foreground, we can see three of four movable Auxiliary Telescopes available in the Very Large Telescope platform.
The Very Large Telescope (VLT) is a telescope operated by the ESO – European Southern Observatory on Cerro Paranal in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile. The VLT is the world’s most advanced optical instrument, consisting of four Unit Telescopes with main mirrors of 8.2m diameter, which are generally used separately but can be used together to achieve very high angular resolution. The four separate optical telescopes are known as Antu, Kueyen, Melipal and Yepun, which are all words for astronomical objects in the Mapuche language, with optical elements that can combine them into an astronomical interferometer (VLTI), which is used to resolve small objects. The interferometer is complemented by four movable Auxiliary Telescopes (ATs) of 1.8 m aperture. The 8.2m diameter Unit Telescopes can also be used individually. With one such telescope, images of celestial objects as faint as magnitude 30 can be obtained in a one-hour exposure. This corresponds to seeing objects that are four billion (four thousand million) times fainter than what can be seen with the unaided eye. The telescopes can work together, to form a giant ‘interferometer’, the ESO Very Large Telescope Interferometer, allowing astronomers to see details up to 25 times finer than with the individual telescopes. The light beams are combined in the VLTI using a complex system of mirrors in underground tunnels where the light paths must be kept equal to distances less than 1/1000 mm over a hundred metres. With this kind of precision the VLTI can reconstruct images with an angular resolution of milliarcseconds, equivalent to distinguishing the two headlights of a car at the distance of the Moon.
Image taken taken in 16/10/2015 from Cerro Paranal, Atacama desert, Chile.
Two Bright Magellanic Clouds above the Auxiliary Telescopes of VLT
In the foreground we can see three of four movable Auxiliary Telescopes of 1.8 meters available in the VLT platform, operating with the dome open. In the background and above the telescopes lies the Large (LMC) and Small (SMC) Magellanic Clouds showing its details and structure. Magellanic Clouds are two satellite galaxies from our own Milky Way.
The Very Large Telescope (VLT) is a telescope operated by the ESO – European Southern Observatory on Cerro Paranal in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile. The VLT is the world’s most advanced optical instrument, consisting of four Unit Telescopes with main mirrors of 8.2m diameter, which are generally used separately but can be used together to achieve very high angular resolution. The four separate optical telescopes are known as Antu, Kueyen, Melipal and Yepun, which are all words for astronomical objects in the Mapuche language, with optical elements that can combine them into an astronomical interferometer (VLTI), which is used to resolve small objects. The interferometer is complemented by four movable Auxiliary Telescopes (ATs) of 1.8 m aperture. The 8.2m diameter Unit Telescopes can also be used individually. With one such telescope, images of celestial objects as faint as magnitude 30 can be obtained in a one-hour exposure. This corresponds to seeing objects that are four billion (four thousand million) times fainter than what can be seen with the unaided eye. The telescopes can work together, to form a giant ‘interferometer’, the ESO Very Large Telescope Interferometer, allowing astronomers to see details up to 25 times finer than with the individual telescopes. The light beams are combined in the VLTI using a complex system of mirrors in underground tunnels where the light paths must be kept equal to distances less than 1/1000 mm over a hundred metres. With this kind of precision the VLTI can reconstruct images with an angular resolution of milliarcseconds, equivalent to distinguishing the two headlights of a car at the distance of the Moon.
Image taken taken in 16/10/2015 from Cerro Paranal, Atacama desert, Chile.
A Panoramic view to the top of Cerro Paranal
Panoramic view from VISTA telescope to the top of Cerro Paranal (at left) where it is located the VLT platform. In the right side we can see the Milky Way trying to show up behind a dark band of clouds, also covering the Moonset. The Very Large Telescope (VLT) is a telescope operated by the ESO – European Southern Observatory on Cerro Paranal in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile. The VLT is the world’s most advanced optical instrument, consisting of four Unit Telescopes with main mirrors of 8.2m diameter, which are generally used separately but can be used together to achieve very high angular resolution. The four separate optical telescopes are known as Antu, Kueyen, Melipal and Yepun, which are all words for astronomical objects in the Mapuche language, with optical elements that can combine them into an astronomical interferometer (VLTI), which is used to resolve small objects. The interferometer is complemented by four movable Auxiliary Telescopes (ATs) of 1.8 m aperture.
Image taken taken in 17/10/2015 from Cerro Paranal, Atacama desert, Chile.
Green airglow and Auxiliary Telescopes of VLT
In the foregroound we can see three of the four movable Auxiliary Telescopes of 1.8 meters available in the VLT plataform, operating with the dome open, while in the background of a starry sky we can observe a strong green airglow.
The Very Large Telescope (VLT) is a telescope operated by the ESO – European Southern Observatory on Cerro Paranal in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile. The VLT is the world’s most advanced optical instrument, consisting of four Unit Telescopes with main mirrors of 8.2m diameter, which are generally used separately but can be used together to achieve very high angular resolution. The four separate optical telescopes are known as Antu, Kueyen, Melipal and Yepun, which are all words for astronomical objects in the Mapuche language, with optical elements that can combine them into an astronomical interferometer (VLTI), which is used to resolve small objects. The interferometer is complemented by four movable Auxiliary Telescopes (ATs) of 1.8 m aperture. The 8.2m diameter Unit Telescopes can also be used individually. With one such telescope, images of celestial objects as faint as magnitude 30 can be obtained in a one-hour exposure. This corresponds to seeing objects that are four billion (four thousand million) times fainter than what can be seen with the unaided eye. The telescopes can work together, to form a giant ‘interferometer’, the ESO Very Large Telescope Interferometer, allowing astronomers to see details up to 25 times finer than with the individual telescopes. The light beams are combined in the VLTI using a complex system of mirrors in underground tunnels where the light paths must be kept equal to distances less than 1/1000 mm over a hundred metres. With this kind of precision the VLTI can reconstruct images with an angular resolution of milliarcseconds, equivalent to distinguishing the two headlights of a car at the distance of the Moon.
Image taken taken in 16/10/2015 from Cerro Paranal, Atacama desert, Chile.
Gegenschein in a Fulldome view of Cerro Paranal
In the foreground, we can see the white Meteorological Tower of Paranal. The small dome contains a telescope dedicated to monitoring the atmospheric seeing conditions, known as a Differential Image Motion Monitor (DIMM.) In the sky at the upper left side of the this fish-eye (fulldome) picture, we can see the Gegenschein, that is a faint brightening of the night sky in the region of the antisolar point. like the zodiacal light, the gegenschein is sunlight scattered by interplanetary dust. Most of this dust is orbiting the Sun in about the ecliptic plane. It is distinguished from zodiacal light by its high angle of reflection of the incident sunlight on the dust particles. In the upper right side, is also visible the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) and above it, the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). Envolving the entire sky, we can see the presence of green airglow.
Image taken taken in 15/10/2015 from Cerro Paranal, Atacama desert, Chile.
Reddish Airglow in a Fulldome view of Very Large Telescope
In this fish-eye fulldome picture, we can see a partial cloudy sky, that can promote sometimes the appearance of a beautiful show. Specially, if we have a night of Moonlight that can illuminate and show a strange game of ghostly shapes in the clouds. In the background a starry sky with a shy Milky Way is showing a strong presence of reddish airglow in the opposite direction of the Very Large Telescope.
The Very Large Telescope (VLT) is a telescope operated by the ESO – European Southern Observatory on Cerro Paranal in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile. The VLT is the world’s most advanced optical instrument, consisting of four Unit Telescopes with main mirrors of 8.2m diameter, which are generally used separately but can be used together to achieve very high angular resolution. The four separate optical telescopes are known as Antu, Kueyen, Melipal and Yepun, which are all words for astronomical objects in the Mapuche language, with optical elements that can combine them into an astronomical interferometer (VLTI), which is used to resolve small objects. The interferometer is complemented by four movable Auxiliary Telescopes (ATs) of 1.8 m aperture. The 8.2m diameter Unit Telescopes can also be used individually. With one such telescope, images of celestial objects as faint as magnitude 30 can be obtained in a one-hour exposure. This corresponds to seeing objects that are four billion (four thousand million) times fainter than what can be seen with the unaided eye. The telescopes can work together, to form a giant ‘interferometer’, the ESO Very Large Telescope Interferometer, allowing astronomers to see details up to 25 times finer than with the individual telescopes. The light beams are combined in the VLTI using a complex system of mirrors in underground tunnels where the light paths must be kept equal to distances less than 1/1000 mm over a hundred metres. With this kind of precision the VLTI can reconstruct images with an angular resolution of milliarcseconds, equivalent to distinguishing the two headlights of a car at the distance of the Moon.
Image taken taken in 16/10/2015 from Cerro Paranal, Atacama desert, Chile.
Cerro Armazones, the home for the European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT)
Above the horizon we can see Cerro Armazones mountain iluminated by the sunset redish color that is reflected in the land and high clouds . With an altitude of 3060 metres in the central part of Chiles Atacama Desert, some 130 kilometres south of the town of Antofagasta and about 20 kilometres from Cerro Paranal, home of ESOs Very Large Telescope. Cerro Armazone will be the baseline site for the planned 39-metre-class European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT), with a planned construction period of about a decade. The telescope’s “eye” will be almost half the length of a soccer pitch in diameter and will gather 15 times more light than the largest optical telescopes operating today. The telescope has an innovative five-mirror design that includes advanced adaptive optics to correct for the turbulent atmosphere, giving exceptional image quality. The main mirror will be made up from almost 800 hexagonal segments.
Image taken taken in 16/10/2015 from Cerro Paranal, Atacama desert, Chile.
Belt of Venus above the DIMM tower in Cerro Paranal
In the foreground, we can see the white Meteorological Tower of Paranal. The small dome contains a telescope dedicated to monitoring the atmospheric seeing conditions, known as a Differential Image Motion Monitor (DIMM.) In the background is strongly visible the Earth’s shadow, the shadow that the Earth itself casts on its atmosphere. This shadow is visible in the opposite half of the sky to the sunset or sunrise, and is seen right above the horizon as a dark blue band. Immediately above, a pink band that is visible above the dark blue of the Earth’s shadow is called “Belt of Venus”, and is caused by backscattering of refracted sunlight due to fine dust particles high in the atmosphere.
Image taken taken in 16/10/2015 from Cerro Paranal, Atacama desert, Chile.
Atacama Desert View with Cerro Armazones
From left to right and above the horizon we can see in this panoramic view of Atacama desert, the Cerro Armazones mountain, illuminated by the sunset reddish color that is reflected in the land and high clouds, coming from the right edge of the image in the opposite direction, where it is located the Pacific Ocean. With an altitude of 3060 meters in the central part of Chiles Atacama Desert, some 130 kilometers south of the town of Antofagasta and about 20 kilometers from Cerro Paranal, home of ESOs Very Large Telescope. Cerro Armazones will be the baseline site for the planned 39-meter-class European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT), with a planned construction period of about a decade. The telescope’s “eye” will be almost half the length of a soccer pitch in diameter and will gather 15 times more light than the largest optical telescopes operating today. The telescope has an innovative five-mirror design that includes advanced adaptive optics to correct for the turbulent atmosphere, giving exceptional image quality. The main mirror will be made up from almost 800 hexagonal segments.
Image taken taken in 16/10/2015 from Cerro Paranal, Atacama desert, Chile.
Twilight and Sun Pillar in Cerro Paranal
After the sunset, in the beginning of twilight, a partial cloudy sky can promote an impressive combination of beautiful colors. Sometimes, we can see a phenomenon called Sun Pillar. A sun pillar is a vertical shaft of light extending upward from the sun. This great moment was captured in Cerro Paranal, where stands the VLT Telescope.
The Very Large Telescope (VLT) is a telescope operated by the ESO – European Southern Observatory on Cerro Paranal in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile. The VLT is the world’s most advanced optical instrument, consisting of four Unit Telescopes with main mirrors of 8.2m diameter, which are generally used separately but can be used together to achieve very high angular resolution. The four separate optical telescopes are known as Antu, Kueyen, Melipal and Yepun, which are all words for astronomical objects in the Mapuche language, with optical elements that can combine them into an astronomical interferometer (VLTI), which is used to resolve small objects. The interferometer is complemented by four movable Auxiliary Telescopes (ATs) of 1.8 m aperture. The 8.2m diameter Unit Telescopes can also be used individually. With one such telescope, images of celestial objects as faint as magnitude 30 can be obtained in a one-hour exposure. This corresponds to seeing objects that are four billion (four thousand million) times fainter than what can be seen with the unaided eye. The telescopes can work together, to form a giant ‘interferometer’, the ESO Very Large Telescope Interferometer, allowing astronomers to see details up to 25 times finer than with the individual telescopes. The light beams are combined in the VLTI using a complex system of mirrors in underground tunnels where the light paths must be kept equal to distances less than 1/1000 mm over a hundred metres. With this kind of precision the VLTI can reconstruct images with an angular resolution of milliarcseconds, equivalent to distinguishing the two headlights of a car at the distance of the Moon.
Image taken taken in 16/10/2015 from Cerro Paranal, Atacama desert, Chile.
Stargazing in a Cloudy Sky – Fulldome View of VLT
In this fish-eye fulldome picture, we can see a girl stargazing in a partial cloudy sky, that can promote sometimes the appearance of a beautiful show. Specially, if we have a night of Moonlight that can illuminate and show a strange game of ghostly shapes in the clouds. In the background a starry shy sky is showing a strong presence of reddish airglow. In the foreground, we also can see three of four movable Auxiliary Telescopes availabe in the Very Large Telescope plataform.
The Very Large Telescope (VLT) is a telescope operated by the ESO – European Southern Observatory on Cerro Paranal in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile. The VLT is the world’s most advanced optical instrument, consisting of four Unit Telescopes with main mirrors of 8.2m diameter, which are generally used separately but can be used together to achieve very high angular resolution. The four separate optical telescopes are known as Antu, Kueyen, Melipal and Yepun, which are all words for astronomical objects in the Mapuche language, with optical elements that can combine them into an astronomical interferometer (VLTI), which is used to resolve small objects. The interferometer is complemented by four movable Auxiliary Telescopes (ATs) of 1.8 m aperture. The 8.2m diameter Unit Telescopes can also be used individually. With one such telescope, images of celestial objects as faint as magnitude 30 can be obtained in a one-hour exposure. This corresponds to seeing objects that are four billion (four thousand million) times fainter than what can be seen with the unaided eye. The telescopes can work together, to form a giant ‘interferometer’, the ESO Very Large Telescope Interferometer, allowing astronomers to see details up to 25 times finer than with the individual telescopes. The light beams are combined in the VLTI using a complex system of mirrors in underground tunnels where the light paths must be kept equal to distances less than 1/1000 mm over a hundred metres. With this kind of precision the VLTI can reconstruct images with an angular resolution of milliarcseconds, equivalent to distinguishing the two headlights of a car at the distance of the Moon.
Image taken taken in 16/10/2015 from Cerro Paranal, Atacama desert, Chile.
VLT Residencia with Orion, Sirus, Canopus and Magellanic Clouds
In the left side of the sky we can see the Orion constellation with the orientation inverted for being seen from the Southern Hemisphere, close to the right, we can find the brightest star of the entire celestial sphere and Northen Hemisphere, Sirius. Moving further up, in the center of the image, is located the Canopus star, the brightest star of Southern Hemisphere. Next to it, is well spoted the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds, a duo of irregular dwarf galaxies, which are members of the Local Group and are orbiting the Milky Way galaxy. In the ground, we can see the white dome of Residencia where astronomers from ESO that are working daily on VLT complex are hosted. In the background we also can see a tone of green and reddish faint light, coming from the airglow phenomenon.
The Very Large Telescope (VLT) is a telescope operated by the ESO – European Southern Observatory on Cerro Paranal in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile. The VLT is the world’s most advanced optical instrument, consisting of four Unit Telescopes with main mirrors of 8.2m diameter, which are generally used separately but can be used together to achieve very high angular resolution. The four separate optical telescopes are known as Antu, Kueyen, Melipal and Yepun, which are all words for astronomical objects in the Mapuche language, with optical elements that can combine them into an astronomical interferometer (VLTI), which is used to resolve small objects. The interferometer is complemented by four movable Auxiliary Telescopes (ATs) of 1.8 m aperture. The 8.2m diameter Unit Telescopes can also be used individually. With one such telescope, images of celestial objects as faint as magnitude 30 can be obtained in a one-hour exposure. This corresponds to seeing objects that are four billion (four thousand million) times fainter than what can be seen with the unaided eye. The telescopes can work together, to form a giant ‘interferometer’, the ESO Very Large Telescope Interferometer, allowing astronomers to see details up to 25 times finer than with the individual telescopes. The light beams are combined in the VLTI using a complex system of mirrors in underground tunnels where the light paths must be kept equal to distances less than 1/1000 mm over a hundred metres. With this kind of precision the VLTI can reconstruct images with an angular resolution of milliarcseconds, equivalent to distinguishing the two headlights of a car at the distance of the Moon.
Image taken taken in 17/10/2015 from Cerro Paranal, Atacama desert, Chile.
Sun Pillar in Cerro Paranal
The Very Large Telescope (VLT) is a telescope operated by the ESO – European Southern Observatory on Cerro Paranal in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile. The VLT is the world’s most advanced optical instrument, consisting of four Unit Telescopes with main mirrors of 8.2m diameter, which are generally used separately but can be used together to achieve very high angular resolution. The four separate optical telescopes are known as Antu, Kueyen, Melipal and Yepun, which are all words for astronomical objects in the Mapuche language, with optical elements that can combine them into an astronomical interferometer (VLTI), which is used to resolve small objects. The interferometer is complemented by four movable Auxiliary Telescopes (ATs) of 1.8 m aperture. The 8.2m diameter Unit Telescopes can also be used individually. With one such telescope, images of celestial objects as faint as magnitude 30 can be obtained in a one-hour exposure. This corresponds to seeing objects that are four billion (four thousand million) times fainter than what can be seen with the unaided eye. The telescopes can work together, to form a giant ‘interferometer’, the ESO Very Large Telescope Interferometer, allowing astronomers to see details up to 25 times finer than with the individual telescopes. The light beams are combined in the VLTI using a complex system of mirrors in underground tunnels where the light paths must be kept equal to distances less than 1/1000 mm over a hundred metres. With this kind of precision the VLTI can reconstruct images with an angular resolution of milliarcseconds, equivalent to distinguishing the two headlights of a car at the distance of the Moon.
Image taken taken in 16/10/2015 from Cerro Paranal, Atacama desert, Chile.
Magellanic Clouds, Zodiacal Light and Gegenschein on a VLT Panorama
In the left side of this – almost 360º- panoramic view, we can see Canopus star and the Large (LMC) and Small (SMC) Magellanic Clouds. Above the horizon, in the beginning of Milky Way arc, are yet visible the bright stars Alpha and Beta Centauri. At the center, lie down the galactic arm with the Zodiacal Light as a background of Antu telescope. Next to the last telescope is clearly visible the elongated diffuse light coming from Andromeda galaxy. In the upper part of the image and opposite direction of Magellanic Clouds, is shining a Gegenschein, that is a faint brightening of the night sky in the region of the antisolar point. Like the zodiacal light, the Gegenschein is sunlight scattered by interplanetary dust. Most of this dust is orbiting the Sun in about the ecliptic plane. It is distinguished from zodiacal light by its high angle of reflection of the incident sunlight on the dust particles. Below right and near the horizon, the Pleiades (M45) star cluster is visible next the tower silhouette.
The Very Large Telescope (VLT) is a telescope operated by the ESO – European Southern Observatory on Cerro Paranal in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile. The VLT is the world’s most advanced optical instrument, consisting of four Unit Telescopes with main mirrors of 8.2m diameter, which are generally used separately but can be used together to achieve very high angular resolution. The four separate optical telescopes are known as Antu, Kueyen, Melipal and Yepun, which are all words for astronomical objects in the Mapuche language, with optical elements that can combine them into an astronomical interferometer (VLTI), which is used to resolve small objects. The interferometer is complemented by four movable Auxiliary Telescopes (ATs) of 1.8 m aperture. The 8.2m diameter Unit Telescopes can also be used individually. With one such telescope, images of celestial objects as faint as magnitude 30 can be obtained in a one-hour exposure. This corresponds to seeing objects that are four billion (four thousand million) times fainter than what can be seen with the unaided eye. The telescopes can work together, to form a giant ‘interferometer’, the ESO Very Large Telescope Interferometer, allowing astronomers to see details up to 25 times finer than with the individual telescopes. The light beams are combined in the VLTI using a complex system of mirrors in underground tunnels where the light paths must be kept equal to distances less than 1/1000 mm over a hundred metres. With this kind of precision the VLTI can reconstruct images with an angular resolution of milliarcseconds, equivalent to distinguishing the two headlights of a car at the distance of the Moon.
Image taken taken in 16/10/2015 from Cerro Paranal, Atacama desert, Chile.
Enjoying Venus corona above the Giant´s Causeway – Northen Ireland
In the image we can see a Skygazer enjoying the planet venus with a visible corona phenomenon between the Giant’s Causeway, near Bushmills, in northeast coast of Northen Ireland. Is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic eruption, 60 million years ago. It was declared a World Heritage Site byUNESCO in 1986. Near the top edge of the image we can see the Pleiades star cluster.
Corona, is produced by the diffraction of light from either the Sun, the Moon or some bright planets by individual small water droplets and sometimes tiny ice crystals of a cloud.
ISO 2000, 30 sec, 16mm at f/2.8. In 20/03/2015 at 20:17
