Pairing with Jupiter and Venus in a Romantic Conjunction Scene
Me and my wife Apolónia decided to join the sky pairing yesterday night, for a nice twilight scene while planets Venus and Jupiter were still close in a romantic conjunction illuminated by the moonlight as seen from Alentejo fields inside Dark Sky® Alqueva territory, in Portugal. Even having a little haze due to high thin clouds, I used a fog filter in front of the lens to help distinguish the little shining guys.
PT: Eu e a minha companheira Apolónia decidimos juntar-nos ao par celestial ontem à noite, para um belo cenário ao crepúsculo enquanto os planetas Vénus e Júpiter ainda estavam próximos numa conjunção romântica iluminada pelo luar, vista a partir dos campos dourados do Alentejo no interior do território Dark Sky® Alqueva, em Portugal. Mesmo tendo um pouco de neblina devido às nuvens altas e finas, usei um filtro difusor na frente da lente para ajudar a destacar os dois planetas brilhantes.
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Milky Way and a Human Dark Silhouette Against a Desert Stone
A single shot shows the Milky Way shining bright above Lut desert, in Kerman, Iran, while my human presence as a photographer explorer was projected as a dark shadow in this lonely rock of the desert.
PT: Uma única foto mostra a Via Láctea brilhando sobre o deserto de Lut, em Kerman, no Irão, enquanto minha presença humana como fotógrafo viajante foi projectada como uma sombra escura nesta rocha solitária do deserto.
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Celebrating Together the Passion of the Night Sky
Sometimes all you need is just being under the stars and celebrate together the passion of the night sky. A vertical panoramic image of single shots, reveals to path of Summer Milky Way visible in the background and above a group of people which are together participating in an outdoor night session with telescopes.
PT: Por vezes tudo que precisamos é apenas relaxar, e estar sob a grandeza de um céu estrelado pristino, para celebrar a paixão e magia da astronomia. Um panorama vertical de disparos únicos, revela em segundo plano o caminho da Via Láctea de Verão, que se ergue acima de uma das paisagens do Dark Sky® Alqueva, enquanto um grupo de pessoas participa numa sessão de observação externa.
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A Stargazer with Mercury, Venus, Moon and Pleiades above Alqueva Lake
On the morning of 26th June, the waning crescent Moon was in a close alignment with planet Venus and Pleiades star cluster M45, featuring a wonderful Earthshine. While Pleiades are high in the Sky and near the upper edge, Mercury has joined the show and is close to the horizon. Dificult to find ? Yes, so please, follow my arm, I´m the photographer on the ground holding the bright light and pointing to the same region of the sky you are looking for. Hope it helps you to identify the small orange light of planet Mercury. Captured in the calm waters of Alqueva lake, at Dark Sky® Alqueva, Portugal.
PT: Na manhã de 26 de Junho, a lua minguante encontrava-se num alinhamento muito próximo com o planeta Vénus e o aglomerado das Pleiades M45, exibindo ainda um maravilhoso Earthshine lunar. Enquanto as Pleiades estão altas e no topo superior da imagem, Mercúrio também se juntou ao show e está junto ao horizonte. Difícil de encontrar? Sim, então por favor, siga o meu braço estendido, eu sou o fotógrafo visível na imagem segurando a luz brilhante e apontando para a mesma região do céu que o leitor está à procura. Espero que o ajude a identificar a pequena luz laranja que é o planeta Mercúrio na imagem. Captada nas águas calmas do lago Alqueva, no Dark Sky® Alqueva, Portugal.
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Our Greatness Rises When We Recognise The beauty Immersed in Each Corner of the Universe
Sometimes all you need is just…being under the stars to understand how big, we humans, can be. Big, by the simple fact that we can have a conscience of our limits when trying to “understand” a small fraction of what we are looking at. But our greatness rises, when we are able to recognise all the beauty immersed in each piece of Nature, in each corner of the Universe! Captured on my recent astro astro workshop at Dark Sky® Alqueva. My thanks to participants Daniela and Ana, which posed for me in this single shot.
PT: Por vezes tudo que precisamos é apenas…relaxar, e estar sob a grandeza de um céu estrelado pristino, para entender o quão grandes, nós humanos, podemos ser. Grandes pelo simples facto de termos a consciência dos nossos limites ao tentar “entender” uma pequena fracção do que se avista diante os nossos olhos. Mas a nossa grandeza aumenta, quando somos capazes de reconhecer toda a Beleza presente em cada pedaço da Natureza, em cada canto do Universo! Captada recentemente durante o meu workshop de astrofotografia no Dark Sky® Alqueva. Os meus agradecimentos às participantes Daniela e Ana, que posaram para mim nesta foto de um disparo único.
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A Girl Stargazing Perseids With a Bright Meteor Spotted
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 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. As soon as we saw the meteor firing, I took another two shots up to the horizon- since my camera was pointing to the zenith – this time with my girlfriend framed on it while pointing high in the same region of the sky where the meteor has crossed. The final image is a vertical panorama of single shots taken at approximately the same time.
PT: O meteoro mais brilhante que já capturei em muitos anos e provavelmente o mais proeminente da chuva de meteoros Perseidas de 2021. Captado em um único disparo enquanto brilhava alto no céu entre a estrela Deneb e a estrela Altair do Triângulo de Verão. Foi um meteoro rápido e brilhante com uma cauda muito longa de cerca de 36º (medida da estrela Rho Cygni até Alpha Sagittae), com uma tonalidade violeta meio verde e meio rosa devido a uma concentração elevada de elementos químicos como o magnésio (verde ) e cálcio (rosa-violeta), típico em meteoros de Perseidas. A cauda termina com uma pequena explosão visível como um flash branco azulado brilhante. Assim que vimos o meteoro rompendo o céu com um flash brilhante, fiz mais duas fotos até ao horizonte – já que a minha câmara apontava para o zénite – desta vez com a silhueta da minha cara metade presente na imagem, enquanto apontava para o alto na mesma região do céu onde o meteoro caiu. A imagem final é um panorama vertical de fotos captadas aproximadamente ao mesmo tempo.
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Stargazing Comet Leonard with Planet Venus Against the Nautical Twilight
The image shows Comet Leonard c/2021 A1 captured at dusk from Dark Sky® Alqueva lake against the nautical twilight colors, on last 17th December 2021. Planet Venus is shinning high in a moonlight sky and reflecting its strong light in the lake surface, while a stargazer is pointing his arm to the faint comet, gradually decreasing in brightness, is barely visible even with binoculars.
PT: A imagem mostra o cometa Leonard c/2021 A1 captado ao anoitecer a partir do lago Alqueva, na região do Dark Sky®, contra as cores do crepúsculo náutico, no passado dia 17 de Dezembro de 2021. Enquanto o planeta Vénus brilhava alto num céu de luar e reflectindo a sua intensa luz na superfície do lago, uma observadora de estrelas apontava o seu braço para o ténue cometa – que com o natural descréscimo do seu brilho – era um alvo desafiante mesmo para binóculos.
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Stargazing Comet Leonard in the Morning Sky above Dark Sky Alqueva Lake
Captured last 11th December 2021, from Dark Sky® Alqueva lake, the image shows a single shot with my silhouette against a background starry sky where Comet Leonard c/2021 A1 – near the closest approach to our planet – is possible to see (not really to the naked eye yet) shining as a diffuse greenish dot with a subtle dusty tail. During this month, the Comet is expected to reach an even better magnitude to the naked eye. From tomorrow on, the comet will start to be visible after the twilight at Dusk and no longer at Dawn.
PT: Captada no passado dia 11 de dezembro de 2021, no Dark Sky® junto ao lago Alqueva, a imagem mostra um disparo único com a minha silhueta contra um céu estrelado em pano de fundo onde se vê o cometa Leonard c/2021 A1 – quase a atingir o ponto orbital mais próximo do nosso planeta – brilhando como um ponto esverdeado difuso com uma súbtil cauda empoeirada. A partir de dia 12, o cometa começará a ser visível após o crepúsculo, ao entardecer e não mais será visível ao amanhecer como acontecia até aqui.
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An UFO Light Painting Against the Sky of Alqueva lake
While some friends were playing with a drone and making light paintings during one of my private workshops under the starry skies of Dark Sky® Alqueva, I had the chance to take this UFO picture. Indeed, many people asked me if I already saw anything strange or “unidentified flying object (UFO)” in the sky… well, what can I say is that…over the last 25 years I have spent hundreds and hundreds of hours looking up at the sky and shooting in different countries around the world and I never saw something that science could not explain.
PT: Enquanto alguns amigos testavam um drone fazendo pinturas de luz durante um dos meus workshops privados sob o céu estrelado de Dark Sky® Alqueva, eu tive a chance de tirar esta foto em estilo UFO. Na verdade, muitas pessoas já me perguntaram se eu alguma vez vi algo estranho ou um objeto voador não identificado (OVNI) no céu. Bem, o que eu posso dizer é que…nos últimos 25 anos, passei centenas e centenas de horas olhando para o céu e filmando em diferentes países ao redor do mundo e nunca vi algo que a ciência não pudesse explicar.
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A Stargazer Taking Care of the Bluish Brightest Star Sirius
The image features a stargazer holding the hot bluish star Sirius in his hand while the silhouette of the tree seems to hold other colorful bright stars from the winter constellations, like Orion, which dominates the background of the natural scene captured in Pampilhosa da Serra, resembling a Christmas Feeling.
PT: A imagem mostra uma observadora de estrelas amparando em sua mão a estrela azulada Sirius, enquanto a silhueta da árvore parece conter outras estrelas coloridas brilhantes das constelações de Inverno, como Orion, que domina o plano de fundo desta cena de paisagem natural, captada na Pampilhosa da Serra e que nos deixa com uma sensação de espírito natalício.
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A Stargazer Enjoying the view in a World of Contrasting Realities
This single shot features a stargazer enjoying Andromeda galaxy, possible to se with the naked-eye from the newest territory of Dark Sky® Vale do Tua, in northern part of Portugal – a new certified Starlight Tourist Destination. Being one of the best spots to enjoy archeoastronomy, in the foreground we can see the silhouette from Forca do Freixiel, an ancient gallows from Middle Ages. The monument is believed to be unique in the Iberian Peninsula. It is formed by of 2 vertical granite pillars that supported a horizontal beam – which no longer exists – where was placed the noose. In this type of gallows, the condemned did not die by strangulation due to suspension, but by a garrote, being later on display in the gallows. The image pretends to show the contrasting reality between the morbid meaning from acts of ancient times, with our responsibility of respecting the history but evolving as better human beings while living in such a beautiful planet, we need an effort to keep preserving the beauty of the night sky. In the background, featuring the Andromeda in the middle of the scene, at left side, the orange planet Mars can be seen setting near the mountains while in the opposite direction, is visible the path of winter Milky Way against a starry sky in the presence of smooth greenish airglow.
PT: Num disparo único a imagem mostra um observador de estrelas apreciando a galáxia de Andrómeda, possível de observar a olho nu no Dark Sky® Vale do Tua, no norte de Portugal – é o mais recente destino turístico Starlight certificado. Sendo um dos melhores locais para desfrutar da arqueoastronomia, em primeiro plano, avista-se a silhueta da Forca do Freixiel, uma forca milenar da Idade Média. O monumento é considerado único na Península Ibérica. É formada por 2 pilares verticais de granito que suportavam uma viga horizontal – que já não existe – onde foi colocado o laço. Neste tipo de forca, o condenado não morria por estrangulamento por suspensão, mas por garrote, sendo posteriormente exposto na forca. A imagem pretende mostrar a realidade contrastante entre o sentido mórbido de actos da antiguidade, com a nossa responsabilidade actual em respeitar a história, mas simultaneamente evoluir como seres humanos melhores, enquanto habitantes de um planeta único, precisamos de um esforço e empenho contínuo para preservar a beleza do céu noturno. Em pano de fundo é possível ver a galáxia de Andrómeda no centro do enquadramento e à esquerda, o planeta Marte. Com a sua tonalidade alaranjada, prepara-se para desaparecer por detrás das montanhas, enquanto na direção oposta, é visível o caminho da Via Láctea de inverno contra um céu estrelado na presença de suave de airglow esverdeado.
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Nostalgia – A Mesmerizing View that Can be Lost Forever
With the Summer ending in Northern Hemisphere, it’s time to say goodbye to our Milky Way, at least to the brightest colorful dusty heart of our galaxy. For those of us who loves spending entire nights outside watching and enjoying the night sky, it can leads to a feeling of Nostalgia, but its just a matter of time regarding the natural motion of our planet orbiting the sun, and you know that you will get back again to this amazing views within six months. Although, if we not take care and face the increasing light pollution as a serious problem of nowadays, in a near future, a vision like that could be only achieved through a photograph of a remote reality, leading to a permanent lost of the night sky, as it has to be… beautiful starry and deeply dark!.
PT: Com o verão a terminar no Hemisfério Norte, é hora de dizer adeus à nossa Via Láctea, pelo menos ao coração poeirento e colorido que “jaz” no centro da galáxia. Para aqueles de nós que adoram passar noites inteiras ao relento e apenas a contemplar o céu noturno, este adeus pode levar a um sentimento de Nostalgia ou numa singular palavra portuguesa, Saudade! Mas será apenas uma questão de tempo decorrente do movimento natural do nosso planeta em orbtia do sol, até podermos voltar a ter acesso novamente a estas vistas incríveis, numa expectável espera de cerca de seis meses. No entanto, se não tomarmos as devidas precauções e encararmos a crescente poluição luminosa como um grave problema dos dias de hoje, em um futuro próximo, uma visão como essa só poderá ser alcançada através da fotografia de uma realidade remota, levando a uma perda permanente do céu noturno, como supostamente deveria ser… lindamente estrelado e profundamente escuro!
Astrophotography Workshops with Miguel Claro – While Sharing Knowledge, Have Fun and Enjoy a Wonderful Night Sky
Sharing knowledge and learning something we love to do, is one of the best pleasures in the world! Specially, when doing it with a wonderful and kind group of enthusiastic participants, that shares the same passion about the shooting the night sky. The image features a group photo with my students at the end of my workshop of astrophotography, presented in Natural Park of Noudar, in Barrancos, located in the award winning @darkskyalqueva reserve, Portugal. Behind us is standing the core of our galaxy. If you would like to join one of my WORKSHOPS, for groups or as a Private experience, please visit my page Workshops and contact me for more informations.
PT: Partilhar o conhecimento ou aprender algo que gostamos de fazer é um dos melhores prazeres do mundo! Especialmente, se o fizermos com um grupo maravilhoso e simpático de entusiásticos participantes, que partilha dessa mesma paixão e fascínio por fotografar os encantos do céu noturno. A imagem revela uma foto de grupo com meus alunos captada no final do meu workshop anual de astrofotografia, apresentado no Parque de Natureza de Noudar, em Barrancos, localizado na premiada reserva Dark Sky® Alqueva, em Portugal. Atrás de nós está o núcleo da nossa galáxia, a Via Láctea. Se gostaria de participar num dos meus workshops, e aprender tudo sobre a fotografia nocturna e as téncias mais avançadas, seja numa experiência de grupo ou como um workshop Privado one-to-one, visite minha página WORKSHOPS e entre em contato comigo para obter mais informações.
Sharing Knowledge and Learning is One of the Best Pleasures in the World
Sharing knowledge and learning something we love to do, is one of the best pleasures in the world! The image features the silhouette of one of my students @joao_rosario_godinho during a workshop of astrophotography, presented in Campinho village, located in the award winning @darkskyalqueva reserve, Portugal. While he is standing against the background core of our own galaxy, – the Milky Way – a white light that shines in the same direction belongs to a giant planet, Jupiter, which reached the Opposition during June month. If you would like to join one of my WORKSHOPS, for groups or as a Private experience, please visit my page Workshops and contact me for more informations.
PT: Partilhar o conhecimento ou aprender algo que gostamos de fazer é um dos melhores prazeres do mundo! A imagem revela a silhueta de um dos meus alunos @joao_rosario_godinho durante um workshop de astrofotografia na vila de Campinho, localizada na premiada reserva @darkskyalqueva, em Portugal. Enquanto o João prepara a sua câmara – num contra-luz provocado pelo brilho da Via Láctea – é visível uma luz branca que se destaca contra o coração galáctico. Essa luz pertence a um gigante gasoso, o Magnífico Júpiter, que no passado mês de Junho atingiu a Oposição, altura mais favorável para o fotografar e observar. Se gostaria de participar num dos meus workshops, e aprender tudo sobre a fotografia nocturna e as téncias mais avançadas, seja numa experiência de grupo ou como um workshop Privado one-to-one, visite minha página WORKSHOPS e entre em contato comigo para obter mais informações.
Climb your Challenges in Life and Expect Nothing less Than the Best.
Remember that each rock that you may found in your life has not be necessarily an obstacle, but maybe the incentive you need to climb and go even further. From the top you can see the beauty of the “big picture” and how small your problems seems to be down there. Facing all challenges with a smile, a positive mind will let you feel your inner peace, and for sure you will know where to find your North and let the Stars and Nature guide the beautiful life you are suppose to live!! As a human being in this cosmic voyage in space, you deserve always, to expect nothing less than the Best. The image shows two stargazers following the Ursa Major stars, which are pointing to Polaris, the Northern Star.
PT: Lembre-se que cada pedra que encontrar em sua vida não é necessariamente um obstáculo, mas talvez o incentivo que você precisa para subir e seguir ainda mais longe. Do topo, poderá apreciar a beleza da “grande figura” e dar conta de quão pequenos parecem ser nossos problemas quando vistos, lá de cima, de um ponto de vista privilegiado. Enfrentar todos os desafios com um sorriso e uma mente positiva, vai certamente permitir-le sentir a sua paz interior, e com certeza irá saber onde encontrar o seu Norte e deixar as estrelas e a natureza guiarem a maravilhosa vida que deve viver!! Como ser humano nesta viagem cósmica no espaço, lembre-se que merece sempre esperar nada menos, que o Melhor! A imagem revela dois stargazers, que seguindo as estrelas da Ursa Maior, encontram a Estrela Polar, a que indica o Norte.
Sharing a Passion Under the Big Dipper
This recent scene shows my silhouette holding the hand of my soulmate, while enjoying Ursa Major constellation shinning bright above Pampilhosa da Serra! Each time we look up at the sky, we celebrate not only a special love, but also the gift of sharing together our same passion about the Universe and the Nature itself. If you have not yet found your soulmate, please don’t give up and don’t stop trying to achieve your dreams! Look up at a starry sky and remember that there are millions of stars and constellations waiting to be discovered and appreciated by you! Even if you have not yet recognized them, doesn’t mean that they don’t exist…they’re always there, shining in beauty and waiting for you!! The first time you recognize a pattern of a constellation in the night sky, you will never forget it and maybe you could find the right direction to go…same happens when you let the love In.
PT: Um cenário nocturno revela a minha silhueta segurando a mão da minha alma gémea, enquanto observamos juntos as estrelas que compõem a constelação da Ursa Maior, que brilha intensamente sobre a Pampilhosa da Serra! Cada vez que olhamos para o céu, celebramos não apenas um amor especial, mas também o dom de compartilhar juntos uma mesma paixão pelo Universo e pela própria Natureza. Se o leitor ainda não encontrou a sua cara-metade, por favor, não desista e não pare de tentar alcançar os seus sonhos! Olhe para um céu estrelado e lembre-se de que existem milhões de estrelas e constelações à espera de serem descobertas e apreciadas por si! Mesmo se ainda não as reconheceu, não significa que elas não existem…na verdade estão sempre lá, brilhando em beleza enquanto esperam parcientemente por si!! A primeira vez que reconhecer um padrão de uma constelação no céu noturno, diria que nunca mais o vai esquecer e talvez consiga assim encontrar a direção certa para onde seguir… o mesmo acontece quando cada um de nós deixa verdadeiramente o amor entrar nas nossas vidas.
Learning How to Photograph the Night Wonders of the Summer Sky
The image shows the Arch of Milky Way while a group of photographers and stargazers are enjoying the wonders of the summer sky in the Northern Hemisphere, Campinho, in Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve. High in the sky, we can see a “blue bright” star with an apparent magnitude of 0,0 called Vega, serving as a middle reference in the magnitude system chart created for the first time in 150 B.C.E, by the greek astronomer Hipparchus. Vega, from Lyra constellation, is forming an asterism well know as the “Summer Triangle” with stars Deneb (from Cygnus) and Altair (from Aquila) located in the center of the image. Below Deneb, a bright red emission nebula known as North America, is visible in violet hues, while in the opposite direction of the sky, the core of Milky Way galaxy is featuring many more red emission nebulae coming from deep sky objects like Lagoon, Trifid or Eagle nebula. Above Sagittarius constellation and against the galactic dusty center, Jupiter is shinning bright as a white light. Following the same line we can find the red supergiant star Antares, from Scorpius constellations. Above the horizon in the right center, is shinning the Lord of the Rings, planet Saturn. Located in Portugal, Dark Sky® Alqueva reserve was the First Starlight Tourism Destination in the World, being awarded in 2019 with a “Tourism Oscar” from World Travel Awards, as Europe´s Responsible Tourism Award 2019.
PT: A imagem mostra o Arco da Via Láctea enquanto um grupo de fotógrafos e observadores de estrelas aprecia as maravilhas do céu de verão no Hemisfério Norte, a partir do Campinho, na reserva Dark Sky® Alqueva. No alto do céu, é possível ver uma estrela azulada e brilhante com uma magnitude aparente de 0.0, de nome Vega. Serve como uma referência intermédia na tabela do sistema de magnitudes criado pela primeira vez no ano 150 A.C, pelo astrónomo grego Hiparco. Vega, da constelação de Lyra, forma um asterismo conhecido como o “Triângulo de Verão” com as estrelas Deneb (Cisne) e Altair (da Águia), localizadas no centro da imagem. Abaixo de Deneb, uma nebulosa de emissão vermelha brilhante conhecida como nebulosa North America, é visível em tons violeta, enquanto na direção oposta do céu, o núcleo da Via Láctea apresenta muitas nebulosas de emissão vermelha, provenientes de objetos do céu profundo como as nebulosas da Lagoa, Trifid ou a nebulosa da Águia. Acima da constelação de Sagitário e contra o centro galáctico de poeira cósmica, Júpiter brilha intensamente como uma luz branca. Seguindo a mesma linha, podemos encontrar a estrela supergigante vermelha Antares, da constelação do Escorpião. Acima do horizonte no centro direito, podemos encontrar o apelidado “Senhor dos Anéis”, o planeta Saturno. Localizada em Portugal, a reserva Dark Sky® Alqueva foi o primeiro destino do mundo, a receber a certificação da Fundação Starlight, tendo sido premiado em 2019 com um “Oscar do Turismo” nos World Travel Awards, como Europe´s Responsible Tourism Award 2019.
Stargazing Inside the New Official Dark Sky® Alqueva Observatory in Cumeada
The official Dark Sky® Alqueva Observatory and headquarters, located in Cumeada – a small village near Reguengos de Monsaraz – is equipped with cutting-edge telescopes for solar and astronomical purposes. With a totally new design after being re-built and expanded in 2019, a roll-off roof observatory shows an open window to the Universe, providing a one life experience under the stars that you can´t skip! If you didn´t try it yet, you must include it as a priority on your bucket list. From observing the planets up to looking at the craters on the moon, everything is possible under an unpolluted sky with the guidance of a professional astronomer from Dark Sky® Alqueva. On moonless nights, you can dive deeper in the sky with your own eyes, embarking on a cosmic journey among nebulae, galaxies and the swarms of stars which rise above us in one of the finest skies in the world.
PT: O Observatório e Sede Oficial Dark Sky® Alqueva, localizado na Cumeada – uma pequena aldeia perto de Reguengos de Monsaraz – está equipado com telescópios de ponta para fins solares e astronómicos. Com um design totalmente novo, depois de ter sido reconstruído e expandido em 2019, um observatório de tecto retráctil mostra uma janela aberta para o Universo, proporcionando “a experiência de uma vida” sob um céu estrelado, algo que você não devia perder! Se ainda não tentou, inclua já esta experiência única como uma prioridade a realizar na sua “bucket list”. Desde observar os planetas até olhar as crateras na Lua, tudo é possível sob um céu não poluído, com a orientação de um astrónomo profissional do Dark Sky® Alqueva. Nas noites sem lua, você pode mergulhar mais fundo no céu com seus próprios olhos, embarcando em uma jornada cósmica entre nebulosas, galáxias e enxames de estrelas que se erguem acima de nós, num dos melhores céus do mundo.
A Stargazer is Trying to Find the Big Dipper and Little Dipper in the Sky of Tua Valley
The image shows a night scene over S. Lourenço, in Tua Valley, featuring a stargazer that is trying to find Polaris, the Northern Star. Looking first to the main stars that are composing the constellation of Ursa Major, also known as the Great Bear, is the easiest constellation recognisable in night time and used as a starting point, from beginners to experienced stargazers, to help localize and identify the Northern Star. To find Polaris, use the so-called “Pointer” stars in the bowl of the Big Dipper, Merak and Dubhe (at left). Then, just draw an imaginary line between these two stars and extend it out for about 5 times, and you will end up in Polaris, located on the image above the head of the stargazer.
PT: A imagem revela uma cena nocturna captada em S. Lourenço, no Vale do Tua, onde um entusiasta das estrelas tenta encontrar a estrela Polar, também conhecida por Estrela do Norte. Como ponto de partida, observa primeiramente as principais estrelas que compõem a constelação da Ursa Maior (à esquerda), visto ser facilmente reconhecível no período nocturno, é também usada como ponto de partida – desde iniciantes a astrónomos experientes – para ajudar a localizar e identificar a Estrela Polar. Para encontrar a Polaris, use as estrelas da Ursa Maior, Merak e Dubhe. Seguidamente desenhe uma linha imaginária entre essas duas estrelas e estenda-a por cerca de 5 vezes, terminará assim na Estrela Polar, localizada no na imagem mesmo acima da cabeça do observador.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
A panorama captured with a Nikon D810a | 26mm at f/2,8 | ISO3200 | Exp. 20 secs.
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.
A Sky Without Religious Boundaries Shows the ISS Above the Historic Old City of Jerusalem
The image shows the path of International Space Station (ISS) crossing a sky free of any religious, cultural or ethnic boundaries above the beautiful and historial old city of Jerusalem. Added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in 1981, it is one of the oldest cities in the world, and is considered holy to the three major Abrahamic religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, and where several key events in the life of Jesus took place. The Old City of Jerusalem is divided into four quarters; The Jewish Quarter, The Armenian Quarter, The Christian Quarter, and The Muslim Quarter. During its long history, Jerusalem has been destroyed at least twice, besieged 23 times, captured and recaptured 44 times, and attacked 52 time. On the image, the crane seen in the foreground also reminds us of our capacity as a mankind in recovering or building major things, specially when a teamwork between different countries can be achieved in the name of science, progress and peace. As an example is the most complex and advanced machine ever built and that is orbiting our planet Earth, the International Space Station, featured on upper left corner of the image, between the trails of Cassiopeia and Ursa Major constellation.
On the ground, the right side of the image shows the only part that survived to all attacks along the history and stills partially intact until today, is the Western Wall, (aka Wailing Walland or in Hebrew Kotel), being the most religious site in the world for the Jewish people. Thousands of people journey to the wall every year to visit and recite prayers. These prayers are either spoken or written down and placed in the cracks of the wall. The wall is divided into two sections, the left side for males and the right side for females. It is also the western support wall of the Temple Mount and Temple Rock, visible above the horizon as a blue base and a golden dome. The Temple Mount is a holy site within the Old City for Jewish, Christian and Muslim people, the walls were built around the summit of Mount Moriah, where biblically, Abraham offered his son, Isaac, as a sacrifice. In Muslim tradition, this is where the Prophet Mohammed made his “Night Journey” to the throne of God from the rock located at the center of the structure. The Foundation Stone in the temple, was built over bears great significance in Judaism as the place where God created the world and the first human, Adam.
PT: A imagem mostra o rasto da Estação Espacial Internacional (ISS) cruzando um céu livre de quaisquer fronteiras religiosas, culturais ou étnicas acima da bela e histórica cidade velha de Jerusalém. Adicionado à lista de Património Mundial da UNESCO em 1981, é uma das cidades mais antigas do mundo, e é considerada sagrada para as três principais religiões abraâmica, judaísmo, cristianismo e islamismo, e onde vários eventos importantes na vida de Jesus tiveram lugar. A Cidade Velha de Jerusalém é dividida em quatro quadrantes; O bairro judeu, o bairro armênio, o bairro cristão e o bairro muçulmano. Durante sua longa história, Jerusalém foi destruída pelo menos duas vezes, sitiada 23 vezes, capturada e recapturada 44 vezes e atacada 52 vezes. Na imagem, o guindaste visto em primeiro plano também nos lembra da nossa capacidade como humanidade em recuperar ou construir coisas importantes, especialmente quando um trabalho em equipe entre diferentes países pode ser alcançado em nome da ciência, do progresso e da paz. Como exemplo, é a máquina mais complexa e avançada já construída até hoje e que orbita o nosso planeta Terra, a Estação Espacial Internacional, visível no canto superior esquerdo da imagem, entre os rastos luminosos da constelação de Cassiopeia e Ursa Maior.
No solo, o lado direito da imagem mostra a única parte que sobreviveu a todos os ataques ao longo da história e ainda está parcialmente intacta até hoje, é o Muro das Lamentações, (Wailing Walland ou em hebraico Kotel), sendo o local mais religioso do mundo para o povo judeu. Milhares de pessoas viajam para a parede todos os anos para visitar e recitar orações. Essas orações são ditas ou escritas e colocadas nas fendas da parede. A parede é dividida em duas seções, o lado esquerdo para os homens e o lado direito para as mulheres. É também a parede de sustentação ocidental do Monte do Templo e da Rocha do Templo, visível acima do horizonte como uma base azul e uma cúpula dourada. O Monte do Templo é um local sagrado dentro da Cidade Velha para judeus, cristãos e muçulmanos, as paredes foram construídas em torno do cume do Monte Moriah, onde biblicamente, Abraão ofereceu seu filho, Isaac, como um sacrifício. Na tradição muçulmana, é aqui que o Profeta Maomé fez sua “Viagem Noturna” até o trono de Deus a partir da rocha localizada no centro da estrutura. A Pedra Fundamental no templo foi construída com grande significado no judaísmo como o lugar onde Deus criou o mundo e o primeiro ser humano, Adão.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
A sequence of 52 single shots with a Canon 6D | 14mm lens at f/8 | ISO500 | Exp. 2 secs.
Full Dome Fish-eye View from the Ancient Old Jaffa Port in Tel Aviv
The image features a full dome fish-eye view where only trails of the brightest stars from constellations like Geminids, Orion or Canis Major can be revealed against a light polluted sky and under the moonlight. In the foreground, a traveller is watching the sky above the Old Jaffa Port (also known as Namal Yafo) was the ancient port of the city of Jaffa, in Israel, out of which modern day Tel Aviv has grown. The Old Jaffa Port is reputed to be one of the oldest ports in the world, for over 7,000 years it has been actively used, predating Muslims, Christians, Jews, and even Egyptians. Notably being the port from which Jonah set off in the famous Biblical story of Jonah and the Whale. Today the port is used largely by local fishermen who continue the centuries old tradition of the area according to the source, Tourist Israel.
PT: A imagem mostra uma visão olho de peixe de 180º onde apenas os rastos das estrelas mais brilhantes de constelações como Gémeos, Orion ou o Cão Maior, podem ser revelados contra um céu sob forte efeito da poluição luminosa e da presença da Lua. Em primeiro plano, um viajante observa o céu acima do “Old Jaffa Port” (também conhecido como Namal Yafo), o antigo porto da cidade de Jaffa, em Israel, sob o qual hoje em dia Tel Aviv cresceu. O Porto Velho de Jaffa, tem a reputação de ser um dos portos mais antigos do mundo, há mais de 7.000 anos tem sido usado ativamente, precedendo muçulmanos, cristãos, judeus e até egípcios. Notavelmente sendo o porto de onde Jonas partiu na famosa história bíblica de Jonas e da Baleia. Hoje o porto é usado em grande parte pelos pescadores locais que continuam a tradição centenária da região segundo a fonte Tourist Israel.
Technical details | Detalhes Técnicos
A startrail sequence captured with a Canon 6D | 8mm fish-eye lens at f/4 | ISO2500 | Exp. 1/3 sec.
Venus and Jupiter Shinning Together After a Long Night of Photography
After a long cold night of shooting the Total Lunar Eclipse of 2019, a stargazer and photographer stands in front of his equipment in the final stage of the Eclipse, while in the background of a twilight sky, the brightest planets Venus and Jupiter are shinning in a very close alignment, only separated by approximately 2,5 degrees. The image was captured in Mina de São Domingos, Dark Sky® Alqueva Métola, Portugal.
PT: Depois de uma longa noite fria a fotografar o Eclipse Lunar Total de 2019, um observador de estrelas e fotógrafo, pousa ao pé do seu equipamento fotográfico no estágio final do Eclipse, enquanto em pano de fundo de um céu crepuscular, os planetas mais brilhantes da esfera celeste – Venus e Júpiter – brilham alinhados e separados apenas por aproximadamente 2,5 graus. A imagem foi captada na Mina de São Domingos, Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, em Portugal.
A Panoramic Milky Way Above Azenhas do Guadiana
An impressive panoramic view shows the Milky Way rising above the hills from the fluvial beach of Azenhas do Guadiana, in Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola. While a family of ducks are standing near the water in the center of the picture, two photographers are capturing the wonders of the night sky during a workshop of astrophotography. At the right side of this scenic view, the core of our galaxy is shinning bright and with it, some deep sky objects like the Lagoon Nebula, visible in red-violet immediately above the hill top.
Discovering the Sky Above with a Mobile Planetarium
While we can´t have yet a smartphone with enough quality to face the challenges of night photography, we could actually use it as a powerful mobile planetarium. Fortunately, nowadays, there are several free or purchased apps in the market capable of help you every time you are under a starry dark sky, turning your smartphone in an easy tool to identify celestial objects in real time. This image captured in Azenhas do Guadiana, Dark Sky® Alqueva Mértola, shows one of this moments, when a sky enthusiast was searching for planet Saturn, shinning bright near the core of the galaxy, was only 6º apart from the Lagoon Nebula (visible above the mountain, in the center of the image).
Under the Nature Our Roof is the Universe
Being under a starry sky always fascinated me since I was a child. Specially, when I was trying to reach the stars, setting my foots on the floor, just extending my arm while I was feeling and thinking in the fact that there is nothing separating us from outer space. Under the nature our roof is indeed the Universe itself and the most exciting thing, is the knowledge that let us know that we are an important part of it! The image shows a Milky Way rising in the background over Noudar Park, in Alqueva Dark Sky® Reserve, Portugal.
PT: Estar sob um céu estrelado sempre me fascinou desde que eu era criança. Especialmente, quando eu tentava alcançar as estrelas colocando os meus pés no chão, e estendendo o meu braço enquanto sentia e pensava no facto de que não há nada a separar-nos do espaço sideral acima. Sob a natureza, o nosso telhado é de facto o próprio Universo e a coisa mais excitante é o conhecimento que nos deixa saber que somos uma parte importante dele! A imagem mostra uma Via Láctea a nascer em pano de fundo, acima do Parque de Natureza de Noudar, na Reserva Dark Sky® Alqueva, em Portugal.
Working at Cumeada Observatory, a Window to the Universe
After astronomical twilight ends, a retractable roof observatory shows an open window to the Universe, with the core of Milky Way Galaxy shinning bright against a variety of different telescopes, advanced optical equipment for visual and astrophotography purposes, available in Cumeada Observatory, the headquarter of Dark Sky® Alqueva Reserve – the First Starlight Tourism Destination in the World – located in Reguengos de Monsaraz, Portugal. The recovered building is an old primary school rehabilitated by the Municipality of Reguengos, to receive the official Observatory of Dark Sky® Alqueva
PT: Após o final do crepúsculo astronómico, um observatório de tecto retráctil mostra uma janela aberta para o Universo, com o núcleo da Via Láctea brilhando contra uma variedade de telescópios diferentes, equipamentos ópticos avançados para fins visuais e astrofotográficos, disponíveis no Observatório da Cumeada, sede oficial da Reserva Dark Sky® Alqueva – o Primeiro Destino Turístico do Mundo Starlight – localizado em Reguengos de Monsaraz, Portugal. O edifício recuperado é uma antiga escola primária reabilitada pelo município de Reguengos, para receber o Observatório oficial de Dark Sky® Alqueva.
Lonely Shadow in a Desert of Stars
In a remote place like a desert, faraway from light polluted cities, the Milky Way can reach a level of brightness enough to project a smooth shadow of a body on the ground, like the one of this stargazer that is contemplating the majestic sky from Zabriskie Point, part of Amargosa Range located east of Death Valley in Death Valley National Park in California, United States, noted for its erosional landscape. It is composed of sediments from Furnace Creek Lake, which dried up 5 million years ago—long before Death Valley came into existence. The hottest air temperature ever recorded in Death Valley was 134 °F (56.7 °C) on July 10, 1913, at Furnace Creek, which is the hottest atmospheric temperature ever recorded on earth.
Skywatcher Observing the Largest and Strongest Sunspot in a Decade
On this carefully planned single shot taken on September 7 with a telephoto lens at 600mm, 2,1km away from the Castle of Noudar Park, in Portugal, a skywatcher can be seen observing with its filtered binoculars the majestic group of sunspots (AR 2679; AR2674 and AR2673) well visible in the Sun´s disk just a few minutes before the sun going down behind the castle. On Sept. 6th at 1202 UT, the sunspot AR2673 – so large and wide as our entire planet Earth – (seen at the right side of the man´s silhouette) unleashed a major X9.3-class solar flare, the strongest solar flare in more than a decade. X-rays and UV radiation from the blast ionized the top of Earth’s atmosphere, causing a strong shortwave radio blackout over Europe, Africa and the Atlantic Ocean. The debris from Wednesday’s monster X9-class solar flare reached Earth last night, and its impact produced a severe G4-class geomagnetic storm.
Included in the great Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve – first site in the world to receive the “Starlight Tourism Destination” certification – Noudar Natural Park is located in a farm estate called Herdade da Coitadinha spreads across 1000 hectare, near the village of Barrancos (Alentejo, Portugal) and in the border with Spain. The road from the Park’s entrance to the Noudar Castle goes through an extensive holm oak grove (‘montado’) area, ending with a majestic view over the water lines. In Noudar, life presents itself in a state of wilderness and absolute purity.
The Castle of Noudar and the church of Nossa Senhora do Desterro is located between the Múrtega and the Ardila rivers which flow towards the West. Its construction was finished in 1307, during the reign of Don Dinis. The place was chosen because of its natural defenses, easy access and the closeness of a water spring of excellent quality. This medieval fortress was very important for border defense against the kingdom of Castile during the early 14th Century.
PT: Este disparo único cuidadosamente planeado, captado no Parque de Natureza de Noudar a 2,1 km de distância do Castelo e onde podemos ver a silhueta humano de um amigo (Fernando Formiga), enquanto observava com seus binóculos filtrados o majestoso grupo de manchas solares (AR 2679; AR2674 e AR2673) bem visíveis no disco do Sol enquanto este se punha atrás do castelo. No passado dia 6 de setembro, a mancha solar AR2673 – tão grande e ampla quanto o planeta Terra – (vista à direita da silhueta) desencadeou um grande Flare Solar de classe X9.3, a explosão solar mais forte em mais de uma década. Os raios-X e a radiação UV da explosão ionizaram o topo da atmosfera terrestre, causando um forte apagão de rádio de ondas curtas sobre a Europa, África e o Oceano Atlântico. As partículas carregadas decorrentes da explosão solar da passada quarta-feira chegaram à Terra na noite passada, e seu impacto produziu uma tempestade geo magnética de classe G4, classificada como grave. Isto é, auroraras boreais muito intensas que poderão ser visíveis até de Nova Iorque.
Um pequeno “behind the scenes” feito com o iphone foi partilhado na minha página pública e pode ser visto aqui.
A Musician Inspired by the Moonlight
The moon has inspired over the centuries not only astronomers and scientists, but also poets, painters, writers and musicians, such as Beethoven who wrote the “Moonlight Sonata” in 1801. The April full moon is the first full moon of spring in the Northern Hemisphere (it’s the first fall season full moon in the Southern Hemisphere). Also known as the Pink Moon does not actually turn pink, not even when it´s rising above the horizon when normally can be seen more yellowish orange than white due to the layers of the atmosphere. In fact, the moon never changes its colour. Similar the other “moon names” it was originated in Native American traditions of keeping time based on lunar phases. The Pink Moon owes its name to pink flowers called wild ground phlox which bloom in springtime and become widespread throughout the U.S. and Canada this time of year.
This single shot shows a beautiful moonlight scene inspired by musicians like Beethoven, and was captured in Borba, Alentejo, where we can see this April Full Moon rising in the background against the silhouette of a young women who is holding with love her violin in a small hill of a marble quarry.
EN: A lua tem inspirado ao longo dos séculos não só astrónomos e cientistas, mas também poetas, pintores, escritores e músicos, como Beethoven, que escreveu a “Sonata Moonlight” em 1801. A lua cheia de abril é a primeira lua cheia de primavera no Hemisfério Norte.
Também conhecida como a “Lua Cor-de-rosa” (Pink Moon), esta lua não se torna cor-de-rosa, nem mesmo quando está a nascer acima do horizonte em que pode ser vista numa tonalidade mais amarelada ou alaranjada devido ao efeito da atmosfera. Na verdade, a lua nunca muda de cor. Similar a outros “nomes de lua”, foi originado em tradições nativas americanas de manter o tempo baseado em fases lunares. A “Lua Cor-de-rosa” deve seu nome às flores cor-de-rosa chamadas Phlox Selvagem que florescem na primavera e tornam-se visíveis ao longo dos EUA e Canadá nesta época do ano.
Esta fotografia, resultado de um disparo único (single frame), mostra-nos uma bela cena de luar inspirada na música de Beethoven e outros músicos, e foi capturada em Borba, no Alentejo, onde podemos no fundo do céu esta Lua Cheia de Abril erguendo-se contra a silhueta de uma mulher que está segurando com amor seu violino, acima de uma pequena colina de uma pedreira de mármore.
Playing in the Moonlight
The moon has inspired over the centuries not only astronomers and scientists, but also poets, painters, writers and musicians, such as Beethoven who wrote the “Moonlight Sonata” in 1801. The April full moon is the first full moon of spring in the Northern Hemisphere (it’s the first fall season full moon in the Southern Hemisphere). Also known as the Pink Moon does not actually turn pink, not even when it´s rising above the horizon when normally can be seen more yellowish orange than white due to the layers of the atmosphere. In fact, the moon never changes its colour. Similar the other “moon names” it was originated in Native American traditions of keeping time based on lunar phases. The Pink Moon owes its name to pink flowers called wild ground phlox which bloom in springtime and become widespread throughout the U.S. and Canada this time of year.
This single shot shows a beautiful moonlight scene inspired by musicians like Beethoven, and was captured in Borba, Alentejo, where we can see this April Full Moon rising in the background against the silhouette of a young women who is holding with love her violin in a small hill of a marble quarry.
EN: A lua tem inspirado ao longo dos séculos não só astrónomos e cientistas, mas também poetas, pintores, escritores e músicos, como Beethoven, que escreveu a “Sonata Moonlight” em 1801. A lua cheia de abril é a primeira lua cheia de primavera no Hemisfério Norte.
Também conhecida como a “Lua Cor-de-rosa” (Pink Moon), esta lua não se torna cor-de-rosa, nem mesmo quando está a nascer acima do horizonte em que pode ser vista numa tonalidade mais amarelada ou alaranjada devido ao efeito da atmosfera. Na verdade, a lua nunca muda de cor. Similar a outros “nomes de lua”, foi originado em tradições nativas americanas de manter o tempo baseado em fases lunares. A “Lua Cor-de-rosa” deve seu nome às flores cor-de-rosa chamadas Phlox Selvagem que florescem na primavera e tornam-se visíveis ao longo dos EUA e Canadá nesta época do ano.
Esta fotografia, resultado de um disparo único (single frame), mostra-nos uma bela cena de luar inspirada na música de Beethoven e outros músicos, e foi capturada em Borba, no Alentejo, onde podemos no fundo do céu esta Lua Cheia de Abril erguendo-se contra a silhueta de uma mulher que está segurando com amor seu violino, acima de uma pequena colina de uma pedreira de mármore.
Beethoven´s Moonlight
The moon has inspired over the centuries not only astronomers and scientists, but also poets, painters, writers and musicians, such as Beethoven who wrote the “Moonlight Sonata” in 1801. The April full moon is the first full moon of spring in the Northern Hemisphere (it’s the first fall season full moon in the Southern Hemisphere). Also known as the Pink Moon does not actually turn pink, not even when it´s rising above the horizon when normally can be seen more yellowish orange than white due to the layers of the atmosphere. In fact, the moon never changes its colour. Similar the other “moon names” it was originated in Native American traditions of keeping time based on lunar phases. The Pink Moon owes its name to pink flowers called wild ground phlox which bloom in springtime and become widespread throughout the U.S. and Canada this time of year.
This single shot shows a beautiful moonlight scene inspired by musicians like Beethoven, and was captured in Borba, Alentejo, where we can see this April Full Moon rising in the background against the silhouette of a young women who is holding with love her violin in a small hill of a marble quarry.
EN: A lua tem inspirado ao longo dos séculos não só astrónomos e cientistas, mas também poetas, pintores, escritores e músicos, como Beethoven, que escreveu a “Sonata Moonlight” em 1801. A lua cheia de abril é a primeira lua cheia de primavera no Hemisfério Norte.
Também conhecida como a “Lua Cor-de-rosa” (Pink Moon), esta lua não se torna cor-de-rosa, nem mesmo quando está a nascer acima do horizonte em que pode ser vista numa tonalidade mais amarelada ou alaranjada devido ao efeito da atmosfera. Na verdade, a lua nunca muda de cor. Similar a outros “nomes de lua”, foi originado em tradições nativas americanas de manter o tempo baseado em fases lunares. A “Lua Cor-de-rosa” deve seu nome às flores cor-de-rosa chamadas Phlox Selvagem que florescem na primavera e tornam-se visíveis ao longo dos EUA e Canadá nesta época do ano.
Esta fotografia, resultado de um disparo único (single frame), mostra-nos uma bela cena de luar inspirada na música de Beethoven e outros músicos, e foi capturada em Borba, no Alentejo, onde podemos no fundo do céu esta Lua Cheia de Abril erguendo-se contra a silhueta de uma mulher que está segurando com amor seu violino, acima de uma pequena colina de uma pedreira de mármore.
The Transition between Day and Night
This lovely skyscape scene shows the end of nautical twilight above Roque de Los Muchachos observatory, and the transition between the end of the day and the beginning of the night. Each twilight phase is defined by the solar elevation angle, which is the position of the Sun in relation to the horizon. During nautical twilight, the geometric center of the Sun’s disk is between 6 and 12 degrees below the horizon. In clear weather conditions, the horizon is faintly visible during this twilight phase. Many of the brighter stars can also be seen, making it possible to use the position of the stars in relation to the horizon to navigate at sea. This is why it is called nautical twilight. Although, if we had to this ingredients the perfect position and time of the year to watch the central region of the Milky Way as soon as the sky stays dark, we can capture beyond the brightest stars the dusty core of the galaxy with very natural colours mixed yet with the background light coming from the transition of the Nautical Twilight to the Astronomical Twilight, when the Sun is even low then 12º below the horizon. In the foreground are spread different night and solar observatories from Roque de Los Mucahchos, one of them is William Herschel Telescope, that can be seen in the right edge of the image with the dome opened while it´s laser is pointed high up in the sky.
PT: Esta linda cena “skyscape” mostra o final do Crepúsculo Náutico acima do observatório Roque de Los Muchachos, e a transição entre o final do dia e o início da noite. Cada fase crepuscular é definida pelo ângulo de elevação solar, que é a posição do Sol em relação ao horizonte. Durante o Crepúsculo Náutico, o centro geométrico do disco do Sol está entre 6 e 12 graus abaixo do horizonte. Em condições climáticas claras, o horizonte é visível durante esta fase crepuscular. Muitas das estrelas mais brilhantes também podem ser vistas, tornando possível usar a posição das estrelas em relação ao horizonte para navegar no mar. É por isso que é chamado Crepúsculo Náutico. No entanto, se a estes ingredientes juntarmos a posição e época do ano perfeita para observar a região central da Via Láctea logo que o céu escureça, podemos captar além das estrelas mais brilhantes o núcleo empoeirado da galáxia com cores muito naturais, misturadas ainda com a luz de fundo proveniente da transição do Crepúsculo Náutico para o Crepúsculo Astronómico, quando o Sol está mais de 12º abaixo do horizonte. No primeiro plano, estão espalhados diferentes observatórios noturnos e solares do Roque de Los Mucahchos, um deles é o Telescópio William Herschel, que pode ser visto na extremidade direita da imagem com a cúpula aberta enquanto o laser é apontado para o alto do céu.
If the Shadows Were Roots
EN: This full dome view show a blue sky filled with winter stars like Sirius or bright constellations like Orion, is illuminated by the Moonlight working as a perfect background to highlight the silhouette from the Giant Chestnut tree of Guilhafonso in Guarda, Portugal, while in the field, its projection creates the illusion like if the shadows were roots. This century-old tree is considered the largest of its kind in Europe. This is a specimen of 9.60 meters trunk circumference, 19 meters in height, average crown diameter of 25.5 meters and an estimated age of over 400 years. Residents ensure that they need at least nine people to embrace its trunk. In 2015 the giant chestnut won new liveliness after having been treated which allowed it to still giving chestnuts nowadays.
PT: Nesta imagem All Sky, um céu azul repleto de estrelas de inverno como Sirius ou constelações brilhantes como Orion, é iluminado pelo luar funcionando como o pano de fundo perfeito para destacar a imponente silhueta do Castanheiro Gigante de Guilhafonso, na Guarda, Portugal, enquanto a projecção das sombras em terra nos dá a ilusão como se as mesmas fossem as suas próprias raízes. Esta árvore centenária é considerada a maior da sua espécie na Europa. Trata-se de um espécime de 9,60 metros de perímetro de tronco, 19 metros de altura, diâmetro médio da copa de 25,5 metros e uma idade estimada em mais de 400 anos. Os residentes garantem que são precisas pelo menos nove pessoas para abraçar o seu tronco. Em 2015, depois de ter sido submetido a um tratamento, o castanheiro gigante ganhou nova vivacidade o que permitiu continuar dar nozes até aos dias de hoje.
The Giant Chestnut of Guilhafonso
EN: A blue sky filled with winter stars like Sirius or bright constellations like Orion, is illuminated by the Moonlight working as a perfect background to highlight the silhouette from the Giant Chestnut tree of Guilhafonso in Guarda, Portugal. This century-old tree is considered the largest of its kind in Europe. This is a specimen of 9.60 meters trunk circumference, 19 meters in height, average crown diameter of 25.5 meters and an estimated age of over 400 years. Residents ensure that they need at least nine people to embrace its trunk. In 2015 the giant chestnut won new liveliness after having been treated which allowed it to still giving chestnuts nowadays.
PT: Um céu azul repleto de estrelas de inverno como Sirius ou constelações brilhantes como Orion, é iluminada pelo luar funcionando como o pano de fundo perfeito para destacar a imponente silhueta do Castanheiro Gigante de Guilhafonso, na Guarda, Portugal. Esta árvore centenária é considerada a maior da sua espécie na Europa. Trata-se de um espécime de 9,60 metros de perímetro de tronco, 19 metros de altura, diâmetro médio da copa de 25,5 metros e uma idade estimada em mais de 400 anos. Os residentes garantem que são precisas pelo menos nove pessoas para abraçar o seu tronco. Em 2015, depois de ter sido submetido a um tratamento, o castanheiro gigante ganhou nova vivacidade o que permitiu continuar dar nozes até aos dias de hoje.
Enjoying the Moon above the City of London
A skygazer is enjoying the busy night of London city, from a lovely balcony view, with the crescent moon visible at the left side of “The Shard” tower. Also referred as the Shard of Glass and formerly London Bridge Tower, is a 95-storey skyscraper in Southwark, London, that forms part of the London Bridge Quarter development. Standing 309.6 metres (1,016 ft) high, the Shard is the tallest building in the United Kingdom, the 105th tallest building in the world, and the fourth tallest building in Europe.
Coconut Trails in Punta Cana
For many people on Earth enjoying the night sky is an holiday experience, although, the artificial lights coming from the neighbor cities can disturb this experience, but a long exposure photo can register more stars than your own eyes can see at a glance. Surrounded by coconut trees spread along Punta Cana beach, in Dominican Republic, a partly cloudy sky reflects the light of neighbor resorts, while above the path of each star can reveal their own true color.
PT: Para muitas pessoas na Terra, observar o céu noturno é uma experiência de férias. Contudo, as luzes artificiais das cidades vizinhas podem perturbar esta experiência, mas uma foto de longa exposição pode registrar mais estrelas do que seus próprios olhos podem ver num relance. Cercado por coqueiros espalhados ao longo da praia em Punta Cana, na República Dominicana, um céu parcialmente nublado reflete a luz dos resorts vizinhos, enquanto que no céu o caminho de cada estrela pode revelar a sua verdadeira cor.
Stargazing in Punta Cana
EN: Enjoying the night surrounded by coconut trees spread along Punta Cana beach, in Dominican Republic.
PT: Relaxando numa noite estrelada, cercado por coqueiros espalhados ao longo da praia de Punta Cana, na República Dominicana.
The Cult of Fertility
EN: Crescent moon against a twilight in Menhir Rocha dos Namorados, a natural granite outcrop mushroom-shaped, where single women throw back a stone which aims to fall on top of it, a cult related to fertility | Sky of São Pedro do Corral
PT: Lua crescente de um crepúsculo no Menir da Rocha dos Namorados, um afloramento natural de granito em forma de cogumelo, onde as mulheres solteiras lançam de costas uma pedra que tem por objectivo cair em cima do mesmo, num culto relacionado com a fecundidade | Céu de São Pedro do Corval
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
The evolution of man from prehistoric times
View from inside the Dolmen of Olival da Pega, a human silhouette represents the evolution of man from prehistoric times, the heavens contemplation and the importance of astronomy, as the oldest science in the world. 21/04/2015. Telheiro | Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve – Portugal
A Romantic Scene in a Lovely Sky
In this colorful lovely scene captured at the twilight, we can see two skywatchers enjoying his passion about the Universe, with a Crescent Moon shining between the clouds and above the Auxiliary Telescopes (ATs) of VLT.
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.
Skygazing on Cerro Paranal Observatory
A guide from ESO is relaxing and enjoying the beautiful and impressive sky of Cerro Paranal while is waiting for a better condition in the weather forecast. In the Background, an unusual cloudy sky is hiding part of the Milky Way, while the moon shines behind the moving clouds, illuminating the closed dome of the Auxiliary Telescopes (ATs) of 1.8 m aperture.
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.
The First Portuguese Official Expedition to ALMA
Apolónia Rodrigues (Dark Sky Alqueva Coordinator) and Miguel Claro (Astrophotographer), during the first portuguese oficial visit to ESO – Cerro Paranal and ALMA. The picture was taken at 5000-m high, on the Chajnantor plateau in the Chilean Andes, where the European Southern Observatory (ESO), together with its international partners, are operating the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA).
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.
Stargazing with Passion – Twilight and Crescent Moon on VLT
In this colorful lovely scene captured at the twilight, we can see two skywatchers enjoying his passion about the Universe, with a Crescent Moon shining between the clouds and above the Auxiliary Telescopes (ATs) of VLT.
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.
Milky Way Arm Crossing Antu, Kueyen and Melipal Telescopes
Milky Way arm of gas and dust lying behind the Very Large Telesope Antu, Kueyen e Melipal, while it is capturing the light coming from space. At the right edge of the image, we can see the VLT Survey Telescope (VST), that is the latest telescope to be added to ESO’s Paranal Observatory in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile.
The Very Large Telescope (VLT) is a telescope operated by the ESO – European Southern Observatory on Cerro Paranal in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile. The VLT is the world’s most advanced optical instrument, consisting of four Unit Telescopes with main mirrors of 8.2m diameter, which are generally used separately but can be used together to achieve very high angular resolution. The four separate optical telescopes are known as Antu, Kueyen, Melipal and Yepun, which are all words for astronomical objects in the Mapuche language, with optical elements that can combine them into an astronomical interferometer (VLTI), which is used to resolve small objects. The interferometer is complemented by four movable Auxiliary Telescopes (ATs) of 1.8 m aperture. The 8.2m diameter Unit Telescopes can also be used individually. With one such telescope, images of celestial objects as faint as magnitude 30 can be obtained in a one-hour exposure. This corresponds to seeing objects that are four billion (four thousand million) times fainter than what can be seen with the unaided eye. The telescopes can work together, to form a giant ‘interferometer’, the ESO Very Large Telescope Interferometer, allowing astronomers to see details up to 25 times finer than with the individual telescopes. The light beams are combined in the VLTI using a complex system of mirrors in underground tunnels where the light paths must be kept equal to distances less than 1/1000 mm over a hundred metres. With this kind of precision the VLTI can reconstruct images with an angular resolution of milliarcseconds, equivalent to distinguishing the two headlights of a car at the distance of the Moon.
Image taken taken in 15/10/2015 from Cerro Paranal, Atacama desert, Chile.
Supermoon 2015 from Medieval Village of Monsaraz
Image of the first biggest and brightest full Moon of the year 2015, captured on August 29. Astronomers call it a perigee moon, but the popular term is “supermoon.” The image was captured in Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve, Portugal, at a distant of about 4km from the medieval village and castle of Monsaraz on 29/08/2015. Two combined exposures taken at approximately the same time with a Canon 6D – ISO2000; Exp. 1/125 secs. f/7 at 560mm ( Astro Professional APO ED80).
Sharing the Passion of Shooting the Beauty of the Night Sky
Sharing the Passion of Shooting the Night Sky- Image captured in the land of Museu da Luz, Mourão – Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve. Canon EOS 60da- ISO1600, Exp. 30 sec 11mm at f/2.8. Taken in 13/09/2014 23.40
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
Stargazing the Comet Lovejoy
Captured in the land of Juromenha, Hotel Naveterra, in Dark Sky Alqueva Reserve, we can see in the picture a stargazer trying to find with their own eyes and binoculars the glowing green head of Comet Lovejoy, located near the center of the image, in the constellation of Taurus. Canon EOS 6D; ISO 2500, Exp: 15s. with 35mm at f/2 taken in 11/01/2015 at 23h29m | for more pictures and time lapse about Comet Lovejoy, click here: A Short Journey from the Heavens of Dark Sky Alqueva up to the Comet Lovejoy!
PT: Observando com binóculos o cometa Lovejoy | Céu do Alandroal.
Reaching the Sky above the Land
EN: The small size of our human presence against the greatness of the Cosmos, in a game of scales in which the loftiness of the Milky Way rises steeply above the Noudar Castle | Sky of Barrancos.
Included in the great Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve – first site in the world to receive the “Starlight Tourism Destination” certification – Noudar Natural Park is located in a farm estate called Herdade da Coitadinha spreads across 1000 hectare, ‘over-the-hills’ between the winding rivers Ardila and Múrtega and lodged among hills and summits near the town of Barrancos (Alentejo, Portugal) and in the border with Spain. The road from the Park’s entrance to the Noudar Castle goes through an extensive holm oak grove (‘montado’) area, ending with a majestic view over the water lines. In Noudar, life presents itself in a state of wilderness and absolute purity.
The Castle of Noudar and the church of Nossa Senhora do Desterro is located between the Múrtega and the Ardila rivers which flow towards the West. Its construction was finished in 1307, during the reign of Don Dinis. The place was chosen because of its natural defenses, easy access and the closeness of a water spring of excellent quality – Fonte da Figueira, located roughly 250 meters to the East of the castle, under the hilltop known as Forca (“the Gallows”). Good and plentiful farming land and cattle grazing fields can also be found near the castle. This medieval fortress was very important for border defense against the kingdom of Castile during the early 14th Century.
More about Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve:
Alqueva is the first site in the world to receive the “Starlight Tourism Destination” certification. This certification, awarded by the Starlight Foundation is supported by UNESCO, UNWTO and IAC. Starlight destinations are visitable places characterized by excellent quality for the contemplation of starry skies, and the practice of tourist activities based on this resource. www.darkskyalqueva.com
PT: A pequena dimensão das nossa presença humana diante a grandeza do Cosmos, num jogo de escalas em que a imponência da Via Láctea se ergue vertiginosamente acima do Castelo de Noudar | Céu de Barrancos
Orion Stars above Noudar Castle
Orion Stars above Noudar Castle
Included in the great Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve – first site in the world to receive the “Starlight Tourism Destination” certification – Noudar Natural Park is located in a farm estate called Herdade da Coitadinha spreads across 1000 hectare, ‘over-the-hills’ between the winding rivers Ardila and Múrtega and lodged among hills and summits near the town of Barrancos (Alentejo, Portugal) and in the border with Spain. The road from the Park’s entrance to the Noudar Castle goes through an extensive holm oak grove (‘montado’) area, ending with a majestic view over the water lines. In Noudar, life presents itself in a state of wilderness and absolute purity.
The Castle of Noudar and the church of Nossa Senhora do Desterro is located between the Múrtega and the Ardila rivers which flow towards the West. Its construction was finished in 1307, during the reign of Don Dinis. The place was chosen because of its natural defenses, easy access and the closeness of a water spring of excellent quality – Fonte da Figueira, located roughly 250 meters to the East of the castle, under the hilltop known as Forca (“the Gallows”). Good and plentiful farming land and cattle grazing fields can also be found near the castle. This medieval fortress was very important for border defense against the kingdom of Castile during the early 14th Century.
More about Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve:
Alqueva is the first site in the world to receive the “Starlight Tourism Destination” certification. This certification, awarded by the Starlight Foundation is supported by UNESCO, UNWTO and IAC. Starlight destinations are visitable places characterized by excellent quality for the contemplation of starry skies, and the practice of tourist activities based on this resource. www.darkskyalqueva.com
Alqueva Dark Sky Party 2014
Sky panorama of the last Alqueva´s Dark Sky Party, a star feast near “Xarez Cromlech”, a megalithic monument in Monsaraz, one of the main places from Dark Sky Reserve, in Portugal. Canon 60Da – ISO2000; 11mm at f/2.8; Exp. 30 secs. in 24/08/2014 at 0:58 AM. Croped Mosaic of 18 images.
A colorful life, full of stars!
In this picture captured in Alentejo, we can see the main stars of Big Dipper, Ursa Minor and Cassiopeia, scratching the colorful skies of a celestial blue in a twilight of moonlight. In the land, a house full of life, space and water, is the ideal spot for a skygazer who loves to appreciate the beauty of Alentejo skies.
Canon 50D – f/4 ISO 800 Exp. 20 Secs 11mm. Taken in 07-08-2014 between 22:17 and 1:04 Sum of 466 images with a total time of 2.6h.
Milky Way in Agarez, Vila Real.
A view of the south side of Agarez waterfall, in Alvão mountain range, Vila Real, Portugal, with a skygazer contemplating the nature and the Universe, with a Milky Way appearing in the night sky after the Moonset. Canon 60D – ISO1600; 11mm at f/2.8; Exp. 30 secs. Taken in 8-06-2014 at 2:57 AM.
Titan Skygazer, More then a Passion a Life Style
In the real dark nights, the magnificent presence of our home galaxy, the Milky Way, have been a true inspiration for musicians, poets, painters, writers and artists in general. Unfortunately, two thirds of the humankind, have not yet had the opportunity to see the Milky Way with their own eyes, to let fall in love by the beauty and greatness of the Universe around us, making us realize that the Earth is so important as the sky, and our planet has been our spaceship in the life journey through the time and space. In the foreground, we can see the silhouette of a passionate skygazer, embracing the sky like an Atlas Titan from Greek mythology, holding and protecting it from the low cloudy yellow band. Condemned not by Zeus, but by the light pollution created for the entire humanity. Captured the Lake of Fire moutain hill, in Azores, the background reveals Sagitarrius constellation at left, and Scorpius stars.
Canon 60Da – ISO2500; 24mm at f/2; Exp. 20 secs. in 04/05/2014 at 4:48 AM. Below is the annotated version:
The Passion of night sky photography
My friend and TWAN photographer Babak Tafreshi, practicing his passion for astronomy and photography, capturing the beauty of the night sky in a moonlight scene over the Atlantic Ocean, in Miradouro de Santa Iria, Azores island. Canon 50D – ISO800; 24mm at f/4; Exp. 13 secs. in 02/05/2014 at 23:37
A Road to Big Dipper
The Big Dipper (Ursa Major) lies in the “end” of the road to Roque de Los Muchachos, where a stargazer is enjoying the great sky of La Palma. The excellent quality of the sky for astronomy in the Canaries is determined and protected by Law. As a result, the observatories of the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) are an “astronomy reserve” which has been available to the international community since 1979. I´ve used a diffuse filter in the camera lens, to increase and highlight the main stars of Ursa Major.
| Canon 60Da – ISO2500; 24mm at f/2; Exp. 15 secs. in 30/09/2013 at: 06h42 AM
UFO Moon in Los Andenes
This “UFO” view of the Moon above the rocks between Los Andenes and Roque de Los Muchachos, in La Palma Canary island, shows a stargazer that seems to come down from another planet. Above the moon – In the middle of the sky – the brightest star is actually the planet Jupiter that is in conjunction with the star Wasat, from Gemini constellation. The brightest star in the right top corner of the image, is Betelgeuse, from Orion constellation.
| Canon 50D – ISO2500; 10mm at f/4; Exp. 30 secs. in 30/09/2013 at: 5h00 AM
A Man Shadow in the Sky
It could be the silhouette of a being from other Universe watching us on Earth, but actually is my own shadow, captured during only part of the photo exposure. Near my neck region, it´s visible the star cluster M45, Pleaides, from Taurus constellation. At my right shadow shoulder (left area of the image) , we can see the stars from Perseus, and with attention, is softly visible the California nebula NGC1499. On earth we can see the silhouette of typical vegetation from Los Canarios, Fuencaliente, La Palma Canary island.
| Canon 50D – ISO2500; 24mm at f/2.8; Exp. 15 secs. in 28/09/2013 at: 0h21 AM
A Quiet Moon Scene in La Palma
This picture shows a quiet moon scene viewed from Mirador de Las Ventas, in La Palma, the Canary islands, while some photographers are enjoying and capturing his own views of the moon between the clouds, and reflected in the Atlantic Ocean.
Canon 50D – ISO1000; 24mm at f/4; Exp. 8 secs. in 26/09/2013 at: 1h28 AM
Lost in the Beach – Planets Alignment wiht Crescent Moon
I could be “lost in the beach” on the evening of 7 September, but actually I was claiming such a beautiful peaceful moment, enjoying the alignment between planets, Saturn (in the top left corner), Venus and Spica star (in the center image), and as it we following down this imagined diagonal line, we can finally find the Crescent Moon above the horizon.
Canon 50D – ISO160; f/4; Exp. 1.30 seconds for each sequence “startrail” image; at 24mm. Picture taken in 07-09-2013 at 20h38
Below you will find a resume with all publications – printed and online – related to this particular photograph.
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Finding Polaris Star in Falperras Hill
This “self portrait” startrail was taken in Falperras Hill, a rural hotel in Mourão, one of the regions covered by the Alqueva Dark sky Reserve, in Portugal. In this polar startrail we could easily identify the Polaris star – who indicates the North – not only because the “star vortex” seems to spin around this central star, but also due to the light path left by a satellite (not ISS), that seems to point to this same star. Below right in the sky picture, is also visible a strong flare left by satellite Iridium 66, with a magnitude of -4.5. In the land, we could see the Monte Falperras hotel, Myself enjoying this beautiful and peaceful moment – full of meaning – as well as two olive trees, the much typical tree available in the fields of Alentejo region. Canon 50D – ISO1600; 10mm f/4 Exp 30 secs. Sum of 344 images taken in 14/07/2013 between 22:53 and 01:59 AM.
Photographing a beautiful twilight
Self portrait of the conjunction between Jupiter (the Brightest star in the image) and Crescent Moon with the disc only 3% illuminated by the Sun. Near the horizon, is visible the city of Lisbon.
Canon 50D – ISO400; Exp. 1,6sec. F/4; 35mm. 11/05/2013 21h48
A “Macro” Picture of the Moon – Planets Alignment
Self portrait of the conjunction between Jupiter (the Brightest star in the image) and Crescent Moon with the disc only 3% illuminated by the Sun, and where is visible the Earthshine effect. Venus, also in conjunction, was covered by the cloudy band in the Lisbon horizon. While I was enjoying this beautiful and gold moment, holding my camera, I remembered to take a “Macro photo of the moon, maybe the first macro-moon shot from planet earth :=) “, but is it possible ?, yes it is, just take a look to the second picture, I only have to approach my lens camera, to the lunar limb :=) Images taken from Capuchos, Almada, Portugal.
Canon 50D – ISO400; Exp. 2sec. F/4; 35mm. 11/05/2013 21h41 and 21h43.
Below you will find a resume with all publications – printed and online – related to this particular photograph.
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Milky Rocky
A stargazer above the rocky region of Portinho da Arrábida, Portugal, with the Milky Way behind it, visible in the dawn. Canon 60Da – ISO 1600; Exp.15 Seg; f/2.8; 24mm. In 11/05/2013 at 05h10 AM.
Canoeing family
A Canoeing family preparing for a moonlight ride in the lake. Canon 50D – ISO640; f/4; Exp. 1/60s; 10mm. 27/04/2013 20h58
Capturing the Earthshine and Pleiades above the bridge
During one of my astrophotography workshops, I had the opportunity to catch the moment when one participant was photographing the Earthshine and Crescent Moon in conjunction with the open clusters Pleiades (M45), above the 25 April bridge, in Lisbon.
Canon 50D – ISO800, f/2.8; Exp. 1s ; 24mm. 13/04/2013 at 21h51.
The Moon shining like a Ray of light
Nautical twilight at dawn in Monsaraz. The moon shining in the stargazer like a cosmic ray of light.
Canon 60Da – ISO1250; 24mm; f/2.8; 13 secs. 06/04/2013 at 06h04 AM.
Embracing the Sky
A stargazer fascinated with a sky plenty of stars. Image taken in the Alqueva lake, in the Dark Sky Reserve, Portugal. Canon 50D – ISO1600; 24mm f/2.8; 15 secs. Taken in 06/04/2013 at 00h04.
Enjoying the Passing of a Bright Star
It´s amazing to watch the reaction of the people when for the first time, they could watch a special star moving over their heads, like happened with this small group of participants during a workshop I gave in the Dark Sky Reserve, here in Portugal. At the same time that the ISS was passing in the sky, I told the them, to watch, enjoy and imagine something fantastic, that is the fact that in this special and apparent “star”, there are humans living in permanence…
The image was taken with the ISS at a magnitude of -3.3, passing in the highest point of 77º SE.
Canon 50D – ISO2500 Exp. 30Sec. f/4 10mm. Sum of 8 images. Total time integration of 4 minutes. Taken in 13/01/2013 at 5:58 AM.
The beauty deep sky shining above the land
Image taken near a small part of the largest manmade lake in Europe (250 sq km) and one of the world’s largest, called Alqueva. Around this area, we also can find some of the darkest sky regions in Portugal, like Monsaraz, inserted in Dark Sky Reserve Alqueva, the world’s first certified ‘Starlight Tourism Destination’.
From left to right, in the land, we could see the silhouette of the photographer, Babak Tafreshi, that was also making his images of the night sky. Next to the tree, we can see the light of the Monsaraz Castle, also reflected in the calm water of the lake, 30 minutes after the moonset.
Even with some light pollution coming directly from the village castle, the sky above shows a rich variety of deep sky objects that are visible in the infrared camera, like Canon EOS 60Da, as well a lot of star clusters, one asteroid and the Planet Jupiter. From left to right, in the sky, we could identify M46 and M47, M41, and above Sirius the Seagull nebula IC2177. Near the center top image, is visible another infrared emission from Rosette Nebula. Below, the Barnard´s Loop, Horse Head and Orion nebula M42, are strongest emissions indeed. A little bit to the right making the center upper image, is the Lambda Orionis (Sh2 264), Messia. Above the star aldebaran, is visible the open cluster NGC1647 and near to the left, the Vesta asteroid, and above it another open cluster the NGC1746. Below is the brightest sky object capturing in this image, the planet Jupiter, shining near the pleiades M45. In the upper right corner, is located the last infrared brightest deep sky object, the California nebula, NGC1499.
Canon EOS60Da – F/2 15s ISO4000 35mm lens. Mosaic of 24 images. Image taken in 22/12/2012 at 2:58 AM.
Skygazing
This image was captured in Telheiro, Monsaraz, one of the regions covered by the Alqueva´s Dark Sky Reserve (www.alquevadarksky.com), distinguished as the Worlds First Star Light Tourism Destination.
Skygazing is one of the greatest thing we can make in group or alone, in the Alqueva Dark Sky region. The moon light up the landscape, creating many different blue sky tones and showing less stars than we usually see, with naked eye. Although, it shows the beauty of the place with incredible romantic views in a scenery full of quiet, peace and plenitude. Lakes, horses and millenar olive trees, is just an example of what we could find there. Canon 50D – 10mm f/4 20″ ISO640 taken in 05/10/2012 at 00h39
Enjoying a Celestial View
Image taken in Vera cruz, Portel, one of the regions inside de Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve. The image was taken near the church where it is the piece wood of the Jesus Christ cross. In the land, a stargazer women is enjoying the celestial view of the sky.
Canon 50D, ISO 500 with 35mm at f/4 Exp.4″. 14/07/2012 at 2:47 Am
Two old friends sharing the same passion
Teaching my father where to point the binoculars to find the moon, at the same time, both of us we were enjoying a quiet night of sky observations and photography. What a great moment!
Canon 50D, 4 seg. a f/4, ISO 1250, Dist. Focal: 35 mm in 03/06/2012 at 22h59
Venus and the Seven Sisters
Image of the conjunction between Venus and M45 Pleiades in the middle of the trees, taken in Fonte-de-Telha, a small pine forest in Portugal facing to the Atlantic Ocean. In the image we also can see myself enjoying the star with binoculars in a peaceful moment.
Canon 50D – ISO640 F4 35mm Exp. 6″ in 04-04-2012 at 22:51
Sunset Sky Show
View of the conjunction between Venus, Jupiter and the Crescent Moon in a strong Earthshine effect, with the 25 April Bridge, in Lisbon as a background.
Canon 50D – ISO250 f/2.8 Exp. 2″ in 25/03/2012 at 20:38 | Canon 50D- ISO250 f/2.8 Exp. 2.5″ in 25/03/2012 at 20:51
Two friends in the Sky, two friends on Earth
In this lovely night after Christmas, Me and my old friend José Formiga went outside to watch a great conjunction between our crescent Moon and planet Venus. To enjoy the show, we choose a small pine forest at Fonte-de-Telha, facing to the Atlantic Ocean. At left, I point to Venus, at my right, José point his finger to the Moon.
Canon 50D- ISO640 f/5 Exp. 8″ 14mm lens in 26/12/2011 at 18h20.
Raining Stars
Rastos de estrelas como chuva caindo sobre um pequeno pinhal na Fonte-de-Telha. Imagem obtida na noite das Perseidas em 13-08-2011 entre as 00h14 e a 01h23. Soma de 75 imagens alternadas cada uma de 25 segundos, totalizando uma integração de 31 minutos. São visiveis diversas constelações como Cepheus, Cassiopeia, Perseus, Andromeda, Pegasus e o planeta Júpiter.
Canon 50D -ISO800mm a 12mm F/6.3 Exp.25s por cada imagem
A Special Full Moon
Imagens de uma Super Lua Cheia no momento em que esta se encontrava no perigeu, ou seja, na zona orbital mais próxima do planeta Terra. Esta é a maior Lua cheia dos últimos cerca de 20 anos, 14% maior e 30% mais brilhante. As imagens foram obtidas no Farol e região do Cabo Espichel, Sesimbra, em 19-03-2011.
Above : Canon 50D – ISO640 92mm F/5 Exp. 2″ às 19:35
Above: Canon 50D – ISO800 16mm F/5 Exp. 20″ às 20:00
Three friends of the Milky Way
A Via Láctea e contra ela, da esquerda para a direita pode ver-se a minha silhueta, a do Gernot Meiser, e do Pedro Ré. Imagem obtida no Portinho da Arrábida
Canon 50D- ISO2500 10mm F/4 Exp.30″ 08-09-10 23:52
Image above: Canon 50D- ISO2500 10mm F/4 Exp.30″ 08-09-10 23:15
Alinhamento entre Saturno, Marte, Vénus e Lua
Alinhamento entre os planetas Saturno, Vénus, Marte e a Lua. Mercúrio não é visível na imagem por já estar demasiado baixo no horizonte. Imagem obtida na Costa da Caparica.
Canon 50D- Exp.13″ F/5.6 ISO400 20mm 12-08-10 21h3
Polaris and Shadow by the light of the Moon
Na imagem podemos observar a minha sombra reflectida no fundo de uma piscina, através da sua água límpida e cristalina, projectada pela forte luz da Lua quase cheia 64% iluminada, que se encontrava à esquerda das minhas costas, a Sul Sudoeste no Azimute 207º. Eu estava virado a norte e apontando para a constelação da Ursa Menor, no centro da imagem, mais precisamente para a estrela Polar.
Canon 50D-F/4 ISO1000 Exp-30s 10mm 19-07-10 22h19
The Espichel Skygazer
Imagens do Luar numa noite estrelada e simultaneamente enevoada, obtidas na zona rochosa do Cabo Espichel a 168m de altitude.
Above: Canon 50D -ISO800 F/5.6 Exp-30″ 20mm : 02-06-10 às 02h22.
Above: Canon 50D -ISO800 F/5 Exp-30″ 10mm : 02-06-10 às 02h18.
Céu Estrelado no Convento
Imagem do céu estrelado no convento do Cabo Espichel. Na imagem de baixo pode ver-se a identificação das respectivas constelações.
Canon 50D – ISO3200 10mm F/4 Exp. 25s em 05-04-10 às 23:32
Romantic Moon Earthshine…
Romantic Moon Earthshine…Imagem obtida no Alentejo. Canon 400D – ISO 400 50mm F/2.5 6.0Sec. 25-07-09 22:02
Climb the stairs and bring me the Moon…
When I took this picture I was in the middle of a farm field, in Alentejo, Portugal. In that moment, I was accompanied by my little niece Debóra, who was eager to see the moon … asked me if the moon was too far from us, and I answered her, depends my baby, the distance could be apparent and relative, but in astronomical terms, the moon is very near us. I will show you… do you want to see? Yes, and i said: So, you just need to climb the stairs and bring me the Moon.
Canon 400D – ISO 200 55mm F/5.6 0.8sec. 24-07-09 21:29
The Moon like a feather…
Imagem obtida na praia da Costa da Caparica. Com a silhueta de uma criança esperando que a lua caia na sua mão, como uma pena…
Imagem otbida em 26-04-09.
Pôr do Sol na Costa da Caparica
Pôr-do-sol na Costa da Caparica. Sequência de imagens otbidas em 15-02-2009.
