Explosion of Light in Punta Cana
A partly cloudy sky reflects the lights of Punta Cana beach, Dominican Republic, in what seems to be an explosion of light while in the background sky, a starry vortex surrounding Polaris remember us that Earth Rotation never ends.
PT: Um céu parcialmente nublado reflete as luzes de praia de Punta Cana, República Dominicana, naquilo que parece ser “uma explosão de luz”, contrastando em pano de fundo com o vórtice de luz estelar que rodeia a Polaris, lembrando-nos que a Terra nunca pára de rodar.
Coconut Vortex
A vortex of light coming from the stars that are surrounding Polaris, the Northen Star, lying here only 18º above the horizon, is a well spotted dot in the middle of two Coconut trees from Punta Cana beach, Dominican Republic.
PT: Um vórtice de luz estelar circunda a estrela Polaris, que se encontra apenas 18º acima do horizonte, tratando-se de um ponto visível no meio de dois coqueiros da praia de Punta Cana, na República Dominicana.
A Northern Starry Trail from inside the Southern Gate of the Roman City of Ammaia
EN: A Polar Startrail from inside the remaining ruins of the Southern Gate Tower of the Roman City of Ammaia.
The Gradual consolidation of Roman power led to the establishment of a substantial Roman town in the 1st century. Ammaia occupied up to 25 hectares, and with a population exceeding modern-day Marvão (5000-6000 inhabitants) Ammaia occupied the site of the present-day parish of São Salvador da Aramenha. The town flourished between the 1st century BCE and the collapse of the Roman Empire in the 5th century CE. Roman Ammaia saw the development of improved irrigation and terracing across the Marvão mountain. Chestnut cultivation – Replacing the place dominance of oak is likely to have been introduced at this time. Much of the terracing and ancient watercourses on the mountain Marvão date from this era.
Limited excavations at Ammaia in the past two decades covering a mere 3,000 m2 (32.292 sq ft) of the town’s area – have revealed the success, provincial expanding town that included running water, a forum, baths, the bridge over the river Sever (near today’s ‘Old Bridge’), and monumental gates (one gate was removed to Castelo de Vide in the 18th century, yet sadly dynamited in 1890). The Alentejo region, meanwhile, was criss-crossed with efficient Roman roads, providing links to the wider Empire. Fine wares found at the site Ammaia suggest que Ammaia nobility had access to luxury glassware and jewelery, while archeology has Revealed that marble for the forum was imported from across the Empire. The high quality, for example, of the ‘Mosaic of the Muses’ from a Roman villa in nearby Monforte (4th century BCE) points to the abundant riches to be made to an Alentejo landowner in the Roman era. Sadly, many artifacts from Ammaia in particular the series of marble sculptures were removed during the 19th and 20th centuries, notably by the Anglo-Portuguese Robinson family. These items are now in collections such as those of the British Museum..
Many of the excavations were concentrated over the obvious ruins or where there was evidence of subterranean structures associated with a Roman presence. Discoveries include parts of a Roman city wall with towers and a gate on the south side, with residenctial buildings; a road; a monumental paved square; remains of a house in the location Quinta do Deão; parts of a public bath building; and a centrally-located forum with well-preserved temple podium, walls of a porticus and cryptoporticus. The town plan follows a regular rectangular layout organized along two main perpendicular street axes, linking the central forum to its main gates. A city wall surrounds a roughly rectangular area of some 20 hectares. Several extramural buildings, cemeteries and roads constitute the suburban area.
PT: Um vórtice de luz estrelar em torno da estrela Polar, a partir das imponentes ruínas da Porta Sul da cidade Romana da Ammaia. A Cidade de Ammaia é indubitavelmente o mais importante vestígio da sua época existente na região do norte alentejano. Localizada em pleno Parque Natural da Serra de São Mamede, em São Salvador de Aramenha, no concelho de Marvão, a sua área central é constituída pela Quinta do Deão e pela Tapada da Aramenha, possuindo uma área de aproximadamente 25 ha.
Embora as suas ruínas tivessem sido classificadas como Monumento Nacional em 1949, estiveram abandonadas até finais de 1994. A partir desta data e com o aparecimento da Fundação Cidade de Ammaia vêm-se desenvolvendo todos os esforços no sentido de estudar e preservar o que resta desta importante cidade. Ammaia foi elevada a Civitas por volta do ano 44/45 d.C. tendo obtido o estatuto de Mvnicipivm ainda durante o séc. I d.C., no entanto apenas temos dados sobre o mesmo no reinado de Lúcio Vero, no ano de 166 d.C.
Endovelicus Startrail
EN: Endovelicus sanctuary of Rocha da Mina, in a winter sky by the moonlight, which highlights the constellation of Orion and the star Sirius, the brightest of the celestial sphere (left image) and a startrail pointing north (right image). Endovelicus was a solar healing supreme god, thus a god of Medicine.
PT: Santuário Endovélico Rocha da Mina num céu de inverno ao luar, de onde se destaca a constelação de Orion e a estrela Sirius, a mais brilhante da esfera celeste (imagens esquerda) e um rasto de estrelas a norte (imagem direita). Endovélico é uma divindade da Idade do Ferro venerada na Lusitânia pré-romana, deus da medicina, tinha um carácter simultaneamente solar | Céu do Alandroal
Feeling the power of being in contact with the wild side of nature
EN: Feeling the power of being in contact with the wild side of nature, in the middle of cows, bulls, hay, cork oaks and olive trees, under a shy starry sky on a clear moonlit night | Sky of Telheiro.
PT: Sentindo o poder de estar em contato com o lado mais puro e selvagem da natureza, no meio de vacas, touros, feno, sobreiros e oliveiras, sob um tímido céu estrelado numa clara noite de luar | Céu do Telheiro.
A moonlit scene where stone, sand, and water merge into a perfect combination
EN: The beauty of inhospitable landscape, a scene in the moonlight where stone, sand, and water merge into a perfect combination to celebrate the union between the starry Sky and the damp Earth of Alqueva Lake | Sky of Mourão
PT: Paisagem inospitamente bela, num cenário à luz do luar onde pedra, ar e água, se fundem numa combinação perfeita para celebrar a união entre o Céu estrelado e a Terra húmida do lago Alqueva | Céu de Mourão
A Starsphere in Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve
In this “starsphere” we can see the movement of celestial sphere around the northen star Polaris, as it seen from our Earth during a long exposure shot (the perception of this star trails is not visible in real time with our own eyes). The image also shows a dragged part of the winter Milky Way captured from the Rural Hotel Naveterra, in the Alqueva Dark Sky reserve.
Colorful paths around Polaris in Juromenha
EN: A long and colorful startrail pointing to north, above the Rural Hotel Herdade Naveterra | Sky of Alandroal.
PT: Longo e colorido rasto de estrelas apontando a norte, acima do Hotel Rural Herdade Naveterra | Céu do Alandroal
Polar Startrail in the Arms of a Noudar Tree
EN: Tracking deeply the stars simultaneously revealing the different brightness intensity and color of each star that lies around the North Star Polaris, which is 0.7 degrees fom the true north. If our ancestors who braved storms in uncharted waters to prove that the earth was really round, had the opportunity to make a simple photograph like that, then would have the living proof that the Earth was round without having run that risk, thus prove the curvature of stellar trails | 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.
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: Rasto de estrelas profundo, revelando simultaneamente as diferentes intensidades de brilho e cor de cada uma das estrelas que se encontra a circundar a Estrela Polar, que se encontra a 0,7 graus do Norte real. Se os nossos antepassados que enfrentaram intempéries nos mares nunca dantes navegados para provar que a terra era redonda, tivessem a oportunidade de fazer uma simples fotografia destas nessa altura, teriam a prova viva que a Terra era redonda sem precisar de ter corrido esse risco, assim comprova a curvatura dos traços estelares | Céu de Barrancos
Around the Tower of Noudar Castle
A northen startrail around the Tower of Noudar Castle. The Polaris is hiden behind the walls of the 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
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.
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.
Arrábida´s Vortex
A colorful startrail captured in the Arrábida´s mountain, Portugal, facing to North, creating a light vortex around the Polaris, well known as the Northen Star.
Canon 50D – ISO 1600; Exp.15 Ses; f/2.8; 35mm in 11/05/2013 at 04h50 AM.
Alqueva Polaris Startrail
A startrail around the polaris star, where we could see a lot of many trails with different colors, due to the real color of each star. The image was captured in Monsaraz, in the Dark Sky Reserve.
Canon 50D – ISO2000; 10mm; f/4, 30 secs. Sum of 157 images, with a total integration of 78.5 minutes. Taken in
Stars around Casa Saramago
This image was captured in the land of Juromenha, near Alandroal, one of the regions covered by the Alqueva´s Dark Sky Reserve (www.alquevadarksky.com), distinguished as the Worlds First Star Light Tourism Destination.However, during the two nights that I was shooting, I had the great presence of the moon to light up the landscape, creating many different blue sky tones and showing less stars than we usually see, with naked eye. The moon, let me capture the beauty of the place with incredible romantic views in a scenery full of quiet, peace and plenitude. Lakes, horses and millenar olive trees, is just an example of what we could find there. Canon 50D – 11mm f/4.5 15″ ISO640 taken in 05/10/2012 at 1h03 Sum of 64 images with a total integration of 16 minutes.
Beatiful sky
This image was captured in the land of Juromenha, near Alandroal, one of the regions covered by the Alqueva´s Dark Sky Reserve (www.alquevadarksky.com), distinguished as the Worlds First Star Light Tourism Destination.However, during the two nights that I was shooting, I had the great presence of the moon to light up the landscape, creating many different blue sky tones and showing less stars than we usually see, with naked eye. The moon, let me capture the beauty of the place with incredible romantic views in a scenery full of quiet, peace and plenitude. Lakes, horses and millenar olive trees, is just an example of what we could find there…
Canon 50D – 10mm f/4 30″ ISO800 taken in 06/10/2012 at 2h48 Sum of 36 images with a total integration of 18 minutes.
Starry Vortex
Image from Monsaraz region, one of the locations covered by the great Dark Sky Reserve area and that had the best dark sky measures in the process of Starlight validation.
Covering 3000sq km in southern Portugal the Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve is the first area in the world to be internationally certified as a Starlight Tourism Destination by the Starlight Foundation. More info at: www.darkskyAlqueva.com.
Canon 50D – ISO 1250 f/4 10mm Exp. 30″ Sum of 36 images in a total integration of 18 minutes. in 24-02-2012 between 23:37 and 23:56
Astronomical Observatory of Lisbon
I made this sequence of images, in the night of the “Global Star Party”2011, in one of the most beautiful astronomical heritage of the world, the historic Astronomical Observatory of Lisbon. Above the front building, we can see the trails of Ursa Major, and in the image of the right side building, we can see the trail of moonset as well as the Gemini stars, Pollux and Castor, and behind the yellow main dome, the Menkalinan and Capella stars, from Auriga constellation. It was a great challange photographing the beauty of the place, against the high level of light pollution, in the midle of Lisbon. I made 3 separated images and also a composed image with all of 3 diferent views, in a portrait and landscape version. All the images were taken in the same night 09-04-2011 between 23:34 and 2:11. The History of OAL or AOL
1-Image above:
Canon 50D- Exp.13″ F/5.6 ISO500 10 mm – 145 images – Total: 31mts
2-Image above:
Canon 50D- Exp.20″ F/5.6 ISO500 20 mm – 154 images – Total: 51mts
A house full of stars
Rotação das estrelas que circundam a região da estrela polar ( a única estrela que não tem arrastamento por indicar o Norte Polar), registado no Alentejo, em 19-07-2010 entre as 23h32 e as 02h31. Soma de 328 imagens cada uma de 30 segundos, totalizando uma integração de 2h44 minutos. São visíveis várias estrelas das constelações da Ursa Menor, Ursa Maior, Draco e Cepheus.
Canon 50D -ISO1000 10mm F/4 Exp.30s por cada imagem.
Polar Round Trails – Rasto de Estrelas
Imagem do movimento de rotação das estrelas que circundam a região da estrela polar ( a única estrela que não tem arrastamento por indicar o Norte Polar), registado ao longo da noite no dia 02 de Fevereiro de 2010, entre as 21h08 e as 22h45. Para o resultado final foi feita uma soma manual de 180 imagens no CS3 cada uma de 30 segundos, totalizando uma integração de 90 minutos, com uma Canon 50D a uma abertura F-4.5 a ISO 800, com uma Lente Sigma HSM EX a 10mm. Imagem obtida na Fonte-de-Telha.
São visíveis várias constelações como é o caso da Ursa Menor, Ursa Maior, Draco, Perseu etc…O rasto superior mais brilhante é da estrela Capela.