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

http://astroarte.astrosurf.com/IgrejaVeraCruz-SantoLanho-Silhueta-Final-net.jpg


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The Sword alignment - Venus, Moon,Jupiter and Pleiades

In the image we can see the sword of Dom Nuno Álvares Pereira, bypassing the moon. was a Portuguese general of great success who had a decisive role in the 1383-1385 Crisis that assured Portugal's independence from Castile. He later became a mystic, was beatified by Pope Benedict XV in 1918 and was canonised by Pope Benedict XVI in 2009. For the same reason, the sword is turned down, as a sign of peace.

In the sky we could appreciate the alignment between Venus, Moon,Jupiter and Pleiades.

Canon 50D, ISO 640 with 35mm at f/5.6 Exp.4". 15/07/2012 at 4:58 Am

http://astroarte.astrosurf.com/CavaleiroDnunoAlvaresAlinhamento-net.jpg


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The Milky Way in Vera Cruz

Images taken in Vera Cruz, Portel, one of the regions inside de Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve, The world’s first certified "Starlight Tourism Destination". The image shows the Milky Way Galaxy above the ruins of the ancient Templars.

Sum of 4 mosaic images, taken with a Canon 50D, 10 sec, at f/2.8, ISO 2000, Lens: 35mm in 14</07/2012 at 00:44AM

http://astroarte.astrosurf.com/ViaLactea-Vertical-Hospitalarios-net.jpg



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Alqueva a Dark Sky Full of Stars

Images taken in Portel, one of the regions inside de Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve, The world’s first certified ‘Starlight Tourism Destination’. In the land, we could see one of the world’s largest manmade lakes (250 sq km). In the sky, it´s clearly visible many star clusters as well as the great Andromeda Galaxy and some part of the Milky Way.

Sum of 18 mosaic images, taken with a Canon 50D, 15 sec, at f/1.8, ISO 2500, Lens: 35mm in 16/07/2012 at 3:26AM

http://astroarte.astrosurf.com/IMG_0997%20Panorama-V1Final-HRR-net.jpg


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Alqueva´s Lake at night

Images taken in Portel, one of the regions inside de Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve, The world’s first certified ‘Starlight Tourism Destination’. In the land, we could see one of the world’s largest manmade lakes (250 sq km). In the sky, it´s clearly visible many star clusters as well as the great Andromeda Galaxy and some part of the Milky Way.

Sum of 18 mosaic images, taken with a Canon 50D, 15 sec, at f/1.8, ISO 2500, Lens: 35mm in 16/07/2012 at 2:51 AM

http://astroarte.astrosurf.com/IMG_0944%20Panorama-Final-net.jpg