Spectacle Astro

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.

 

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 as star clusters,

an 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. 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 pleaides M45. In the upper right corner, is located the last infrared brightest

deep sky object, the California nebula, NGC1499.

Done