Milky Way over Galapagos Astrophotography

We can allow satellites, planets, suns, 

universe, nay whole systems of universes, 

to be governed by laws, but the smallest insect, 

we wish to be created at once by special act.

--Charles Darwin

Panorama of Milky Way - 40 photos (it takes about 1 hour). On this photo you can see Orion, Crux (Southern Cross), Canis Major, Carinae, Centaurus Constellations, and three brightest stars of the Earth sky: Sirius, Canopus and Rigel Kentaurus. The night sky airglow (red and green sheen) is visible on this panorama too.

Milky Way over Galapagos Astrophotography

 Canon EOS 60Da, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, 16.0 sec; f/2.8; ISO 6400, Puerto Villamil, Isabela Island, Galapagos, Ecuador.

One more photo: "How to Train Your Dragon"

The marine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus), also known as the sea iguana, saltwater iguana, or Galapagos marine iguana, is a species of iguana found only on the Galápagos Islands (Ecuador) that has the ability, unique among modern lizards, to forage in the sea, making it a marine reptile.

How to Train Your Dragon or Milky Way over Galapagos Astrophotography

Not so much were changes on Galapagos Islands during last 3 millions years!

The blue-footed booby (Sula nebouxii) is a marine bird. The blue-footed booby is distributed among the continental coasts of the eastern Pacific Ocean from California to the Galapagos Islands down into Peru. The blue color of the blue-footed booby's webbed feet comes from carotenoid pigments obtained from its diet of fresh fish.

The blue-footed booby and Milky Way Isabela Island Galapagos Ecuador

Frigatebirds (also listed as "frigate bird", "frigate-bird", "frigate", "frigate-petrel") are a family of seabirds called Fregatidae which are found across all tropical and subtropical oceans. Females have white underbellies and males have a distinctive red gular pouch, which they inflate during the breeding season to attract females.

Frigate-bird and Milky Way - Galapagos Islands

Darwin's finches (also known as the Galapagos finches) are a group of about 15 species of passerine birds. During the survey voyage of HMS Beagle, Darwin was unaware of the significance of the birds of the Galapagos. These birds were to play an important part in the inception of Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection.

Darwin's Galapagos finch and night cloudy sky Santa Cruz Island

Most of Galapagos Flamingo plumage is pink, giving rise to its earlier name of Rosy Flamingo and differentiating adults from the much paler European species. Flamingos can only eat with their head upside down. Their beaks have lamellae (thin, flat membranes) which are used to filter the mud.

Galapagos Flamingo and Milky Way Astrophotography

The Galapagos tortoise are the largest living species of tortoise. Modern Galapagos tortoises can weigh up to 417 kg (919 lb). Today, giant tortoises exist on only two remote archipelagos: the Galapagos Islands 1000 km due west of mainland Ecuador; and Aldabrachelys gigantea of Aldabra in the Indian Ocean, 700 km east of Tanzania.

Galapagos giant tortoise and Orion - night sky

Crux (Southern Cross), Milky Way and Palm Tree - Galapagos Night Sky Astrophotography

Galapagos night starry sky is fantastic! You can see Alpha Centauri - the closest star system to the Solar System, Crux - Southern Cross constellation, and the South Celestial Pole!

Crux  (Southern Cross), Milky Way  and Palm Tree - Galapagos Night Sky Astrophotography

Panorama of 3 photos, Canon EOS 60Da, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, 16.0 sec; f/2.8; ISO 6400, Puerto Villamil, Isabela Island, Galapagos, Ecuador.

Using this photo you can find the South Celestial Pole.

The South Celestial Pole - Galapagos Equator Sky - Annotated

From this photo you can see that the south celestial pole is very close to the horizon. The equator passes through the Isabela island. This is true equator sky!

Large Magellanic Cloud - Galapagos Night Landscape Astrophotography

Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) is one of the symbol of the Southern Sky (especially for me northern-biased star gazer).  First time I saw Large Magellanic Cloud in Peru, couple of years ago, but it was too close to horizon. Finally, I got it!   This small white cloud on the right is not regular cloud, it is companion of our Milky Way, just 1/100 mass of our Galaxy. The position of the LMC can be recognized using Southern Cross. On Galapagos fantastic starry night sky, the LMC view was amazing!

Large Magellanic Cloud - Galapagos Night Landscape Astrophotography

Large Magellanic Cloud, Puerto Villamil, Isabela Island, Galapagos, Ecuador. Canon EOS 60Da, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, 30.0 sec; f/4.0; ISO 6400.

Sky Ladder - Galapagos Nightscape Astrophotography

The Night Sky at Galapagos Islands is one of the best dark sky which I saw! The darkness of night sky based on Bortle scale was very close to Level 1 (Excellent dark-sky site): clouds are only visible as dark holes against the sky, airglow is readily visible. I did not see a lot of night photos at Galapagos in internet, but I think it will be a lot soon, it is really one more attraction on the islands.

Sky Ladder - Galapagos Nightscape Astrophotography

Canon EOS 60Da, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM, 30.0 sec; f/2.8; ISO 6400. Puerto Villamil, Isabela Island, Galapagos, Ecuador, Nightscape Astrophotography.

Moonset - Galapagos Ecuador Astrophotography

After couple of days trips on Ecuador and Galapagos Islands when weather was cloudy and rainy (February is rain season) we got clear night sky.

I early went to sleep and wake up midnight to start astrophotography with Moonset. Photo was done on Isabela island on the beach of small city Puerto Villamil (less 2,000 people). There are about 100 meters to the main street. I was tied after day trips so it also was convenient to get this place. The other reason there are too many animals around so as minimum I able to see it.

Moonset - Isabela Island, Galapagos, Ecuador Astrophotography

Moonset (not to be confused with sunset) Astrophotography. Puerto Villamil, Isabela Island, Galapagos, Ecuador. Canon EOS 60Da, EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM Lens, 10.0 sec; f/2.8; ISO 6400.

Tennessee Astrophotography - Great American Eclipse - Total Solar Eclipse August 21, 2017

"The Sun was eclipsed; it was all gone. 

It was like ink and without light. 

The stars were visible in the daytime."

-- Hyaku Rensho. (Total solar eclipse of August AD 975)

There are photos from our families expedition to T-Lea Farm, Tellico Plains, Tennessee for Great American Total Eclipse August 21, 2017. In the Shadow of the Moon - 2 min 37 sec.

Solar Corona - Tellico Plains, Tennessee - Total Solar Eclipse 2017, New York City Expedition, photo by Igor Kuskovsky

Total Solar Eclipse 2017 August 21 Canon 60D  Tellico Plains, Tennessee, New York City Expedition, photo by Igor Kuskovsky

Diamond Ring Total Solar Eclipse 2017 Celestron Nexstar 4SE Astrophotography

Solar Corona Great USA Eclipse 2017 Celestron Nexstar 4SE Astrophotography

Solar Eclipse 2017 Aug 21 Dimond Ring and Solar Corona

Solar activity was pretty active (compare other days when no sunspots was visible). Three bright solar flares and couple of sunspot areas (Wolf Number about 66).

The Beginning of Total Solar Eclipse 2017, Aug 21 - Coronado SolarMax II 60 Telescope, Celestron Nexstar 4SE Tripod, Canon 60Da Camera, Tennessee Astrophotography

Total Solar Eclipse 2017 - Celestron Nexstar 4SE Telescope, Canon 60Da Camera, Solar Filter Spectrum Telescope ST525G, Tellico Plains, Tennessee Astrophotography

Telescope Nexstar 4SE Camera Canon 60Da Total Solar Eclipse 2017 Tennessee  Astrophotography

Temperature dropped about 10 degrees Fahrenheit (or 5 degrees Celsius) during the Totality. It was cold! Even small clouds disappeared around the sun, probably because of such temperature inside moon shadow.

Total Solar Eclipse 2017 Black and White T-Lea Farm Tellico Plains Tennessee Astrophotography

Tennessee Astrophotography - Great Total Solar Eclipse 2017, T-Lea Farm, Tellico Plains

Great American Eclipse August 21 2017 Celestron 4SE

Tennessee Astrophotography - At night before the Solar Eclipse - Milky Way - T-Lea Farm, Tellico Plains

Testing for Solar Eclipse 2017, August 21 - Tellico Plains, Tennessee

"Whenever we want to watch an eclipse of the Sun 

we set out basins filled with oil or pitch, 

because the heavy liquid is not easily disturbed 

and so preserves the images it receives."

-- Seneca (Roman, 1st century AD)

There are some some photos which I did before solar eclipse, just for testing,  Canon 60Da,  Celestron Nexstar 4SE, Coronado SolarMax II 60.

Waiting Total Solar Eclipse 2017 - Celestron Nexstar 4SE Canon 60Da

Cloudy Sun - Celestron Nexstar 4SE Canon 60Da - Testing for Solar Eclipse 2017

H Alpha Sun - Coronado SolarMax II 60 Canon 60Da - Testing for Solar Eclipse 2017

Single Sunspot Astrophotography - Celestron 4SE Canon 60Da - Testing for Solar Eclipse 2017

Perfect Sun without Sunspots - Coronado SolarMax II 60 Canon 60Da - Testing for Solar Eclipse 2017 

South Carolina Astrophotography

There are astrophotos from my trip to South Carolina. Canon 60Da,  Canon EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM lens.  Hilton Had Island, South Carolina.

South Carolina Astrophotography Starry Sky Lifeguard Station

Palm Trees and Night Sky South Carolina Astrophotography

Color Night Waves and Night Sky Astrophotography South Carolina

Ocean Sky Astrophotography - South Carolina

Hilton Had Island Ocean Sky Astrophotography South Carolina

Sweden Astrophotography - Northern Lights Kiruna Lapland

The sight filled the northern sky; the immensity of it was scarcely conceivable. 

As if from Heaven itself, great curtains of delicate light hung and trembled. 

Pale green and rose-pink, and as transparent as the most fragile fabric, 

and at the bottom edge a profound fiery crimson like the fires of Hell, 

they swung and shimmered loosely with more grace than the most skillful dancer.

-- PHILIP PULLMAN, The Golden Compass

How grand minimum of solar activity affect the Northern Light? I hope not so much and the Northern Light still will be visible during the grand minimum, but who knows 100%? So hurry up to see it now! Kiruna  Lapland Sweden Astrophotography - Canon 60Da, Canon EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM lens.

Sweden Astrophotography  Northern Lights

Sweden Astrophotography Aurora Borealis

Kiruna Lappland Northern Lights - Sweden Astrophotography

Cross Ski Trail Sign and Northern Lights - Kiruma Lappland Astrophotography

Panorama Northern Lights - Sweden Astrophotography Kiruna Lapland

See also Northern Lights Iceland Astrophotography

Los Angeles Astrophotography California

"Man's sense of values ought to be revised. 

If all mankind could look through that telescope, 

it would change the world!"

-- Griffith J. Griffith

There are some night astronomical photos from my trip to Los Angeles, California.

Ironically, the Griffith Observatory is closing at night  :( so don’t have a lot of time to made photos. There is iconic view to Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Astrophotography night view from the Griffith Observatory California

Los Angels city skyline at night Griffith Observatory Astrophotography

Griffith Observatory at night, Los Angeles, CA

Night City Light pollution Hollywood

iOptron Skytracker and Deep Sky Astrophotography

“By looking far out into space 

we are also looking far back into time, 

back toward the horizon of the universe, 

back toward the epoch of the Big Bang.” 

― Carl Sagan, Cosmos

The deep sky astrophotography can be done without telescope. You just need iOptron Skytracker. There are some photos which were done using iOptron Skytracker. Some of these photos done even in New York city with very high level of light pollution.

iOptron SkyTracker Canon 60Da Deep Sky Astrophotography Orion Nebula M42  New York City

 Canon 60Da, Canon  EF 200mm f/2.8 L II USM Telephoto Lens;  f/2.8; ISO 320; Exposure 15sec x 204 - Total 51 min, Brooklyn NY

iOptron Skytracker Deep Sky Astrophotography without Telescope - Horsehead and Flame Nebulae - New York City

Canon 60Da with Canon EF 200mm f/2.8 L II USM Telephoto Lens and iOptron SkyTracker tripod.Exposure 10sec x 148 - about 25 min total. ISO-800, f/3.2

iOptron Skytracker Deep Sky Astrophotography Pleiades M45 Seven Sisters Melotte 22 with Canon EF 200mm Telephoto Lens

Canon 60Da, iOptron skytracker, EF200mm f/2.8L II USM, f/4.0; ISO 6400, Deep Sky Stacker 30 images x 20 sec, Upstate New York

Deep Sky Astrophotography iOptron Skytracker  Andromeda Galaxy Messier 31 Canon EF 200mm Telescopic Lens

Andromeda Galaxy Messier 31 Deep Sky Astrophotography iOptron Skytracker

Canon 60Da, Canon EF 200mm f/2.8 L II USM lens, iOptron SkyTracker trypod, ISO-6400, f/4, stacked in DeepSkyStacker 215 images x 19 sec, Upstate NY

iOptron Skytracker Deep Sky Astrophotography Northern America and Pelican Nebula

Canon 60Da, EF200mm f/2.8L II USM, f/4.0; ISO 6400, Deep Sky Stacker 29 images x 20 sec, New York upstate

iOptron Skytracker Deep Sky Astrophotography Milky Way and  Orion at Culebra Island

Canon 60Da, Wide Angle EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM lens, F/4.0, ISO 3200, 2 min, Culebra Island, Puerto Rico