Aku-Aku Eclipse Easter Island July 11th, 2010

The Night Sky

When you get away from the few lighted areas, the night skies are breathtaking: the Milky Way is visible, nay brilliant, from horizon to horizon. But there is a Catch—due to the famously variable weather of Easter Island, you may have to dodge scudding clouds and worse to see the stars. On one occasion I had the unique experience of being rained on while observing the Milky Way!

The night after the eclipse provided the first clear night sky which lasted long enough to set up the camera and tripod and photograph the Southern sky. This view, taken near the horizon (where you can see the silhouette of a tree at the bottom left) shows the Southern Cross lying on its side at the bottom with the Coalsack nebula alongside, and Alpha and Beta Centauri above it.

Here is the centre of the galaxy, showing the bulge and dust lanes, in Sagittarius. The Southern sky has all the good stuff!

by John Walker July 20th, 2010

This document is in the public domain.