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# Petr Horálek Photography

Petr Horálek Photography

## Posts

- [Latest images / Nejnovější snímky](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?page_id=5753)
- [Moonrise at "Artemis Hour"](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=26088) - This seemingly common picture of the rising Moon behind Kunetic Castle has a touch of rarity. I captured it today, on 7 April, 2026, from Hrobice, Czech Republic, after 1 a.m. Central European Time. At the same moment when the Artemis II crew flew closest to the Moon and took a series of breathtaking shots.
- [Space Station Crosses the Moon](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=26184) - On May 21st, 2026, the clear skies offered me another successful photography of the International Space Station (ISS) transit in front of the Moon. Taken from Tuněchody, Czech Republic, as a sequence on a 10-inch Dobsonian Telescope, when ISS was about 722 km far from me and the whole transit took less than 1 second.
- [Love under the Galaxy](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=25750) - They were amazing. They just wanted a photo for their wedding announcement. Original, unique, perfectly celebrating their happiness. They didn't want to be recognized in the photo, they just wanted to be a part of it so that the giant, if not infinite Universe above them would be the perfect metaphor for their love. Taken
- [Flower Moon over Kunetic Castle](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=26145) - Yesterday’s Flower Moon, on 1st May, 2026, was after a long while I chose one for beautiful composition with the famous Czech Kunetic Castle. As the Moon rose up just abou 20 minutes after the sunset, the “blue hour” made the sky bright blue and the castle too. When capturing the immersive moonrise near Osičky
- [Four hours of Small Magellanic Cloud](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=26136) - The last night of my 2025 stay at Cerro Pachón Observatory on (4-5 May 2025), where astronomers at Vera C. Rubin Telescope just started their amazing work, I tried to finish my longer-term photography project. The Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) photography, which I actually started days sooner in Bolivia. As NOIRLab says: Cerro Pachón is a
- [Six hours of Large Magellanic Cloud](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=25919) - The last night of my current stay at Cerro Pachón Observatory on (4-5 May 2025), where astronomers at Vera C. Rubin Telescope just started their amazing work, I tried to finish my longer-term photography project. The Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) photography, which I actually started days sooner in Bolivia. As NOIRLab says: The LMC is
- [Spring Comet PanSTARRS](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=26091) - Discovered in September 2025, the comet C/2025 R3 (PanSTARRS) seems to be promising a nice comet of April 2026. I was also lucky to see this beautiful one. Its path nearby the Sun (with perihelion of 19th April 2026) and the Earth then (with perigee on 26th October 2026) brought several truly unusual moments in
- [Epic Equinox Aurora over Sweden](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=26064) - 14-22 March 2026 No timelapse, pure live video. No added effects, pure footage. No artificial intelligence, pure nature. And no acceleration, this is in live mode (yes, even the ending!). During the March 2026 Northern Lights Workshop in Sweden, I fully occupied the Nikon Z6III with a seemingly impossible task: To film the beauty of
- [Kitt Peak Lunar Eclipse](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=26047) - I was lucky this morning to capture the nice total lunar eclipse visible mostly from the western US. For this one, spent windy but clear morning at the Kitt Peak National Observatory. The almost 1-hour totality was nicely colorful, especially at the end, when a blue hint also appeared at the edge of the eclipsed
- [Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=25935) - Discovered in July 2025, the comet 3I/ATLAS became very popular during the year as it was only the third confirmed interstellar object to be observed in our Solar System. I was also lucky to see this one beauty too. Here are my occasional observations. 24th December 2025 It was only early in the morning of
- [Thirteen years of Kappa Cygnids](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=25643) - Every year in mid-August, almost at the same time like the Perseids, another meteor shower peaks: the κ-Cygnid. Named after the star Kappa (κ) in the Swan constellation, from where the slow meteors seemingly appear, they are almost not known as--unlike the Perseids--they have a very low rate of meteors, only about 3 per hour
- [Autumn Comet Lemmon](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=25820) - Discovered in January 2025, the comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) seems to be promising a nice comet of October 2025. I was also lucky to see this one beauty. Its path nearby the Sun (with perihelion of 8th November 2025) and the Earth then (with perigee on 21st October 2025) brought several truly unusual moments in
- [The Worlds of Uyuni](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=25392) - Yes, also I am now one of the lucky people who witnessed of beauty of the largest salt flat in the world, the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia. At 10582 square kilometers of 3700 meters above the sea level, is nothing but natural salt and very little water, which can work beautifully as a large natural
- [Tropical Geminids](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=25965) - Yes, I saw the Geminids. But it took truly long time to deliver the image. Reason? Bad signal. So here is it, lovely Geminids I was lucky to observe and capture over Soneva islands, Maldives (where I was invited), when clear skies allowed. Because the bioluminiscence started to be active as well, you can spot
- [What Are the Odds?](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=25949) - Can we even calculate the probability of a truly lucky shot? This is what I often ask myself when looking at this image of mine from April 19, 2025, captured near the SOAR Observatory on Cerro Pachón at sunset. It was in the last seconds of the already dramatic phenomenon, during which a multiple green
- [Mid-Europe Aurora!](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=25904) - This morning, from 2 UTC until dawn, truly bright aurora appeared even over the Czech Republic in the mid-Europe latitudes. The aurora was easily visible to the naked eyes even from suburban regions. I was enjoying it in the south of Bohemia, near Benešov nad Černou - one of the southeastern cities of the country.
- [Little Big Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS)](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=24114) - Discovered in January 2023, the comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) seems to be promising bright comet of 2024 (and very likely one of the brightest of last decades). I was also lucky to see this one with about 1-kilometer-sized nucleus, which can be considered as not so big, but also not that small among other known
- [Venusian pearl on the Moon](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=25775) - On 19 September 2025, a rare Lunar Occultation of bright planet Venus occured in the daytime sky over Ústupky, the Czech Republic. The Venus disappeared behind the crescent Moon at 2:14 pm and reappeared at 3:25 pm. It was truly a big challenge to find both objects in the sky and make nice shots of
- [Two Eclipses, One Couple, One Place](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=25761) - In 2018, my friends, Vladimira Krskova and Marian Runkas, and I traveled to Rhodes Island in Greece to enjoy the century's longest eclipse of July 27th. I made a lovely portrait of them gazing at the unique phenomenon. This year, on 7 September 2025, they decided to celebrate that special moment and their love for
- [September Total Lunar Eclipse 2025](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=25728) - As the recent total lunar eclipse on Sept. 7, 2025, occurred during the dusk over Záhradné, eastern Slovakia, I wanted to demonstrate the cause of colors in the Earth's shadow more clearly than before. This time-lapse mosaic shows the entire totality from right to left. As we know, the sky is blue due to Rayleigh
- [Beehive, Mars, and Venus](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=25718) - Twice this year (2025), the beautiful open star cluster Messier 44, also known as "Beehive" or "Praesepe Cluster", was seemingly visited by a bright planetary passerby as it is close to the ecliptic. For the first time, from the end of April to the first half of May, it was the the red planet Mars.
- [A Butterfly Conjunction over Seč Lake](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=25711) - Today, on 20 August 2025, a beautiful conjunction of Venus, Jupiter, the Moon, Castor, and Pollux appeared over Seč Lake around 3:30 CEST in the morning. From my place, it looked like a large butterfly in the sky. Can you see it? :) Used Nikon Z6III, Nikkor 50mm, f1.8, ISO 1000, panorama of five vertical
- [Perseids, Venus, and Jupiter over Seč Lake](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=25689) - On 12 August 2025, the early morning’s beautiful conjunction of Venus and Jupiter over Seč Lake, Czech Republic, appeared just before the dawn in the bright moonlight. I caught this romantic scene around 3 am CEST while both planets nicely reflected their lights on the water like nothing else so bright in the sky just
- [Space Station and Spotty Sun](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=25697) - On August 13th, 2025, the clear skies offered me another successful photography of the International Space Station transit in front of the Sun. Taken from Habřinka (by Lázně Bohdaneč), Czech Republic, as a sequence on a 10-inch Dobsonian Telescope, when ISS was about 507,96 km far from me and the whole transit took only 0.65
- [Sturgeon Moon over Kunetice Castle](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=25683) - Yesterday, on 9 August 2025, the “Sturgeon” Full Moon occurred. Here comes a series of the Moon rising over the famous Czech Kunetice Mountain Castle (from the 15th century) as it was seen from a precisely calculated place near Rohoznice village. In this multiexposure, I tried to capture the change of color of the rising
- [Little Comet and Coat Hanger](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=25666) - This morning, on 5 August 2025, about 0:45 UTC, I was lucky to capture a nice view of the (still faint) comet C/2025 K1 ATLAS against the Milky Way in wide view with Collinder 399 (a.k.a. Brocchi's Cluster or 'Coat Hanger'). What a nice photo-opp! The comet itself moves very quickly in the sky as
- [Wild Sunset over Lichnice Castle](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=25587) - Every year around the summer solstice, the Sun sets over the old Lichnice castle ruins when viewed from the Seč city. Lichnice was constructed in the first half of the 13th century. It was first mentioned in 1261, when it was in the possession of Smil of Ronow, who called himself Smil of Lichtenburg, thereby
- [Red Sprites over Seč Lake](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=25652) - If Scottish physicist Charles Wilson (1869–1959) had known what he would cause with his discovery of an unconfirmed phenomenon that he himself allegedly saw (in 1924), but was first recorded by physicists in 1989, he would probably have whistled with joy. Upper-atmospheric lightning, a still unexplored celestial phenomenon, is a welcome sight for all "hardcore"
- [Dream Summer Night](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=24611) - Here comes the mathematically stacked composite of this year's Perseids (2024). This time, I wanted to express more, I went deep into my heart and wanted to show the feeling of a man with a kid's soul, enjoying the place he loves the most. In the bottom part, you can find this person (me), enjoying
- [La Mano del Desierto](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=25633) - La Mano del Desierto, Hand of the Desert, Desert Hand. A unique 11-meter reinforced concrete sculpture located about 62 km south of the Chilean city of Antofagasta, was built in 1992 by the now 85-year-old sculptor Mario Irarrázabal Covarrubias and attracts hundreds to thousands of tourists from all over the world every day. It is
- [Noctilucent Clouds, Cows, and a Bull](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=25627) - This early morning, on 3rd July 2025, the bright NLCs appeared over Central Europe. I found a great spot by Proseč u Seče, Czech Republic. When I started shooting, I found out that cows are close... and a bull too. I was pretty scared of the bull, as he seemed very aggressive, but I managed
- [Space Station and Sunspots](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=25611) - On June 14th, 2025, the clear skies offered me another successful photography of the International Space Station transit in front of the Sun. Taken from Hranice (u Chotěboře), Czech Republic, as a sequence on a 10-inch Dobsonian Telescope, when ISS was about 467,9 km far from me and the whole transit took only 0.59 seconds.
- [Beautiful Lunar Eclipse (March 2025)](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=25352) - On 14 March 2025 a total lunar eclipse occurred especially over Americas and Pacific Ocean. I was pleased to make my observation of this particular eclipse from NSF Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory, Chile. Colors in the Earth's shadow were vivid, including the turquoise effect at the start and even end of the eclipse (where primarily
- [Februrary 2025 Aurora Borealis over Scandinavia](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=25302) - From 5 to 19 February I visited northern Scandinavia to capture some nice Aurora Borealis views. Here are some stories and images. Enjoy! 9/10 February 2025 Some people say "to see an aurora and die". Well, after yesterday, I think there is always much more to see. Despite the unpleasant cold, I am happy I
- [Green Flash and Airplane](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=25384) - What are the odds? Yesterday evening, when photographing the sunset from the Vicuña region, Chile, I was incredibly lucky with one shot. An airplane landing at La Serena airport flew just in front of the last edge of the Sun while multiple green flashes occurred too. All took a fragment of a second. According to
- [Like an Omen](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=25368) - They used to say the eclipses were bad omens. Well, solar eclipses can truly make people surprised, but now we know that they are just a result of pure and simple physics, mostly optics. Like today's one, on 29 March 2025, which I symbolically captured over St. Mark Chapel of Dolní Rokytnice (of Rokytnice nad
- [Sky Pyramid over Indian Ocean](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=25153) - Back in November 2024, I witnessed an unusual equatorial view: In the morning sky just before dawn, the planet Jupiter appeared in a seemingly pyramid shape of two sky belts, the Zodiacal Light and the Milky Way. The image from Soneva Jani Island, Maldives (where I was invited as visit astronomer for a short term),
- [Spring Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=23932) - The periodic comet 12P/Pons-Brooks made after 70 years its another return in inner Solar System during the springtime of 2024. Here are my observations. Would you like to purchase a high-quality copy for print? Find out more here. For most of the image I used Optolong Clear Sky filter. 8th April 2024 On 8th April,
- [Bright Comet C/2024 G3 ATLAS](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=25209) - Discovered in October 2024, the comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) seems to be promising bright comet of 2025 (it survives the heat of the sunny). I was also lucky to see this one from the Northern Hemisphere despite the fact, that the best show brought only for Southerners. 16 January 2025 If this was my last
- [Bright Mid-Latitude Auroras 2024](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=25183) - In 2024, over 30 Aurora Borealis were recorded from Central Europe as the solar activity of the current solar cycle gets to its maximum. About 12 of the auroras were observable even to the naked eye and I was lucky to capture them across Czechia and Slovakia (latitude ~50 degrees north). In this collection, the
- [Cloudy Geomagnetic Storm on 10 October 2024](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=25174) - Another strong geomagnetic storm of this year brought bright auroras over central Europe on 10th through 11th October 2024. Unfortunately, this time the weather was completely against me, I was lucky to capture the bright red just before the main show started, because by that time thick clouds with rain covered the whole sky over
- [Aurora and Perseids in August 2024](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=24581) - On August 11-12-13, 2024, an Aurora Borealis appeared even over the Czech Republic, central Europe. It was a faint but beautiful Aurora Borealis with many waves during the peak of the Perseid Meteor Shower. For this time-lapse, taken from Ústupky (49.82N, 15.65E) in a period between 23:28-2:13 CEST I used Canon 6D and Samyang 14mm.
- [New Year Aurora (2024/2025)](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=25163) - What odds! This year's New Year celebration over Oravská Lesná, Slovakia, occurred on a moonless night with a clear sky, and just minutes after the fireworks started, an aurora appeared in the sky. What a great start to the year. So happy New Year 2025 to you all! Used Canon Ra, Sigma 50mm, f1.8, ISO4000,
- [Geminids over the Spiš Castle](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=23909) - Over 2 years, the most famous Slovakian Spiš Castle (UNESCO World Heritage since 1993) was under reconstruction and there was a large crane on its top parts. Luckily, at the end of 2023, they moved it away and I could finally fulfill my photographic dream: To capture it from its northern side--where it looks like
- [Colorful Orion](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=25109) - Almost every lover of the night sky will recognize the majestic constellation of Orion. However, Orion is also a huge attraction for astrophotographers, because deep scanning across the visible spectrum can reveal the extremely colorful and complex glowing and reflective molecular clouds that are located in this direction of our Galaxy. On November 10, 2024,
- [Summer Comet 13P/Olbers](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=24524) - These days we can enjoy another comet just with a small telescope in our hand. Its name is 13P/Olbers, discovered by famous astronomer Heinrich Wilhelm Olbers (1758-1840) on March 1815. Comet's orbital period is now around 70 years which makes it visible for most of us only once in our lives. Coincidentally, with another brighter
- [Deep View to the Galaxy](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=24993) - Looking past Earth’s brightly lit atmosphere, incredibly brilliant and colorful celestial objects exist in the vast expanse of space. The Milky Way is the most conspicuous of these nighttime objects, captured here near Cerro Pachón in Chile, home to several facilities operated by NSF's NOIRLab, including half of the International Gemini Observatory, the SOAR Telescope
- [Reaching the Gods](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=24989) - Same but different. Since you liked so much my latest image "within reach", here comes brand new one. This time, however, from the platform the ESO Paranal Observatory, one of the world's largest ground based observatories. About a month ago I tried to reach the gods there... well, figuratively speaking. The brightest object in the
- [Multiple Green Flash over Cerro Tololo](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=24985) - From APOD: A green flash at sunset is a rare event that many Sun watchers pride themselves on having seen. Once thought to be a myth, a green flash is now understood to occur when the Earth's atmosphere acts like both a prism and a lens. Different atmospheric layers create altitude-variable refraction that takes light
- [Oravian Aurora Borealis of 7 October 2024](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=24909) - What an unexpectedly bright auroras this night, on 7 October 2024. When observing from Oravská Lesná, Slovakia (50 degrees north of Europe), several waves brought even visually spectacular show. The second-best view of this year after Big May Aurora 2024. Used Canon Ra and Sigma 35mm, ISO 1600, 6s exposures with f1.6. Last 2 images
- [Lunar eclipse over a Hazy Castle](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=24829) - This morning, on 18 September 2024, the "Harvest" Moon partially passed through the Earth's shadow. I decided to observe this small but well-visible partial lunar eclipse close to UNESCO's Spiš Castle in eastern Slovakia. In this romantic scene, the approximately 2,5 long sequence of the Moon is moving in the sky while the eclipse progresses
- [Aurora Surprise Over Slovakia](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=24801) - Just an hour ago, on 12 September 2024 (around 19:18 UT), a bright aurora appeared in the sky over Záhradné, near Prešov, Slovakia. It lasted just about ten minutes, but it was truly a lucky one. Especially when the clouds closed the view shortly after this incredible sky surprise. Used Canon Ra, Sigma 35mm, f1.6,
- [Norway Auroras of September 2022](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=24669) - On September 2022 (14th to 28th), I spent wonderful 2 weeks nearby Tromsø, Norway, where I enjoyed many amazing views of auroras. Here comes a large gallery from those nights, showing the most amazing moments. They were captured mostly by Sommarøy, Tromsø and Oldervik. Used Canon Ra and Canon 6D, Samyang 12 or 14 mm,
- [Total Solar Eclipse 2024](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=24033) - On 8 April 2024, the total solar eclipse occured over Mexico, USA and Canada, bringing unique opportunity to many people to see the ghostly solar corona during the solarmax. I was lucky to spot the eclipse from Durango, Mexico, with some short cloud period of clouds, but mostly the view was amazingly clear. Thus I
- [Double Lightning Strike](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=24546) - Yesterday's stormy weather over eastern Slovakia and Ukraine (14/15 July 2024) was pretty active. While observing north from Terňa city to east direction, two types of lightning appeared. Over distant Veľký Slivník (on right), just developing Cumulonimbus cloud produced one of its first cloud-ground lightning. This cloud was about 70 km away and very well
- [Morning Moon and the Space Station](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=24624) - Last days the International Space Station (ISS) prepared several beautiful transits in front of the morning crescent Moon over Central Europe. I was lucky with one of these beautiful, even if very elusive moments, too. While observing from Jetonice, Czech Republic, on Thursday, August 29th, 2024, the Moon was covered by a thin layer of
- [Sunset over the Lomnicky Stit](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=24651) - Yesterday's sunset (5 September 2024) was truly a lucky one for me. After a year I finally managed my dream shot - the sunset over Lomnicky Stit summit of the High Tatras mountains, shooting from Terna, eastern Slovakia (about 74 km far from the summit). Why this mount? If you look closer at the summit
- [Surprise Aurora](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=24620) - Today, August 28, 2024, early in the morning around 3 o'clock, nature brought another aurora over the Czech Republic and Slovakia. This time weak, I couldn't see it with my eyes, but the camera captured its structures. This is how the glow appeared under the Big Dipper above the calm surface of the Seč Lake,
- [Sprites above Italy](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=24578) - This early morning's (7 August 2024) stormy weather over southern Austria (northern Italy) was pretty active. While observing from Ústupky, Czech Republic a beautiful, but elusive Red Sprite appeared, produced by a strong thunderstorm, which was located above Eastern Alps, about 390 km far from me. Their typical red color is caused by nitrogen emission
- [Buck Moon over Kunetice Castle](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=24554) - Yesterday, on 21 July 2024, the "Buck" Full Moon occurred. Here comes a series of the Moon rising over the famous Czech Kunetice Mountain Castle (from the 15th century) as it was seen from a precisely calculated place near Hrobice village. In this multiexposure, I tried to capture the change of color of the rising
- [Sprites above Poland](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=24533) - Severe stormy weather over central Europe brings one of the most spectacular but also mysterious phenomena: The Red Sprites. Firstly observed in 1989, they became a target for many specialized photographers and videographers to improve their understanding of them. So far we know now is the fact, the fragments-of-seconds flashes are counter-discharge of CG+ lightning
- [Colorful Noctilucent Clouds Panorama](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=24512) - The Noctilucent Clouds (NLC) season 2024 is underway on the north of Earth. Caused by dust particles (containing meteor dust) and ice high in the mesosphere, they become visible only at dusk and dawn when scattering light of our sun located 6-16 degrees below the horizon. Yesterday, on 23 June 2024, I enjoyed this epic
- [Noctilucent Clouds 2024 over Seč Lake](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=24509) - Despite the high solar activity, which causes less visible Noctilucent Clouds than in other years, a beautiful ones appeared in the Czech Republic on 13 June 2024. I was lucky to see them through partially cloudy sky over the Seč Lake just during the dusk. Used Canon Ra, Sigma 50mm, f1.4, ISO 1600 (single shots
- [Moonlight Aurora over Seč Lake](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=24216) - Yesterday night (YES, yesterday, May 17th, 2024, not a week ago!), another aurora surprise occurred in the Czech sky. It's not as bright as the previous Friday so far, but still a beautiful display at least for a while around local midnight. The Moon made this aurora less visible to the naked eyes (the photograph
- [All-Night Aurora Borealis over Czech Republic](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=24171) - On May 10-11, 2024, an Aurora Borealis appeared even over the Czech Republic, central Europe. It was most likely the brightest Aurora Borealis since 20th November 2003! For this time-lapse, taken from Záhořice (50.08N, 13.20E) in a period between 20:33-21:23 CET I used Canon 6D (modified), Samyang 12mm, f2.8, ISO 2000, and 6s exposures. What
- [Aurora from Central Europe](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=24167) - Last night, on May 5th, 2024, the aurora surprisingly appeared even in the Czech Republic, a European mid-latitude country. I observed from Záhořice village. There were two prominent peaks - after local midnight (after 10 pm UT) and before local 2 am (before midnight UT). Both were visible even to the naked eye, despite the
- [Falcon's Horns](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=24103) - Yesterday evening, on May 2, 2024, I was--like many others--waiting for some auroras as the G3 storming was in progress. Unfortunately, the activity dropped down rapidly just before dusk ended. But during the waiting in Záhořice, Czech Republic, something odd appeared. A fuzzy white swirl with two blurred "horns". At first glance, it looked slightly
- [Easter Moon and Spiš Monuments](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=24006) - The Full Moon of 25 March 2024 was a bit special: It was the first Full Moon after the spring equinox. This so-called Paschal Full Moon is followed by Easters of the first Sunday afterward. I managed to capture this Full Moon rising from the extraordinary place, where the UNESCO heritage, the Spiš Castle, and
- [Gems of Maldivean Nights](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=22973) - In early March 2022, I had a chance to visit the beautiful Maldivian islands Thoddoo and Madivaru of Alif Alif Atoll, from where the beautiful night skies were visible as well. Enjoy some of the images I took over this Earth's paradise. It can be a metaphor for nowadays. It can be a symbol to
- [Gems of the Atacama Desert](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=23348) - Spending time in the San Pedro de Atacama region this April brought me and my friends also to the middle of a hidden valley not far from the famous Valle de la Luna. Since the salty desert surroundings are just so large, there is still so much to discover. This is another example. I found
- [The Turquoise Wonderland](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=23528) - What a wonderful night at Soneva Jani Island, the Maldives, on 14 February 2023. Just after the late night stargazing for visitors at the So Starstruck observatory, I visited the northern beach of this small island and couldn't believe my eyes. The whole beach shined with such engaging turquoise light while the gems of the
- [Unique Solar Eclipse over Australia](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=23566) - On April 20, 2023 a unique hybrid solar eclipse occurred over the Indian Ocean, Australia, and Indonesia, making the opportunity to see a ghostly corona for up to 1 minute in the central line above Exmouth of Australia. I was lucky to get there for the spectacular phenomenon. Here are some first results of the
- [Partially Eclipsed Moon](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=23825) - Yesterday, on Oct. 28th, 2023, the Moon passed through the Earth's shadow, bringing such a beautiful view to a partial lunar eclipse. Even if only 12 percent of the lunar disc was "floating" in the umbra, any telescope could reveal its dark reddish color. Its edge "touched" the large crater Tycho. I was lucky to
- [Daytime Venus and Moon](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=23840) - Today on Nov. 9, 2023, by noon over central Europe, the Moon covered Venus in broad daylight, bringing the opportunity to capture a very unusual view of daytime Venus "last quarter" also with the Moon. Since the weather over Ždiar, Slovakia was luckily not that cloudy, I made it happen to catch the whole sequence
- [A Night Full of Wishes](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=23781) - Anything you wish... may come true this night. They always say "make a wish" when a shooting star appears. Shooting stars, however, are not stars but meteors and it's the glowing trail of a meteoroid or a piece of space debris that burns as soon as it enters the earth's atmosphere. And it is this
- [Fairytale Geminids, Again](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=23873) - Around the frozen Seč Lake, where fishes put themself to winter rest, the snowy blanket covered endless forests. People hidden in their warm cottages were just dreaming about their wishes around Advent candles as the miracle night was about to come in only 10 days. Remembering the legendary story of Jesus Christ's birth, they also
- [Beautiful Comet Nishimura](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=23774) - Nowadays we can look for a brighter morning comet C/2023 P1 Nishimura, discovered on 12 August by Hideo Nishimura from Japan. As the comet gets closest to the Sun (which happens on 17th September), it is getting brighter and making the comet an easier target for nightscape photography. This morning, I was successful from Zahradne,
- [Fairytale Geminids](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=4409) - Around the frozen Seč lake, where fishes put themself to winter rest, the snowy blanket covered endless forests. People hidden in their warm cottages were just dreaming about their wishes around Advent candles as the miracle night is about to come in only 10 days. Remembering the legendary story of Jesus Christ birth, they also
- [Video: Aurora Borealis over Slovakia](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=23850) - On November 25th, 2023, an Aurora Borealis appeared even over Slovakia, central Europe. Despite the strong moonlight, it was visible short to the naked eye and looked beautifully red. For this time-lapse, taken from Záhradné (49.08N, 21.27E) in a period between 20:33-21:23 CET I used Canon Ra, Sigma 35mm, f1.4, ISO 400, and 5s exposures.
- [Orange Moon over Blue Castle](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=23817) - Yesterday's Harvest Moon, on 29th September, 2023, was after a long while I chose one for beautiful composition with the famous Czech Kunetic Castle. As the Moon rose up just 15 minutes after the sunset, the "blue hour" made the sky bright blue and the castle too. When capturing the immersive moonrise near Srch village
- [Whole Night Perseid Mosaic](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=6509) - It took almost 2 years of work, almost 450 hours of postprocessing and many hours of other hard work, but it was worth it. Here comes final result of Perseid meteor shower 2018 observed in Poloniny Dark Sky Park (more info on dark sky preservation on International Dark Sky Association) by Kolonica Observatory, Slovakia, during
- [The Lights of Thodoo Nights](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=23731) - Deep in the Indian Ocean, an emerald can be found. Not large, but truly natural and full of plants island called Thoddoo, Maldives. Proud locals produce their own fruit and vegetable, welcome the tourists with wide-open arms, and show them the importance of the true relationship to the natural heritage of the island, such as
- [Gems of Soneva Fushi sky](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=4732) - Deeply among the Maldivian islands, you can reach a small one called Soneva Fushi. And it is a truly beautiful and peaceful place to stay. Of all possible activities, I liked the most gazing at the night skies. As the island is not much influenced by harmful light pollution and the equator is not far
- [ISS flies in front of the Sun](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=23715) - Today, on June 3rd, 2023, the clear skies offered me another successful photography of the International Space Station transit in front of the Sun. Taken from Uhlířov, Czech Republic, as a sequence on a 1.1m telephoto lens, when ISS was about 508.9 km far from me and the whole transit took only 0.73 seconds. Lots
- [The Cove of Aquarius](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=22498) - The Seč lake, May 8th, 2021, in the morning just before the daybreak. Truly calm water by ashore where a moored barge takes the central stage while majestic summer Milky Way appears in the sky. And then it happens - a green bright meteor on left just "heats the heavens" and makes a truly beautiful
- [Volcano and the Space Station](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=22266) - It may look like a plane crashes a mountain. But no. In this shot, the perspective shows the dynamic of ground and space happenings at the same time, captured from Pucon, Chile. In the foreground, the active Villarrica volcano produces soft light from lava in its crater scattering on vapor over its summit. From right,
- [Deep Sky Lunar Eclipse](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=23045) - On May 15-16, 2022, a total lunar eclipse occurred, visible primarily over western Europe and the Americas. Located in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile, I had a truly spectacular view of this particular phenomenon nearby the center of the Milky Way in the dark skies (and almost in zenith). Thus it was well possible to
- [The Meteor Showers Collection](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=23107) - It took long 8 years but it was worth it. Here comes the longest and most time-consuming astrophotography project of my life, the complete collection of major annual meteor showers with a normal zenithal hourly rate of more than 18 meteors per hour. While most stargazers around the globe are familiar with August Perseids and
- [Comet in Morning Glare](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=6546) - 30th July 2020 Comet NEOWISE, unfortunately, flies definitely away from us. Meaning its brightness rapidly drops down and its visibility is below naked eye threshold. But still, it is beautiful in telescopes. Bright "head", greenish in camera, followed by both tails, can be seen even along with some dim galaxies in Coma Berenices (Hairs of
- [Sprite Sightings](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=22781) - Severe stormy weather over central Europe brings one of the most spectacular but also mysterious phenomena: The Red Sprites. Firstly observed in 1989, they became a target for many specialized photographers and videographers to improve their understanding of them. So far we know now is the fact, the fragments-of-seconds flashes are counter-discharge of CG+ lightning
- [Man meets the Milky Way](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=23668) - This image taken in April 2016 showcases the bulging heart of the Milky Way as it hangs over the Chajnantor plateau. Located in the Atacama Desert of Chile, this plateau is one of the highest and driest places on Earth. This combination results in ideal conditions to observe millimetre and submillimetre radiation from space, which
- [Legendary Astrofarm](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=23646) - Enjoy the views of the sky over legendary Alain Maury's Astrofarm, which is located in the heart of the Chilean Atacama Desert, nearby San Pedro de Atacama. Any visitor who comes always gets literally close to the stars as high ladders are needed for huge telescopes for public observations. I was lucky to visit this
- [Wizzard's Hat](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=23076) - The Atacama Desert is just full of magic and unprecedented creation. In this image, taken a month ago, I found an unnamed geological creation dozens of kilometers southward of the famous Valle de la Luna National Park, which was formed by the sequential folding of an old salt lake that eventually dried and was forced
- [New Life Moon](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=23641) - The last full Moon on July 3rd, 2023, was also called "Buck Moon", named after the new antlers that emerge from a buck’s forehead around this time of the year. However, full Moons are generally connected to many types of myths. In some cultures, the Moon is also a symbol of hope. Such as the
- [Lunar Passage over Brno](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=23597) - On May 5th, 2023, the Full Moon appeared over the Czech city Brno slightly darker than usual--when rising, it was close to Earth's umbra and a little bit darker on its left edge as the penumbral lunar eclipse progressed. Even if the high cirrus clouds later then interrupted the phenomenon, the view over the Cathedral
- [Amazing View](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=23555) - The boat in the center of the image is named "Amazing View" as it belongs to Moosa Farooq of the Amazing View Guest House of Thoddoo, Maldives. And yes, there are amazing views around the island, not only in the daytime. Here the boat calmly anchored close to the beach, is surrounded by both marine
- [Sparkling Moonset](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=23460) - During the night of 5-6 February 2023, the Full Moon appeared around the world in the sky in an interesting position: It was also close to its most distant point on its elliptical orbit around Earth, producing one of the angularly smallest Full Moon of the year (apogee Moon). While watching the moonset from the
- [Moon, Venus, Jupiter, and Plankton](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=23499) - The announced celestial evening show I tried not to miss from the Maldivian island Thoddoo. And it was worth it. The "celestial trio" appeared very soon after sunset while people were slowly leaving the main beach and the sky was getting darker. The best show, however, started just minutes before the moonset as the bioluminescent
- [A Comet in Taurus](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=23469) - Captured from the Soneva Jani island observatory's platform, in the Indian Ocean on February 11th, 2023, the comet C/2022 E3 ZTF appeared very close to the bright planet Mars in the sky, making a great photo-op as both objects were located just in the center of the Taurus (the Bull) constellation. Surrounded by many objects
- [Strange Comet over the High Tatras](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=23382) - The brightness of comet C/2022 E3 ZTF reached the threshold of 5.5 magnitude, which makes the comet visible to the naked eye (away from cities, of course). On January 22nd, due to the unique geometry of the comet and our planet Earth, a very prominent anti-tail was visible. In the image, the beautiful comet appears
- [A Comet and Two Dippers](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=23393) - This week the comet C/2022 E3 ZTF moves faster in the sky as it flies to the closest point to Earth (which reaches on February 1st). For northerners the position of the comet in the sky cannot be better: You can easily find it between two large asterisms, the Big and Little Dippers (from constellations
- [The Mars Occultation In Dawn](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=23357) - On the Slovakian morning of 8th December 2022, planet Mars appeared in opposition to the Sun, making the opportunity to observe it the whole night from dusk until dawn about twice brighter than Sirius, the brightest star in the sky. But not just that. Just in the time of the opposition, at 5:36 UT, the
- [Orionid's Shower](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=23223) - Combining data from the last Orionid's maxima (from 2015 until 2022), I have created this almost full sky view of the annual meteor shower caused by the material of Halley's comet. In the foreground, the Slovakian volcanoes around Prešov city can be seen as taken in 2020. The sky was then taken last year during
- [Colorful Eclipse over the Kitt Peak National Observatory](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=23260) - The 8 November 2022, a total lunar eclipse occurred over the Americas and Pacific. There I was allowed to observe this beautiful lunar eclipse from the Kitt Peak National Observatory, a program of NSF’s NOIRLab. The deep red color of this lunar eclipse (lower left) is believed to be the remains of the ash from
- [All Eclipses 2022](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=23254) - In 2022, there were four eclipses observable around the world: Two partial solar and two total lunar. Eclipses always come in pairs or rarely even in triplets in one lunar period. The partial solar eclipse on April 30th was visible widely across Chile and Argentina before sunset. About two weeks after, on May 16th, a
- [Solar Eclipse over Belian Tatras](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=23232) - Today, on October 25th, 2022, a partial solar eclipse occurred over most of Europe and Asia. For this opportunity, I traveled a lot across Slovakia, looking for some clear skies over the beautiful mountainous landscapes. Eventually, I made it happen nearby Ždiar, from where the peaks of the Belian Tatras appeared just below the sun,
- [Aurora and Plankton](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=23179) - Early morning of Feb 8th, 2022, I was lucky for aurora by the Norwegian Sea. Enjoying it by a beach nearby Tromsø, Norway, I noticed blue sparkles in the waves, realizing they are luminescent plankton, which made the experience much more beautiful. I was literally watching two different naturally luminescent worlds – the one in
- [Glimmers of the Northern Lights](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=23163) - A short timelapse clip focuses on the immersive beauty of the Northern Lights. Timelapses were captured over Abisko (Sweden) during October 2021, Tromsø (Norway) during February 2022, and even Ústupky (Czech Republic) on March 14th, 2022 (Czech Republic aurora on March 14th on the very beginning of the clip is very unique, it was first
- [Salt and Universe](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=23149) - The Milky Way in this picture arches over a truly unique landscape - the salty desert of Atacama, Chile. While many photographers usually enjoy beautiful reflections on a lagoon, I was amazed by this unusual structure I had never seen before. The image was taken back on 1st May 2022, when I visited and explored
- [Eta-Aquarids and Planets](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=23016) - The annual meteor shower Eta-Aquarids is just in progress and I was lucky to observe the maximum at San Pedro de Atacama, Chile. Luckily, the weather is very favorable and Moon doesn't shine when radiant rises, so I took the chance to capture this composite image. Foreground was taken on May 3rd while meteors were
- [Top of Hawai'i](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=23104) - There’s more going on in this picture than you might think. This image shows Gemini North (part of International Gemini Observatory), located on Maunakea in Hawai‘i at the altitude of 4214 meters. To the lower left of Gemini is a red glowing light source. This is from the eruption of the Halemaʻumaʻu crater of the
- [Ľubovňa Full Moon](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=23100) - Yesterday, on July 13, 2022, the Full Moon occurred only 9,5 hours after the moment of perigee (in distance 357 263 km from Earth), producing the angularly largest full Moon of the year. For this moment I traveled a long distance to the east of Slovakia, where I found a very exact spot to see
- [All of the Zodiacal Light](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=23083) - This of the entire Zodiacal Light from dusk to dawn was taken from the platforms of Gemini South in Chile (left) and Gemini North in Hawai‘i (right), the two telescopes comprising the International Gemini Observatory, a Program of NSF’s NOIRLab. Since both platforms provide unique observational conditions in high altitudes (Gemini South at 2722 m,
- [Solar Eclipse over the Moon Valley](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=23007) - On April 30th, 2022, the partial solar eclipse was visible over South America, especially in Chile and Argentina. The deepest coverage on the ground was visible by sunset in the south of Chile, where the Moon covered about 40 % of the Sun. I was lucky to watch this unusual sunset eclipse over the Moon
- [Volcanic Sky over the Atacama Desert](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=22995) - In this shot, taken from San Pedro de Atacama (Chile) on April 18th, 2022, a like-Martian night sky appears just after dusk. While the majestic dark sky with prominent constellations of Orion, Vela, or Southern Cross can be found along the Milky Way, both directions over the western and eastern horizons shine very redly. This
- [Aurora Borealis from the Czech Republic](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=22980) - The Czech Republic lies on latitude 50N, away from the magnetic pole, which makes it one of the countries where the Northern Lights are very rare. However, not impossible. Statistically, there can be spotted 10-15 auroras per one solar cycle (~11 years), of course, especially around the solar maximum. The upcoming one, solar cycle 25,
- [Make a wish over the Králova Studňa!](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2516) - What a wonderful night of 11-12 August, 2016! As the prediction for annual Perseid meteor shower promised unusually high activity due to Jupiter's gravitational influence to the stream of the debris of comet Swift-Tuttle, I was looking for really good spot to enjoy it. So I decided to spend this time in relatively new Dark
- [ISS Silhouette on the Wolf Moon](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=22958) - On Monday, January 17th, the Full Moon occurred at 11:48 pm local Czech time. By folklore, this one is called "Wolf Moon" and it was also one of apogee Moon. Most interesting, however, was 8 minutes after, when just for a 1 second the silhouette of Internationa Space Station appeared in front of the Moon.
- [The Great Conjunction](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=22277) - Lately this evening, on December 21st, 2020, me and my friends achieved THAT. The great conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn was almost impossible to see from the Czech Republic due to cloudy weather, so we moved to Poland, Kowary, from where the planetary duo appeared just over the highest summit of High Mountains, Sněžka. Inset
- [Eclipse Air Traffic](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=22916) - Despite the pandemic, many people traveled for today's (Dec. 4th, 2021) part of totality to see the spectacular total solar eclipse over Antarctica. Some were lucky to get on the "sixth continent", others traveled via ship cruise in the Weddell Sea and around, the third group of eclipse chasers chose eclipse flight around 41000 feet
- [October 2021 Aurora Borealis](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=22905) - During the last week of October 2021, me and my friends Tomas Slovinsky, Josef Kujal, and Balazs Szarka made it happen to get in Sweden for Aurora Borealis chasing. Based in Abisko National Park, we were pretty lucky for the weather but also for COVID restrictions and so we could travel a bit around for
- [Galaxies and Reborn Chapel](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=22893) - Enjoy this view taken on 9th September, 2021, from Eagle Mountains, the Czech Republic, in altitude of 1035m. The central stage, below the galaxies Milky Way and the Andromeda one, takes the baroque chapel Kunštátská kaple of the Virgin Mary Visitation from the years 1670-71. The building has a circular platform with shingle coverage. The
- [Conjunction and Celebration](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=22888) - Yesterday's truly beautiful evening (October 9th, 2021) offered photogenic conjunction of the Moon and the planet Venus, followed by star δ Scorpii against the dusk colors of the sky. While observing this celestial show over Kuneticka hora castle from Bohumileč, Czech Republic, I was surprised by beautiful fireworks too. Later then I found out they
- [Perseids against the Milky Way](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=22844) - This year's Perseid meteor shower promised a wonderful celestial show under the dark starry sky, far away from the harmful light pollution from the cities. Thus I traveled south to the dark place of Crete Island, Greece. Despite the lower frequency of the meteors during the expected Perseid's peak, there was still so much to
- [Green flashing Moon over Castle](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=22870) - I tried to catch today's (Sept. 20, 2021) "Harvest" Full Moon when rising over my favorite Kuneticka hora castle, but the clouds were too thick. Eventually, it still has some magic since the atmospheric condition made some spectacular green fragment sightings. Taken from Rohovládova Bělá, about 14,5 km from the castle. The true challenge to
- [Lost Meteors](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=22819) - In real dark, cosmic lights appear. For many people, get under the dark skies means go tens of miles outside of cities. Although it’s possible to see more stars there, but to get under the naturally dark night sky, it’s necessary to travel hundreds and thousands of miles away from light sources. Unfortunately. Even during
- [Immersive Perseid Night](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=20538) - Have you had a chance to gaze the Perseids of this year? The annual meteor shower was disturbed by the Moon, but still, there were some moonless hours to enjoy many meteors up above. After many restrictions made the traveling for Perseids a bit complicated, I decided to stay at Seč lake, Czech "Iron Mountains",
- [Four Seasons of Seč](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=22784) - Three years of countless visiting the magical place of Seč point of view, hundreds of hours of running or walking, much time of sadness due to the wrong weather at right time, but finally... Finally, I made it. Enjoy all four seasons of the widely favorite viewpoint of the Seč lake with its natural island
- [There She Comes...](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=22803) - Some people love them, others hate them. Some people are terrified of them, but others are fascinated and excited by them. Thunderstorms, one way or another, are part of our lives. This year, Europe struggles with more very strong thunderstorms than in last years, bringing even some dangerous or even catastrophic consequences such as floods,
- [Once-in-8-years Moment](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=5630) - On this shot, the wonderful night sky over the island of Seč lake, the Czech Republic appears just after dusk. Despite the harmful light pollution over the horizon (the yellow glow), the arc of the winter Milky Way can be well seen as well as the faint column of the Zodiacal Light. On right it
- [Hoštiná to Starry Sky](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=22793) - Every year for decades, a wonderful tradition comes on hills of Hoštiná, Slovakia, where dozens of astronomy enthusiasts meet astronomers at Star Party Hoštiná. Despite some light pollution from Púchov city, everybody enjoys the beauty of the night sky with children by a campfire (or already sleeping in tents) and not far away from an
- [The Milky Way by summer solstice night](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2431) - June is the very interesting month of the year, here in the Czech Republic and northern countries around the world generally. While the season of visibility of the Noctilucent clouds is ongoing, the night sky is, actually, not dark. Due to location of our country on 50N of latitude the season around summer solstice gives
- [Nova in Hercules 2021](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=22771) - A 3 days ago, on 14th June 2021, a new star of 6th magnitude (on the threshold of naked-eye visibility) appeared of at the edge of the Hercules constellation, between stars Epsilon and 111 nearby Aquila. In fact, not quite new, but pretty interesting nova. Novae are short-lived outbursts from aged binary star systems in
- [Wild Sky over La Silla](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=22768) - Some say the night sky can be quite boring. But they are wrong. Especially when you get in place with a naturally dark sky, far away from harmful light pollution. Such as the Atacama Desert, Chile, where the major observatories can be found. In this shot, the bright central Milky Way rises over the ESO
- [Beautiful Partial Solar Eclipse](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=22758) - What a wonderful partial solar eclipse today, on 10th June 2021 over Mezhovice, the Czech Republic. I have many clear-skies shots of the eclipsed sun, but this time I enjoyed even the cloudy moments. When the Sun was behind, but still visible, the view was just so dramatic and colorful. Used Sony A7S, MTO 1100/10.5,
- [Orionids 2020 over Slovakian volcanoes](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=22076) - Debris of Halley's comet enter our atmosphere every May and October, producing two annual meteor showers. The October one, peaking usually around 21st October, is called Orionids. In the view, you can count 19 of them seemingly flying from are above Orion constellation (left from the center). The sky is crossed by the Milky Way,
- [Noctilucent Clouds reflection](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=22719) - What a thrilling Noctilucent Clouds sighting today, 5th July 2020! When enjoying Full Moon rising over Kuneticka hora, me and my friend Josef Kujal noticed NLCs structures just in zenith and not believed this was happening. The NLCs covered the whole sky by fine nets of an incredibly huge complex of the mesospheric clouds. This
- [Flower Moon over Kunetice Castle](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=22709) - On May 26th, 2021, the full Moon appeared over Kunetice Castle, seen from Bohumileč, Czech Republic. The wonderful view was even more unique as just by that time, at 1:51 UTC, Moon was closest to Earth, producing popularly called "supermoon" (or Perigee Full Moon). I tried to catch the Moon by the time of its
- [Mercury's Sodium Tail](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=22694) - Accepting the high challenge of shooting the currently significantly well-capturable Mercury's Sodium tail, I tried to make the record with no narrow-band filter, but only with full spectrum Baader BCF modified camera. Considering the bright short wavelengths are highly scattered due to the atmospheric extinction low over the horizon, the only colours to be captured
- [Nova in Cassiopeia 2021](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=22486) - 11 May 2021: The morning sky was clearer than the night before so I tried to capture again the whole Cassiopeia region with the Nova Cas 2021 one more time. The inset of annotated version shows nova just in the center. Used Canon 6D modified, Sigma 50mm, f3.2, ISO 2000, 60x40s from the tripod and
- [The zodiacal light over the South Pacific](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=784) - Using more sophisticated methods (see results from the La Silla Observatory), I was able to re-process my data of the all-night zodiacal light panorama over the Mangaia Island (the Cook Islands) in the end of August 2014. Used Canon 6D, Sigma 15 mm, f2.8, ISO 6400, panorama of 7 singular images, each 61x20 s, darkframes
- [Two Universes in Motion](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=22460) - We live on a shore of two Universes. Both are huge and both require our interest. At the bottom, the Universe of water and marine life is hidden from our eyes but calls for our integrity every day as we pollute it so many ways. The Universe above our head is, actually, our ocean, and
- [Kunetic "Pink" Full Moon](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=22453) - On April 26th, the (almost) full moon rose over the plains of the Pardubice region, the Czech Republic, producing a pretty spectacular view. As the Moon was about 9 hours before the full moon phase, it was still visible during sunset time and so all its rising appeared above the colorful horizon. It was called
- [Einstein's Eclipse 1919--Colorized](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=22357) - Using a digital scan of the 1919 eclipse from one copy of a plate from Sobral from Landessternwarte Heidelberg-Königstuhl, who scanned theirs as part of the Heidelberg Digitized Astronomical Plates (HDAP) project funded by the Klaus Tschira Foundation, it was possible to reconstruct the solar corona and also structures of the huge prominence of this
- [The Living Years](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=22422) - "I wasn't there that morning when my father passed away. I didn't get to tell him all the things I had to say" sings Mike&Mechanics in their legendary song. The exact words and the song itself came to my mind a few days ago when sitting on this shore of the Seč lake. My father
- [Mars, Taurus clusters, and Molecular Clouds](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=22403) - Planet Mars (bright object bottom) gets angularly closest to the Pleiades star cluster in the Taurus constellation on March 3rd, 2021. It is the closest conjunction of the Red Planet to the cluster until 2038. Just days before this moment, the planet was as bright as the star Aldebaran (left), the brightest star and a
- [Spitzkoppe Night](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=22395) - Enjoy the majestic view of the summer night of the southern hemisphere, captured from captivating Spitzkoppe national park, Namibia. From the right, you can spot both Magellanic Clouds, the great Gum Nebula in the Milky Way, the colorful surrounding of Orion constellation, Hyades and Pleiades clusters, or even the faint Gegenschein. Over the horizon, the
- [Galactic smoke over Patagonian Volcano](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=22340) - Dusty, gaseous, and starry smoke seemingly rises from the distant Villarrica volcano nearby Pucon, Chile. It is our Milky Way what you see and many gems of the southern stary sky in it. Just over the distant summit where the light from lava is reflected in the vapor, the Alpha Centauri can be seen. Majestic
- [Something ExTrA over La Silla](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=22327) - Based on ESO La Silla Observatory, the three beehive-shaped domes hide 0.6-m telescopes called ExTrA (short for Exoplanets in Transits and their Atmospheres), which are from 2017 active instruments for study the structure and composition of Earth-sized worlds, and address some fundamental questions about planets in our Galaxy. The Galaxy we see just over the
- [Large Magellanic Cloud](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=22306) - About 163 thousands of light years from us, the dwarf spiral galaxy, satellite galaxy of our Milky Way called Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) makes itself as one of the most beautiful close objects in the Universe. Named after legendary explorer Ferdinand Magellan and located not far from the South Celestial Pole, it can be seen
- [Galaxies of the South Pole](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=22285) - The surrounding of the celestial south pole is truly impressive. The Milky Way, our Galaxy, is full of sky gems, such as the Southern Cross (the Crux) constellation, the Coalsack Nebula, the Carina Nebula. Two satellite galaxies of our Milky Way, the Magellanic Clouds, are full HII regions and also regions of stars pulled off
- [Intensive NLC display over Czech Republic!](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=4776) - When someone says or you hear "Noctilucent clouds over the Czech Republic", you barely expect something like this. Just one big WOW! This NLC display on 21st June, 2019, late night, overcame all my experiences of last 11 years of NLC observation from the Czech Republic (central Europe, 50 deg. north)! They became visible just
- [Southern Ways and an Angel](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2744) - When you travel from south to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile, the highway leads you across the mountainous part of the Atacama desert. Staying about 55 km (32 miles) south from Chajnantor Plaetau, home of the ALMA observatory, you can spot the summit of the volcano Miñiques. Surrounded by very slightly illuminated clouds by the
- [The galactic roof](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2708) - Deep in the Kalahari desert of Botswana, me and my friends of Safra-Go.cz spent a wonderful time in beautiful Dqae Qare Farm of Greg Laws. Just the first night after we arrived, on 9th September 2015, the sky was so clear that we literally felt the night nature inviting us in its pure beauty. Once
- [Blue Moon in Blue Hour](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=22107) - Today, on October 31st, 2020, the second Full Moon in the same month appeared in the sky. In folklore, this is called "blue moon" (as it occurs "once in a blue moon"). Of course, Moon itself was not blue so far, however, I made it happen to capture it during the so-called "blue hour" when
- [Spring Full Moon rising](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=6301) - Truly beautiful one! Today, on May 7th, 2020, the perigee Full Moon rose just after sunset over Kuneticka Hora Castle, seen from Dolany, the Czech Republic. Almost 12 kilometers away, the Kuneticka Hora castle was perfectly located with a closer tree to this magical view and so I was able to take portrait of the
- [Moon and Lockdown](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=22100) - By now many countries of Europe struggle with the worst pandemic situation so far. Especially in the Czech Republic. Lockdown restrictions make us locked at home. But at some point, people just have to incline to the small things around such as enjoying natural views and moments. And nature itself, which is our true wealth
- [NEOWISE's Metamorphosis over High Tatras](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=8486) - The Great Comet 2020, C/2020 F3 NEOWISE, remains a huge memory right now, however, hundreds of data still give the opportunity to show something new. Here comes one of most challenging but also educational result of the whole observation of the comet during its biggest brightness in July 2020. Comet made its closest approach to
- [Mirror to the Past](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=21996) - This mosaic is not about what you might think on the first look. There is more--photographic mirror to the past when we were able to see the Southern Cross from higher latitudes of the northern hemisphere! But let's start with the basics. Do you think the view to the sky was always the same? Not
- [Giants or Dwarfs?](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=21902) - The giant dome of one of the 4 VLT telescopes ESO Paranal Observatory in Chile is "leaning" towards space due to the perspective. It hides a telescope with a mirror diameter of 8.2 meters - one of the largest telescopes in the world! Next to the dome is the supporting Auxiliary Telescope AT1, whose mirror
- [Castle and Two Baloons](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=6562) - Not only comet NEOWISE took central stage last night, July 4th, 2020, since the Full Moon occured (penubraly eclipsed later then over Americas). As a tradition, I tried again to make its rise over Kuneticka Hora castle, Czech Republic (observed nearby Osice about 11 km from the castle). While enjoying this amazing view, hot air
- [Planetary Beacon over the Atacama Desert](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=6465) - Immersive Milky Way sets over mountainous Atacama Desert. Bright light over the horizon is NOT a car but planet Jupiter! Captured in ephemeral moment over horizon, it looks like a flash of a beacon. Actually, it sets between two hills, both occupied by domes of telescopes--ESO Paranal Observatory (on left) and ESO VISTA Observatory (right).
- [Pre-Solstice Penubral Lunar Eclipse](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=6439) - This pre-solstice penumbral lunar eclipse on June 5th, 2020, was not easy to see due to wild rainy/cloudy weather over the Czech Republic. Eventually, I found a beautiful spot nearby Hrobice, from where the penubrally eclipsed Moon rose over Kuneticka Hora castle. It was taken at 19:16 UTC, so only 9 minutes before the maximum
- [Shadows cast by the Milky Way?](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=5321) - There are some sensations about dark sky places around the the world. In this peacefully looking wide-angle panoramatic shot of the Milky Way over the Atacama Desert, Chile, one of them can be pretty easily seen. While stargazing, the man in the bottom part (me) leans on a car in the middle of (almost nowhere)
- [100 years of Hoba West Meteorite discovery](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=6416) - This year it is exactly century ago when largest meteorite on ground was found. In 1920, farmer Jacobus Hermanus Brits discovered the cosmic stone while ploughing one of his fields nearby Grootfontein, Namibia, with an ox and heard loud metallic scratching. Shortly after the discovery and scientific analysis the Hoba West meteorite was classified as
- [Gems around Southern Cross](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=6403) - My last way to Chile in July 2019 was not only about the solar eclipse, but also about enjoying the immersive beauty of southern starry sky. One of the most stunning area there is surrounding of famous Southern Cross constellation (or Crux), captured on 3rd July, 2019. Bright four stars Arcux, Mimosa, Gacrux and Imai
- [Moon, Venus, and Three crosses](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=6275) - On April 26th, 2020, a beautiful celestial conjunction occured by late evening hours. The young (crescent) Moon with its Earthshined "face" appeared close by bright planet Venus. Me and my fiend Rene Uxa enjoyed this view by cultural and historical monument called "Three crosses" (crosses of hope) nearby Prameny, Mariánské Lázně, the Czech Republic. Wonderful
- [ISS transits the Perigee Moon](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=6327) - Full Moon night of 7/8 May, 2020, brought two phenomenal moments here in the Czech Republic. The first one was the red moonrise of the perigee Full Moon, the second one even more unuqie--the ISS transit in front of the Moon. I captured this 1.4s short moment right from garden on my cottage, which made
- [Cosmic Station transits the Moon](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=5122) - What is that object transiting the Moon? A cosmic bird? Something better. Almost nobody knew Sundeay evening, 20:18 UTC, the International Space Station invisibly flew in the sky Czech sky until - for observers in narrow path - appeared in front of the Moon. It wasn't coincidence, I knew precisely when to open the camera's
- [Space Station in the Sun](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=5687) - No sunspot? No problem! Today, on 8 April, 2020, I was lucky enough to capture ephemeral transit of International Space Station against the Sun within 0,81 sec! Amazing about this is the solar panels of the station were perfectly turned to the Sun so there is no doubt this is it! The station was only
- [ISS by the Moon](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=5453) - On 5 February 2020, the ISS flew in front of the Moon, seen from East Bohemia. Me and my friend Josef Kujal succeeded with capturing of the flyby and even were able to get some details of the International Space Station, despite the bright twilight. While away from the Moon, the ISS was pretty bright,
- [ISS transits the Moon--again](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=5669) - More and more is to see now - Venus by Pleiades, comet ATLAS and--ISS flying by the Moon. This time I succeeded close by my observation site with full transit. Illuminated Space Station was beautifully visible to naked eyes, here is even more to see, using 1m telephoto lense. Specifically used Canon 6D, MTO 1100/f10.5,
- [The Milky Way within reach](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2982) - Each of us was sometimes dreaming about how it would be within reach with the Milky Way. There are many ancient legends speaking about Milky Way as a sky part of river on the Earth, smoke of souls moving towards a gods or even bride's veil. Along the cultures, the Milky Way was such a
- [Comet Lovejoy touches Whirpool galaxy](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=410) - What an amazing moment in the morning on 27th November 2013. Just when I prepaired my equipment, comet C/2013 R1 Lovejoy was perfectly situated by its tail in front of galaxy M51 called Whirpool (in Canes Venatici constellation). The comet is easily visible to naked eyes out of cities with light pollution. Photo captured from
- [When the Moon rises](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=5783) - I tried to catch up the significant conjunction of the Moon and Saturn on 20th March 2014 from Upice observatory, Czech republic. But I didn't expect that the Moon is so bright even during its rising. So I just enjoyed the show of rising Moon itself and this is the result. It was amazing to
- [While the VLTs were resting...](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=1392) - Usually one of the most scientifically productive ESO Paranal Observatory had to rest on 26th January 2015. Why? The views to the clear skies disrupted a frontal overcast. But as you can see, even in the bad weather the starry sky is still incredible there in the Atacama desert. So while the VLTs were resting,
- [Amazed by Chilean sky and green comet](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2330) - I was totally amazed by this moment, so I took a picture of that. The illuminated dome of the Residencia at ESO's Paranal Observatory in Chile produces no light pollution to impede the work of the telescopes. Above, the magical arc of the Milky Way spans the sky. Green hue and orange stripes are colors
- [Feeling the supercell](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2471) - The Seč reservoir has many faces, but the wildest one is when a thunderstorm is close here. What a surprise in late evening on 25th June, 2016, when perfectly shaped supercell showed in front of me over the calm water. This is not that usual for Czech Republic. And it was so fast - just
- [Colors of the longest eclipse](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=5758) - Enjoy the colors of the century's longest lunar eclipse on 27 July 2018. The Moon was close to its distant point of lunar orbit, making the apogee lunar eclipse. Moreover, as the Moon went through the central part of the shadow, it took over 103 minutes of the total eclipse (the middle sequence). Even if
- [Gettin' closer?](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2685) - The man with the camera, standing against the starry sky and slightly illuminated by the young Moon, is well known and worldly reputable photographer and scientific journalist Babak A. Tafreshi. He was just working on another spectacular photograph over the volcano Miñiques of northern Chilean Atacama desert. While his camera was working and he was
- [Floating by Star Clusters](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=5652) - Venus like a brilliant in the sky by captivating Pleiades star cluster, larger Hyades star cluster with bright star Aldebaran close by. This once-per-eight-years view occured last night, on April 1st, 2020, during stronger moonlight, illuminating the foreground of calm surface of Seč lake, Czech Republic, where even reflections of the brightest object appear like
- [Drops of Lyrids](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=5695) - Five sleepless nights, lots of struggles with Starlink satellites and the light pollution, but weather permitting season between 19 and 24 April, 2020 (after decades here!) with New Moon phase finally allowed me to enjoy this not so known annual meteor shower of Lyrids, caused by debris of comet C/1861 G1 (Thatcher). Enjoy this multiexposure,
- [Kunetic Full Moon](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=5682) - The Full Moon yesterday, on 7 April, 2020, rose up almost in time of perigee, yet in back sunlight scattered not only on (this years' closest) Full Moon, but also on the Kuneticka Hora castle from 15th century, now freshly reconstructed. Image was taken from about 6km distance by Hrádek village, so the castle made
- [Venus like a brilliant](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=149) - UPDATED VERSION to 7 April 2020: The current situation made me resurrect some old data and surprised how far the progress of processing techniques are. So proudly I can introduce you one of my best photographic moment from Uganda, back in November 2013, when bright Venus (now visible as evening star) positioned almost against the
- [A rocket "comet" in the Maledivean skies](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=4705) - While staring in the starry sky, with the Milky Way, Jupiter, Saturn and also Venus with Mercury over Maledivean island Soneva Fushi, a big surprise occurs on 12 April, 2019. From nowhere a big diffuse slowly moving object appears in Aquarius constellation, getting wider and wider, and looking like a big comet in the sky.
- [Venus and Pleiades](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=5647) - Just two day left to unique phenomenon: Planet Venus will glide right through the Pleiades star cluster. Despite stronger moonlight try not to miss this in eveningsky. It only happens this way once in 8 years! Yesterday I was able to catch this view in the shore of Seč lake, Czech Republic, when sky began
- [Comet ATLAS, galaxies and dust](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=5636) - Comet ATLAS (C/2019 Y4), visible by Big Dipper these days, is now a hot candidate for bright comet 2020, visible even to naked eyes in mid-May. Every comet chaser is getting excited about what's going to happen in the next months. While waiting for that, I made it happen to capture The green comet when
- [Two hemispheres sky](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=5529) - Two photographers, two hemispheres, one sky. The view to the night sky is limited by our Earth, meaning in one time at one place we can only see a half of the starry spheric view, the second one is below the horizon. But what if - apart from travelling away from Earth - there is
- [Distant High Tatras in dusk](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=5101) - On September 11th, 2019, I visited eastern Slovakia. It was pretty clear enough to see very distant mountains, so I decided to reach a small summit Straz (altitude 697 meters) and was surprised and awarded by such a beautiful view to Slovakian legendary High Tatras mountains. Unfortunately, I didn't have a camera with me (it
- [On the threshold of creation](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=4504) - In the beginning, there was nothing but dust and gas of light elements concentrated in smaller and smaller piece of one arm of our Galaxy. But then it started: In some part of that nebula the temperature with pressure and density indefinitely rose up until a critical point was achieved and new star has born
- [Quadrantids around dim Betelgeuse](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=5363) - The first major annual meteor shower in 2020, Quadrantids, peaked on January 4th, around 5am UTC. Meteors flying from omitted constellation Quadrant Miralis enter as meteoroids the Earth's atmosphere almost in vertical direction to Earth's orbit, meaning the maximum is very sharp. This year the circumstances with waxing Moon to set around local midnight promised
- [Behold the penumbra](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=5408) - Last night, on January 10th, 2020, the Full Moon made close approach to unsharp Earth's umbra, producing significant darkening on its south edge. Despite wild weather over Studnice by Nové Město nad Moravou, Czech Republic, I made it happen to take this three-hours long sequence. During the maximum phase at 20:10 CET, the Moon was
- [The Winter Hexagon over Oravska Lesna](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=5339) - While spending Christmas time 2016 at Oravska Lesna, Slovakia, I felt sometimes like in a fairytale. Once the landscape covers a fresh snow, it feels like time stops and everyting around just sleeps. Most of winter nights are cloudy, however, when finally cleares up, you can enjoy such a beautiful night sky. Against the faint
- [Twilight Venus and Jupiter pairing](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=5284) - Over the central Europe, the beautiful Venus-Jupiter pairing on 24 November 2019 occured during twilight hours, but planetary duo was visible anyway. Both planets in this view set over Beskids mountains, Czech Republic. Even if cold evening, still wonderful to see such a significant conjuction of the brightest planets in the sky. Last time I
- [Gems of Chinese nightscapes](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=5257) - In period 22nd October to 3st November 2019 I spent beautiful time in China, enjoying especially night moments under (mostly) perfectly dark skies with great photographer Jeff Dai. Visiting some spectacular places in Sichuan province with a luck for weather, I was able to record a few special views of this amazing piece of the
- [All eclipses of 2017](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=3504) - Four countries, four adventures, four unforgottable experiences. One of dreams of eclipse chaser's is to see – or better to successfully photograph – all solar and lunar eclipses of one year. It is not easy so far, considering traveling possibilities and, of course, the weather conditions. And to me, this dream finally came true. The
- [Moonlight storm](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=5249) - Imagine you stay by a lake when night temperatures are still high to feel the summer, Moon illuminates the landscape around you and suddenly a fluffy clouds appear. After a while, frequent lightning turns the calm views to wild natural performance, but not anyhow dangerous since all the lightning is just among clouds. A night
- [In the deserts of Boa Vista](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=4571) - There are many places we really should care about and one of them is definitelly Boa Vista Island, the Cape Verde. Beaches with golden sand, almost untouched by humans, white deserts with dunes form Sahara sand, shipwrecks, nice and polite locals... All of that you can find here. Well, unfortunately there is also dark side
- [For a few Quadrantids](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=4441) - By looking at this shot, you may say I have lost a sence of originality after the recent Geminids and produce just another winter-cottage nightscape with meteors in the sky. Well, the truth is I didn't have any other choice this time. After I found out the peak of annual Quadrantid meteor shower (in the
- [Magical night over Brusnik](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=5224) - Back in September this year, I was sailing Adriatic Sea with group of friend around Croatian Hvar, Korčula and Lastovo islands. The whole trip was truly unforgottable, however, my heart during this trip fell in love with a small island Brusnik. In the sea, seemingly nowhere, that when the night came, you were literally surrounded
- [Amazing views from Armazones](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=4916) - In this view over Atacama Desert (image above), there is so much to see. The arch of majestic Milky Way is accompanied with two largest planets of the Solar System - Jupiter (brightest object) and Saturn (fainter, left way under the Milky Way's bulge). Whole sky is covered by structured airglow of hydroxyl emission, coming
- [Dreamlike night over Mara](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=4246) - Imagine you spend time in a houseboat on turqoise clear lake while young moon sets over distant hills and silver belt of the Milky Way appears in the sky. You only step outside, on the boat terrace, where fishing rods guards the underwater wild but all feels so calm like never ever before. Like this
- [Stars over Broumov Monastery](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=5128) - Some of you might (justly) think this image is unreal composite, reminding us an ancient times when light pollution was only a sci-fi. However, believe or not, this is real. On September 4th, 2019, I have visited Broumov city, where in the center can be visited beautiful Broumov Monastery. The sky was so clear that
- [From little planet to Exoplanets](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=5070) - Four domes of relatively new 1m-diameter SPECULOOS telescopes (first light observed last year) on this "little Atacama planet" try to achieve exciting discovery of new Earth-size planets around ultra-cool or brown-dwarf stars, whose planetary populations are still mostly unexplored. Only a few exoplanets have been found orbiting such stars, and even fewer lie within their
- [Full Moons 2019 to compare](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=5113) - I prepared a comparation of two Full Moons 2019 to be mentioned. Full Moon from morning of 14 March, 2019, is also called "Harvest Moon", cause times ago farmers depended on the light of the Harvest Moon to gather ripening crops late into the night. On the left is, however, quite more unique shot. It
- [Perigee and Apogee Lunar Eclipses](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=4098) - In 2018, very unusual astronomical situation occured: both perigee and apogee full Moons were totally eclipsed. The first one, on 31 January 2018, was one of two so called "supermoons" of 2018 and also second full Moon of the same month (in UTC time), making this one Super Blue Blood Moon. Even if the perigee
- [Solar eclipse over La Silla](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=4854) - Here comes the dream-shot of total solar eclipse over ESO La Silla observatory. The weather was just perfect, sky clear, wind calm, pleasant chill... and the eclipse--just wow. And plus you can also find Orion constellation on left. Sequence shows the whole eclipse timelapse before sunset over the Pacific ocean with the moment of totality
- [Lunar Eclipses Collection](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=4891) - Someone collects stamps, another one butterflies... Here is my little collection of last four lunar eclipses. Same equipment, same exposures, same processing settings. But four different places, four amazing stories and adventures. Will definitely not forget. And there is even more... Years 2018 and 2019 offered four different lunar eclipses, which could be considered as
- [The eclipse hour over Boa Vista](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=4530) - In this calm scene of Boa Vista Island (the Cape Verde) starry sky appears over Chavet beach and dunes close to the Atlantic ocean. Just very low over the horizon, the Milky Way "flows" like a sky river. You may notice several reddish regions, which are, in fact, one of the most notorious nebulae in
- [Beautiful NLCs display over Proseč](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=4769) - The year 2019 is obviously the best in decades to see and enjoy electric blue Noctilucent Clouds all around the world. Seems most of all it is influented by low solar activity but also by meteor dust seeding the upper atmosphere. NLCs are now observable from mid to (even) low latitudes around Asia, Europe and
- [The Sun, divided](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=4753) - On May 26th, 2019, I cought over Ustupky, Czech Republic, bright green rim of the sun divided by cloud while bottom part was fainter due different atmospheric extinction. Prominent green color is probably caused by optical layer with more ozone than in bottom part. Quite lucky shot :) Used Canon 6D and MTO 1100 mm.
- [My private Universe](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=4723) - Many people consider the Universe like something such distant and definitely out of part of our lives. But this is not true. We are part of the Universe, we all should think about our fragility and humility as we never know what the Universe prepares for us next days. But most of all we shouldn't
- [Springtime on sight over Hotel Jezerka](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=4558) - Back in Ústupky-Seč, Czech Republic, and finally with clear skies over my head. The springtime is best for gazing the Orion constellation and Zodiacal light after sunset from here. And this is exactly what you see on this panoramatic picture from 27 February, 2019. I am staring in the brilliantly clear night skies with majestic
- [61 minutes of planet Mercury](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=4547) - On Sunday 24 February, 2019, the weather was so perfect over Garching, Germany, that I could easily track Mercury from its first appearance over ESO Supernova Planetarium & Visitor Centre in dusk sky (18:22 CET) until it reached the horizon (19:23 CET). It is not easy to catch Mercury in the sky, especially from city.
- [Magical eclipse view over the Rhodes Island](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=4153) - What a wonderful time I spent in Rhodes Island, Greece! Enjoying 103 minutes of total lunar eclipse on 27th July, 2018 over cliff of one of most silent and beautiful island's beach, I could see the dark-orange eclipsed Moon in Gegenschein, bright Mars in its great opposition, the Milky Way with Saturn "swamped" in it
- [A meteoroid hits eclipsed Moon](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=4458) - On January 20-21, 2019, the last total lunar eclipse occured until 2021. And it was truly beautiful one. The Moon was not only orange-red this time, but also showed clearly visible bluish tint of turquoise effect caused by Earth's ozone layer. I witnessed the whole sky show from Boa Vista island (Cape Verde), luckily with
- [Comet Wirtanen and star clusters](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=4394) - As the comet Wirtanen gets closest to the Earth, it also gets to one of the most beautiful part of the sky - the constellation Taurus with star clusters Pleiades (upper left) and Hyades (lower left). Weather in the Czech Republic is, however, very bad, so I was truly lucky for about 17 minutes of
- [Something green's coming](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=4371) - The pre-Christmas time 2018 will be very likely related to a comet. And just some comet. On 16th December 2018, just after 13 UTC, the comet 46P Wirtanen will approach very close to Earth. Well, not that close to be dangerous, but close enough to be visible even to unaided eyes. In fact, it will
- [A ghostly glow over Beskids](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=4339) - The most significant side effect of harmful light pollition is definitely loosing dark night skies over our heads. Especially in the central Europe, Japan or eastern US the density of big aglomeration is so prominent that you have to travel truly far away to see something like this. Fortunately all around the world many enthusiasists,
- [Perseid meteor stream over Kolonica](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=4275) - Welcome to the Kolonica Observatory, Slovakia, located in the Dark Sky Park Poloniny. Just this place was in August 2018 perfect center for observing annual Perseid meteor shower caused by debris of comet Swift-Tuttle's nucleus. The celestial show was amazing as usual, bringing even some of spactacular fireballs. Here comes photographic testimony of whole shower,
- [Summer stars over the Czech historical observatory](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2550) - On 31st August, 2016, the summer season slowly slowly getting over, but beautiful part of the Milky Way was still visible. The weather brought one of the clearest night in the Czech Republic, so I decided to visit one of the most magnificent astronomical place in the country: the Historical part of Czech Astronomical Institute.
- [Greek legend over the Christian chapel](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2560) - Human religion is so diverse. All around the world, you can find churches, monasteries, chapels, mosques... The Czech Republic is country of big percentage of atheism or undeclared religion, but along the history there were so many religion acts which led to changes of thinking of our ancestors and made them to build these sacred
- [The glimpse at the solstice Milky way](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=1585) - While on the southern Earth's hemisphere the people would have the longest nights, the summer comes on the northern half of our planet. In ten days will be the summer solstice. This season is totally exciting for everyone because of the visibility of the most beautiful part of the Milky Way with the center of
- [Three diamonds in the sky](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=137) - A story about total solar eclipse on November 3rd, 2013. When the eclipse started (on left side of the image), there were two part of diamond ring, which was unusual (for me first time). It is caused by angle diameter of the Moon in this case of hybrid eclipse. The magnitude of coverage from Pakwero,
- [From Mara to the Mars](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=4303) - On the shore of popular Slovakian lake Liptovska Mara, two wanderers enjoy the view to the Universe. Like a gate behind them, the Milky Way arches in the sky while both of the viewers are so interested in something else there - the bright reddish dot. It is planet Mars, reflected on the surface of
- [Green comet and its accompanions](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=4229) - While the comet 21P Giacobini-Zinner slowly moves out of the center of the solar system, it is still quite pretty in the backyard telescopes. However, the best view can be gottten with sensitive camera. On this sky portrait from 20th September, 2018, the green comet with its tail surround deep-sky objects on the edge of
- [Green beauty between star clusters](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=4219) - Even if a "great comet" is not in sight for a years, there are some photogenic "beauties" in the sky. The brightest one of these days is 21P/Giacobini-Zinner (source of popular Draconids meteor shower), giving us beautiful sky view in the backyard telescopes. The comet's closest approach to Earth occured on 11th September 2018 when
- [Perseid Fireball over the Kolonica Saddle](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=4182) - What a great Perseids peak this year! For the maximum of this favourite annual meteor shower I decided to travel again in the Dark sky park of Poloniny, Slovakia, where not only low light pollution level but also weather forecast promised unforgottable experience. And here is one of the best from the whole show: extremely
- [2018 Lunar Eclipses, compared](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=4159) - The image shows sequence of both total lunar eclipses of 2018 compared to each other. In both cases, identic equipment, setting and post-processing was applied to get the best comparsion possibilities. The white lines show ecliptic (with its sky equator orientation), small crosses mark the centers of Earth's shadow (showed by thee circles around total
- [Red and green flashes over Lichnice](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=4084) - In this view, captured on 3rd July 2018, the Sun sets over the old Lichnice castle-ruins when viewed from the Seč city. While it slowly gets over the horizon, the Earth's atmosphere makes the story even more interesting. Very good climatic conditions allowed to capture several appearances of so-called green flash and also its "counterpol",
- [All around the hidden sun](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=3268) - The date of 21 August, 2017, will be remembered by numerous people as the day of "Great American Eclipse". As the spectacular total solar eclipse occured over many states of US, it was easily possible to find a good place to watch it in the clear skies. I was among the people with best luck
- [Three planets at the solstice night](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=4029) - At the calm solstice night on 20th June 2018 over Seč reservoir, there was so much to see. Besides the summer Milky Way (for northern hemisphere), the most prominent planetary "trio" is visible over the horizon. These three planets are very close to their oppositions dates, in fact during only 79 days they all get
- [Enjoying the wildness](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=3960) - Last night, on 11th June 2018, very strong thunderstorms went accross the Czech Republic. I knew it could be wild, so I was very careful. But still - enjoying this wildeness over the Seč resevoir was as exciting as beautiful. The frequence of the lightning was such big that I could easily take this multiexposure
- [Sprites and Andromeda](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=3950) - The stormy weather over Europe in recent days is perfectly favorable for capturing upper atmosphere lightning, called red spites. Despite short nights over the Czech Republic (due to summer solstice season) I was finally lucky last night, on 11th June 2018 after midnight. This red sprite occured most likely over large thunderstorm located east from
- [From the Lagoon to the Universe](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=1105) - Here comes the strogest moment of the Cook Islands: Capturing (probably) the first nighscape with the Milky Way over the popular Aitutaki Island in all history. This is what I spent for years of hard work in the Czech Republic and 4 months in Zealand's fruit orachrds. Just to earn money to get here for
- [Planetary parade over Seč reservoir](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=3929) - Last night, on 29th May 2018, the full Moon over the Seč reservoir, the Czech Republic, was very nicely accompanied by the bright morning planets with their opposition dates within only 79 days. Looking from right, the brightest planet is giant Jupiter, which reached its opposition and closest point to Earth on 10th May. A
- [Like in Martian wonderland](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=3902) - On this image, taken on 9 April 2016 before dawn, the Milky Way arches over ALMA observatory - the largest ground astronomical observatory in the world, located in Chilean Chajnantor Plateau in 5040m (over 16400ft) altitude. Sky should be deeply dark, considering the altitude, however due to atmopsheric airglow it is not so far. In
- [The way a solar eclipse is...](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=3897) - And this is the way it is. Nature gets darker, all around silences and you are just engulfed by completely unknown face of the nature. You don't know what to think, what to do, it just takes your breath away. The sun gets black, surounded by long motionless streamers of solar corona, looking like a
- [Rare nova over the Supernova](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=3877) - In the end of April 2018, astronomers noticed a "new" star in Perseus constellation, later identified as rare dwarf nova V392 Persei. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't good in hours after maximum brightness of the nova here in Garching, Germany, however I could take this unusually symbolic shot not so late after on 2nd May 2018.
- [The beads of solar eclipse](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=3848) - This surrealistic image shows "story" of total solar eclipse on 21st August 2017 over Guernsey State Park, USA. Story begins from left when total eclipse starts with so called diamond ring phase of the spectacular phenomenon, followed by Baily's beads and full coverage of the Sun by the Moon. Same is shown on right, when
- [The end of total eclipse](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=3626) - One of the most amazing experiences of year 2017 was - with no doubts - the total solar eclipse over USA. Here comes another portrait of this unusual celestial show, captured from Guernsey State Park, Wyoming, during the 2min 19sec long totality. In fact, it shows the ending of the show, when first light of
- [Enjoying the red-moon show](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=3685) - In the scene from the Lamai beach of Ko Samui island, Thailand, a few amazed people were gazing in the sky while special "supermoon" of January 31st, 2018, was turning into red. Story of this total lunar eclipse starts in the bottom half of the image, where the partially eclipsed Moon first time appeared among
- [The colors in the Earth's shadow](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=3706) - The latest total lunar eclipse, on Jan. 31st, 2018, was really colorful. The full Moon spent about 76 minutes in the Earth's shadow, allowing me some experiments focused on revealing the colors of scattered solar light on the lunar surface. I was lucky that for the totality was (almost) clear skies over Lamai beach, the
- [Celestial conjunction over Garching](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=3840) - ... and the spectacular celestial conjuction continues. Today, on 18th April 2018, the young Moon appeared closer to the Aldebaran and Hyades star cluster, while bright Venus and Pleiades were their beautiful accompanions in the dusk show. I was watching the phenomenon through the glassed wall of seminar room in upper deck of brand new
- [The Moon, Venus, Pleiades, and the Supernova](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=3827) - In late evening of 17 April, 2018, rare celestial conjunction occured over Garching bei München, Germany. The crescent Moon was followed by brilliant "evening-star" Venus, and star clusters Pleiades and Hyades. The phenomenon was even more unique as supernova appeared in the view. Well, not in the sky this time. The building you see in
- [The Grand Prismatic World](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=3793) - Even if the human eyes are not enough sensitive for the colors in night nature, it doesn't mean the colors are faded away. In this surrealistic scene, rounded pier lies on colorful landscape of the Yellowstone National Park, US. The vivid (in the picture mostly red-orange) colors are the result of microbial mats around the
- [In the Orion's bay](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=582) - Here on the Seč lake, the Czech Republic, we have couple beautiful bays for nightscapes. Even if the strong light pollution doesn’t allow more experiments with my equipment, this is quite pretty portrait of night sky with Orion the hunter in the sky. It was on April 2nd, 2014, when the moonlit wasn’t so strong
- [Southern lunar eclipse](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=611) - After nervous 680km long drive across the north island of New Zealand for some chances of good weather me and my sister Katerina almost incredibly succeded. We found a small field-road next to the main road to Takatiki, where the clouds miraculously dissipated just couple minutes after beginning of totality and we could be witnessed
- [Two total eclipses](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=3764) - This is not quite original idea anymore since similar (and fantastic!) image has been produced by Wang Letian and Zhang Jiajie, however I had this on my mind for a years. Fortunately, they say "even if two do the same, it is not the same", and this is the only reason I don't feel that
- [Orion supernova](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=3751) - On this freezing-winter scene from historical part of Ondrejov observatory, the hypothetical Orion supernova takes the central stage. The supernova is ending part of the bright star Betelgeuse's life when this red giant collapses inside, producing series of reactions leading to the type II supernova exposion. With its distance about 222 pc (720 ly) and
- [The beautiful freezing view](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=3740) - When I woke up in deep night of 3rd March 2018 in my cottage, the world around seemed too bright through the windows because of the almost full Moon so I couldn’t fall sleep that easily. So I put some more wood in the stove to keep the pleasant warm inside while freezing weather outside
- [The twilight planets](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=3735) - Just today, on 3rd March 2018, two twilight planets appeared in the sky just after the sunset. Brighter Venus was joined by Mercury. Both inner planets pretty quickly set just after I spotted them, but it was enough to capture this spontaneous multiexposure, showing their motion in the sky every 15 seconds over Leškova Hůrka
- [The human sparkler, and bloody Moon](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=3666) - While capturing the total lunar eclipse 31st January, 2018, over the Ko Samui island, Thailand, I experienced it by wonderful traditional Thai fire show nearby. In fact, many people were pretty surprised by the "orange in the sky" as local news didn't bring any information about that. So walking on on the Lamai beach with
- [Zodiacal arc over La Silla](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=3614) - Over the valley of Atacama Desert, seen from ESO La Silla observatory on 16 November 2017, our Milky Way galaxy is going to set. From its bulge, a dim arc of zodiacal light takes a place in the dark Chilean sky with four more galaxies seen on this panoramatic picture. Two of them, the Magellanic
- [Cosmic flames over the Atacama Desert](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=3582) - Where do the red flames over the horizon come from? Well, let me explain it from beginning. While traveling on 18 November 2017 north to the ESO Paranal Observatory, where was planned reportage on 10th anniversary od Czech membership in ESO, I decided to sleepover far from the civilisation - just to feel the magical
- [The galactic curtain over Paranal](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=3558) - Over the horizon of ESO Paranal Observatory platform, located in altitude of 2635 metres, the bright Moon 3 days after new-moon phase is close by Saturn (left up) and Mercury (more distant left bottom). Colors of dusk are still prominent but the zodiacal light visibly appears. The whole scene is horizontaly split bit by brightest
- [Magical Quivertree forest moment](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2125) - As I am not the daytime photographer, I usually just enjoy natural moments before the night finally comes. But sometimes the circumstances just make an opportunity to make interesting shot anyway. Such as in this case. The sunset over the Quivertree forest of Namibia, on 29th September 2015, was of those unique moments. While walking
- [Arching over the Bryce](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=3336) - The Bryce Canyon is one of the most beautiful natural parks not only in US, but in the world. And one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. When you stay in, you litterally feel like in a fairytale. A hundreds of high orange skittle-shaped limestone rocky towers create such a unique valley, offering
- [Dining in Dqae: Better than TV](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=1833) - Have you ever dreamt about dining under the Milky Way? Well, trust me - it's better than watching TV! When I came to Greg Laws' large farm Dqae Qare in Botswana, I didn't even think about something like that. But thanks to Greg's hospitality and incredible helpfulness me and my friends could enjoy this unusual
- [Perseids 2016 over picturesque Vrchteplá](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=3234) - Thirty years ago, in 1986, begun one of the most known Slovakian astronomical tradition called "Expedícia Perzeidy". Over these years, more than 24 thousands of Perseids were scientifically recorded and reported to International Meteor Organisation. Last 20 years of this tradition, the (international) Perseids expedition is organzized by Púchov eko-astro club, Astronomy Club of Juraj
- [Airglow impact over the Yellowstone](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=3300) - Just five days after the American solar eclipse, I was witness of another spectacular astronomical phenomenon. While traveling in the Yellowstone National Park, the biggest challenge was to take a nice nightscape over the Grand Prismatic Spring. Well, it is not pretty safe as presence of dangerous black and grizzly bears is very common in
- [The calm night over the Grand Teton](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=3321) - "Sit on the beach of Jackson Lake, enjoy the panoramatic view of the Grand Teton mountains... and the wonderful August night sky with the majestic Milky Way." This was sound in my head, talking about one of my dreams while I was travelling across the US to see the total solar eclipse 2017. On 25
- [The anticrepuscular eclipse](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=3248) - Last night, on 7th August 2017, a spectacular celestial show appeared over ESO HQ Building in Garching, Germany. The full Moon was rising in the twilight colors while partially eclipsed by the Earth. Best moment occured just a minutes after the sunset when pretty significant anticrepuscular rays showed in the sky, converging in the antisolar
- [The whole Australian eclipse](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=334) - And here is it. The whole total solar eclipse on 14th November 2012 from Mulligan Hwy, Australia. This eclipse was one of the two best in my life (the first one was in Turkey, 2006). Image shows how the Sun was rising above tree horizon, effected by atmospheric turbulation, also beautiful sunspots and, of course,
- [Once upon a time](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2954) - This view from the last summer over the Seč reservoir means so much now. Once upon a time, when I was a kid, I had a dream. I was in love with a girl and I took a journey to find her in the dram. While looking for her in a deep woods, I found
- [Cloudy solar eclipse... Revealed](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2316) - Since the total solar eclipse on 9 March 2016 was disturbed by clouds over Maba village of Halmahera island, I was so happy of the visual experience so far. But somehow I managed even to get some data to a deeper mathematical post-processing, which I learned from prof. Druckmüller. It really took a while, but
- [Into the (in)visible shadow](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=972) - What happened with the Full Moon last night, on 8th October 2014? Well, nothing so special, but still pretty rare. Our big satellite was just "swimming" in the Earth's shadow, producing the wonderful total lunar eclipse. If there wasn't any atmosphere around our planet, we couldn't breathe, but also the Moon wouldn't be that colorful
- [Touches of the Sun](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=3205) - Calm water of Seč reservoir partially reflects unusual scene of after-summer-solstice night by very early morning of 27th June 2017. Since the night never gets dark in the Czech republic around the solstice time, bluish tint of the scattered sunlight in higher atmosphere comes from the northern horizon, on the left. But not just this
- [The dawn Sprite](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=3189) - As the summer on the northern hemisphere peaks, there are lot of thunderstorms here in the central Europe. One of it was located over southwest Poland in the early morning 28 June 2017. Viewed from Klokočov village, Czech Republic (49°48'09.3"N and 15°39'58.6"E), I could capture something more unique than the storm itself - an ephemeral
- [La Silla: The unlimited sky](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=1411) - How many times in your life could you say: Wow! This is really something! If you spend a time at ESO's La Silla observatory, you can bet on having lot of those moments. And this picture shows one of them. Totally stunning view from the 3.6m telescope platform always gives you some opportunity to capture
- [Enjoying the Noctilucent romance](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=3179) - What a wonderful view last night, 24th June 2017! The sky was not clear, so the tropospheric clouds firstly disrupted the observation of the Noctilucent clouds over the Seč reservoir, Czech Republic. But then, however - while dissipating - it made a spectacular colorful sky show with brightening NLCs far over the horizon! Really romantic
- [Higher expectations](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=3175) - Summer storms can be really wild here in the Czech Republic. So when I'd realized a big one was coming late night 22nd June 2017, I prepared myself for really strong experience over the Seč reservoir. But when it came, it was, however, much weaker than expected. So I stood up on the beach with
- [Pre-solstice Noctilucent clouds surprise](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=3162) - What a wonderful surprise in the morning 20 June 2017! When alerted the temperature in the mesosphere is higher than needed for Noctilucent clouds apearance, the hope to see the phenomenon in the Czech Republic was almost on a zero. But just days before the northern summer solstice the temperature went down and NLCs developed
- [The solstice sunset over Lichnice](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=3150) - Every year around the summer solstice, the Sun sets over the old Lichnice castle-ruins when viewed from the Seč city. UNESCO's Lichnice was constructed as in the first half of the 13th century. It was first mentioned in 1261, when it was in possession of Smil of Ronow, who called himself Smil of Lichtenburg and
- [The dark Namibian eclipse in the Gegenschein](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=1745) - On Monday Sept. 28th, 2015, in early Namibian morning the Moon went through the Earth's shadow, producing spectacular total lunar eclipse. This one was the fourth of unusual tetrad of eclipses in 2014 and 2015. Actually, there was much more about the uniqueness of this phenomenon. The Moon was closest to the Earth just an
- [Two rivers in the desert](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=3140) - No rivers in the Atacama Desert? Not exactly true! Well, if you like a metaphors, of course. On the ground, very old trough leads in the "Mars" wasteland, not so far away from the ESO Paranal Observatory. The desert is really dry so the astronomers there have to live with very limited sources and, of
- [Intimate view in the Kalahari Desert](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=1844) - Imagine sleeping in the dry and dusty Kalahari desert. Then you open your eyes, because sudden wind hits your tent. You open the door of tent and go to check out what is going on. And then... this! Even in the dusty air the view in the sky was incredible... As shown on annotated version,
- [Cone of silence](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=294) - This is a comparsion of surrounding over and around the Jamyemonen Primary School of Pokwero, Uganda. I tried to preserve a natural colors and brightness as close as I saw it by my own eyes. "C2" means second contact, the beginning of total solar eclipse. During totality the horizon just took very strong yellow color
- [Jupiter's corona](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=3060) - Not only the Moon or Sun can be source of atmospheric optical phenomenon called corona. Here is wonderful case of appearance of the corona around bright planet Jupiter. While thin clouds were slowly moving in front of it, the moonlit of young Moon illuminated the foreground of northern Atacama desert, Chile, with numerous volcanoes over
- [The sky dialogue](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2087) - The guys down there, sitting and dining: Left one: "I am just curious how the guy up there wants to come to us." Right one: "Yeah, he seems hungry..." The guy up there, close to the car: "Damn, the food smells so goood. Maybe I could try to swim there..." The image was taken at
- [Jupiter and five moons](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=3048) - On the 7th May, 2017, the Jupiter-Moon conjuction occured in the sky. The maximum phase of the wonderful phenomenon was visible over Ústupky, the Czech Republic, at about 1:30 a.m. local time, May 8th, 2017, when the Jupiter was just about 1 degree south from lunar edge. Thin clouds appeared during the closest approach, producing
- [The young Moon](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=3022) - The Moon is such a beautiful when its phase gives you opportunity to see something like this, captured on 30th April, 2017, over the Ústupky, Czech Republic. Directly illuminated side shows lot of lunar craters, while the "dark side" is, actually, not totally dark. It can be seen by naked eyes as well because of
- [First May comet Johnson](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=3037) - Comet C/2015 V2 Johnson is not the brightest comet of this year, but recently definitely the most beautiful. You can find it in constellation Hercules, in the second half of night almost in zenith. The best season for the comet is ahead - in about month. Captured on 1st May 2017 from Ústupky, the Czech
- [Morning star over the Hot Water Beach](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=3019) - What a wonderful view to the Zealand's morning star. This shot of rising Venus I capturen on 7th June, 2014, before I decided to try a luck with morning green flash of the rising Sun over the Hot Water Beach, New Zealand. Used Canon 6D, 70-300 mm, ISO 1250, 1/90s
- [Celestial triangle 2012](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=255) - Absolutely breathtaking celestial triangle with crescent Moon, Venus and Jupiter from beach of Sec reservoir (Czech republic) on 24th March 2012. The winter just ended in this country and icy surface of the water melted during the day. Just after another three days the ice melted completely, so I had really big luck for this
- [Chasing the deep annular eclipse](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2917) - What a wonderful experience on 26th February, 2017, in the deep Argentinian Patagonia. Me and my friend, we both witnessed the deep and incredibly short annular solar eclipse (duration about 53 sec.) in a blue sky with absolutely no cloud! The eclipse was so deep that even if the Sun wasn't covered totally, the environment
- [Twelve minutes before...](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2904) - On Saturday Feb. 11th, 2017, the penubral lunar eclipse occurred in the sky. It would have to be visible perfectly from the Czech Republic, but lot of clouds disturbed the sky show. However, there were some holes in the clouds over the Seč reservoir, so I was able to take this shot and also see
- [Stargazing at Mali Lošinj](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2895) - Croatian island Mali Lošinj is well known for the historical Manora Observatory, founded by Leo Brenner in 19th century. It is also such a beautiful place in the Adriatic sea, where you can be experienced by diverse activities among culture, sport and – of course – time in the nature by day and night. With
- [The celestial X](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2149) - What is this odd view? Is it from this world? A photo montage? Well, not pretty much. This image shows view to the sky in January from both hemispheres. It ingeniously uses the compositions and timing to demonstrate different views in the Milky Way and the zodiacal light close to the Sun in the sky,
- [Like a fallen angel](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2848) - Just three days before Christmas 2016, on 21st December, there was a slight chance to catch an aurora from the Czech Republic. It was cloudy, so I decided to try a luck from Eagle mountains of the country. Unfortunately, the aurora didn't appear in the end, but I took a night walk on the mountains
- [Under the sky shore](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2836) - Sometimes the sky can be so metaphoric. Like in this shot, taken on first day of 2017 over the Oravská Lesná of Slovakia. I took a walk in fresh snow, while the skies cleared up and the stars appeared above me. It wasn't just about beautiful winter starry sky that moment as I'd noticed there
- [Romantic conjunction](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2820) - What a wonderful time for a couple, friends of mine, who came to visit me on 20th June 2015. Both of them had been witnessed by a spectacular Moon-Jupier-Venus triangle over the Seč reservoir while a close fishermen didn't even understand what was going on. The weather, however, limited the view for only a few
- [The noctilucent night](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2823) - As the ongoing season of the Noctilucent clouds 2015 slowly comes to its maximum, I could finally enjoy one of the most wonderful night with this phenomenon over the Seč reservoir. It was 10/11 July 2015, very hot summer night, when I noticed the first structures of NLCs over the northern horizon. The structures were
- [The fairy tale of Oravska Lesna](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2101) - Once upon a time, a pilgrim with a machine called camera was walking around the world. He witnessed so many wonderful places, tried so many adventures, met so many different people. But this place was magical, the unforgettable one. When he spotted a beautiful gretel of Oravska Lesna in Slovakia, surrounded by wonderful hills and
- [The Little prince towards Venus](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2790) - On the "Little prince's planet" Earth is a shore of frozen Seč reservoir of the Czech Republic and tiny snowy blanket full of human and animal footprints. The "little prince" is looking towards the brightest evening star, planet Venus, which is remarkable even in the dusk. Although the horizon is effected by light pollution, a
- [The setting Moon's aura](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2779) - While the Gibbous Moon of 10th December was slowly setting over a cloudy horizon of Seč reservoir, I have noticed there is also higher cloudiness passing by. Just in a short moment before the Moon disappeared, very colorful "aura" created around it. The phenomenon is called Lunar aureole or atmospheric corona, produced by produced by
- [Freezing celestial show](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2757) - Today's (3rd Dec., 2016) Moon-Venus meeting in the sky over the Seč reservoir came up with really freezing weather. So in the meantime of the celestial show, water in the reservoir started to freeze. The brighter Moon in the beginning of this multi-exposition is result of bigger appearance of the cirrus clouds. Except the celestial
- [Sky jewels over the Namibian highest](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2715) - On this calm nightscape portrait you can find so many jewels of virgin dark Namibian sky. Looking from right, the far massif is Brandberg, the highest mountain of Namibia. Just over that, in the right upper corner, a faint anti-solar point known as Gegenschein appears in the starry foreground. A bit lower, just over the
- [The conquest of the Atacama desert](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=1191) - Well, when I was about leaving the La Silla Observatory on 23rd January 2015, I was naturally very sad. The place meant to me so much, I'd just simply fallen in love with that. But the life goes on and other destination supposed to be great too - Observatory Paranal. But it meant two things
- [Raised from the dust](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2677) - Everything on this image comes from a dust. The stars, the Milky Way, even us - we have born from stardust. This portrait of the wonderful time in the Dqae Qare farm of Botswana shows members of Safra-go.cz expedition in September 2015, while they were enjoying the night in the Kalahari desert to shorten waiting
- [Brandberg moon-landscape by the Moon](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2670) - When I planned to go in Namibia a year ago, I had no idea that the country is so various. You can see the Atlantic ocean, seek the stars in the Namib desert, stand on the largest found iron meteorite, find a millions years old petrified trunks, enjoy your time in unique boulder nature reserve,
- [Moon & Mercury over the astronomical Jadran](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2628) - On 29 Sept., 2016, a wonderful morning celestial meeting of Moon and Mercury appeared over Mali Lošinj, Croatia, with two small islands Kozjak (the big one in the center of image) and Sveti Petar island (partially visible on right) of northern Adriatic sea. The place is well known for historical Manora Observatory, founded in the
- [The dawn over Mali Lošinj](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2644) - Croatian island Mali Lošinj is well known for the historical Manora Observatory, founded by Leo Brenner in 19th century. It is also such a beautiful place in the Adriatic sea, where you can be experienced by diverse activities among culture, sport and - of course - time in the nature. On the south-east coast of
- [Green nomad rises, with current and future giants](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2617) - In late March 2016, the green comet 252P LINEAR and its fragment P/2016 BA14 made fifth closest approach to Earth of all comets in history. Even if the comet itself was not such bright to make the people easily enjoy it - due to its nucleus' diameter - it brought a wonderful composition with the
- [Let's fight for the stars up above!](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=1202) - The light pollution is caused by irresponsible lighting in the cities up in the sky. Due to more and more scattered artificial light even very far from the cities there is harder and harder to find some spot with the naturally dark sky in Europe, USA, India or China. There is a way to solve
- [Auroral flowerpot with the Milky plant](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=879) - Another auroras burned very low above the south horizon on 24th September, here at NIWA atmostheric station, Lauder, New Zealand. The opened dome is actually new BOOTES telescope prepaired for exciting detecting GRBs from here. Green color of the dome is caused by reflection of the green light from lidar behind me. As I finished
- [Fisherman against the storm](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2531) - End of the August 2016 and finally one beautiful storm over the Seč reservoir, Czech Republic. While I was standing on the beach late night of 28th August, a beautiful storm created over the lake, slowly moving towards the north. A fisherman went to check his rodes when a wonderful out-of-clouds flash lighted up. This
- [The fulfilled dream](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=5785) - One of my biggest dream was to see the natural starry sky of souther hemisphere. Since 2010 the dream was fulfilled several times and one of those incredible moment happened a month ago in Botseana, in Dqae Qare farm of Greg Laws, where the views were exactly as great as I expected. Thanks to Safra-Go.cz
- [The stormy boletus over Garching](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2509) - While staying in Garching in place of Tania Johnston, who I thank so much for great hosptality, I had a great view to storms passing by on 30th July 2016. The one far away over ESO Headquarters was the most beautiful. With every flash all the cloud shaped like a boletus appeared behind home of
- [Armstrong's Full Moon over Brno](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2504) - On Wednesday July 20, 2016, the mankind celebrated 47th anniversary of the moment when first man walked on the Moon. The legendary mission Apollo 11 with Neil Armstrong, Edwin Aldrin and Michael Collins changed the world when their mission succeeded. The anniversary was special with the Moon phase, almost full Moon. This special day I
- [The Perseid rain over the Kolonica Saddle](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=1700) - The annual meteor shower Perseid had absolute great conditions this year. New Moon occurred just day after the maximum as it was about 6:30 to 9:00 UTC on August 13th, 2015. Last time the "moonless Perseids" were in 2013 and the next time we will enjoy that in 2018. I took a risk for possible
- [Namibian Geminid night](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=1092) - From the notebook of Safra-go.cz... Everyone who watches the skies, knows about annual Geminid meteor shower. The best time for watching it is around 14th December due to Earth's approaching throught the thickest stream of dust particles from 3200 Phaeton. Well, unfortunatelly in this time on the northern hemisphere comes on the winter time, so
- [No boundaries, no limits...](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2050) - The world is so small. The human issues are so negligible. The space is so large... All those thoughts came up to my mind, while I was sitting on the top of the Land Rover (provided by Safra-Go company, which I am so thankful for that!). It was 13th September 2015, just the evening of
- [Cloudy dusk for fisherman](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2457) - What do you think - did the fisherman really catch something in the moment? Well, this will remain as a bit mystery, but what is sure for 100 percents is that he had completely spectacular view to the Noctilucent clouds over the Seč reservoir on 18 June 2016. The sky was full of diverse species
- [Cove of the summer night](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2479) - June nights are so exciting. The Milky Way, view to our starry home, gets up above the head with bright stars well known as summer triangle. Brightest star of the triangle is Vega, distant about 25 light years from Earth. The star became very popular especially due to legendary Carl Sagan's novel Contact (last year
- [The starry waterfall](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2489) - All my life, full 30 years, I was dreaming about this. Seč reservoir is not only place to swim of to fish, but to live in mesmerizing nature of the Iron mountains. Naturally, lot of rocks can be found around, many of them inside the thick woods. But on the base of the highest one,
- [The Galactic whale over the South Pacific](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=939) - The South Pacific is famous for lot of spots, where you can watch the migrating whales. One of the spot is, of course, Rarotonga of the Cook Islands. I saw several whales slowly and gracefully swimming over the lagoon from Rarotonga Backpackers, but the biggest whale was somewhere else - in the sky. That's true.
- [Stargazing on the largest meteorite](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2063) - In the Namibian northern region Onjozondjupa, there is so much to see. But probably the most tempting is the largest found iron meteorite in the world. The Hoba West meteorite, as it's named after the close farm, is one of the most astronomical sightseeing in Namibia and logically belongs to the national natural heritage. The
- [By the young Moon](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2407) - During stay in Chile for international Fulldome expedition of ESO, I could also get far from the observatories to see the beauties of the Chilean desert itself. One of the places we stopped for a while with Babak Tafreshi on 10th April 2016, was close to the Miniques and Miscanti lagunas, about 100 km south
- [Pilgrims of Mars](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2425) - The Atacama Desert of Chile is sometimes called "the Mars landscape on Earth". And this image can pretty much show why. When Babak Tafreshi (left) and me arrived on 4th April 2016 in the deep desert, I just went outside of the car and couldn't breath for a while. I was so thrilled of the
- [From Gegenschein to False dawn](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2351) - Zodiacal light is one of the most prominent "unsolicited" lights in the sky, if speaking about deep sky observation at professional astronomical sites such as ESO's La Silla Observatory in Chile. But the light in the night sky is caused by one of the structures of the Solar System that is curently being studied a
- [Temperament of Halmahera wild](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2383) - Storms are one of the most amazing phenomena on Earth. While staying on wonderful Halmahera island for the spectacular total solar eclipse, I had incredible view from Kartika Buli over the distant tropical horizon on 2nd March 2016. Wild storm was producing beautiful flashes and the starry sky above was completely clear. This is the
- [Spotting the Mercury in front of the Sun](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2346) - On Monday May 9th, 2016, the planet Mercury appeared in fron of the Sun. The rare phenomenon was wordly expected and so many talented photographers decided to take a chance for the best shot. And they were really successful. I didn't have that huge ambitions cause I wanted to enjoy it visually the most, same
- [Breath taking diamond ring!](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2258) - The worldly expected solar eclipse on 9th March 2016 was disturbed by tiny clouds in Maba of Halmahera Island. Half an hour before the totality was even heavy rain. But even if the view wasn't as clear as everybody wanted at the place, eventually we were witnesses of spectacular show anyway. The phenomenon took my
- [Night "pearls" of Maba beach](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2270) - The beauty of the night sky over Jiko Mobon Gulf (Gulf around Mobon Island) at Maba - small village of Halmahera Island (one of the North Maluku islands) where I was a part of group of photographers experienced by 3m 17s long total solar eclipse (a.k.a "Gerhana Matahari Total" in Indonesia language and "Wolte Gallap
- [Equatorial Maba Sky: From Big Dipper to the Southern Cross](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2281) - While staying at Maba village on equatorial Indonesian island Halmahera in this March, I realized one amazing fact. This place with latitude only 40'N, is the best one to capture both of commonly known "pointer" showing the celestial poles. As the north celestial pole can be found by stars of the Big Dipper (pointing to
- [Cloudy, sometimes eclipse](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=1267) - While the people on Svalbard could enjoy the incredible total solar eclipse with no clouds on 20th March 2015, the pity conditions on the Faroe Islands made it completely different. Lot of clouds covered the dreamt-of views into the eclipsed sun and lot of people saw just a darkening world around them, not the eclipse
- [Pure skies above the La Silla observatory](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2015) - Many people are still asking themselves or others, if the view to the sky full of stars, with Milky Way and such dark starry foreground is real. Many people don't even believe that the Milky Way is something easy to see. It's too sad that by living in light polluted cities we completely broke the
- [Seeking the Southern cross](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=283) - First time in Australia trip I saw the constellation Southern cross. Unfortunately just few minutes after came clouds. Used Canon 550D, Samyang 24 mm/1.4, f2.8, ISO 1600, 7x15 s; moonlit. Observed on Conway beach, Australia, on 9th/10th November 2012.
- [Desert eclipse](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2242) - The last remarkable eclipse in the world occured in September 2015. The spectacular total lunar eclipse was visible from Europe, Africa and the US as well. I was so lucky to enjoy it from Sesriem, Namibia, over the Namib desert. I still cannot forget the last moments of this, during partial phase, as the full
- [Resting VLT, airglow "ribs" and mysterious Red Sprites](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=1963) - Would you imagine, how many pictures of the sky can you produce from one-week trip at La Silla and Paranal observatory? Well, after long silence I took a look at the data from my January trip and found out I still have lot of to do. So here we go, this is another result. It
- [The Lone Ear ... Really?](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2174) - What a boring image, right? Well, it's colorful, it has the Milky Way and the dominant subject is astronomical instrument. The reflective plate is, in fact, the Swedish-ESO Submilimetre Telescope at the southern part of the large complex of La Silla Observatory. It suppossed to be antenna observing the Universe in sub-millimetre wavelenghts, which would
- [Seč magical night memory](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2221) - Some moments are so magical, that a man has just to wait until he prepare himself to share the feelings with others. This is one of the moments of mine. It was night on 23rd June 2015 and I was, actually, really upset for incredible bad luck with weather the night before. That time the
- [Summer Galaxy over the Poloniny](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2213) - This portrait of the summer Milky Way from northern hemisphere comes from a magical Slovakian place called Poloniny. Not far from a triple border of Ukraine, Poland and wonderful Slovakia, the Poloniny Dark-Sky Park was declared in the end of 2010 as reaction for world's fights against the artificial light pollution. Patroned by Ivan Bella,
- [Colorful and wild La Silla sky](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=1143) - As Czech Photo Ambassador of European Southern Observatory, I had incredibly wonderful time under the La Silla Observatory sky on 19th/20th January 2015. This time it was far more interesting than I expected. The wonderful colors of airglow waves showed up in my camera immediately, as it was so strong this time. Capturing the beautiful
- [The dancing Sprites over the reservoir](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=1661) - As the hot and dry summertime peaks in the center of Europe, this season finally brings some strong MCS storms visible far from the Seč reservoir. And this night, exactly on the early morning of July 6th, 2015, finally came my opportunity to capture some Red Sprites just by the DSLR camera. I was waiting
- [The fantastic Red Sprites night](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=1687) - As the stormy summer weather over the central Europe is underway, there are many chances to capture the Red Sprites again. I took my camera on the beach of the Seč reservoir late night on 17 July 2015, knowing the strong MCS storm is moving across the central Austria, so about 300-400 km south from
- [The galactic shot](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2207) - The dome of the Very Large Telescope (VLT) of the ESO's Paranal observatory is hiding one of the most scientifically productive instrument of the world. Pointing it's powerful beam in the sky, it feels like the astronomers are somehow trying to communicate with potential extraterrestrial forms of life. But no, this beam has another, very
- [Mario's on the crossroad](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2138) - I still can't forget the last night in south Africa on 1st October 2015. Actually, I remember that like it was yesterday. As we were closing to the civilization from the wonderful Namibia, the night sky was more and more effected by the light pollution. But Mario Runkas, my friend and such a great photographer,
- [Venus and the swimming Moon](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2080) - A year ago, 21 January 2015, I witnessed very unusual view to the darkening horizon before the first stars appeared above the La Silla observatory. Just a minutes after the sun set over the horizon of distant south Pacific, the crystal purity of the Atacama's air allowed me to spot the very young Moon. This
- [The girl, planetary duo and the Noctilucent clouds](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=1622) - The "Noctilucent fever" around the north polar circle is underway and lot of people around the northern world are seeking the NLCs as much as they can. And I totally understand why. Freezing beauty of the NLCs with its electric blue tint and the "cobweb" structures is just incredible in every time of their sighting.
- [Under-warp jump to the Galaxy](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=2036) - What could a camera capture, if we jumped with it up by sudden "under-warp" relativistic speed close to the speed of the light? Well, despite it should break our neck immediately, cause, our body is not prepared for this sudden change, this is what would be close to the photographic result. And of course, only
- [Green flashing postcard from Paranal](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=1995) - It's 26th January, 2015, and the Sun was slowly setting down over the cloudy horizon over the Atacama desert. Well, not that slowly to prepare the equipment, thus I only stood in front of the La Residencia of the Paranal Observatory and from my hand tried to capture the last moments of the Sun's good-bye
- [Sensing the spheres in the Atacama desert](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=1430) - Sometimes there is a moment, which makes you feel the Earth stood still. Caused by the new indescribable feelings and the nature around, you are just experienced by totally remarkable instant. And if you have a good music, which completelly determines that moment, you know you are on the right place in the right time.
- [Three girls and three galaxies above the bay](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=670) - It was just last day of April 2014 and I decided with my sister and also her new czech friends here in Katikati, New Zealand, take a ride into the beautiful surrounding of this city. We decided to travel just few kilometres far from here, to majestic Waihi beach, which ends in Bowentown by small
- [A view under the Universe](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=684) - Moving on, second half of June I spent in Hastings. Kind of retro city offers amazing hills just a few minutes drive from the center. Hill called Te Mata peak (by maori language "the peak of Sleeping giant") is almost 400 meters above sea level and there is a view to east and south just
- [My dreamt-of room](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=902) - Have you ever dreamt about relaxing in bed in the middle of the night and having the view out of the room directly to the Milky Way? Well, I found this spot. It's a room in Lauder School BB, New Zealand, managed by lovely couple Bruce and Esmé MacDonald, where you can just lie down
- [The dreamer of Tenerife](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=1074) - There are lot of beautiful places in the world for dreaming under the starry night sky. One of it is surely the National Park Teide on Tenerife, Canary Island. And that's the place I captured this calm moment with a dreamer lying on the ground, watching the Milky way as a smoke coming from the
- [Largest meteorite, interplanetary dust and gazing stars in Namibia](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=1084) - Lot of dreams come true in very long time, but I was lucky in this way. During my trip in south Africa I could reach another from them pretty quickly. Which one? To see, touch and stand on the largest iron meteorite in the world, Hoba meteorite in Namibia. There is no secret where is
- [Seeking other life... from Okavango](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=1114) - Moving from Namibia, next target was lovely Okavango region in Botswana. Just a few kilometres south-east from Maun, there is small spot close to the part of Okavango delta, where you can stay. And even if the sky was not that dark like in Namibia, we enjoyed the skies too. The night 16/17 December 2014
- [A discussion with flashing](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=1186) - There's no many places in the world, where you can be witness of so unique events in the time. But La Silla Observatory is surely one of them! Why? Well, look at the picture. I was just about trying to capture accidental green or blue flash during the sunset on 21st January 2015, when two
- [The auroral impact over Torshavn](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=1313) - ... and the dream came true. On 17th March 2015 the geomagnetic storm appeared to be the strongest in the current solar cycle (2009 - 2020) and produced absolutely incredible sky show. For me, in Torshavn of Faroe Islands, Denmark, it was amazing surprise just a few days before not so lucky total solar eclipse.
- [From the Earth to the Vega](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=1594) - Over 25 light years. This is the distance between the Earth (little planet down left) and the bright star Vega (the bright star in the upper right corner), brightest one of the Lyra constellation. One of the brightest stars in the sky. And this year it's been exactly 30 years from the moment when Carl
- [We can leave the world...](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=1612) - When I was younger, I had a "walkman" and headphones and I used to listen to one song over and over again, while I was walking by the shore of Sec reservoir close to my cottage. It was song "We can leave the world behind" from Sasha. This such emotional song has awesome moment just
- [Seeking Venus under the Spitzkoppe arch](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=1774) - There are not so many places in the world, where you can feel so small and nugatory in compassion to the nature around you, but also such grateful to the world to be the part of a moment in this beautiful natural spot. With no doubt, one of those places is the Spitzkoppe national park
- [Pink skies and the hidden galaxy](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=1979) - Well known ESO's La Silla observatory lies just under a very colors-active sky. Due to "southatlantic anomaly" can be the upper atmosphere there more impacted by particles from the Sun and bring various colors of airglow there. Unfortunatelly, the colors are invisible to the human eyes, but sensitive camera can easily capture that. Besides the
- [Calm oversleeping in Tsubes](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=1827) - Deep in northwest Namibia lies a small village Tsubes, not so far from legendary Pertfied forests. If you decide to stay the overnight, you can bet on one of the calmest experience in your life. The place is just magnificently quiet, far from all cities and wild animals either. There's almost no civilization, but only
- [Paranal before the daybreak](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=1804) - In the Chilean Atacama desert, 2635 metres high above the sea level, there is ESO's Paranal observatory - one of the most spectacular observatory in the world. When you stay there and watch the pure beauty of the Universe on the technically perfect platform of the observatory with one of the world's biggest telescopes, you
- [La Silla ear vs. Milky Way ear](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=1794) - The ESO's La Silla observatory is one of the most photogenic place for astro-photography in the world. This image seems to be total prove. On the horizon, there is the road between Swedish submillimeter "ear" (left), listening to the Universe, and the hill with the dome of 3.6m telescope (right). Up above the dome you
- [All the dust above the Kalahari](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=1783) - While we were oversleeping in the Kalahari desert on 13th September 2013, the sandy air covered all the views around the horizon of Dqae Qare Farm. But the skies were full of much more farther dust. First at all the interstellar dust in the "falling" Milky Way, making a rich structures of of dark nebulae.
- [The Botswana partial eclipse](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=1770) - So far from the civilisation, just close to one small city called Ghanzi, I had amazing time at Dqae Qare San farm of Greg Laws. Thanks to the location just on the edge of large dry Kalahari desert, the weather was favorable to observe the partial solar eclipse in the morning hours of 13th September
- [The Danish telescope and colorful sky symphony](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=1212) - Other fantastic view from the magical night 19/20 January 2015 at La Silla Observatory. This one is even more symbolic than others, because it shows Danish telescope, which use even Czech observers as members od European Southern Observatory. And even if I didn't know, this was the case. While I was capturing the segments for
- [The Milky way all the way](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=1217) - Have you ever happend that you just stood on a place from which you saw the Milky Way even behind you? Well, this place is called La Silla Observatory. Even though this image could seem like a photomontage, trust me - it's not. This is real view between platforms of the telescopes at La Silla
- [The view to the green comet](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=1133) - New year, new comet, same discoverer. Terry Lovejoy is amazingly lucky guy. Almost always he discoveres a new, relatively bright or even naked-eye visible comet for Christmass and new year time. And this one is not the exception. Comet C/2014 Q2 (Lovejoy) is another beautiful surprise discovered the last year and now it makes a
- [La Silla Interstellar](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=1161) - The poster of the brand new (and for me amazing) Christopher Nolan's movie Interstellar had impressed me as the movie itself. I was wondering if the mystic colors of the Universe is possible to capture without complicated equipment. Well, I guess it wasn't that easy as creating the poster, but the result was worth for
- [Comet Lovejoy at La Silla Observatory](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=1171) - The sky at Chilean Atacama desert is just incredible. And I was so lucky with visiting the La Silla observatory on 19th January 2015 - just right on time when the comet C/2014 Q2 Lovejoy was approaching close to the open star cluster Pleiades. The conditions were just amazing, so I didn't have any problems
- [Colors of airglow above the La Silla Observatory](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=1532) - While I was observing the skies above the La Silla observatory during the majestic night 19/20 January 2015, I didn't know that was possibly the best night for capturing airglow in my life. It started after the sunset, when I was focused on observing and capturing of the comet Lovejoy passing Pleiades. A waves of
- [One day we'll sail there...](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=1724) - Another beautifully calm night over the Seč reservoir came on 16th July 2015. The Milky Way looked like a river in the sky, so I just walked on the coast until I found this abandonment boat. Then it just came up in my mind: This starry river is still a visual metaphor for our liquid
- [Inhabitation of the Galaxy](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=1718) - Sometimes there are a views, which make you think about how lucky and fragile in the same time we are. This view, captured on 12th June 2015 late night, shows my cottage close to the Seč reservoir against the Milky way - the starry island we all live in. How far the stars are and
- [Perseid pathways](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=42) - Maximum of annual Perseid meteor shower of 2013. The fantastic view is captured from Ivan Dolac of Hvar, Croatia, where I was able to watch meteors every day without any clouds between 8th and 14th August. A mountains on the horizon are the highest ones of the island - Hum, Česminova and Sv. Nikola. Every
- [Is there still a time for swimming?](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=1678) - What a wild night on July 7/8, 2015! Very strong thunderstorm was about coming over the Seč reservoir, so I was so excited to enjoy the last hot minutes in the natural "tub" before the storm brought even very perceptible chill. Well, the storm was faster, unfortunately. But I put my camera just on the
- [The calm planetary guardians](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=1651) - Like a calm guardians in the sky, there was the beautiful duo of Venus and Jupiter on 1st July 2015 in the sky. I was looking for the best spot on the beach of the Sec reservoir as the planets were slowly moving down to the western horizon. I couldn't find anything what could be
- [Waiting for a night fish... with planets](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=1616) - Here slowly comes the end of June 2015 and with this end should come even more remarkable event than just turning over the list of calendar. Just a dozens minutes after sunset a pair of bright planets - Venus and Jupiter - are taking the center stage as the Moon is waxing. Like on this
- [The ways at the Izera](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=1448) - Are there any dark places in the Czech Republic for the starry-sky photography? Well, this question can be answered in a few places known like "dark sky parks", which are founded by lot of enthusiasts of the Czech Astronomical Society. One of those areas is Czech-Polish Izera Dark Sky Conservation in the Izera mountains, where
- [Calm and storm](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=1387) - Sometimes you just wait for the perfect moment, which represents the nature of your soul. Well, this one is possibly the perfect, describing myself. Ostensibly calm, I still fight for something better, unique, memorable... At least to capture an image like this. Far storm passing away from the Sec reservoir produced a beautiful and powerful
- [Celestial meeting point in Taurus](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=1417) - As the time goes by, back in the Czech Republic there is probably the only place I really love. It's my childhood place - Sec reservoir. Spending time here means just remembering the amazing views to the naturally dark skies above Atacama desert or the Cook Island and New Zealand. Nothing like that is visible
- [The magic Mangaia night](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=761) - Back in the paradise! The Cook Islands were just amazing. Too sad that I had to leave. After that New Zealand is "only" a beautiful country. I still remember the beautiful night sky on 25th/26th August 2014 on Mangaia island, where is almost nobody - just so nice local people and the night sky like
- [Do you believe in paradise?](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=768) - Do you believe in paradise? Many people still dream about it, but I don't have to anymore. I was there. Turqoise lagoon, beautiful Polynesian dancers, smell of the ocean, coconut palms... But not only that. After a long wait, my first night - after 4 years waiting to get here again - came on 18th
- [The place I left part of my heart...](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=1059) - One of the best places I have ever visited in my life - the legendary Aitutaki island of the Cook Islands. This image is, actually, probably the first astro-photography captured from the island ever, captured 30th August 2014. It's kind of shame, because the sky above Aitutaki is just incredible. Even if I didn't have
- [Where James Cook appeared...](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=1071) - Tolaga Bay is awesome place with the longest wharf in the country. Well, this place is also known for James Cook sail around. And as I stood on the beach this August 12th (2014), waiting for the moonrise, I realized this is probably the same direction where the Maori people could see James Cook coming
- [On Waiheke island...](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=602) - Finally on New Zealand! After first meeting with Kiwis I decided to see some place with darker night sky. Because of necessary administrative staying in Auckland first days the weekend I spent on beautiful island Waiheke nearby the city. Except absolutely breathtaking sunset over the north Oneroa beach I finally saw dreamt southern Milky way.
- [Winter sky, comet Halley's dust and meteor smoke above Roque Cinchado](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=1024) - As I moved to the Canary Islands, my goal was to spend some time in the amazing Teide national park in Tenerife during the peak of annual meteor shower Orionids. The particles causing "shooting stars" are originally from Halley's comet, which was closest to the Sun in same year as I was born. So a
- [The light portal to the Universe is ready...](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=886) - Most likely you see in this image Luke Skywalker, hidden in the building with his light-sword. Or some of you see the light portal to the Universe. Where in New Zealand can you find this portal? Let's visit very small village Lauder in Central Otago. Even dozens kilometres from that, you can see very strong
- [Aurora Australis from NIWA atmospheric station](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=861) - Moving on, now the south island of New Zealand. Here I visited the NIWA atmospheric and meteorological station. It's located far away from big cities, just a kilometer north from the sign of small village Lauder. The station is focused on lot of measurement, especially of ozone layer. Actually in the previous century, when it
- [A postcard from Rarotonga sunset](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=790) - Have you ever seen the movie "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End"? And do you remember how was captain Jack Sparrow saved from the underworld? Just jumped to the world after a green flash... Well, this is based on a real phenomenon, even if not visible every day. Actually, it's very rare and you
- [Mangaia: The window to the Universe](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=765) - What a beautiful night on 25th/26th August 2014 on Mangaia, the Cook Islands. I witnessed shooting stars from the descending activity of Perseid meteor shower, incredibly bright zodiacal light and zodiacal bridge across the sky and Milky Way with countless dark nebulae – dusty clouds in the level of our Galaxy splitting the Milky Way
- [Between two ways](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=749) - There are two ways on this picture, captured on 29th June 2014 not so far from Waihau beach of New Zealand. The first way is on the ground, heading to far beach. The upper way is much more unique to see - it's a projection of our Galaxy called Milky way. Somewhere far seems to
- [Swimming crescent](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=754) - Gisborne, 28th July 2014, an evening after long and hard job on mandarin orchard. Finally just last two weeks left here and then hopefully dreamt trip to a paradise. Twilight is on way and suddenly that - absolutelly thin crescent of the Moon! I have never seen something like that before - Moon was like
- [Southern universe](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=719) - Even if there is no up or down in the Universe, from the Earth people directly distinguish south and north. Especially if talking about specific parts of the sky. And this is the prove. Probably the most part of Milky way - from the Scorpius to Southern Cross is almost whole domain of southern hemisphere.
- [The blue and green flash](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=742) - How rare phenomenon! When the Sun on 7th June 2014 rised above the Pacific ocean from Hot Water Beach, New Zealand, I was able tu capture so amazing moment - a blue flash. Occasionally is possible to capture the green one caused by the atmospheric bending or refraction of sunlight. But to see (and capture)
- [Airglow, sheeps and Magellanic clouds](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=702) - Te Mata peak again! Great place to astrophotography didn't dissapoint even on 20th June 2014 ad allowed me to make new portraits of colorful southern night sky. This time the main part was played by sheeps on one small summit with Magellan clouds above. So close and so far in same time. And red airglow
- [What Tolkien didn't see](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=692) - As Peter Jackson made New Zealand so famous by the Lord of the ring movies, everybody is traveling across the country to see the places of all scenes. But does everybody think about what could Glumm or Frodo actually see, when they spent every night of their journey under the clear skies? Well, this could
- [Inside the Cathedral](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=715) - One of the most famous places on the north island of New Zealand is Coromandel peninsula. Amazing stony coves with far rocky islands like a teeth of dragon from seas are maybe the most visited in this area. One of the most visited and photographed place is "Cathedral cove". People travel here especially during dusk
- [Memories from Hot Water Beach](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=711) - One of the most famous places on the north island of New Zealand is Coromandel peninsula. Amazing stony coves with far rocky islands like a teeth of dragon from seas are maybe the most visited in this area. But also very popular is "Hot Water Beach", where you can literally dig your own spa during
- [Sheepy Moon](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=708) - If you are on New Zealand, just deal with the sheeps everywhere. Sheeps on hills, sheeps ond roads, on farms, on roofs... and almost on the Moon. This lucky shot I made in the morning on 20th June 2014 before planting job on hills above the Pourerere Beach, New Zealand, where not to meet a
- [On the edge of the world](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=677) - I was walking on Waihi beach (New Zealand) on 19th May 2014, waiting for the moonrise. Just dozens minutes before rose up stunning part of Milky way - the center. And then I realized, how sometimes people think they are alone in the Universe. But what if not? How many others are there, how many
- [Jewels of the southern sky](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=653) - Before the Moon on 21st April 2014 rised, I had to use every minute without the moonlit on Waiotahi beach, New Zealand, for capturing images of "jewels" of southern sky. Two of them are maybe the most famous. First at all the Large Magellanic cloud visible to naked eyes and in telescope with bright nebula
- [Southern new Moon](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=663) - 1st May is actually in Czech republic day of love (like US Valentine's day) and there is a tradition that a man has to kiss a girl under fructiferous sherry tree, or her feelings will freeze during that year. Well, I couldn't do that here in Katikati, New Zealand, this 1st May 2014, but what
- [Colors of the south pole](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=644) - The amazingly clear sky on Waiotahi beach of New Zealand (nearby Island View Car Park of Opotiki) on 21st April 2014 allowed me to do this composite image of the south sky pole. If you know where and how, you can easily create a portrait of maybe the most beautiful part of the Milky way
- [Airglowed Waiotahi beach](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=625) - Another stop on north island of New Zealand - beautiful Island View family park on Waiotahi Beach (nearby Opotiki). Even the sky didn't look well during the day on 19th and 21st April 2014, some clouds were passing by, after sunset cleared up. It was worth it. I started testing the sky quality and suddenly
- [Bridge over the troubled... volcano](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=7) - Milky way in National park El Teide, Tenerife, Canary islands. The far peak is Pico de Teide, highest volcano of Spain, erupted last time around 150 000 years ago. The stone monument left is “tooth” stone called Roque Cinchado. Even the volcano is sleeping now, it's not dead. One day this “troubled” volcano will change
- [Colors of La Palma starry sky](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=495) - If you get lucky, you can be witnessed by somethin amazing. Like me on the summit of Roque de Los Muchachos, La Palma (Canary islands) on 29th September 2013. We had amazingly clear skies, so I could capture this breath taking view. You can see colors of leaving twilight on horizon, dark sky with structures
- [Spotted Sun setting...](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=239) - The Sun setting on 9th March 2012 with huge sunspot AR1429. During this sunset were visible amazing atmospheric effect on the top edge of the Sun. Used Canon 550D, Tamron 70-300mm@300mm, ISO 100. More images in galery on Ukazy.astro.cz.
- [An evening of reflections](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=569) - How the time goes fast. Last time I photographed the Moon, it was just weeks ago during its midnight rising. Now there is a fresh new young crescent, very special one. In this lunacy there's gonna come two eclipses: total lunar eclipse on 14th April and annular solar eclipse on 29th April visible from Antarctica.
- [Moon like mirror](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=556) - This image is very symbolic. Even if there is just the Moon, in the time of capturing it was happening another phenomenon - Venus transit. Yes, this is the Moon before sunrise of 6th June 2012, when the last Venus transit occured. Right in the moment I cought up this image, another "big eye" was
- [Total solar eclipse 2009 in China](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=175) - Total solar eclipse on July 22nd, 2009 in Baraka style. Dark Sun from Country of dragon and Roof of the world. Science versus Buddhism. You can see Qomolangma (aka Mt. Everest), prayers in Lhasa, Great wall, Terracotta army and solar eclipse from Hangzhou. Corona during eclipse is made by mathematic process of digital pictures by
- [Last Venus transit](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=112) - Morning Venus transit 6th June 2012 from Kuneticka hora, Czech republic. Used Canon 550D, MTO 10/1000. Detail view is through Dobsonian telescope (0.35 m, f5), where the dot of Venus changed into "waving" circle as the Sun rised up in the morning shimmering atmosphere. Last Venus transit had perfect conditions from Czech republic - just
- [The Moon's shadow](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=109) - A two minutes of indescribable show... Canon 550D, MTO 500/10, HDR from HD video frames; Canon 450D, Samyang 8 mm, 1/3 s, ISO 400, f/3.5; 14th November 2012, Mulligan Hwy, Australia.
- [The beauty in darkness](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=170) - Timelapse of 2012 sky phenomena: Moon haloes, Venus transit 2012, NLCs 15th June, airglow, Perseids, storms and total solar eclipse on 13th November. Locations: Seč reservoir, Czech republic (melting ice, Milky way, Venus-Jupiter conjunction, north pole, sunset with fishermen); Kunětická hora, Czech republic (Venus transit); Korčula island, Croatia (Milky way, skywatchers); Ondřejov observatory, Czech republic
- [The sun rays](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=123) - Beautiful crepuscular rays above a cottage. Canon 550D, Samyang 8 mm, f5,6, ISO 100, 1/640 s; 11th July 2013, Klokocov, Czech republic.
- [Solar eclipse and stars](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=29) - Stars during total solar eclipse 14th November 2012, Mulligan Hwy, Queensland, Australia. 11x1/4 s, ISO 400, Samyang 8 mm (f3.5). Detail of corona processed by Miloslav Druckmüller from datas by Jan Sladecek.
- [Good morning, La Palma...](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=78) - Shadow of La Palma peak after the sunrise from Roque de Los Muchachos. Absolutely incredible experience. Canon 6D, Samyang 24 mm, f4, 1/500, ISO 320; 30th September 2013.
- [Tenerife panoramas](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=377) - Breathtaking views of Tenerife island (Canary islands) captured during trip from 1st to 3rd October 2013 especially from El Teide national park and summit of volcano Pico de Teide (3781 metres above sea level). Used Canon 6D; Pentacon 135/4, Samyang 24 mm and Sigma 15 mm. See also La Palma panoramas.
- [La Palma panoramas](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=363) - Stunning views of La Palma island (Canary islands) captured during trip from 28th to 30th September 2013 especially from volcano San Martin and above observatories of Roque de Los Muchachos. Used Canon 6D; Pentacon 135/4, Samyang 24 mm and Sigma 15 mm. See also Tenerife panoramas.
- [The heart of volcano](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=72) - The lava field and heart of volcano in National park El Teide, Tenerife, Canary islands. Canon 6D, Sigma 15 mm, f11, ISO 250, HDR; 2nd October 2013.
- [A green flash](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=513) - Last sunset above sea from Tenerife before leaving; 5th October 2013. And so lucky one! The sky was clear and I just prepaired for catching a green flash before the Sun just said good-bye. And I couldn't even say anything after I found out I really succeded with my expectation - the green flash was
- [Two eclipses of Autumn 2013](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=289) - Two eclipses of same lunar period. Lunar eclipse observed from Ustupky, Czech republic and the solar one from Pokwero, Uganda. Used Canon 6D, 1000/10; lunar eclipse: ISO 500, 6x1/400 s, stacked in Registax, 40% saturated; solar eclipse: ISO 250, 3x1/500 s.
- [On the border between day and night](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=499) - When you stay on some place with absolutely clear skies and also clear air, you can see something like that. It still not dark night, the western horizon is bright by the leaving twilight. But there in National park El Teide, Tenerife, you would be witnessed by central Milky way anyway. The bright point is
- [Perseids 2012](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=326) - Maximum of annual Perseid meteor shower 2012 from August 12th to 14th from Pancir, Sumava, Czech republic. Used Canon 550D, Samyang 8 mm, ISO 3200, f5.6, no darkframe, 30x25 s - stars, 19x25 s - meteors; processing: Petr Horálek, processing theory: Miloslav Druckmüller. Also in the morning on 13th August 2012 there was beautiful morning
- [A fight for zodiacal light](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=535) - This is colorful, but also kind of sad portrait of night sky above Jizerka, Czech republic. It is place known as Izera Dark Sky Park and even there is very hard to capture really dark sky with zodiacal light. The strong light pollution in central Europe is literally effusive. So on many places or great
- [A memory of Tenerife monuments](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=528) - It has been a long time since I left the majestic national park El Teide on Tenerife, Canary islands. But still have many datas for processing. This is result of one of it. It was cold night 2nd October 2013, but so clear to make so many portrais of starry sky. One of the most
- [A sky horseshoe](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=517) - Deep night from 2nd to 3rd October 2013. An amazing conditions of sky in National Park El Teide, Tenerife, allowed me to make very unusual portrait of sky. Down there you can see terrain of park with peak of volcano El Teide and above it - high around zenith - there are two columns. First,
- [Sleeping volcano](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=503) - And here is it. The majestic peak of volcano Pico de Teide on Tenerife, the third highest volcanoes of the world (measured from undersea botom). It sleeps more than one century; last really cruel eruption was about 170 thousands years ago. But it still only sleeps, scientists expect it gonna wake up again. And when?
- [Clear skies, sometimes airglow](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=477) - What a strong airglow here in Oravská lesná! I was just amazed by dark sky in Slovakia and went to capture some images of Jupiter oposition in Gegenshein. But when I started with photography here, I noticed something amazing - literally clouds of red airglow in all the sky above. The strogest part was capturable
- [Thai lunar eclipse 2011](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=244) - I was lucky man, when I could see this amazing phenomenon. Just the idea to watch total lunar eclipse on 10th December, 2011, from place of heat and sea nearby evocated excitement. I traveled with my czech friends Martin Popek and Marek Bruk to Pattaya, Thailand, where we decided to observe this lunar eclipse from
- [The hole into the luminescent sky](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=437) - Last Christmas I decided to spend in Oravská Lesná, Slovakia. And I don't regret. On Dec. 27th, 2013, I tried to observe comet C/2013 R1 Lovejoy. But the sky was still wierdly bright and kind of green. So I changed lenses to find out and suddenly this: maybe the most intensive airglow I have ever
- [My little cottage planet](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=434) - As usually, during christmas vacation I had to visit my the most favorite place in my life - cottage in Ustupky, Czech republic. It's kind of unusual, but just one day before Christmas (23rd December 2013) we have no snow here. But is the winter without snow so big problem? Of course not - if
- [Comet Lovejoy's Crown](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=425) - Comet Lovejoy is slowly moving above the arc of Corona Borealis constellation, which is incredibly photogenic. I was very lucky on 6th December morning, because I had just a few minutes of hole in the clouds, right before orcan Xaver hits central Europe. Also during capturing this exposure two satellites (probably Iridium) flew in the
- [Comet Lovejoy in Bootes](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=416) - Comet Lovejoy is just beautiful even near cities with light pollution. Like this morning - on 3rd December 2013 above trees of Úpice observatory, Czech republic. Even it high clouds covered clear view to the comet, it was visible to naked eyes. Thank you, Terry Lovejoy, for another succesful discovery... Used Canon 6D, Samyang 24
- [Twilight comet Pan-STARRS](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=342) - Very expected comet C/2011 L4 Pan-STARRS kind of dissapointed. But not in its shame, only because of observing conditions only minutes in twilight. I waited for every possibility to catch this "hairy beauty", but had bad weather. Finally on 20th March 2013 I succeeded from Úpice observatory, Czech republic. Used Canon 6D, RL 0,28 m/10,
- [Comet ISON and Mercury](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=396) - A morning beauty C/2012 S1 ISON discovered by Vitali Nevski and Artyom Novichonok on 21st September 2012 finally came on the morning show time, which should peak on 28th November 2013 by dramatic comet's approach very close to the Sun. Till the time was so hard for me to see it because of the weather.
- [Four planets and the Moon](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=349) - What an inetresting evening on 24th May 2013. As expected, the twilight western horizon offered three planets (Venus, Jupiter and Mercury). But that wasn't all. In the same moment high above south-east the Moon was in company with planet Saturn. High clouds came for making it even better and scattering moonlit created colorful corona around
- [Green paradise](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=353) - Milky way over Korcula island, Croatia, from Ivan Dolac, Hvar (10th August 2013). The green color of Jandran sea is caused by light from reastaurant behind me, which lighted on the bottom of the sea. But the Milky way was still so bright. Used Canon 6D, Samyang 24 mm, f4, ISO 6400, 30 s
- [Orion, the winter hunter](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=346) - A single shot of Orion constellation above frozen Sec reservoir on 2nd March 2013. The winter has still its magic... Canon 6D, Samyang 24 mm, f4, ISO 5000, 15 s.
- [The south pole](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=339) - First stack of short tripod exposures of the south sky pole. Observed on 16th November 2012 from Mulligan Hwy, nearby Mt. Carbine, Queensland, Austraila. Used Canon 550D, Samyang 24 mm/1.4, f2.8, ISO 1600, 68x15 s.
- [Green and red airglow](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=81) - Milky way, galaxies, open clusters, California nebula, Gegenschein and two colors of airglow. Far source of light pollution is Tenerife with peak Pico de Teide. Canon 6D, Sigma 15 mm/f2.8@f3.5, ISO 10000, 53x15 s; 29th September 2013, Roque de Los Muchachos, La Palma, Canary islands.
- [Stormy Uganda](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=300) - Watchig stars in Uganda is so dramatic. In one moment you are impressed by amazing dark sky with zodiacal light and Gegenschein, with Milky way or strong brightness of planet Venus, but just few minutes after a storm comes. But to see both of it - starry sky and far flashing - that worths a
- [Gegenschein in Taurus](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=331) - Here is detail of sky on 9th November 2012 from Conway beach, Australia. This amazing place offered me so many options fro shots. I decided for this - to catch bright Gegeinshein in Taurus constellation with star clusters Pleiades, Hyades, planet Jupiter and California nebula. Used Canon 550D, Samyang 24 mm/1.4, f2.8, ISO 1600, 44x16
- [The ruins and planets](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=320) - One of the best view in my life was meeting with impressive celestial triangle of 25th March 2012. The crescent Moon was just a few degrees from planet Jupiter and Venus, all together in constellation Taurus with Pleiades cluster. I decided to catch this amazing conjunction from Riuns of Lichnice, old castle in Podhradi, Czech
- [Winter celestial triangle](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=312) - Like a Christmass present the sky cleared up on January 27th, 2012, so I finally could catch this beautiful celestial triangle. The brightest object is the Moon, then two planets - Jupiter and Venus. And, of course, significant constellations of winter sky - Orion and Taurus. All from the roof of Astronomical institute of Czech
- [Full Moon lunar corona](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=315) - A faint, but really colorful "lunar corona", which occurs by scattering of lunar light on small particles of huminidy. This one I observed on 8th February 2012. Used Canon 550D, Tamron 70-300 mm, ISO 200, HDR of 7 expositions.
- [Murchison Falls, pearl of Uganda](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=306) - As Crammy Wanyama says: The spectacular Murchison Falls are usually among the top on the list of highlights for most travellers touring Uganda and Murchison Murchisonfalls National Park in particular. And he's right. When we came on the spot, the Sun was covered by cirrus clouds, so we could easily see right "sundog". With this
- [Magellanic clouds, meteor](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=277) - Magellanic clouds and meteor in mystique night on 9th November 2012 on Conway beach, Australia. I was just standing like frozen stone and watching first time in my life to these two magnificent dwarf gallaxies. When I set up the equipment and started to make expositions, suddenly had fallen a bright meteor just a piece
- [Perseid fireball](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=272) - Brightest fireball of annual Perseid meteor shower in 2012. Its brightness was about -9 magnitude and more than 14 minutes was visible cloud of its trail. Lucky time, because I had two cameras (one with wide-angle lenses, second by my hands with 17-50 mm lenses), so I could do complex photographic record of this unique
- [Noctilucent fever 2012](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=119) - The brightest NLCs maybe ever from Czech republic on June 15th, 2012. Observed from observatory Ondrejov, Czech republic. Used Canon 550D, Tamron 17-50 mm, f3,2. More images of these NLCs in this article.
- [Winter Mt. Snezka](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=234) - The highest peak of czech Great mountains, Snezka, on freezing December day (29th December 2009). Used Nikon Coolpix L19.
- [182 flashes](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=103) - A strong storm on August 6th, 2012, produced during one hour 182 flashes. Used Canon 550D, Samyang 8 mm, 148x30 s, ISO 200, f5.6. Astronomical institute in Ondrejov, Czech republic.
- [Colorful flashing](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=106) - Canon 450D Rebel Xi, Tamron 17-50mm@17mm, 16x30 s, ISO 200; 6th August 2012, Astronomical institute in Ondrejov, Czech republic.
- [Colors of winter Sec](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=100) - Colors of winter Sec reservoir just few minutes after sunset. Canon 550D, Samyang 8 mm, ISO 100, f11, HDR; 28th December 2012.
- [Partial lunar eclipse](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=97) - Partial lunar eclipse on April 25th from Úpice observatory, Czech republic. Used Canon 550D, MTO 500/10, 12x1/40 s, ISO 400. Images of the Moon are situated relatively to the center of the Earth's shadow.
- [The dark coalsack rises](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=89) - A magnificient moment, when the Milky way near southern sky pole rises up with Southern cross and dark nebula called Coalsack. Two Magellanic clouds make the moment so unique... Canon 450D, Samyang 14 mm, f4, ISO 1600, 79x30 s; 16th November 2012, Mulligan Hwy, Queensland, Australia.
- [Twilight clouds](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=94) - Colorful cumulus clouds shining after sunset. Canon 6D, Pentacon 135 mm, f5.6, ISO 200, 1/60 s; 20th May 2013, Ústupky, Seč reservoir.
- [Noctilucent clouds 2013](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=115) - Very bright noctilucent clouds visible from Úpice observatory. Used Canon 550D, Samyang 8 mm, f5,6, ISO 800; 30th June 2013. More images on Úpice observatory website.
- [Summer night](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=84) - A cottage in summer night. Canon 6D, Samyang 14 mm, f4, ISO 8000, 68x30 s; 8th July 2013, Ústupky, Czech republic.
- [Very sexy storm](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=51) - A storm coming, stars moving. So sexy... Canon 6D, Canon 15 mm, f7, ISO 10 000, 27x30 s; 4th August 2013, Úpice, Czech republic.
- [Somewhere over the Jadran sea](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=45) - Far storm above Jadran sea from Hvar, Croatia. Storm was moving almost radially, so I could easily make a picture with center of the Milky way above it. Used Canon 550D, Samyang 24 mm/f1.4@4.0; ISO 6400; 89x30 s; 10th August 2013.
- [Foggy Big Dipper](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=126) - The Big Dipper constellation just few minutes before fast coming of a fog. Canon 6D, Samyang 24 mm/f1.4@f2, ISO 1600, 20 s; 9th September 2013, Úpice, Czech republic.
- [From Southern cross to Sirius](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=62) - Canon 550D, Samyang 24 mm/f1.4@f4, ISO 1600, mosaic of two images 32x15 s, from tripod; Mulligan Hwy, Australia, 16th November 2012.
- [Waking Pico de Teide](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=65) - A breathtaking dusk on San Martin volcano. The peak on horizon is Pico de Teide (Tenerife, Canary islands). Canon 6D, Sigma 15 mm/f2.8@4.5, ISO 1600, HDR; 29th September 2013.
- [Anticrepuscular rays from volcano San Martin](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=69) - Strong morning anticrepuscular rays from volcano San Martin (La Palma, Canary islands). Canon 6D, Sigma 15 mm/f2.8@4.5, ISO 800, HDR; 29th September 2013.
- [Tempest of October](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=37) - Very late storm over Seč reservoir, Ústupky, Czech republic. Canon 6D, Sigma 15 mm, f11, ISO 500, 3x30 s; 20th October 2013.
- [Dark June lunar eclipse 2011](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?p=194) - Total lunar eclipse on 15th June 2011 recorded by timelapse and video camera, observated nearby Strani from Czech republic. Used music from Mike Oldfield (In the beginning, Supernova). Total lunar eclipse on 15th June 2011 (watch in HD on Youtube)

## Pages

- [Petr Horálek Photography](https://www.petrhoralek.com/) - Nightscape Photographer, ESO Photo Ambassador, IDA Delegate / Astrofotograf, Popularizátor Astronomie, Svatební Fotograf, Foto Interiérů a Exteriérů, Nabídka Velkofotmátových Fotoobrazů
- [Objednejte si Fotoobraz / Order a Digital Printing Copy](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?page_id=1943) - English All my images on this website are only previews. Full size images are usually incredibly large and they can be printed up to 3 meters (118 inches) large prints. I offer digital copies of my images in such sizes, prices are from 30 to 300 USD depending on final quality you choose. If you
- [Nejbližší přednášky](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?page_id=1525) - Kde mě můžete potkat v nejbližších dnech? 27. května 2026, 17:30 (středa) Unisféra Opava Za klenoty maledivského nebe 4. června 2026, 17:30 (čtvrtek) Fotoškoda Praha Lov jedinečných nebeských úkazů 10. června 2026, 18:00 (středa) Hvězdárna a planetárium Ostrava Zázrak ve stínu Měsíce 15. července 2026, 15:00 (středa) Colors of Ostrava Vesmír na snímcích, které obletěly
- [Pozorování noční oblohy](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?page_id=1909) - Vlahé letní noci plné hvězd nad táborovou základnou, večerní oslavy narozenin, hledání zážitkového dárku, firemní akce v přírodě... Nejen to může doslova vybízet k možnosti pozorovat hvězdné nebe hvězdářským dalekohledem, poznat nová souhvězdí i kosmické objekty či se dozvědět něco nového o Sluneční soustavě a vesmíru. A právě to Vám touto cestou nabízím! Pozorování probíhá
- [Přednášky pro školy a širokou veřejnost](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?page_id=1224) - Rádi byste si poslechli neotřelé cestopisné povídání? Nebo vás láká přednáška o astronomii? Líbí se Vám mé fotografie? A chtěli byste vědět, jak vznikají? Zajímá Vás více (nejen) o všech cestách po světě a vzácných nebeských úkazech? Chcete uspořádat povídání v rámci výuky žáků základních a středních škol, nebo přednášku pro širokou veřejnost na astronomické
- [Awards](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?page_id=771) - I really very appreciate to be awarded in those ways. It's honor for me and it reminds me not to stop in my passion... Specials Asteroid 6822 Horálek, discovered by Zdeňka Vávrová in 1986 from Kleť observatory Astrophotographer of the Year 2024, SkyScapes: 3rd Prize for Like Blue Lava Optolong Compitition: 3rd Prize for Eclipse
- [Online kurz: Jak nepropásnout polární záři?](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?page_id=25989) - Stalo se vám, že se na obloze odehrála polární záře a vy jste o tu překrásnou podívanou přišli? Nechcete přijít o tu další, ale vůbec se nevyznáte v informacích, které máte sledovat? Tento úchvatný nebeský úkaz se v našich končinách vyskytuje také, i když výrazně vzácněji než v severských oblastech. Přesto se ukázat může a
- [Fotografický kurz: Krajinářská astrofotografie / Photography Workshop](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?page_id=1951) - English Would you like to know how my photographs are taken and processed? How to capture a meteor shower? What is the best way to capture a comet in the sky? How to get amazing solar eclipse photograph? How to correctly process nightscape with the Milky Way? Or how to be prepared for unique sky
- [Univerzální nástěnný kalendář](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?page_id=3978) - Už přemýšlíte o dárku ke konci roku? A co jen na konci roku - co takhle napořád? Kdo by nechtěl velký nástenný kalendář s vesmírem... Na 13 kvalitních křídových lesklých listech o formát A2 najdete mé fotografie, které byly vybrány jako prestižní Astronomický snímek dne NASA. Na stěně se tak budete moci kochat Mléčnou dráhou,
- [Záznamy z přednášek](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?page_id=1522) - Příběhy vesmírného nomáda (2025) NASA APOD Images and Light Pollution (2023) (Více jak) dvacetkrát v NASA (2022) Klenoty chilské oblohy (2022) Zatmění Slunce je komplexní zážitek (2021) Klenoty chilského nebe (2021) O zatmění Slunce nad Antarktidou (2021) Namibie - divoká, pestrá, hvězdná (2021) Sedm perel astronomie (2021) Molucké klenoty aneb Za "okem božím" až na
- [Mé publikace](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?page_id=1360) - Příběhy vesmírného nomáda (2024) Zažijte strastiplné cesty i dojemné příběhy plné legrace i poučení očima nomáda,který pro vzácné zážitky procestoval (téměř) celý svět. Knížka vzniklá na motivy přednášek "Kdyby fotografie mohly vyprávět", "Klenoty tmavé oblohy" nebo "Tajemství snímků NASA". Kdyby fotografie mohly vyprávět, byly by to sáhodlouhé příběhy. Ostatně to nejkrásnější se mnohdy neodehrává na
- [Svatby, Páry, Společenské události...](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?page_id=22529) - Hledáte svatebního fotografa, pořádáte společenskou událost, nebo chcete nějaké pěkné vzpomínkové fotky se svým partnerem, fotky párů, rodinných událostí nebo rodinné příslušníky pohromadě? Nabízím vysoce kvalitní fotografické služby zaměřené právě na tyto vzácné společenské příležitosti, kdy je potřeba zachytit jak okamžik radosti, tak i důležitou firemní událost. Pokud máte zájem, neváhejte mě pro bližší informace
- [Objednejte si Puzzle](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?page_id=22128) - Líbí se vám mé fotografie a chtěli byste s nimi i originální dárek? Nabízím vytvoření puzzle hned v několika provedeních. Klasické puzzle v poměru 1:1.4 s počtem dílků 12, 24, 100, 300, 500, 1000 nebo 2000 dílků. Možné je ale i čtvercové puzzle (1500 dílků) nebo panoramatické (2000 dílků). Puzzle je vyrobeno ověřenou firmou a
- [Focení Interiérů, Exteriérů a Virtuální prohlídky](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?page_id=4931) - Nabízím vysoce kvalitní fotodokumentaci interiérů, exteriérů nebo virtuální prohlídky nejrůznějších komplexů (hotely, wellness, firemní budovy, muzea, knihovny...). Fotografie budou dodány v plné digitální kvalitě pro další distribuci, jako jsou letáky, tištěné brožury, plakáty a pochopitelně webové stránky. Cena se odvíjí od délky fotografické práce na místě a počtu požadovaných snímků. Pokud jde o virtuální prohlídky,
- [Nechte se vyfotit pod hvězdami!](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?page_id=1948) - Pořádáte svatbu a chtěli byste získat neotřelé, originální a nezvyklé novomanželské foto pod hvězdnatým nočním nebem? Rádi byste získali kvalitní noční fotografie vašeho horského hotelu s hvězdami a nechcete si najímat grafika pro tvorbu nerealistické fotomontáže? Chtěli byste získat nějaký zdařilý fotoreport z Vaší noční akce - například táborové hry, organizovaného výletu či i zájezdu
- [Photomap](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?page_id=1050) - To find out where all my pictures had been captured, click on chosen label on the map. After that you would be able to find basic information about the image and also the link to webpage, where is more information about the observed phenomenon.
- [Contact / Kontakt](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?page_id=17) - horalek.peter@gmail.com imaginer21 Facebook Page/Stránka - Petr Horálek Photography Facebook Personal/Osobní Instagram.com/petrhoralek Google.com/PetrHoralek LinkedIn.com/PetrHoralek
- [About me](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?page_id=20) - I was born in czech city Pardubice in 1986. After graduate of Bachelor's study of Theoretical physics and Astrophysics at Masaryk University in Brno I started to work in Astronomical institute of Academy of Sciences in Ondrejov until 2012. Then I worked in Úpice observatory (until April 2014). As citizen of a light-polluted Czech Republic,
- [https://www.petrhoralek.com/?page_id=25989](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?page_id=26002)

## Categories

- [The Milky Way and Nightscapes](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?cat=1) - Edit
- [Tempest, Red Sprites and Lightning](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?cat=3) - Edit
- [Eclipses](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?cat=4) - Edit
- [Meteors and Meteor Showers](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?cat=5) - Edit
- [Noctilucent Clouds](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?cat=6) - Edit
- [Landscape](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?cat=7) - Edit
- [Atmospheric Phenomena, Airglow](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?cat=8) - Edit
- [The Moon and Lunar Phenomena](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?cat=9) - Edit
- [Celestial Conjunction](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?cat=10) - Edit
- [Video and Timelapse](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?cat=11) - Edit
- [The Zodiacal Light and Gegenschein](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?cat=12) - Edit
- [Comets](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?cat=13) - Edit
- [The Sun and Solar Phenomena](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?cat=14) - Edit
- [Aurora Borealis and Australis](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?cat=17) - Edit

## Tags

- [European Southern Observatory](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?tag=european-southern-observatory) - All pictures from ESO sites and Chile generally
- [People and the Universe](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?tag=people-and-the-universe) - “Astroselfies” showing humility but also importance of the human in the Universe
- [Virtual reality](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?tag=virtual-reality) - 360 deg. spherical panoramas in virtual reality mode on the website
- [Fulldome](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?tag=fulldome) - Articles with fulldome images. More of these images can be found on special page here: www.astronom.cz/horalek/?page_id=1462
- [ISS Flybys and Transits](https://www.petrhoralek.com/?tag=iss-transit) - Flybys or Transits of ISS (International Space Station) in front of or nearby celestial objects