Astrophotographer Albert Dros lights up the night

This article was translated from Dutch with the help of AI. Read the original.

To mark International Dark Sky Week, Sony ambassador Albert Dros shares insider tips for capturing the starry sky. The photo series was captured with Sony's α7R III camera combined with the 24mm f/1.4 GM lens.

Albert highlights the five biggest astronomical moments of 2019, from the supermoon on 21 March to the Geminid meteor shower in December. Astrophotographers Andrew Whyte and Leonardo Orazi were also involved in this project. With International Dark Sky Week approaching on 31 March, Sony has teamed up with Albert Dros.

Together with Sony, Albert shares some insider tips for capturing the astronomical highlights of our solar system. From the Milky Way to star trails, the astrophotographer explains how he creates a stunning photo series with Sony's 24mm F1.4 GM lens.

Milky Way

5 most beautiful astronomical moments for 2019

1. The supermoon (21 March), the last supermoon of 2019, when it comes closest to Earth this year;


2. Eta Aquarids meteor shower (6 to 7 May), most likely the best opportunity to enjoy a meteor shower this year, when the thin crescent moon creates an inky-black sky. The perfect backdrop for the spectacular shooting-star display;


3. Total solar eclipse (2 July), this eclipse will not be visible from Europe, but anyone travelling to South America or the Pacific region will be able to enjoy the spectacular view;


4. Partial lunar eclipse (16 July), a small part of the lunar surface will be covered by the darkest part of the Earth's shadow. It will be visible across most of Europe, as well as in Africa, Central Asia and the Indian Ocean;


5. Geminid meteor shower (14 December), the sky will be lit by shooting stars for about a week, but the peak is expected to occur on the 14th, when it may be possible to see up to 100 meteors per hour.

5 best European destinations

1. Exmoor National Park, UK, like many national parks in the United Kingdom, Exmoor has one of the finest night skies. It was designated a Dark Sky Reserve in 2011 and light pollution throughout the park is minimal.
   
   Many of its beautiful locations are easy to reach in the evening and it is far enough south to admire the centre of the Milky Way from March to September;


2. La Palma, Canary Islands, located in the Atlantic Ocean some distance from mainland Europe and with a mild and stable climate, La Palma offers the chance to see a clear night sky all year round.
   
   Climb to the highest point on the island to avoid any clouds and enjoy a spectacular view of the Milky Way;


3. The Dolomites, Italy, with beautiful hilly terrain and a climate where you can ski in winter and sunbathe in summer, the clear skies in the Dolomites offer a range of photographic opportunities throughout the year;


4. Bükk National Park, Hungary, mountainous Bükk is Hungary's largest national park, located among the country's highest peaks and surrounded by enchanting waterfalls and caves. It was designated a Dark Sky Park in 2017;


5. Cévennes National Park, France, Cévennes was recently added to the list of Dark Sky Reserves and is located in an area popular for tourism and camping, making summer evenings under the stars a real possibility.

The story behind the images: Star trails (Leonardo Orazi, Italy)

The story behind the images: Supermoon (Andrew Whyte, United Kingdom)

About the photographers

About International Dark Sky Week

You might also like

2 comments

Have your say