Milky Way and Volcanic Desert Scenery by Moonlight Bolivia

by James Brunker

Title

Milky Way and Volcanic Desert Scenery by Moonlight Bolivia

Artist

James Brunker

Medium

Photograph - Photograph

Description

The Milky Way rises above the Canapa volcano (5882m / 19,300ft) and one of many surreal eroded lava rock formations in North Lipez Province in south west Bolivia. Wind erosion (aeolian or eolian processes caused by sand and gravel being blown across this barren region) over time has sculpted the lava outcrops into many bizarre shapes and forms. This images was taken just as the dawn twilight started to lighten the sky a day or so before the new moon, the foreground light is from the small waning crescent moon low in the eastern sky.

The total lack of light pollution in this region means it is easy to see the dark nebulas in the Milky Way; these dark constellations were important to the Incas and other Andean peoples. The dark patch in the centre is the Coalsack Dark Nebula, called Yutu or the Tinamou (a type of ground partridge found in the region) by the Incas. The 2 bright stars above the Coalsack are Alpha and Beta Centauri, part of the constellation Centaurus. The Incas called these stars "The Llama's Eyes", the dark nebula stretching up above them is the body of the llama. The greenish colour in the sky above the horizon is airglow or nightglow, caused by various processes in the upper atmosphere (including cosmic radiation, ionization of atoms by the sun's radiation and others).

Photograph © James Brunker. Reproduction, transmission or use in any form (print, website, etc) without prior written permission strictly prohibited.

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July 25th, 2018

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