Observing sites
where the astro images are taken
Ágasvár - Mount Mátra, Hungary
Matra is the highest mountain in Hungary, located about 100km East from the capital city Budapest. Highest peak is Kékes with 1014m altitude. Ágasvár is a tourist house in the forest at 640m above sea level, where there is a big field ideal for observing near to the buildings. It can be reach by 2 hours driving from Budapest (permission is needed for the last 6 kms). We can get accomodation and delicious meal up there.
There is no local light pollution, so sky darkness is pretty good, about 21.1m-21.4m. However you can see some light pollution on the horizon. Seeing is variable, can be good and bad as well, depending on the weather. Wind can also be a problem, since there is no protection for the telescopes on the observing field.
This place is my favourite observing site in Hungary since 1999. It is quite close to my home, gives pretty good sky, there is comfortable accomodation and delicious meal.
Astro images from Ágasvár
Namibia - farm Hakos
Namibia is a wonderful country located in the Southwestern region of Africa. It is a great place for stargazing, it is quite popular among European amateur astronomers. Hakos is one of the farms which deal with astro-tourism, located at Gamsberg Pass, 2.5 hours driving or 130km away from the capital city Windhoek.
The nature is amazing. From the farm house
you have a wonderful view to the Hakos Mountains and into the Namib Desert. At elevation of 1835m, and far from any population it gives perfectly dark skies with no light pollution. Climate is dry from May to September, so I can expect more than 90% clear nights during the stay.
I have been visited the farm from 2010 for many times. Each stay lasted 2 weeks, so I collected a lot of images of the Southern beauties. Most of them still waiting for processing or publishing - stay tuned. :)
There is a link below to the gallery of the Namibian astro images.
