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Namibia-Astroreise

Namibia Astronomy Trip

August 29 - September 10, 2005

HAKOS Guestfarm at 1832m ABSL
23.2deg 14' South, 16deg 22' East


Reisegruppe A group of 8 persons travelled to Africa with the common goal to observe and photograph the Southern skies above the unspoilt plateau near the Gamsberg - Namibia's 3d-highest mountain. Participating were Barbara, Ruth, Eduard, Henry, Markus, Pierre and Reto from Switzerland, plus Gary from the USA.

At the HAKOS guestfarm in rural lifestyle, we enjoyed the exquisite German hospitality of the owners, Waltraut, Friedhelm and Johann Walter Straube. Fabulous meals - also finger food and drinks during the night - plus comfortable double rooms with private bath and shower made us feel at home.

On 8 of the 10 nights, the skies were free of clouds and as dark as we all had expected, so that we could make full use of the EQ-mounted telescopes on the farms elevated observatory with a roll-off roof. In addition, we installed two of our own EQ-mounted telescopes on two permanent piers on the platform right beside the observatory (for details see the following photos). Especially the photographers appreciated the Technical Support provided on site by Eduard von Bergen, the owner of Astro Optik GmbH.

Various cameras were used - from standard SLR's with film to digital SLR's, incl. two of the newest Canon EOS 20Da. For the majority, it was the first time they installed a camera on an EQ-mounted telescope - able to track the sky movement to permit long exposures.

Since Namibia does not only offer the supreme southern sky, but also undisturbed nature landscapes with birds, wild animals, we took advantage of several tours with 4x4 vehicules - all personally guided by our experienced and wonderfully caring HAKOS hosts.

Namibia-Astroreise

We hope you enjoy the following image galleries, intended to give you a small impression of the countless wonderful views in this still unspoiled part of Africa with its fantastic, unpolluted skies.

 

Impressions from Namibia's landscape and 
        the HAKOS guestfarm
  Impressions from Namibia's landscape and the HAKOS guestfarm

All these photos were taken by the group members Markus Burch, Barbara Hedinger, Henry Hefti, Gary Kauffman, Pierre Schmid, Ruth Stadelmann, Eduard von Bergen and Reto Widmer. [copyrights remain with the above individuals]

info@astrooptik.ch

   
Astro Images by Pierre Schmid
  Astro Images by Pierre Schmid

Telescope: The observatory's heavy Zeiss EQ-mount were used for tracking
Camera: Canon EOS 20Da
Camera lenses: Nikon 14mm, 28mm, 60mm, 105mm and 300mm

p.e.schmid@infobonaire.com

   
Astro Images by Eduard von Bergen
  Astro Images by Eduard von Bergen

Telescope 1: Sky 90 (407mm), EQ-mounted on Vixen Sphinx
Telescope 2: Vixen ED100 (800mm), EQ-mounted on Vixen Sphinx
Camera: Canon EOS 20Da
Camera lenses: Canon Zoom 10-22mm, 75-300mm

info@astrooptik.ch

   
Astro Images by Reto Widmer
  Astro Images by Reto Widmer

Telescope 1: Sky 90 (407mm), EQ-mounted on Vixen Sphinx
Telescope 2: Vixen ED100 (800mm), EQ-mounted on Vixen Sphinx
Camera: Canon EOS 300D
Camera lenses: Canon Zoom 10-22mm

widmer.reto@bluewin.ch

   


Technical support by Astro Optik GmbH

Teleskope und Zubehör


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Last modified: Oct-23-2009, Webmaster