Ragnar's World: juni 2015

Today I leave. Last night was the last night under some of the clearest, cleanest and most beautiful skies I have ever seen. It was hard to go to bed. But I knew I had a long journey ahead of me today. I am heading home. I have collected more photons in two weeks here than I normally do in a year at home. My USB-stick is brimming with images ready to be processed during the long, cloudy nights at home.
I am tired, but not tired OF sleepless nights. Only tired BECAUSE of sleepless nights. But how can I sleep when looking up at skies like these? Skies that makes you think deep and hard about our place in cosmos. And all those things I struggle with in my daily life, seem so small when standing like this. Looking up at the Milkyway. I drew a final sigh, and headed into my tent. It was hard to fall a asleep, but I slept like a baby. Ready for uprooting my home for the last 12 nights.
Goodbye Namibia! I will be back. Some music to listen to while looking at the picture below. (Click for a large version)

I squeeze out of my tent. Stretch. The temperature is in the vicinity of 10 degrees. Standing in shorts and t-shirt, I can feel the refreshing, mild breeze against my skin. I smell the fresh air. The Sun is gracing the hills on the other side of the valley with its first rays of the day. Birds are chirping. I smile. A new morning in Namibia! A song comes to mind. I start humming.

I have the whole campsite to myself. Which means the only noise I hear, is music from the birds. At night, I hear the high-pitched squeals from the zebras nearby and the thunder from the herd when they run.
I am staying at one of the many so-called astrofarms in Namibia. Amateur and professional astronomers from all over the world come to Namibia during June and July to enjoy its almost guaranteed clear nights. And skies so dark the planet Venus is considered light pollution.
The farms are in high demand, so one has to book maybe up to a year in advance to be sure to get a room. I booked my stay here a bit too late, so there was no room at the inn. And in lack of a manger (...), I decided to resort to the time-honored tradition of pitcing one's tent in the ground. And I haven't regretted it. Admittingly, there are times, especially at 2-3 am when walking half unconsious the near 1 km to the camp site seems like an infinity. ("Am I there yet?") But every morning, when the birds wake me up to another beautiful, sunny day, I smile. And bless my fortune to be able to enjoy this incredible landscape and silence. This far from everyone else, there is no disturbance. No noise. Just pure silence. And nature.
And I also have the shower to myself. The Sun is the sole provider of hot water. Thus, I shower in the afternoon. When the water has soaked up the energetic rays from our light in the sky. Out the window, I can enjoy the shifting color of the light as the Sun is setting while enjoying a long, warm shower.
I have planned to stay here the whole time. I am spending 12 nights under the dark skies to collect photons from faint corners of our galaxy. And it is pure joy to see the masterpiece my camera depicts after staring at a seemingly dark patch in the sky for a few hours. Here is an example.
I have now stayed here for 6 days, and have 6 more to go. I am constantly tired after many sleepless nights. But I am smiling. Not in defiance to my body, but in pure enjoyment. Knowing tonight and the next nights will bring even more beauty to my computer. Beauty I can keep enjoying for the cloudy nights back home during the coming autumn and winter. Pure elixir for a frustrated astrophotographer.
Clear skies everyone!