Article#232 - For All The Night's Stars

For All the Night's Stars

by: Nick Risinger

I’m at 6,200 feet in the Nevada desert capturing the first images of what will ultimately become a 37,440-exposure, 5,000-megapixel photograph of the entire night sky. It’s 18°F and while I try to keep my mind off the wind chill, the gusts continue to push over the ridge. As the first camera shutter snaps shut, a fairly typical portion of space appears on my laptop screen: other suns millions of billions of miles away are scattered across the frame, too many to count. The sheer work of what lies ahead slowly begins to sink in and I shudder — though not from the cold.

As a young boy, I treasured our family vacations to the central coast of Washington state, where low tides unveil beaches more than a thousand feet wide that run for miles. I remember being mesmerized by the surf and the water stretching to the horizon. For a young mind, this was a very big place, and it was here that my understanding of nature’s vastness began to take shape. Later, when I was about 10 years old, my family went to visit relatives in Sweden. As the speeding blur of the runway dropped away on takeoff and the many hours of flight ticked away — what felt like forever — I realized how much bigger the world must truly be. Then, in seventh grade, I watched the Eames’s classic Powers of Ten documentary, and the bounds of the universe instantly swelled beyond comprehension.

For some, our reverence for the scale of our natural world tends to dull with age, but I count myself as one of a peculiar breed who find the opposite to be true. So when my passions for photography and space eventually converged, I knew the resulting creation would have to convey the vast scope of the cosmos. As I figured it, only two kinds of astronomical photos were possible — ones that covered part of the sky and ones that covered all of it.
Naively choosing the latter, I set about planning the photo shoot of a lifetime. It was a journey that would ultimately take my father and me 45,000 miles by air and 15,000 by land as we enjoyed countless day-lit vistas and even grander nighttime skies from the darkest corners of the western United States and South Africa. Travel was necessary, since capturing the full sphere of the night sky carried with it certain geographic limitations. For starters, large parts of the sky near the north celestial pole are not visible from southern latitudes and the same is true of the southern sky from northern latitudes. Likewise with the seasons, what may be overhead in summer is below the horizon in winter. Complicated by weather and Moon cycles, only narrow windows of opportunity were open each month, so thorough planning was critical.

Most of my project’s decisions were dictated by the metric of speed, and finding the right tools to do the job was one such choice. One might assume that a big CCD sensor covering a wide view would be the natural tool for an all-sky survey, but it is rather the exposure time per area of sky that matters. By photographing with low-noise sensors, though smaller, I exposed the sky with shorter images, shaving away precious seconds, and ultimately many hours off the total time.
Efficiency between fields was also important. Rather than manually star-hopping from one constellation to the next and risk missing a piece of the puzzle, I divided the celestial sphere into 624 equally spaced areas and programmed their coordinates into my computer. I recorded these areas through six short telephoto lenses, each fitted with its own color filter and cooled CCD camera, all of which were controlled through a jungle of cables fed into a single laptop.

For the sake of portability during all the air-bound globe-trotting, I paid particular attention to how such a bulky collection of equipment could be secured with minimal weight. My solution was to construct a bracket that anchored three cameras to the topside of a computerized equatorial mount and the remaining three to the bottom in lieu of the traditional counterweight. This kept the entire package well under 100 pounds (45 kg), which proved to be a welcome feature for both travel and setup.
As our first trips to Nevada and Arizona got underway in March 2010, challenges popped up at nearly every turn, and I was constantly reminded of how little I initially knew about astrophotography. Terrestrial photographers rarely concern themselves with factors such as daylight saving time, polar alignment, or preventing a meridian flip that threatens to destroy half the equipment, but I suppose this is what gives astrophotography its charm — that perpetual task of keeping up with the motions of the heavens.

By mid-June 2010, with part of the Northern Hemisphere complete, the mission turned to the Southern Hemisphere, and it was in South Africa, not far from the South African Astronomical Observatory, where I caught my first glimpse of the southern Milky Way. Few words can adequately describe the sight of our galaxy’s center perched straight overhead, so bold that I considered reading a book by its light! The Large and Small Magellanic Clouds were an equal treat, both luminous reminders that our galaxy is but one of many.

After three frigid weeks of winter in South Africa, we flew back to the States for some much enjoyed summer nights and familiar constellations. The process continued, and by Thanksgiving it was back again to South Africa to finish the Southern Hemisphere, followed by an earlier than-expected return home thanks to favorable weather.

Finally, after far too many sleepless nights, our travel weary bodies made the final push in Colorado as we snapped the last of the 37,440 exposures in January temperatures as low as -6°F. But the physical task was quickly exchanged for a mental one as the real work of making sense of so much data loomed like a dark cloud overhead.

What would normally be a manual process of calibrating, stacking, and stitching was impractical with so many exposures. Even simple tasks as mundane as moving a set of exposures from one folder to another had to be scripted, and off-the-shelf software programs were not up to the task of reducing so much data. The workflow therefore relied on a combination of professional tools. IRAF performed up-scaling, registering, and stacking of the bracketed exposure sets followed by modeling of the backgrounds to eliminate gradients. AstrOmatic’s suite of tools provided the astrometry that calculated the orientations and distortions from each lens and then eliminated them for a final stitching of the full sky. Although greatly simplified in summary, this process began in January 2011, and consumed months of processing time and four terabytes of storage. When finally completed, I was greeted by the photo I worked so hard to capture: a 5,000-megapixel view of the cosmos with our Milky Way stretching end to end.
People have congratulated me for following my dreams perhaps without realizing how literally true this is, as the seeds of my project were in fact planted under fictitious skies. It wasn’t until recently that I stumbled upon a video of John Dobson, best known for his pioneering low-cost telescope mount, whose words characterize the same nautical dream with more equity than mine ever could:

“If you find yourself at sea in a small unlighted boat alone in the darkness of a cloudless night, and if you gaze into the darkness of the space between the stars, then keep wide awake. And if your mind is full of wonder and your heart is full of peace, there is a chance that you will understand.”

The solitary ring of these words hangs in the air, perhaps serving as a reminder of how our knowledge of the universe has been advanced time and again by those who studied the skies with lonely dedication. But then there are luminaries of history such as William Herschel who spent years scanning the heavens with help from his sister. I like that. After all, considering the many pastimes life has to offer, which are more meaningfully shared in the company of others than sitting under the stars?

Thanks, Dad, for being there all those nights.

Nick Risinger ia an American photographer and designer, who is widely known for his feat of photographing the entire night sky. The panoramic image of the entire night sky, as depicted above, show us how majestic nebulae and stars of our Milky Way Galaxy stretch across the sky. At full resolution, the 5 gigapixel mosaic was stitched together from over 37,000 images, the result of a season following, year long effort and 60,000 travel miles in search of still dark skies in the American west and the western Cape of South Africa.
This post is taken fro Risinger's website.
Also, have a visit to another version of the photo here.

Nature sure never ceases to amaze, right?

Lanjutkan baca »

Article#231 - 70000 pengunjung..

Cukup dinamis, dan juga sesekali memberi semburat amis. Saya sendiri hanya bisa meringis, saat sadar telah lebih dari sebulan yang manis, saya lewati dengan berlagak tragis seolah berusaha mengiris kubis bermodal linggis.
Kabar yang terhembus dari Ibu Pertiwi, tentang dugaan sadap dari negeri bintang limapuluh biji, hanya menambah keheranan bersemi, saat pak presiden hanya merespon dengan lembut hati, meminta supaya tak terjadi lagi. Tetapi ketika menjajaki masalah si bunda putri, langsunglah ia emosi dan menyebutnya tak pernah terjadi. Sulit dimengerti.
Yaah, sudahlah, untuk apa pula berlama-lama. Masa-masa sekarang, tepatnya 6 November 2013, 18:56 (UT+9), kembali memberi tanda kepada pengunjung ini blog gila, jika ada, bahwa jumlah kunjungan telah mengena 70.000 angka. Kembali berbeda dengan masa sebelumnya, dimana perlukan 52 hari berlepas untuk sampaikan ke langkah napak tilas sebelumnya, sekarang hanya 45 hari tertenggat bagi napak tilas kali ini untuk terlewat.
Terhatur salam bagi mereka yang sudi melawat, juga bagi mereka yang sudi melihat-lihat. Apalagi sampai mendaras kalimat.

sumber

Sila nantikan tulisan ke depan hingga ia tersampaikan.
(:g)

Lanjutkan baca »

Article#230 - Amatilah

Huff.

Ujian matematika kembali kuselesaikan dengan susah payah, seperti yang sudah-sudah.

Seperti biasa, selagi guru berkeliling untuk mengambili naskah lembar jawaban para siswa, kusempatkan barang sekian detik untuk mengamati seisi kelas.

Aku mengamati anak yang duduk di pojok belakang, dekat jendela.
Mengamati bagaimana dia, yang biasa mengejekku yang payah dalam matematika, meletakkan kepalaya di atas meja. Bagiku, ia jelas tampak kelelahan. Aku tahu bahwa dia adalah anak band di sekolahku. Karena itu, tiap hari dia harus datang pagi ke sekolah, berlatih saat sekolah sepi. Mungkinkah itu yang membuatnya begitu lelah? Atau banyaknya tugas? Atau masalah lain? Aku tak tahu.

Ada juga dia yang duduk di depanku. Tadi ketika baru masuk kelas, salamku dijawabnya dengan tatapan tajam, dan memilin rambutnya entah menjadi apa. Aku tahu, semalam dia tak sengaja merusakkan karyanya, yang akan dikumpulkan untuk kelas seni setelah makan siang. Aku tak bisa membayangkan bagaimana kalutnya ia saat ini. Mungkin saja pikirannya tak lepas dari kelas seni, bahkan selama ujian? Aku tak tahu.

Oh, ada si kapten tim sepakbola sekolah, duduk berselang dua kursi di sisi kananku. Beberapa hari yang lalu ia bisa dengan santainya menaruh namaku di daftar cadangan lapis kedua untuk turnamen sepakbola bulan depan. Tapi saat ini, kuamati ia sampai menyipitkan mata saat mengamati lembar jawabnya terakhir kali, sebelum diserahkan ke guru. Apakah dia begitu keras berlatih hingga bisa sebegitu lelahnya? Aku tak tahu.

Kini, kuamati gadis berkacamata tebal yang sedang membaca buku di pojok lain kelas. Dan hei, bukankah buku itu selalu ia baca sepanjang waktu? Kemudian aku teringat, aku melihat sebuah luka sayatan yang sudah lama di lengannya. Entah apa yang dia alami dalam hidupnya selama ini. Mungkinkah ia membaca buku untuk menerbangkan dirinya dari kenyataan? Aku tak tahu.

Amati pula dia, duduk di baris depan. Lagi-lagi ia memakai kaus yang sama. Aku ingat, dia selalu berbicara tentang kaus kaki yang basah tiap kali hujan mengguyur kota tempat tinggalku ini. Dari situ aku tahu, sol sepatunya berlubang. Kemudian aku merenung, kapan terakhir kali ia memakai kaus lain. Jangan-jangan ia saat ini masih memikirkan apa yang akan dimakannya esok pagi? Atau bahkan malam nanti? Aku tak tahu.

Tepat di belakang dia yang kausnya tak pernah berubah, duduk si anak baru. Aku bisa amati, bagaimana ia selalu diam tiap kali teman-temanku yang lain membuat keributan di kelas. Aku bersekolah di kota ini sejak aku kecil, dimana hampir semua orang saling kenal, sehingga aku tak tahu menahu, bagaimana rasanya pindah ke lingkungan yang sama sekali baru bagiku. Mungkin dia begitu kebingungan sekarang? Tak nyaman? Aku tak tahu.

Guru matematika telah mengumpulkan semua lembar jawaban dan merapikannya di mejanya. Saat ia memasukkan kertas-kertas itu ke dalam tasnya, aku mengamati ada yang hilang dari guruku itu. Hari ini ia tak memakai cincinnya. Beliau guru yang baik, sangat penyabar; aku yakin ia tidak sedang mengalami masalah rumah tangga. Tetapi mungkin ia bekerja demikian keras untuk menyiapkan materi mengajar? Memeriksa tugas-tugas yang kami kerjakan? Aku tak tahu.

Entah sudah berapa lama aku mengembangkan kebiasaan ini. Duduk santai, mengamati semua di sekitarku, bahkan hingga detail terkecil yang mungkin orang lain anggap remeh. Bersama dengan itu, intuisiku berkembang begitu saja, dengan mata yang peka akan perubahan yang tak wajar.
Dari situ aku tersadar, betapa semua orang hidup dalam berbagai naskah mereka masing-masing. Harapan mereka masing-masing. Balada mereka masing-masing. Ratapan mereka masing-masing.
Tiap-tiap dari kita punya corak tersendiri dalam hidup, corak yang mewarnai kanvas kehidupan, menjadikanmu seperti apa yang kau citrakan dan orang lain patrikan setiap hari.
Dengan harapan tersendiri.
Dengan balada tersendiri.
Dengan ratapan tersendiri.

Dengan memperhatikan banyak hal yang mungkin orang lain anggap remeh, aku telah mematrikan pada diriku untuk tidak menganggap remeh perlakuan orang. Mereka punya alasan tentang mengapa mereka menjadi apa adanya mereka sekarang. Aku tak sanggup lagi bersikap arogan dan mementingkan hakku lagi.
Setelah melihat pahatan kerasnya hidup ini, aku tak sampai hati untuk menambah pahatan itu lagi.
Takut pahatanku mematri perih, tak ingin biarkan mereka makin letih.

Sebuah catatan bagi penulis sendiri pada khususnya, dan bagi kita semua pada umumnya. 
~disadur dan diterjemahkan pada Selasa, 5 November 2013/1 Muharram 1435 H, 16:47 (UT+9), mengisi momen Tahun Baru Islam.
Disadur dari sebuah cerita lama.

sumber

Lanjutkan baca »

Article#229 - Mengisi Kehidupan

Mengisi hidup dengan pengalaman baru; salah satu cara ampuh untuk 'memperpanjang' rentang hidup. Sempat membaca di sumber lain bahwa sebenarnya efek ini hanyalah akibat dari rentang hidup yang telah dilalui, karena setahun dari 20 tahun tidak terasa cukup besar dibanding setahun dari 5 tahun.

Tetapi, penulis merasa penjelasan yang diberikan gambar diatas pun tak salah. Pemikiran tersebut bisa memberikan penjelasan atas pemaknaan yang terasa tak masuk akal, tetapi secara tak sadar kita terima sebagai kenyataan. Kenapa perjalanan berangkat sering terasa lebih lama dari perjalanan pulang, kenapa hari-hari awal di lingkungan baru terasa lebih lama dari hari-hari terakhir.

Sekilas mungkin terkesan melawan pikiran bawah sadar kita, akan bagaimana sesuatu yang benar-benar kita selami bisa berlalu demikian cepat. Tetapi, ketika melakukan kilas ulang, ingatan yang muncul adalah bahwa pada momen yang saat ini terasa telah 'berlalu begitu cepat', kita memaknai satu persatu kejadian dalam momen terkait dengan lebih detail, membuatnya terasa lebih lama saat benar-benar melakukannya.
Dan, saat momen tersebut teah usai, rentang kegiatan yang tak memiliki makna spesial beriringan mampir, kemudian sudi pergi. Membuat waktu serasa berlalu demikian cepat.

Mungkin, inilah penjelasan yang bisa menceritakan paradoks kenangan; bagaimana seseorang bisa menyimpan begitu banyak memori dari sebuah rentang waktu yang ia rasa berlalu begitu saja.

Dan di sisi lain, ini juga bisa meneriakkan lagi kepada kita untuk terus memaknai apa yang ada di sekitar.
Untuk belajar dimana saja, kapan saja.
Untuk mempelajari semua dalam rentang indera, memaknai semua dalam rentang cerita, menghidupi semua dalam perjalanan kehidupan.

Atau, kau punya ide lain?

Lanjutkan baca »

Article#228 - Ketika Si Bocah Menangis

Little child

Dry your crying eyes

How can I explain

The fear you feel inside

'Cause you were born

Into this evil world

Where man is killing man

And no one knows just why

What have we become

Just look what we have done

All that we destroyed

You must build again

When the children cry

Let them know we tried

'Cause when the children sing

Then the new world begins

Little child

You must show the way

To a better day

For all the young

'Cause you were born

For the world to see

That we all can live

With love and peace

No more presidents

And all the wars will end

One united world under God

When the children cry

Let them know we tried

'Cause when the children sing

Then the new world begins

What have we become

Just look what we have done

All that we destroyed

You must build again

No more presidents

And all the wars will end

One united world under God

When the children cry

Let them know we tried

'Cause when the children sing

The new world begins

What have we become

Just look what we have done

All that we destroyed

You must build again

No more presidents

And all the wars will end

One united world under God

When the children cry

Let them know we tried

'Cause when the children fight

Let them know it ain't right

When the children pray

Let them know the way

'Cause when the children sing

Then the new world begins

© Vito Bratta, Mike Tramp of White Lion. 1987.

***

Single "When The Children Cry" ini ditelurkan oleh band rock-metal AS, White Lion, dari album kedua mereka, Pride. Lagu ini, bersama dengan album terkait, diluncurkan pada Juni 1987.

Seperti kata agan Ivan, band metal cenderung menghasilkan lagu akustik yang bagus.
Terutama band metal lawas.

Lanjutkan baca »