Chasing Stars in Angola

My Astrophotography Adventures Under the Angolan Sky

I’ve just returned from an incredible trip to Angola! The original goal wasn’t to capture astro images, but rather to document the tribes of the southern region (mission accomplished, thanks to my friend Fred, director of the film These Astronomy Nuts. Still, I couldn’t resist setting my alarm for 2 or 3 AM on a few moonless nights to snap some photos. The Southern Hemisphere sky is pure magic, and out in the middle of the bush, light pollution is definitely not an issue! There’s no electricity, which means absolutely zero stray light for hundreds of kilometers around. On the very first night, I did a quick test with my new toy, the Canon 6D + 50mm f/1.4… I was absolutely blown away by the results. Just like my astro trip to Senegal, a few seconds of exposure was all it took to light up the CCD sensor.

I also got to re-discover the Magellanic Clouds… I’d seen them before in Namibia and during my year in Australia, but back then, I wasn’t into astrophotography yet. They’re perfectly visible to the naked eye, and the sight is absolutely magical. I haven’t experienced Chile’s famously dark skies yet, but honestly, I’m not sure how much better it could get on this side of the equator!

Even with some morning haze, the stars were clearly visible right down to the horizon. In September, the nights are still chilly, and the region is notorious for its scorpions… So, no, I wasn’t exactly lying down to soak in that magnificent sky!

A word of caution, though, if you’re thinking of heading to southern Angola for stargazing! The area is incredibly remote and lacks any tourist infrastructure whatsoever. So, I wouldn’t recommend this particular corner of the world for your next astrophotography adventure. If you want to experience the Southern sky under much more comfortable conditions, neighboring Namibia also boasts an extraordinary sky, complete with all the amenities you could wish for…