IN SEARCH FOR THE DARK NIGHT SKIES IN LIGHT POLLUTED LOCATIONS

This Video is featured on NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC:

newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2011/05/26/new-mountain-timelapse-a-soundgarden-of-night-lights/

and now parts of the footage are featured in the newest ESO podcast:

eso.org/public/announcements/ann11051/

First of all Black Hole Sun is a statement against light pollution and waste of energy - especially in the European alps. The west and eastern alps offer some of the last remote places where you and your kids can enjoy the beauty of a starry, clear, nightsky, which is the same for all people: one people, one sky!

By contrasting footage of highly lit cities and frequented traffic ways in the tyrol inn-valley with surrounding dark valleys and mountains, I was able to show some effects of light pollution, which hinders us from watching a clear, starry night sky.

Light pollution increases during winter time due to inversion which results in smog in the valleys. inversion means that a heated, polluted layer of air on a valley's bottom is separated from cold, fresh air above. this polluted air causes health problems, especially with children. In some parts of the footage one can see inversion.

Second, Black Hole Sun also shows my dedication to the beautiful mountains in the Alps. I hope you enjoy the scenery as much as I do.

Location: Tyrol (around Innsbruck), Austria, La Palma (Canary Islands), Dolomites (Gröden).

Credits: Many many thanks to Soundgarden for their masterpiece song that gave name to this Video! PLAY IT LOUD and check out the newest Soundgarden concerts on soundgardenworld.com! Second track by Harry Gregson-Williams - "Dinner Out", a great track!

Tech: Nikon D3X, D700, D7000, D300, AFS 14-24/2.8, AF 16/2.8 Fisheye, AF 20/2.8, AF 50/1.8. Astrotac TT320-XAG (astrotrac.com), Dynamic Perception Dolly (dynamicperception.com).

Support: Big thanks to Nikon Professional Services Austria (nikon.at), VauDe (vaude.com) for gear during those really really cold winternights, Steiger Media, Innsbruck (steiger-electronics.at), for helping out with extra Mac Pro rendering hardware and Foto Lamprechter (lamprechter.com).

Inspiration: Thx to Babak Tafreshi from Twanight.org and Bernd Proeschel! Biggest thanks go to my family for all the understanding, without you it simply wouldn't be possible.

Finally I wish everyone clear skies! Support and join astronomerswithoutborders.com, twanight.org and darksky.org!

Thank you
Christoph Malin
Austria

facebook.com/christoph.malin
christophmalin.com
twitter.com/#!/patscherkofel

PS: BHS is frequently updated with new scenes... So stop by and see what is the current release...
Status/current Release: BHS R 4.6_1
Uploaded: July 26th, 14:00 PM, 2011
Changes: corrected a scene with wrong image size