LAS ORIONIDAS

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La noche del 21 de octubre estaba marcada en el calendario de la gente a la que le gustan las estrellas porque había una lluvia de meteoritos. Igual que la de las Perseidas en verano pero con menos densidad de estrellas fugaces; se esperaban unas veinte por hora.

Tuvimos mucha suerte con el tiempo patagónico. En la madrugada del 21 al 22 el cielo estaba despejado, no hacía viento y la luna era prácticamente nueva.

Nos encontramos a las 3 de la madrugada y caminamos hacia el puesto del leonero, justo donde Sierra Contreras alcanza la pampa. Allí bordeamos las lagunas y preparamos las cámaras.

Vimos un total de siete estrellas fugaces alrededor de la constelación de Orión, muy por debajo de lo que esperábamos, pero el cielo nocturno estaba tan bonito que mereció la pena robarle horas al sueño.

Ya de vuelta al campamento el amanecer nos sorprendió con unos colores muy vivos. Hacía tiempo que no veíamos un cielo tan bonito.

Enrique & Marina

English version

THE ORIONIDS

The night of the 21st of October was marked with highlighter in every astronomy enthusiast because there was a meteorite shower expected. In the same way the Perseids are an event to look forward in the summer, this was also creating some excitement although the density was going to be lower with just about twenty shooting starts per hour.

The Patagonian weather turned out to be pretty good for a change and the night from the 21st to the 22nd the sky was clear, there was no wind and the moon was almost new. 

Enrique met his buddies for the dark hours at 3 am (I stayed in bed like the morning person I am). They started walking towards the lion keeper’s hut located just where the hills of Sierra Contreras meet the Chilean pampa. From there, they walked around several lagoons until they found the right spot to set up their cameras. 

They saw seven shooting stars around Orion, which is a number they found disappointing. Nevertheless, the night was so clear and the starts so bright that it was still worth to stay awake. 

Then, coming back to the camp, the sunrise surprised them with the most intense colours at this time of the day so far. It’s only for that that I am gutted I stayed in bed. 

Enrique & Marina