Click for a full resolution panorama of the Milky Way
2012 Southern Skies Star Party
Inca Utama, Lake Titicaca, Bolivia - July 15-21, 2012
Longitude: 68º 41’ W; Latitude: 16º 13’ S; Elevation: 12,300’
The flat, high Andean plain creates a laminar air flow over the basin.
The lake absorbs solar radiation and acts as a heat sinc to improve seeing.
at 16° South, we have the richly colored Milky Way overhead at Zenith
The high altitude means almost half of Earth's atmosphere is below us, decreasing atmospheric scattering and increasing contrast
Smaller telescopes can gather more light and resolve smaller objects due to thinner, more transparent atmosphere.
Some observers image, others observe with instruments on-site. Others bring their own or use binoculars.
Binoculars are a very good idea your first trip down to familiarize yourself with a sky 'turning the wrong way', twice as bright , filled with different constellations, with known constellations turned sideways, and filled with more stars.
On-site instruments available for public use are: 22" Starmaster Dobsonian, 10" Starmaster Dobsonian, 10" Meade LX 200.
2010 Southern Skies Images and site pictures:
2008 Southern Skies Images and site pictures: