TWAN Visits Iran National Observatory

This panoramic view is made in a clear moonlit night of November above Mount Gargash in Zagros mountains of Iran, about 100 km north of Isfahan. This 3600-meter high mountain has exceptional seeing and atmospheric transparency for astronomical observations is selected as the site for Iran National Observatory project (a 3-meter class telescope to operate by 2015). The first quarter moon is illuminating the landscape. To its right is the setting summer Milky Way. Click on second photo to see a day-time view of the photographer in this area. © Oshin Zakarian