Freezing cold could not deter his passion for space
Dr. Cihan Önen, who conducts space and nature observations, and his team braved freezing temperatures to observe stars that are clearly visible at this time of year from the 2,250-meter-high summit of the Nemrut Caldera.
İHA
Dr. Cihan Önen, a faculty member who has been conducting space and nature observations for many years in Bitlis, one of the best places to observe space and the sky, does not give up on his passion for space despite the freezing cold. Rolling up their sleeves to observe the Orion Nebula, the Andromeda Galaxy, and the Pleiades star cluster, which can be clearly seen at this time of year, Önen and his team climbed to the 2,250-meter-high summit of the Nemrut Caldera in the Tatvan district and conducted observations despite the cold weather, which reached minus 3 degrees.
Önen, whom even freezing weather could not deter from his passion for space, captured the magnificent splendor of the Orion Nebula, the Andromeda Galaxy, and the Pleiades star cluster with his telescope. Recording these breathtaking images, Önen added new and invaluable photos to his archive.
Önen, who had been waiting for this time for a long time to observe the Orion Nebula, said he had been waiting to capture the Andromeda Galaxy and the Pleiades star cluster. Stating that his passion for understanding space and the universe overcomes all difficulties, Önen expressed that they can see the Orion Nebula, the Andromeda Galaxy, and the Pleiades star cluster more clearly in winter and said the following:
“We have been waiting for these days for a long time. For this reason, I came to the Nemrut Caldera with my teammate, Mr. Mustafa Uçak, to conduct observations. In this sense, the Nemrut Caldera is one of the places in Bitlis where light pollution is low and good observations can be made. We were able to observe and record the Orion Nebula, the Andromeda Galaxy, and the Pleiades star cluster in the clearest way possible. It has a magnificent view that leaves one in awe. Even though the air was freezing, the magnificent view of space warmed our hearts. We can see these magnificent frames more clearly in the winter season. To watch this magnificent splendor of space, one must be willing to brave the freezing cold. However, we do not recommend it to everyone as it contains dangers along with its beauty. We are very happy to witness and photograph these beautiful moments.”