Who has not ever asked a desire as she marveled at the glittering race of a shooting star? During those brief tenths of a second, it seemed that the world stopped and that beautiful celestial body dedicated his unattainable sprint to us the confines of the Universe.
A Universe that is full of stars that contain mysteries and answers so incomprehensible to us human minds –and our short lives– as the origin of it.
Large Magellanic Cloud.
However, if we admire the vault of heaven, full of those wonderful luminous bodies, with no other ambition than to enjoy its beauty, it ceases to be a mystery to become, without further ado, one of the most amazing shows that this generous planet gives us, which we must take maximum care of.
to understand the magnitude of this privilege, we are going on a trip to the best destinations in Europe for stargazing. we will search clear skies and places with zero light pollution, surrounded by a natural environment which is usually special. Can you come with us?
LA PALMA ISLAND, SPAIN
The inhabitants of the Canary Islands island of La Palma went through a real drama after the disaster caused by the explosion of the Cumbre Vieja volcano.
Therefore, surely they are willing to give again welcome to all those travelers who came every year to this paradise in search of nature in its purest form and incomparable skies for stargazing.
Milky Way from La Palma.
Not surprisingly, in 2012, UNESCO declared the island like the first starlight reserve, recognizing it as a protected natural area that preserves the quality of its night skies, minimizing to the maximum light pollution.
Surrounded by the waters of Atlantic Ocean, the atmosphere of La Palma is stable and clear, a guarantee that, when we look up, we can contemplate a sky overflowing with twinkling stars.
Although on the island there are 16 astronomical viewpoints catalogued, the best views will be from the observatory of Boys roque, located about 2,400 meters above sea level. Here the experts observe the stars from more than 13 telescopes different.
ICELAND
In Iceland, a country totally dominated by the forces of nature, you won't stop marveling at dozens of waterfalls, volcanoes, huge glaciers (here is the glacier Vatnajökull , the largest ice mass on the planet after the poles), virgin beaches, cliffs and a vast and immense tundra.
Northern lights in Reykjavik, Iceland.
Really, it's a practically uninhabited island. Human settlements have always been limited to Coast zones, being its central part -known as the "Highlands"- practically uninhabited.
This makes light pollution is practically non-existent in a large number of Icelandic astronomical observation points. In addition to depopulation, also the Nordic air of this country, so close to North Pole, contributes to creating such clear skies that we will be able to see millions of stars above our heads.
A couple of good stargazing spots in Iceland are hella's surroundings –population located in the southwest of the island– and Hafnarfjordur, very close to Reykjavik.
In the first, the Hotel Ranga is specially designed for star lovers, it is equipped with its own astronomical observatory. In addition, they offer guided tours for "hunt" stars.
In Hafnarfjördur you will find Aurora Basecamp, part observatory and part learning center, which offers a wide range of activities of observation, both of stars and of the precious phenomenon of the Aurora borealis.
We must remember, however, that to fully enjoy it, you have to visit the country between September and April, since the rest of the months there are too many hours of sunlight in Iceland.
HORTOBÁGY NATIONAL PARK, HUNGARY
The Hortobagy National Park, in Hungary, It has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. In addition, he has the honor of being the first national park established in your country.
In it we will find one of the vastest continuous grasslands of Europe, and its different kinds of terrain and water sources make it an excellent home for more than 340 species different from birds.
Hortobagy, Turkey.
This causes it to be a particularly attractive destination for ornithologists during the day. However, when night falls, it is time to turn your eyes towards a spectacular sky full of lights
The park institutions organize interpretation programs that educate visitors on the importance of preserving the night sky.
TUSCANY, ITALY
Tell the story –or legend, since it is difficult to know when we look so far back in time– that in the year 1610, the great Galileo Galilei (Italian astronomer, physicist and engineer) made his most significant astronomical discoveries since the beautiful fields of Tuscany Italian.
Room III, the Representation of the World, in the Galileo Museum, Florence.
In fact, in the Galileo Museum, Located in Florence, you can see a couple of the small telescopes from him.
Although things have changed considerably for the last 400 years, Tuscan skies remain top quality. During the day we can enchant ourselves with the vineyards, cypresses and hills of the place, while at night we will have only one lover: the heavenly vault.
VALENTIA ISLAND, IRELAND
the precious Emerald island it still keeps corners where nature shines with its own light.
It is the case of the valentine Island, located just off the coast of the county kerry and in which only 600 souls live. This makes light pollution testimonial, giving rise to one of the darkest skies of Europe.
County Kerry Reserve, Ireland.
In addition, during the day you can enjoy a unique landscape, with a beautiful lighthouse, dramatic cliffs and much more. It is an ideal destination for tour it by bike.
ALQUEVA, PORTUGAL
Located in the beautiful region of Portuguese Alentejo, Alqueva has the merit of having inaugurated the list of Starlight Tourist Destinations in the world.
Dark Sky Alqueva, best responsible tourism destination in Europe in 2021.
Starlight Tourist Destinations is a term devised by UNESCO granted to places that have excellent qualities for the contemplation of starry skies and that are suitable for developing tourist activities based on this natural resource.
Besides the great quality of their skies, they must also prove that they have the means to conserve and protect them, and a infrastructure suitable for hosting activities related to the touristic offer.
In Alqueve you can enjoy all this and the beautiful lands that extend on the shores of the great eponymous lake.
MON, DENMARK
The island of Møn is in the southeast end from Denmark, less than two hours by car from Copenhagen.
Known for her ancient ruins and its extensive cliffs of white limestone rock, this island is also one of the best places in the world to observe the night sky, since the Light pollution it is practically non-existent.
Kayaking on the island of Møn, Denmark.
Here you can admire thousands of stars, standing out against a jet black sky. The most spectacular views, however, are the Milky Way and the dark nebulae of the Great Rift (also called Dark Rift), which are a series of dark clouds of dust that significantly obscure the center and more radial sectors of the Milky Way from Earth's perspective.
TIPS TO ENJOY STAR GANING IN EUROPE
There are several things that we must take into account to get the most out of the experience of visiting the best destinations in Europe to see the stars:
-Check the most suitable time: to get the darkest skies, the best time is just before or after new Moon.
-Find height: the higher, the more clear the heavens will be
-Carry a red light: To help our eyes stay adjusted to the dark, it's good to carry a red flashlight and make sure to put red filters in everything that emits light.
-Download an app: It is a very good idea to download a stargazing app to help us sail through the sky night and understand what we are seeing.
-Choose the right clothes: the best time for stargazing trips is during the winter, when humidity levels are low and the nights are long. In order not to have a bad time and be able to fully enjoy the experience, we must be warm and comfortable. Don't forget the outerwear.
And we are ready for marvel before these presents of the Universe.