Guided star tours are available here in German and English – including equipment such as telescopes and large binoculars. Another attraction is the astronomy workshop "Sterne ohne Grenzen" (Stars Without Borders) at the Vogelsang observatory. Here too, you can see the shimmering white stripe of the Milky Way on clear nights to a level of detail possible in just a few places in Europe. The Eifel Nature Park, some 65 kilometres south-west of Cologne, is mainly spared from artificial light sources and was recognised by the IDA as a Dark Sky Reserve in 2019. Visitors can also find darkness in the Eifel region on the border with Belgium and Luxembourg – a kind of island in the otherwise densely populated state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Starry sky over the International Star Park Eifel National Park ©Nationalpark Eifel (Maximilian Kaiser) Original accommodation is also available in the surrounding area. Visitors can gaze up comfortably from "sky loungers" and mobile maps of the stars are provided to assist with orientation in the night sky. On the Hohe Geba (750 metres above sea level) in Thuringia, astronomical observation platforms have been installed in the ground to provide a firm foundation for sensitive astronomical devices. The park organises guided night walks led by certified star guides who explain astronomical processes and tell stories about the constellations. The galaxy is 2.5 million lightyears away. In optimum conditions, from the UNESCO Rhön Biosphere Reserve it's even possible to spot M 31, the Andromeda Galaxy – the most remote object that can be viewed by the human eye without technical aids. The Rhön Dark Sky Reserve, on the border of the federal states of Bavaria, Hesse and Thuringia in the centre of Germany, became one of four German Dark Sky Reserves in 2014. A transition between light and dark is an important time mechanism for ecosystems and for us humans too. This phenomenon can irritate nocturnal animals and birds or disrupt plants' growth cycles. It works to disseminate astronomical knowledge, raise awareness of the night sky as a cultural asset and inform people of the consequences of light smog. As well as focusing on attractions for tourists, the organisation also has an educational role. Gersfeld: Starry sky with the Milky Way over the Wasserkuppe ©Sternenpark Rhön (Steffen Kossatz)Īround the world, the IDA has recognised around 40 regions in which artificial light has been eliminated to a great extent and the dark night sky is protected. Visitors can seek out nine marked observation points and from there view thousands of stars and planets, and with a little luck, perhaps some shooting stars and comets too. The darkest point is in the core area between the small towns of Gülpe and Nennhausen. The US non-governmental organisation International Dark Sky Association (IDA) designated Westhavelland Nature Park as Germany's first Dark Sky Reserve in 2014. As well being able to see the Milky Way with the naked eye, there's also a chance to observe the "airglow", faint light from higher atmospheric layers. Amateur astronomers are ideally catered for here, with guided tours and photography courses as well as astro-friendly accommodation with binoculars and telescopes.Īnd the sights you can spot on clear nights are amazing. In sparsely populated Westhavelland, around 70 kilometres to the west of Berlin, you can even find one of the darkest spots in the whole country. Havelaue: Starry sky over a street in the Westhavelland Star Park ©Natur-Sternenpark Westhavelland (Tom Radziwill) Westhavelland: the first Dark Sky Park in Germany However, you're never far from a stargazing spot in the heart of nature. The light emitted by lots of streetlights, industrial facilities, billboards and a sea of houses impedes our view of the sky – our gaze is fixed in the dome of extraneous light. You do, however, have to venture beyond Berlin or Cologne, due to light pollution in large cities and urban conurbations. But you don't need to leave civilisation entirely behind – a trip to Germany also has plenty to offer any amateur astronomer. Isolated deserts, high mountains or remote islands are among the best places on earth for stargazing. Space – endless expanses: the universe, with its myriads of stars, galaxies and planets, emanates an indescribable power that people have always attempted to feel and interpret.
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