Travel With Me - The Best Places To Stargaze

Written by Lucie

What associations do you make when you hear the phrase “space exploration”? Do you think of astronauts floating around their spaceship, NASA scientists testing a newly-built rocket, or just stargazing with a group of friends? If the last option comes  to your mind even for a second, you are in the right place, because I will introduce you to the best places in the Czech Republic to stargaze.

First, let's find out how to choose an ideal observation site

Look for a place with an open horizon 

The paradox is that the less you see around you (buildings, lamps…), the more you see in the sky. Atmospheric transparency is exactly what you need to make the best out of your experience! (This does not apply to trees, which on the contrary shade the light from illuminated areas.)

Always check the weather conditions 

Since the best observation sites in the Czech Republic are found mostly in the mountains, you should think twice about the weather. Nobody wants to run down muddy and slippery hills when it's raining in the dark!

No lamps and lights! 

Here comes light pollution, the greatest enemy of all astronomers. This phenomenon causes light particles to significantly decrease or block visibility up to the point when nearly all stars are covered in a huge luminous cloud. Therefore, if you want 

to make the best out of your experience, you ought to avoid illuminated spaces. 

Image: “Comparison: The dark sky far from the city and a light-polluted sky”

Author: Miroslav Znášik

Now that you know how to evaluate the important factors, let's dive right into the selection of the best picks.

Hřeben Gruň

CHKO Beskydy

This crest is located in one of the darkest parts of Moravian-Silesian Beskydy near the  village of Staré Hamry. Due to the near-perfect visibility this spot provides, it is referred to as “the most stellar place in the Czech Republic”. Since 2014, anyone can pay a visit to the Dark Sky Beskydy (Park Tmavé Oblohy), which offers, for example, planetary and stellar observations (at night but also during the day), photo workshops or “relaxation under the stars”.

Photo: darkbeskydy.cz

Jizerka

Jizerské hory

Jizerka is the highest village in the Czech Republic. Since there is a minimum of light sources around this hamlet, it provides great conditions for stargazing and is rated very high among the observatory spots in this country.

Photo: Instagram, Author: jizerkylove

Brdy

CHKO Brdy

Minimum light pollution and maximum stargazing experience. This is what defines Brdy, a paradise for (not only) astrophotographers. Plus, it's not only the shining sky that catches your attention, but also the astonishing nature within.

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Photo: Instagram, Author: mishan37

Visalaje

Moravian-Silesian Beskydy

It's possible that you've already heard of Visalaje, because it's just behind the corner, near Lysá hora. Although it's not located as high as some of the other spots, the sky there still shines with the brightest stars.

Photo: Pavel Špurek

SOURCES

Bartáková, Věra. “Pozorovací stanoviště.” https://www.astro.cz/rady/pozorovani-oblohy/pozorovaci-stanoviste.html 

Jupigo.com. “TOP 9 míst, kde můžete pozorovat hvězdnou oblohu a přenést se na okamžik do jiné galaxie” https://jupigo.com/kam-na-vylet/top-9-mist-kde-muzete-pozorovat-hvezdnou-oblohu-a-prenest-se-na-okamzik-do-jine-galaxie/ 

Dark Sky Beskydy. https://www.darkskybeskydy.cz 

Jizerka.ceskehory.cz. https://jizerka.ceskehory.cz