From Brazil to Namibia, astrotourism combines observation of the sky with environmental preservation

In addition to Christmas celebrations around the world, December 25, 2021 was marked by the launch of the space telescope James Webb a $9 billion instrument capable of delving into the most remote corners of the cosmos.

Described as a “new age of astronomy”, the equipment’s super-powerful lenses have already revealed never-before-seen photos taken more than 1.5 million kilometers from Earth: images of Jupitergives strong light from marsFrom neptune’s ringsgives starlight and invisible aspects of the Universe are some of the clear demonstrations of the telescope.

If the instrument wasn’t enough to arouse your curiosity to look at the sky from here on Earth, you certainly didn’t go unpunished from the celestial events observed this year. Total lunar eclipses, multiple meteor showers and supermoons lit up the sky in 2022.

Allied to the traces that the pandemic left on tourism, such as the boom in demand for secluded places connected to nature, all these events shed light on a developing niche: the astrotourism 🇧🇷

What is astrotourism

Described as a way of sustainable and responsible tourism that matches night and day sky observations astrotourism develops dissemination and leisure activities related to astronomy.

It is also a resource that promotes less developed territories, which find in this modality an opportunity to attract more visitors.

The above definition is supported by the Starlight Foundation a non-profit organization created by the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) that values ​​the starry sky and fights to protect it, taking care of a “scientific and cultural heritage that belongs to everyone”, according to the foundation.

The entity, which is still supported by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and corresponds to an integrated action by UNESCO, grants certificates to places around the world that are considered ideal for observing the sky and stars.

THE most indications it is in Europe, with some points in Canada, Chile and Peru, but that help adventurers interested in astrotourism to delimit their searches.

Brazil is credited by the Dark-Sky Association authority when it comes to combating light pollution around the world.

The organization has what it calls the International Dark Sky Places, a list of certified places around the world created to encourage communities, parks and protected areas to preserve and protect dark places through responsible lighting policies and public education. .

There are currently about 195 properties and areas worldwide with the certificateaccording to the organization’s latest survey in January this year.

One of the examples is the Desengano State Park in Rio de Janeiro, only Brazilian address on the Dark-Sky map and who received the distinction at the end of 2021, also becoming the first Dark-Sky Place in Latin America.

The State Park

considered the first park created by the Government of the State of Rio de Janeiro the site is one of the most important forest fragments in Serra do Mar, leaning over the municipalities of Santa Maria Madalena, São Fidélis and Campos dos Goytacazes.

Records indicate that the park is home to more than 1,321 species of flora, 58 of which are threatened with extinction and 81 are endemic to the state of Rio.

Accessed 24 hours a day, it is at night that astrotourism lovers can have a full plate: the bright sky guarantees breathtaking views of the stars. Dark-Sky emphasizes that the Milky Way is clearly visible, full of light and striking colors.

These details, many of them seen with the naked eye, are only possible to be witnessed by the total absence of artificial lighting in the park, and also by the location between valleys, hills and vegetation.

Desengano State Park is, therefore, a good example of what is necessary to have a good observation of the night sky.

ideal conditions

According to Elielson Soares Pereir a, an astronomer graduated from the Institute of Astronomy, Geophysics and Atmospheric Sciences of the University of São Paulo (IAG-USP), there are three essential requirements for quality astrotourism:

• Being away from large urban centers, due to light pollution;
• Choose drier periods or places;
• Being a high-altitude location

Parque do Desengano, for example, meets some of the requirements, in which the most recommended months for viewing the stars are between May and August, when the sky is completely clear of cloud interference.

According to Dark-Sky, the best place to enjoy stargazing is the Morumbeca dos Marreiros sector, an area accessible by vehicles that has infrastructure to receive visitors.

The same happens with the Veadeiros Plateau , a national park in Goiás that is the basis for the work of astronomer Elielson. Last year he created Céu de Gaia, a travel agency and tour operator whose motto is astrotourism packages, whether in the national territory or even in neighboring countries to Brazil, such as Chile.

The company’s headquarters are in Alto Paraíso de Goiás, one of the entrances to Chapada, which is about 240 km from Brasília, as well as being above a thousand meters of altitude and has a more evident dry period between May and August.

According to the founder, the agency diversifies the itineraries as a strategy to please different types of tourists and proposes programs according to the different phases of the moon.

Currently, Céu de Gaia offers an astronomical tour at the Bellatrix Observatory, which contains a dome with a telescope elevated 8 meters high amidst the views of Chapada dos Veadeiros.

Another tour offered is the Full Moon Trail, which is done between 2 and 3 days before or after the Full Moon. The tours vary in value and can also be customized – a trip to the Bellatrix Observatory, for example, without transport costs around R$175 per person, in which groups accommodate up to eight people.

Why see the sky?

The punctual phenomena, also called ephemeris that includes meteor showers, comets and eclipses are some of the major events that draw attention to astrotourism.

The modality, however, goes much further than that.

“It is an experience tourism. A tourism that works with the senses: the primary sense worked is vision, but then comes hearing – we hear sounds of nature, of some animals, or even perceive sounds further away”, says astronomer Elielson Soares.

He still defends that astrotourism is inserted in other contexts. “Another element is also being able to work with what is local, like the cuisine of that specific place. It is important to pay attention to the cultural part as well,” he says.

The practice, which is more widespread in the United States, Europe and Chile, as in the Atacama Desert, also needs some care.

accredited guides they help on the trails and also help the most inexperienced to better understand the observation of the sky. lanterns are necessary along the way, just as it is important to First aid kit.

“People who are going to do these experiments need to feel safe,” recalls Elielson.

For the professional, astrotourism is also an important aspect of scientific knowledge, being a search for other knowledge and for more real experiences that are just a little away from the theoretical field.

“The sky is also history: it was used in ancient times for humans to guide themselves and also for harvest time. They are ways of living based on the sky, in which we take us back to the past as well”, he highlights.

5 places in the world for astrotourism

In Brazil, the Desengano National Park and the Veadeiros Plateau are places already mentioned as suitable for performing quality astrotourism.

Other addresses, more linked to the educational character, can also be ideal, such as observatories and planetariums in the main Brazilian cities.

The country, however, is still in its infancy. Other countries, even neighboring the national territory, have a better infrastructure to receive visitors and make headlines around the world.

Here are five locations around the world for astrotourism experiences:

Chile