When looking for the best places to film and look at the sky there are a few important things to consider, with the most obvious being light pollution.
of the Dark Heavenly Society (IDSA) compiled a database of International Dark Sky Places (IDSPs) that meet specific requirements. As of January 2022, there are 195 certified IDSPs in the world. Within this list, there are five areas: parks, sanctuaries, sanctuaries and the city’s nightlife areas.
Each piece comes with specific requirements that need to be met where to enter. The temperature gauges are pre -assembled to protect and maintain the independent conditions of the night. The advantage to photographers and astronomers is that a lot of the hard work is done in observing a well -made astrophotophoto site.
This gives photographers the focus of choosing the right box for the trip, such as the best photo shoots for movie photography, the best lenses for photography, or even choosing Making the best telescopes and the best binoculars for aerial observers.
The light meter reading was recorded (0-22 dark blue, about 22 dark) the darkest areas were detected and these areas were reserved for future generations to enjoy like the ancestors.
This article highlights some of our favorite places from the list of International Dark Sky Places but there are some programs and sites to help you establish your own, such as Dark Web Search Engine.
Kerry, Ireland
The Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve (IDSR) is located in County Kerry, South West Ireland. Not only is it Ireland’s first Dark Sky Reserve, but it was awarded the Gold Tier Award in 2014, the first in the North, and one of only four Gold Tier Dark-Sky Reserves in the region. the world.
On non -moonlit nights you can see thousands of stars, the Milky Way, other stars, satellites and shooting stars. Kerry is beautiful in the world so there are plenty of opportunities to practice yours landscape before sunset.
With many beaches, a cemetery, a church, a theater and a playground, there are many sights to make interesting composers, which is easy to look at when taking pictures. astro image.
There are two parts to care for, the base part (the darkest part) and the shield part. In Kerry’s care, many of the areas in the buffer areas are in the same dark areas, giving more opportunities to experiment and get a free shot. There is no entrance fee to the library, camping is allowed and much more dwelling house choose for those who want to rest in a warm bed.
NamibRand Nature Reserve, Namibia
The 1500 square kilometer NamibRand Nature Reserve in Southern Namibia is one of the Gold Tier International Dark Sky Reserves where the sky shines with stars, providing a 360-degree panorama of the sky. When the sun goes down, it has one of the darkest skies on earth but it can be seen, the nearest villages are small and 97 kilometers away.
The main purpose of conservation is to educate and maintain a unique ecosystem. Dark skies are part of this management plan, to reduce the negative effects of natural light on plant and animal species for night and day.
May to September is dry and cloudy, perfect for getting those single photo shoots to life, with the best time of the month around a new moon. For those who want to capture the Milky Way, you don’t have to choose because it is visible from January to November. If you need a little help, read our top tips on how to get to the Milky Way.
There are many options for staying with three private campgrounds in the archive (Jupiter, Orion and Venus) run by Hide NamibRand family and the Wolwedans collection of camps.
Westhavelland, Germany
This reserve, which became the International Dark Sky Reserve in 2014, covers 750 square kilometers of private and public land. Best of all, it is 70 kilometers west of Berlin, the IDSR closest to a major city.
It is famous for its fertile lands with an abundance of animals and plants, ideal for taking pictures of landscapes and wildlife in the world.
Photographers can book guided film tours and there is an annual star party (in her 11th year) called. WHAT’S UP, a meeting place for various photographers and astronauts. The clearest skies are in Westhavelland between May and mid -July next month and you may be lucky enough to see the G.own check.
River Murray Dark Sky Reserve, South Australia
100 kilometers from Adelaide this IDSR, selected in 2019, was originally designed to ward off the nocturnal Southern hairy-nosed wombat so you can be sacred when it comes to seeing you go at night. The darkest skies here are due to low population, large agricultural land and lack of major development and its IDSR status ensures that it will continue that way.
The ‘darkest’ core of Swan Reach Conservation Park is 2000 acres of forest and you need a 4×4 to get there (see Kangaroos). An independent camping is allowed, however, there is no housing so you need to be prepared. Check with the South Australian Country Service ahead of time for information on fire hazards.
Another popular land to maintain with ease of access is the Big Bend Cliffs which run along the Murray River. Here you can see how 200 million -year -old rock cliffs change when the sun goes down before the stars take off into the sky. It was also a good time to take the first picture to compose later.
Mont-Megantic, Quebec
Mont-Megantic is the first and largest of the International Dark Sky Reserve. It covers 34 cities and towns with a population of more than 225,000. The altitude, accessible by car, is where you can see the Mont Megantic Observatory. Nearby you will find the ASTROLab museum and production center with displays, monitors and telescopes available for public use.
It’s a paradise for astronomy, it’s a popular place because of the attractions, tours and activities it offers, so it’s probably something to forget if you want to be alone with your instruments. Every year when Perseid Meteor rains in August, the tower maintains nights watching. In 2022 this is August 11-13.
Moore’s Reserve, South Downs, England, UK
Named after British astronomer Sir Patrick Moore, the South Downs system is about 100km from London. There are many artistic features of this area such as 18th century windmills, famous style cliffs, Iron Ages Sites, hills and windmills. All of this can provide interesting first principles for astrophotographers.
There is a black festival every two weeks in February. To make it easier to explore your area, there are 10 ‘information sites’ that can be easily accessed by car.
Pic Du Midi de Bigorre, Palani
Pic Du Midi sits on clouds in the beautiful French Pyrenees. For that reason, you’ll have to drive through La Mongie and catch the cable car for 15 minutes to get to the 9439 -foot peak, but it offers breathtaking views along the way. However, rapid growth is not for everyone (if you are pregnant or have other health conditions, for example).
The Reserve covers 3,300 square kilometers of the Hautes-Pyrénées but people head to the top of Pic Du Midi for a view, a 360-degree spectacle of clear constellations and the Milky Way. You need to sign up in a good hostel if you want to stay on top at night.
This information comes at a hefty price and also requires pre -booking, which means you take the game on time. At the time of booking accommodation is around $ 500 / night for a double room and there is a one -year subscription.
Elan Valley, Wales, UK
Elan Valley in central Wales was the first private park but can be seen by the public as Dark Sky Park. It is located in the remote and quiet Cambrian mountains, home to the darkest skies in Europe.
The best time to see the Milky Way there is in Autumn and the beauty and variety of landscapes is a great place to try and see that composer suitable for astrophotophoto.
If you are out in the dark make sure to tell them where you are going as the phone / GPS signal is not very clear and the weather can change quickly. You may want to consider hiring a mountain guide to accompany you.
There are six outdoor pools in the valley, and the lakes offer plenty of opportunities to try out the water imagination, which can be very beautiful at times. blue hour.
Between June and the end of July, you can see very few Noctilucent clouds. There are many options for living in Elan in luxury farms or B & Bs.
Although not guaranteed, the places on this list have hopefully strengthened the idea of staying up at night (or waking up) and seeking the magic of the dark sky. Of course, there are many amazing places and rural areas with dark skies where you can see twinkling stars that don’t have the permission of the dark skies, so write if you have any features you would like. and to share.
