Series of astronomy-related activities lined up across India for International Dark Sky Week

As a part of the International Dark Sky Week, India’s leading astro tourism company, Starscapes, is all set to host a number of astronomy-related activities, such as planetary parade, astrophotography sessions, and the Messier Marathon. This event will be held from April 22 to April 30 at Starscapes’ observatories in Kausani, Bhimtal, and at their mobile observatories in Madikeri, Virajpet, Puducherry, Goa, and Munnar.

What is International Dark Sky Week?International Dark Sky Week is celebrated during the New Moon week in April, across the world. And this year, this week falls in April, April 22 to April 30. As per the reports, the said event began in 2003, which aims to raise awareness regarding the night sky, and the ecosystem that thrives in the dark on Earth, and the universe that exists beyond our planet. Astronomy enthusiasts from across the world commemorate this week with certain activities like stargazing sessions, switching off lights to minimise light pollution, and astrophotography workshops.
In this regard, Starscapes has been working actively towards promoting Dark Sky Locations in India to boost interest in astro tourism. Reports have it that Starscapes recently collaborated with the Uttarakhand Tourism Board to develop Benital as India’s first-ever astro village. Also, Hanle is now home to the world's tallest astronomical observatory, which was designated as a Dark Sky Sanctuary by The Union Territory administration in Ladakh a few months ago.

Referring to the said celebration, Starcapes CEO and Co-founder Paul Savio stated that the International Dark Sky week celebrates the magic of the nocturnal world and the importance of preserving and protecting our night sky from light pollution. He further added that to bring more awareness to this cause, Starscapes has curated a series of fun events for astronomy enthusiasts to learn all about the universe.
Savio added that a number of locations in India have low-levels of light pollution and provide an undisturbed view of the night sky, making them ideal for a Dark Sky Park. At Starscapes, they aim to assist in opening many more Dark Sky locations across the country in a bid to promote astro tourism, he stated.