A night to discover the vastness and beauty of the universe. At the Cà del Monte Astronomical Observatory, in Cecima, you can enjoy a unique and evocative experience between astronomy and natureosservatoriocadelmonte.it)
Situated in the heart of the Lombardy Apennines, the Observatory, thanks to its isolated position far from light pollution, offers an excellent view of the night sky and the stars.
During a guided tour, you can learn about the activities of the research centre and stargazing techniques, and then spend the rest of the evening stargazing through the telescopes. The Observatory's astronomers are on hand to explain and answer any questions, making the experience even more educational and exciting as you learn to identify constellations and planets.
The wild nature surrounding the observatory also offers the opportunity for wonderful walks in the local woods. The advice? Switch off your mobile phone and regenerate yourself by rediscovering the value of nature and the beauty that surrounds you.
It is advisable to book in advance and to dress appropriately for the night temperatures.
Looking up
The visibility of the sky can vary according to the weather conditions and the time of year. However, what we can observe under the sky at Cà del Monte is extraordinary. Starting with the planets of our solar system, such as Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and Venus. Thanks to the observatory's telescopes, we can also see details such as Jupiter's cloud belts or Saturn's rings. Then there are bright stars, brilliant nebulae such as the Orion Nebula, which appears as a bright spot in the sky, or distant galaxies such as the Andromeda galaxy, the closest to the Milky Way.
The night of San Lorenzo
The 'Night of San Lorenzo' is known as the night of shooting stars. It refers to a celestial event that occurs annually around 10 August, with peak activity usually observed on the nights of 10, 11 and 12 August. During this time, more meteors or shooting stars can be seen in the sky.
Shooting stars: what they are
Shooting stars are caused when small pieces of space debris called meteoroids enter the Earth's atmosphere. These fragments burn up due to friction with the atmosphere, creating a bright trail in the sky that we call a shooting star. The night of San Lorenzo is an unmissable opportunity to observe shooting stars, as the summer weather conditions often offer clear skies that are favourable for astronomical observation. Astronomy enthusiasts and ordinary sky watchers gather in dark places, far from light pollution, to enjoy the spectacle of shooting stars streaking across the night sky.
Between magic and wishes
The custom of making a wish when seeing a shooting star is a popular tradition with ancient roots and superstitions linked to the concept of good luck. Many believe that if you make a wish as a shooting star crosses the sky and make the gesture of closing your eyes and thinking a thought, your wish may come true. This tradition has its origins in beliefs that associated shooting stars with special or mysterious events, and making a wish at that moment could symbolically connect people with the energy or power of the stars themselves.
