Astrotourism Holidays in Naxos

Astrotourism holidays in Naxos are ideal because the island has a number of dark-sky destinations. It’s the only Cycladic island with a large mainland and highlands, that offer pure clear skies away from crowded towns that have light pollution. You can enjoy dark skies, dark sky observation objects, see planets, and enjoy magnificent stargazing in the north, west and east side of Naxos which is almost dark, because there’re only a few small villages or no villages at all, meaning the uplight is minimal or does not exist at all.

stargazing

Are there clear skies for stargazing in Naxos? Where can we find the best stargazing in Naxos?

Naxos town Chora, along with its surrounding area is extremely light polluted. For the best stargazing experiences and night sky observation, head to off the beaten path places, to the highlands that they’re astrotourism places’ paradice. Astronomy lovers will be delighted here because Naxos’ mountainous region is home to some of the darkest skies in Greece. Combined with very low light pollution, frequent cloudless nights and no humidity, Naxos’ velvet black skies are sprinkled with millions of glittering diamonds. The number of stars you can see here, compared to the night skies of Northern Europe, is breathtaking.

The large villages and their surrounding areas are overlighted, too much light is brightening their night sky caused by the street lights and other man-made sources, which have a disruptive effect on natural cycles, and inhibit the observation of stars and planets. Consequently, the skyglow (the combination of all the reflected light and upward-directed light escaping up into the sky) over these inhabited areas is large. The dark sky starts to be seen after the vilage of Halki, going upwards north through the village of Moni. The side from Filoti village going to Apeiranthos is not ideal because these villages are large, illuminated a lot, meaning they contribute significantly to light pollution.

astrotourism places in naxos island greece

The sky is considered as one of the highest fascinations, and location plays a big role in being able to engage in and study the night sky. The mountainous Naxos is in the Top 5 locations in Greece, revealing an ocean of glittering stars, the brightly lit Milky Way, its Constellations and Star Clusters, the Saturn, The Andromeda Galaxy, the Rosette Nebula, the Bubble Nebula, and much much. The universe unfolds here and uncovers a zillion stars, constellations, coursing meteors and psychedelic auroras.

Finding in Naxos highland spots away from the villages, or mountains that have no villages in their vicinity are ideal spots for stargazing experiences and night sky observation.

Have a happy astrotourism holiday in Naxos island, Greece…….A celestial getaway to Naxos is calling.

There is a map of Naxos and Paros here and you can put it here so people can understand exactly when they see the picture with the pollution,  a screenshot of the map of Naxos and Paros would be perfect

You can enjoy stargazing and accommodation in the same spot.

Astrotourism in ELaiolithos is a chance to combine astronomy with vacation on a Greek island, and tap into that sense of wonder.

ELaiolithos is an ideal astrotourism place retreat. It’s in an exceptional location, which is amazing by day, and gorgeous by night! You can enjoy astrotourism holidays here at ELaiolithos which is a destination with beautiful starry skies and excellent hospitality services -a haven for stargazing and night sky observation.

ASTROTOURISM PLACE ELAIOLITHOS NAXOS

What is Astrotourism?

Astrotourism means traveling for space related experiences here on earth. Meaning traveling somewhere with beautiful surroundings, that has less light pollution that doesn’t obscure the stars. That means exploring rural places for their amazing dark skies with the express purpose of stargazing.

Astrotourism is one of the simplest, and most accessible, sustainable forms of travel that brings you closer to nature, helping you understand the physical world and its dynamics. It’s a  unique eco friendly experience that goes back many centuries when mankind looked up to the stars, imagined figures, and gave them meanings. Humans have been admired and fascinated with the stars and space travel since the beginning of time.

The universe is full of mesmerizing wonders, but since they’re so far away, these objects are barely noticeable with the naked eye. With the help of a high-quality telescope though, you can unlock the finer details and observe things that a naked eye will never see.

orion nebulae astrotourism elaiolithos

The Universe is also an object of fear to men. The secrets it withholds are immense and mankind has always tried to drive meaning out of the sky above. We are feeble, negligible, and ephemeral in this vastness. The sky represents infinity, eternity, immortality, and transcendence; it is the residence of the gods, it is omnipotence. And here comes the appeal of the stargazing experience because we get the feeling of  puting our own lives in perspective.

Much of the world’s population lives in urban areas with heavy artificial light pollution meaning a lack of night sky visibility. In some places people go outside and when look at the night sky, the stars are missing. The Covid19 pandemic brought great interest in the night sky, in part because many people were stuck at home with little access to the outdoors, and the sky has provided them the only limitless sense of space. During lockdowns the back-garden stargazing proved to be a popular activity at home, and as travel recovers, many people have start looking for socially distanced destinations and sustainable experiences, such as astrotourism.

stargazing naxos greece elaiolithos

What stargazing means?

Stargazing is the night sky observation, and it is a novel way to appreciate the universe’s wonders, and witness the sky in its natural glory.

Glamour nowadays is considered the grandeur of having a meaningful life, and enhancing escapes where you can make emotional connections with new destinations, cultures, nature, the environment, and the universe. There is something primal about watching the night sky, and nothing inspires more wanderlust than pondering the vastness of the universe underneath a sky full of constellations.  

The Covid19 pandemic lockdown made people more conscious, and drew them into the search of sustainable experiences such as the astrotourism travel. They’re looking to enjoy comfortable and private accommodation in peaceful locations, to be mindful of their surroundings, and detox for a while. Thus, the search for stargazing experiences looks to be the next big thing.

Few memories are sweeter than those stargazing nights! Everystargazing experience reawakens the child inside us that is eager to discover the world and its limits!

ELaiolithos stargazing astrotourism place

Why are dark skies important?

Since the late 19th century, we have filled our planet with electric light. Most continents including the United States, Europe, and many parts of Asia are now so lit up that 99% of people cannot see the Milky Way or any stars.

Light waste is a huge contributor to carbon emissions and has proven repercussions on human health and the biodiversity that keeps our planet and food chain functioning. The vast amount of light waste emitting from our cities is destroying the rhythms of our world in unimaginable ways. Light pollution, which means not dark skies, disrupts the rhythm of day and night that so many plants and animals depend upon, it affects the  migration patterns of many species, the predator-prey relationships, and the circadian rhythms of many organisms.

Dark skies are important because:

  • They preserve the earth’s ecosystem. A night sky without artificial light is vital to the proper functioning of natural ecosystems
  • Protect our precious wildlife. The night sky helps the already endangered species survive by maintaining their natural environments
  • Affect our body and brain. We, humans, need the darkness to make our immune systems work
  • Offer us the opportunity of stargazing. Dark skies make us bring back ourselves in tune and connect with ourselves, our family, friends, and nature, while stargazing is letting the starlight and moonlight rejuvenate our soul. We pause to gaze up at the night sky, reflect on our place in the universe, and feel the positive earth’s vibes
  • Offer sustainable holiday travel. Astrotourism lovers are “dark skies seekers.” They’re looking for places where the sky is the darkest and clearest, to enjoy its beauty.

 We guarantee you Naxos’ dark skies will reimburse you in big ways!

dark sky observation naxos elaiolithos

What is the Milky Way

Milky way is the name of the spiral galaxy in which our solar system is located. It’s our home in space. The earth orbits the Sun in the Solar System, and the Solar System is embedded within this vast galaxy of stars. The Milky Way has inspired humans for centuries. Unfortunately with the artificial light pollution, many areas in the world  cannot even see the Milky Way, which is incredibly sad, and it has become more difficult to figure out where to go stargazing.

In the northern hemisphere, the Milky Way is visible in the southern half of the sky. This makes Greece one of the best places in the world to see and photograph the galaxy because of the country’s geographic location in Southern Europe at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Any filmmaker and photographer would feel very fortunate to stay up here because the Milky Way is always visible in Naxos’ northern sky.

crescent nebulae naxos elaiolithos

What is the Nebulae?

Nebulas are star making factories. Nebulae are clouds made up of dust and gas, with its basic elements to be hydrogen and helium. Checking a nebulae through the telescope is a more intense experience. Doing so lets you see details and colors beyond just white light in the night sky.

Nebulae cannot affect the earth.The difference between nebulae and galaxies is their big difference in size, and their basic structure. Nebulae play a crucial role in  the chemical evolution of our galaxy, returning material to the inter stellar medium which has been enriched in heavy elements and other products of nucleosynthesis such as carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and calcium.

For more information you can read here.