Starry night and star trails

It’s the stuff that dreams are made off. Specially, if you’re a city dweller like me. Just imagine, lying on your back, the cool breeze ruffling your hair, as you admire the brilliant twinkling of the stars, against the stark black canvas of the night sky. The Dutch post-impressionist artist Vincent Van Gogh (my favourite artist) felt so inspired by this beautiful view from his room at Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, that he painted his most beautiful work “The Starry Night” with a vision of what he saw that night.

Unfortunately,  most of us who live in current day urbanscapes, have forgotten how enchanting the view of stars glittering in the night sky can be. The sense of wonderment about what else is out there besides us is something that has fascinated us over centuries. There are more than 6000 stars one can see under a clear sky. However as city dwellers, the light pollution and the haze normally limits the maximum stars one can see to a couple of hundred (sometimes not even that) and over a period of time we forget how spectacular this daily artwork of nature can be.

The best views of the night sky are often found  in remote locations, far away from human settlements. While cool winter skies offer excellent views that are less obscured by humidity or haze, camping outdoors in the freezing cold may not be everyone’s cup of tea. On one of our weekend trips, with a little bit of guidance from our astronomy expert and a good DSLR camera, you can also capture the breathtaking trails of the stars in motion. If you’re lucky to get a clear sky with good visibility you can see the Moon, Mars, Saturn (a beauteous red) and other planets through the telescope. You can learn about the various stars and constellations!

Star gazing and capturing star trails while camping outdoors can be rewarding experiences. Away from the hum drum of city life on a weekend trip,  in a location free of light pollution, you can rekindle your passion for the stars, planets, and the galaxy.

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For more pictures on star trails, check out our Pinterest page:

http://pinterest.com/thewandergirls/star-trails/

The Girls

We're the founders of The Wander Girls! Travel is what makes us tick. New experiences and adventurous activities give us a kick! We're here to share our travel exploits and help you make your travel dreams come true!