Szklarska Poręba is undoubtedly a fantastic place to relax any time of year. In winter, you can enjoy downhill and cross-country skiing – the area boasts the best cross-country skiing resort in Jakuszyce, boasting the longest and most beautiful trails. In summer, you can enjoy the beauty of the mountains by hiking all day long. There are numerous tourist attractions here, with something for everyone. However, few people realize that Szklarska Poręba is also an ideal place for observing the night sky. Why is it worth bringing a telescope, a spotting scope, or even just binoculars?
The Jizera Dark-Sky Park is a special place established in 2009. It covers an area of 75 km². It is a reserve created with astronomy enthusiasts in mind. In Poland, as well as around the world, there is enormous light pollution. This is related to technological and civilizational development. More and more towns and even tiny villages are gaining street lighting – something that, in the recent past, was only a feature of large metropolises. This situation significantly complicates observing stars, planets, and distant galaxies. For this reason, special low-light pollution areas are being established around the world, where every effort is made to avoid excessive streetlights and other sources of artificial lighting. Dark-Sky Parks are ideal places for observing astronomical objects. It is worth visiting Szklarska Poręba, to be able to see at night what is normally hidden from our eyes in well-lit places.
While a telescope offers extraordinary opportunities for observing distant celestial bodies, you can still experience a wealth of experiences without one in the Jizera Dark Sky Park. Even with the naked eye, you can enjoy the starry night sky, which we can't admire in cities. Under favorable weather conditions, you can even enjoy the view of our magnificent Milky Way, spread across the night sky.
