From 4 to 10 October the week of space is celebrated. Many fans define themselves as “astroturists”, always looking for the perfect darkness.
Valtellina is a privileged place: far from the valley floor and inhabited centers, the nights are protected by a low level of light pollution. In the days close to the new moon, the darkness becomes deeper and the stars seem to multiply, revealing constellations and celestial phenomena with a rare sharpness. Already at altitudes around 1,200-1,500 meters, the air, made more clear by the breezes, offers clear and deep skies that make the stars stand out, brighter and easy to observe. The ideal moments will be around October 21, November 20 and December 20: moonless nights, perfect for looking at and getting amazed. In Livigno the stars are at hand. In Valtellina it is easy to recognize the best known constellations and some seasonal figures: the majestic Pegaso, the mythical Perseus with his star clusters and, for expert eyes, also the elegant Andromeda with his galaxy.
Then the winter arrives and the scenario becomes even more intense: the bull with the Pleiades, the unmistakable Orion with his three -star belt, and the twins, led by Castore and Pollux, which bring to mind the swarm of the Geminids, also known as “Christmas stars”: every year, between 4 and 17 December, the meteoric swarm crosses the sky by giving dozens of bright scie every hour, with a spectacular peak, with a spectacular scie. December 14th. A stop not to be missed? The Astronomical Observatory in Ponte in Valtellina a few kilometers from Sondrio.