Look up to See the Starry Sky in Chongming

2023-09-18 14:23

抬头就能见到星空,崇明这里美到令人窒息1.jpg


“Unexpectedly, the starry sky seen from here is so clear and breathtaking,” said Miss Lu, who, arriving at Chongming Dongtan Wetland Park from the city center, was surprised. In recent days, the Perseid meteor shower has been shining brightly in the night sky, which is hailed as the most suitable for observation throughout the year.

 

On the weekend, Miss Lu made an appointment with her friends and brought her tent and photo equipment to the park, looking forward to encountering a meteor shower. Miss Lu said that she had consulted many guides and found that this is one of the best places for star watching recognized by enthusiasts in Shanghai. "In Shanghai, there are not many places with very little light pollution, so today I can say I came to the right place.”


抬头就能见到星空,崇明这里美到令人窒息2.jpg


Why choose a place with less light pollution to observe stars? According to park staff, in simple terms, it means choosing a place with darker ambient light to see a brighter starry sky. Various lighting devices at night, such as streetlights and headlights, can affect the viewing experience of the stars. Dongtan Wetland Park has a superior ecological environment, inhabiting a large number of birds and crawling animals. Considering that the lighting devices at night can affect these animals, there are very few lighting devices installed in the park and surrounding areas. Therefore, the night is particularly quiet. While protecting the animals and the ecological environment, the night conditions here have also become the reason why many star watchers fall in love with it. “Nowadays, more and more tourists from the urban area are camping here just to see the stars.”



The "starry sky" from protecting the ecological environment has brought fame to Dongtan Wetland Park. The park has launched the Perseid Meteor Shower Theme Activity, inviting professional teachers to teach on-site about star observation, bird protection, wetland protection, and other knowledge. While watching the twinkling stars, one can also search for Chinese alligators, crawling animals, and insects at night, and experience the mysterious stories of wetlands.



Last Saturday night, the weather was clear and perfect for watching meteor showers. Many star watchers came to the Wetland Park. On the grass in the camping area, everyone set up their tents and cameras, while others simply laid blankets on the grass and lay flat looking at the starry sky. “Look, meteors!” From time to time, cheers spread from the scene, and the entire starry sky above the dome seemed within reach.


抬头就能见到星空,崇明这里美到令人窒息7.jpg


Deep at night, in the deep blue, there is a vast white shimmer, which is the brilliant Milky Way.