Hunting for shooting stars on Mount Bondone's Terrace of Stars: many events dedicated to astronomy

The Terrace of Stars at Viote del Monte Bondone, listed by UNESCO as a “sky-related site of interest,” offers a unique opportunity for astronomy enthusiasts: from Aug. 10 to 12, from 8 to 11 p.m., it will be possible to participate in evenings dedicated to observing shooting stars, the Perseids. Thanks to telescopes and the expertise of the MUSE team, participants will be able to explore the meteor phenomenon up close and admire the wonders of the summer sky. The event will be enriched by music from the G. Verdi opera choir of Bolzano and delicacies offered by the Pro Loco del Monte Bondone.

“The Perseid swarm manifests the peak of best visibility on these days, but you will also be able to observe the phenomenon on the nights before and after,” stresses Christian Lavarian, MUSE’s Astronomy science facilitator. “However, it will be important to look for a dark sky, away from sources of light pollution. Meteoroids are the small rocky fragments scattered by comets and asteroids that impact the Earth’s atmosphere at high speed: this causes them to explode due to the high temperature caused by friction, resulting in the emission of light. This is the luminous phenomenon we call a meteor or, popularly, a shooting star.”

In addition to shooting stars, August will feature other spectacular astronomical phenomena: on Aug. 19, the first supermoon of the year can be observed, when the full Moon will appear slightly larger because it will be at perigee, the shortest distance from Earth (at a distance of 361,000 km from Earth). “This will make it appear larger than usual: with the naked eye, we will not notice any difference, but observing with binoculars or photographing the Moon will reveal a larger apparent size than the Full Moon at apogee (i.e., at the farthest point from Earth),” Lavarian explains. In addition, on Aug. 21, at first light, the planet Saturn will be occulted by the Moon, an event that will also be visible to the naked eye, given the planet’s brightness. “With binoculars, the observation will certainly be facilitated: we will be able to see the planet disappear behind the Moon and reappear 40 minutes later,” Lavarian adds.

All appointments at the Terrace of Stars are free admission and do not require reservations, offering a perfect opportunity to get closer to the sky and its mysteries under one of Trentino’s most striking skies.

Pictured is the Terrace of Stars at Viote del Monte Bondone.

Hunting for shooting stars on Mount Bondone's Terrace of Stars: many events dedicated to astronomy

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