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Stargazing

Stargazing In Molokai

November 26, 2007 at 10:00 AM | 1 Comment

Astronomers say Hawaii's stargazing remains unparalleled. And never willing to let a tourism opportunity go untapped, agencies offer star parties, parks and planetariums throughout the islands. All that means Hawaii has more publicly accessible astronomy per square mile than anywhere else on Earth, says Jaunted contributor Alex Salkever in Sunset magazine.

The star-struck publication explains the geography that makes constellation spotting so easy in the Aloha State:

A host of factors makes the Hawaiian Islands fabulous for stargazing. The vast Pacific Ocean surrounding the islands provides a 2,500-mile light-free buffer zone, ringing the archipelago in inky blackness. The ocean also creates stable air above the Hawaiian Islands, and this atmospheric stability means that stars look less fuzzy and their finer details can be seen, often with the naked eye.

Kaupoa Beach on Molokai, or the "Friendly Isle", offers particularly clear skies. Guests of the Lodge & Beach Village at Molokai Ranch can take advantage of free stargazing tours out to the beach, and non-guests can share in the fun, since, as in all of Hawaii, beaches are free and open to everyone.

Related Stories:
· Lodge & Beach Village at Molokai Ranch [Official Site]
· Stargazing in Mauna Kea [Jaunted]
· Stargazing Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Mattie Shoes]