Astrotourism - Jaén Paraíso Interior
Astrotourism
Stars, Constellations and Planets offer us images of great beauty and the skies of Jaén have exceptional conditions to observe this whole world, which despite being so far away it will seem that we have it in our hands.
Sierra Morena Starlight Reserve
The paradise for astrotourism fans is in Jaén and the cleanest and most starry sky awaits you in the Sierra Morena.
Jaén has the ideal conditions for night-time observation of the sky: the best climate, clear, transparent skies and no light pollution. Moreover, as it is the area of Europe closest to the equator, it allows the observation of a greater extension of the universe, which means that many heavenly bodies are only visible from Andalusia.
Sierra Morena is the largest Starlight Reserve and Tourist Destination in the world, it is the ideal place to observe the sky in the best conditions, it extends over more than 400 kilometres along the north of the provinces of Jaen, Cordoba, Seville and Huelva, 57 municipalities, more than 400 thousand hectares that include six natural parks: P. N. Despeñaperros, P.N. Sierra de Andújar, P.N. Cardeña and Montoro, P.N. Sierra de Hornachuelos, P.N. Sierra Norte de Sevillla and P.N. Sierra de Aracena and Picos de Aroche.
...The paradise for astrotourism fans is in Jaén and the cleanest and most starry sky awaits you in the Sierra Morena.
Jaén has the ideal conditions for night-time observation of the sky: the best climate, clear, transparent skies and no light pollution. Moreover, as it is the area of Europe closest to the equator, it allows the observation of a greater extension of the universe, which means that many heavenly bodies are only visible from Andalusia.
Sierra Morena is the largest Starlight Reserve and Tourist Destination in the world, it is the ideal place to observe the sky in the best conditions, it extends over more than 400 kilometres along the north of the provinces of Jaen, Cordoba, Seville and Huelva, 57 municipalities, more than 400 thousand hectares that include six natural parks: P. N. Despeñaperros, P.N. Sierra de Andújar, P.N. Cardeña and Montoro, P.N. Sierra de Hornachuelos, P.N. Sierra Norte de Sevillla and P.N. Sierra de Aracena and Picos de Aroche.
...The paradise for astrotourism fans is in Jaén and the cleanest and most starry sky awaits you in the Sierra Morena.
Jaén has the ideal conditions for night-time observation of the sky: the best climate, clear, transparent skies and no light pollution. Moreover, as it is the area of Europe closest to the equator, it allows the observation of a greater extension of the universe, which means that many heavenly bodies are only visible from Andalusia.
Sierra Morena is the largest Starlight Reserve and Tourist Destination in the world, it is the ideal place to observe the sky in the best conditions, it extends over more than 400 kilometres along the north of the provinces of Jaen, Cordoba, Seville and Huelva, 57 municipalities, more than 400 thousand hectares that include six natural parks: P. N. Despeñaperros, P.N. Sierra de Andújar, P.N. Cardeña and Montoro, P.N. Sierra de Hornachuelos, P.N. Sierra Norte de Sevillla and P.N. Sierra de Aracena and Picos de Aroche.
The Certification to Sierra Morena as a Starlight Reserve and Destination, granted by the Starlight Foundation and endorsed by UNESCO, certifies that there is hardly any light pollution, more than 60% of its nights are clear and the darkness of its night sky is comparable to that of many professional observatories at an international level. It also implies an institutional commitment to the conservation of its great biodiversity and guarantees the visitor a complete range of options to enjoy the night sky and the natural environment of this reserve.
Sierra Morena has a quality tourist infrastructure to welcome those who come to enjoy astronomy, with a very good quality-price ratio. The Andalusian reserve offers a complete network of viewpoints strategically located and conditioned, to contemplate the indescribable brightness of the stars in the sky, astronomical dissemination activities and specialized services, meeting the most demanding standards of quality and comfort. All this added to the well-known cultural, ethnographic and heritage attractions immersed in a very accessible natural landscape, of impressive visual attraction, which position Sierra Morena as a reference destination for star tourism.
Starlight Reserve Sierra Sur of Jaén
Starlight Reserve Sierra Sur de Jaén, a universe of stars within your reach
Among the mountains and ravines of the Starlight Sierra Sur Reserve the stars shine like lighthouses in the darkness, the clean and transparent air makes the observation of the sky a unique experience.
The Starlight Reserve of the Sierra Sur of Jaén conserves an extraordinary natural heritage, and its great treasure is its magnificent night sky. A team of experts has defined the best observation areas, places where light pollution is not able to reach and the sky still conserves its natural darkness that has disappeared in so many places. In the Sierra Sur of Jaén, an incredibly starry sky, clear nights and magnificent facilities await you.
Ten municipalities in the Sierra Sur of Jaen have a tourist offer linked to stargazing after having been recognized with the Destination Starlight certification in August 2014. This distinction complements the one already obtained in March 2014 ...
Starlight Reserve Sierra Sur de Jaén, a universe of stars within your reach
Among the mountains and ravines of the Starlight Sierra Sur Reserve the stars shine like lighthouses in the darkness, the clean and transparent air makes the observation of the sky a unique experience.
The Starlight Reserve of the Sierra Sur of Jaén conserves an extraordinary natural heritage, and its great treasure is its magnificent night sky. A team of experts has defined the best observation areas, places where light pollution is not able to reach and the sky still conserves its natural darkness that has disappeared in so many places. In the Sierra Sur of Jaén, an incredibly starry sky, clear nights and magnificent facilities await you.
Ten municipalities in the Sierra Sur of Jaen have a tourist offer linked to stargazing after having been recognized with the Destination Starlight certification in August 2014. This distinction complements the one already obtained in March 2014 ...
Starlight Reserve Sierra Sur de Jaén, a universe of stars within your reach
Among the mountains and ravines of the Starlight Sierra Sur Reserve the stars shine like lighthouses in the darkness, the clean and transparent air makes the observation of the sky a unique experience.
The Starlight Reserve of the Sierra Sur of Jaén conserves an extraordinary natural heritage, and its great treasure is its magnificent night sky. A team of experts has defined the best observation areas, places where light pollution is not able to reach and the sky still conserves its natural darkness that has disappeared in so many places. In the Sierra Sur of Jaén, an incredibly starry sky, clear nights and magnificent facilities await you.
Ten municipalities in the Sierra Sur of Jaen have a tourist offer linked to stargazing after having been recognized with the Destination Starlight certification in August 2014. This distinction complements the one already obtained in March 2014 as Starlight Reserve and guarantees the quality of the night sky of this territory and its suitability for the practice of astronomy and observation of the stars in the best conditions.
As a result, the towns of Alcalá la Real, Alcaudete , Castillo de Locubín, Frailes, Fuensanta de Martos, Martos, Valdepeñas de Jaén, Jamilena, Torredelcampo and Los Villares are now part of the select and exclusive group of Starlight destinations in the world that have received the aforementioned recognition.
The love for this exciting science is not new in the Sierra Sur de Jaén region. There are two long-established amateur associations that offer a calendar of informative activities throughout the year:
The Hubble Astronomical Association, in Martos, organises a multitude of public observations, courses and activities of all kinds. Due to its relevance and regional impact, the annual AstroMartos astronomical meeting stands out.
The Einstein Astronomy Society, of Alcalá la Real, together with the Andalusian Astronomy Observatory in the Alcalá de la Pedriza district, organises guided visits and observations for groups of interested people and educational centres.
Both initiatives offer a strong commitment to star tourism, research and conservation of the night sky of the whole region. Few places can boast of such conditions for the practice of astronomy, with magnificent facilities managed and guided by professionals in the field of popularization and science.
Description of the Sierra Sur de Jaén region and the quality of its night sky
The region of the Sierra Sur of Jaén is made up of a very heterogeneous territorial panorama, ranging from areas with very abrupt relief made up of narrow ravines, boxed-in valleys and steep rock walls, to the peaceful olive grove countryside so widely repeated at provincial level. At a general level, two large areas can be differentiated for geographical and practical purposes with regard to this specific point:
The eastern part of the region formed by the mountainous massif of the Sierra Sur (where it is possible to find unevennesses of more than 1870 metres high, as in the mountain of La Pandera) and which includes the largest tectonic window of the European continent.
The peripheral belt of the mountainous area that extends from the north to the south of the region on the western flank.
The territorial division described above is due to the fact that the two areas have very different lighting conditions, and although the area of the mountainous nucleus reaches figures of background brightness of the sky of more than 21.52 mag / arg sec², the peripheral area where most of the population is located moves around figures which vary between 21 and 21.3 magnitudes per second of arc squared.
