Molise under the stars: discovering places and legends between earth and sky

When the sun sets, Molise reveals a surprising face: a clear sky full of stars, perfect for experiencing the excitement of astronomy tourism. Thanks to the low light pollution, in fact, it is possible to observe planets, constellations and even the Milky Way, immersing oneself in a unique experience that combines nature, history, science and mythology. From 2018 the first events dedicated to sky observation. The idea was to enhance the historical and scenic sites of Molise, taking advantage of their privileged position to admire the firmament. Thus was born the project “Molise under the Stars,” an experience that combines astronomy, culture and discovery of the territory. Whether walking or standing still in one place the guided laser observations make each event a special opportunity to get to know Molise from an unprecedented perspective.
The observation, carried out with the naked eye, without any instrumentation and with only the support of an astronomical laser, allows one to admire the entire celestial vault and a large number of stars and constellations. What makes these evenings even more fascinating is the combination with mythology, from Greek to Roman to Japanese, to make people understand, while having fun, ancient stories and legends. Added value is to make connections with places and stories of Molise related to mythological facts or characters. Darkness, contact with historical places or nature, and a carpet of stars overhead allow for complete relaxation. The difficulty of photographing at night, in places without lighting, make people look away, at least for a few hours, from their phones in order to focus on the firmament that surrounds us and of which we are a part.