IMPORTANT INFORMATION
To confirm your booking for this stargazing event, please send me a private message confirming your attendance. Meetup RSVPs aren't always reliable, and as this experience is organised across different platforms, this helps me manage bookings more easily.
Once you confirm, I'll add you to the WhatsApp group for the event, where we'll finalise the booking details. Thank you!
Price: €15 per adult and €8 per child. These prices apply to public groups only. Private experiences for companies, friends or families have different rates. Feel free to message me if you'd like to organise a private stargazing experience!
TICKET INCLUDES:
Venture for Nature Star guide
Insurance of Acidentes Pessoais
Insurance of Responsabilidade Civil
Location: Monsanto Forest Park, Lisbon
Age: Suitable for all ages!
Duration: 1h30m to 2h
STARGAZING - A JOURNEY FROM THE STARS TO OUR LIVING PLANET
Nature encompasses the universe and all its phenomena, governed by the laws of nature. It includes galaxies, stars and planets, the quantum world, living organisms and ecosystems, and the processes that connect us all.
For thousands of years our ancestors have looked up at the same night sky, creating patterns among the stars. Across cultures, these patterns became animals, mythical figures, objects and stories.
Today, 88 constellations are officially recognised by the International Astronomical Union. They divide the celestial sphere into defined regions, helping astronomers locate and describe celestial objects. We'll use them as our map to navigate the night sky and explore the discoveries that transformed humanity's understanding of the universe.
From planets and stars to black holes and distant galaxies, we'll explore the cosmos using the real night sky as our guide. Even when objects are too distant or too small to see with the naked eye, I'll show you where they lie in the sky, connecting what we'll learn not through screens but to the reality that is above us.
Constellations will be the main anchors of our experience. Using ropes, balls and practical demonstrations, we'll visualise celestial objects and explore the enormous scales and distances of the universe. Since cosmic scales are difficult for our brains to grasp, I'll use familiar comparisons to make them easier to understand.
STRUCTURE OF THE EXPERIENCE
Our experience will unfold across six chapters:
Chapter 1 — Looking Up: Constellations
Chapter 2 — Our Cosmic Neighbourhood: The Solar System
Chapter 3 — Among the Stars: The Milky Way
Chapter 4 — Beyond Our Galaxy: The Observable Universe
Chapter 5 — Into the Unknown: The Quantum World
Chapter 6 — Returning to Earth: Life and Our Place in Nature
THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND
The location isn't ideal for stargazing because of its proximity to the city. However, we'll still be able to identify many constellations and use them to navigate throughout our journey.
After organising firefly tours, I realised that transport can be a challenge when meeting points are far from the city. This meeting location is more accessible: it's around a 17-minute walk from the Lisbon Zoo metro station. Although we're still within the city, the location offers an opportunity to explore the night sky away from the brightest urban areas.
Keep in mind the event might have to be canceled or changed due to weather or cloud cover.
MEETING POINT
The meeting point is in Monsanto Forest Park, Lisbon. I'll share the exact location once your booking is confirmed, so please send me a private message to confirm your attendance.
ACTIVATE YOUR INSURANCE
By law, I need to register participants for the activity's insurance coverage.
I'll need your first and last name and date of birth, used solely for insurance purposes. You can send these details by private message or provide them at the beginning of the event.
While this event is mostly risk free, we will still be walking a bit in the dark to reach our stargazing area, so I would rather activate your insurance to keep you safe.
PAYMENT METHOD
Payment details will be shared in the WhatsApp group during the week of the event.
WHAT TO BRING
-Warm clothing
-Comfortable walking shoes
Looking forward to exploring the night sky with you!
VIDEO OF THE PROJECT:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11SYGWwDrjQ
ABOUT THE GUIDE
I'm João, part of a team of 5 coordinators leading one of Portugal's largest environmental volunteering programmes, run by an environmental NGO. When I'm not involving people in nature restoration initiatives, I organise nature experiences through Venture for Nature, helping people discover the beauty of the natural world and raise awareness about the protection of the wilderness.
