Manětín Dark Sky Park, dark-sky preserve in the Plzeň Region, Czech Republic
Manětín Dark Sky Park is a dark-sky area in the Plzeň Region and a small part of the Karlovy Vary Region, covering 346 km² across ten municipalities including Manětín, Nečtiny and Toužim. It is the third dark-sky area declared in the Czech Republic, after the Jizerská and Beskydská areas.
The area was established in 2014 by the Czech Astronomical Society to fight rising light pollution in the region. The protected designation aimed to preserve dark sky conditions for future observation and research.
The park's name comes from Manětín, the largest of the ten municipalities that signed the founding memorandum in 2014. The Milky Way is visible at first glance, and the faintest stars seen with the naked eye are fainter than magnitude 6. Zodiacal light, gegenschein and airglow can also be observed.
Bring warm clothing, a red-filtered flashlight, and patience since the best observations occur after midnight. Access to viewing areas varies by season and weather conditions.
The Milky Way is visible at first glance here, and the faintest stars seen with the naked eye are fainter than magnitude 6. Zodiacal light, gegenschein and airglow can also be observed, and the darkest northwestern spots rank among the best skies in the Czech Republic.
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