Peñas Rubias Viewpoint

Looking up at the sky from Viver

Landscape, stars and tranquillity

Can you imagine ending the day taking in the landscape and, when night falls, looking up to discover the stars?

 

Peñas Rubias Viewpoint is a place to enjoy nature and observe the night sky from Viver. During the day, its views invite you to stop and take in the surroundings. At dusk, the landscape gives way to a sky full of possibilities for anyone curious about astronomy.

An interpretation panel at the viewpoint will help you find your way around the night sky and identify some of the stars that can be seen throughout the year.

And if you want to extend the experience, you will find a camper area next to the viewpoint, where you can enjoy the surroundings and spend the night in this natural setting.

A chance to switch off, enjoy the tranquillity and discover Viver from another perspective: by looking up at the stars.

Plan your visit

• Location: Peñas Rubias Viewpoint, Viver.

• Type of visit: self-guided.

• What you will find: views of the surrounding landscape, an interpretation panel about the night sky and a camper area.

• For stargazing: choose a clear night and, if possible, one with little moonlight. Bring warm clothing and give your eyes time to adjust to the darkness.

• Special activities: guided stargazing sessions may be held on specific dates when scheduled.

Read the interpretation panel in English

The information below is a translation of the interpretation panel you will find at Peñas Rubias Viewpoint.

A “Stargazing Viewpoint”

A “Stargazing Viewpoint” is designed to help us understand what we see when we look up at the night sky. The stellar magnitude at this location is ideal for observing the stars.

What stars can we see when we look up at the sky?

This panel will help you identify the stars visible throughout the year. Use the planisphere to discover the stars and constellations that can be seen from this location.

The stars we see belong to the Milky Way. Other galaxies can be seen as luminous patches in the sky. There are hundreds of billions of galaxies in the Universe… That is why the Universe is infinite.

What are constellations?

Constellations are imaginary figures formed by groups of stars. They help us locate galaxies, star clusters and nebulae when using binoculars or telescopes.

Some of the best-known constellations are Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Leo, Orion and Cygnus. Among their stars are Mizar, Polaris, Regulus, Rigel and Deneb.

How can we find North?

The Pole Star, or Polaris, is located at the end of the tail of Ursa Minor. It appears not to move because it lies in line with the Earth's axis of rotation.

It can also be found by looking between Ursa Major and Cassiopeia. Depending on the season, these two constellations appear in different positions in the sky.

How does a planisphere work?

A celestial planisphere is a map of the stars visible in the sky. This one is designed for a latitude of 40° N, approximately the latitude of Viver.

The height of Polaris above the horizon depends on the observer's latitude. The constellations visible in the Southern Hemisphere are different.

Which constellations can I see?

From Viver, looking towards the north, we can see the circumpolar constellations: Ursa Minor, Ursa Major, Draco, Cassiopeia and Cepheus.

Looking towards the south, we can see zodiacal constellations along the ecliptic, such as Aries, Taurus and Gemini, as well as seasonal constellations such as Orion, Pegasus and Sagittarius.

The constellations visible in the sky change throughout the year. From this latitude, almost all of 58 of the 88 constellations can be seen.

Constellations visible throughout the year

The solstices and equinoxes mark the changing seasons and help us identify the constellations visible at different times of the year.

Quadrant I

Winter solstice: Orion, Canis Major, Canis Minor and Gemini.

Summer solstice: The Summer Triangle, formed by Deneb (Cygnus), Vega (Lyra) and Altair (Aquila), as well as Scorpius and Sagittarius, where the centre of the Milky Way can be seen. Summer nights are less dark.

Quadrant II

Spring equinox: Virgo, Leo and Coma Berenices.

Quadrant III

The Winter Hexagon.

Quadrant IV

Autumn equinox: Andromeda, Pegasus and Pisces.

Why are there seasons?

The Earth's axis is tilted by 23.43°. This tilt is maintained by the Moon's gravitational force.

The seasons occur because one hemisphere tilts towards the Sun while the other tilts away from it. During the equinoxes, day and night each last 12 hours.

How can we recognise the planets?

Planets do not appear on the planisphere because they move across the sky. Stars appear to remain in fixed positions, although they move slowly and star maps are updated every 25 years.

The ecliptic is the apparent path followed by the Sun, the Moon and the planets across the sky. It is divided into 13 zodiacal constellations.

To find out which planets are visible, consult astronomical ephemerides or use an astronomy app.

www.oan.es

Star Walk 2

What are meteor showers?

Meteor showers, also known as shooting stars, appear as streaks of light in the sky. They occur when the Earth passes through the tail of a comet, which contains dust and rocks left behind near a particular constellation. These particles collide with the Earth's atmosphere, producing flashes of light.

Meteor showers throughout the year

• Quadrantids: 28 December – 12 January. Peak: 4 January.

• Lyrids: 16–25 April. Peak: 22 April.

• Eta Aquariids: 21 April – 20 May. Peak: 6 May.

• Perseids: 17 July – 24 August. Peak: 12 August.

• Draconids: 6–10 October. Peak: 8 October.

• Orionids: 2 October – 7 November. Peak: 22 October.

• Leonids: 14–21 November. Peak: 17 November.

• Geminids: 7–17 December. Peak: 14 December.