VISIT JEJU

If you are seeking a quiet place outside of the city center with less light pollution, the Canola Flower Plaza in the eastern region of Jeju is the perfect choice. The acres of fields allow for a broad visual experience with no blind spots as the windmills turn in a tranquil manner, adding a graceful background to the visual pleasure of the stars in the night sky.

The Orion, which guides the many stars that drift above the windmills, lingers in the southern sky until dawn as if it will miss Jeju’s winter night. Right next to that, the Orion Rigel, Canis Major Sirius, Canis Minor Procyon, Gemini Pollux, Charioteer Capella, and Taurus Aldebaran shine in all their brilliance, and traces a diamond in the winter night’s sky. Even the warm touch of a fingertip will not alleviate the beauty.

Address : Gasi-ri, Pyoseon-myeon, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do

The western region of Jeju suffers from a small amount of light pollution. So, if you want to observe stars in Jeju’s western region, it is optimal to do so after 10 o’clock at night. This is when the amount of traffic subsides and the level of nearby light pollution decrease as well.

The typical place to observe constellations in Jeju’s western region is the Saebyeol Parking Lot. As can be assumed by its name, the place is named after the beautiful stars in the night sky. Saebyeol Oreum, which forms the horseshoe-shaped monticule, blocks the city light and makes observation of many stars in the southwestern sky possible. The night sky is so clear that you can observe meteor showers, which fall more slowly in winter than meteor showers that fall during other seasons. This is why they say that it’s easier to make wishes during Jeju’s winter.

The Seogwipo Astronomical Science and Culture Center in Jeju’s southern region is perfect for stargazing. From mid-February until mid-March, the center sponsors an event for the observation of Canopus, the symbol of longevity. This event is highly recommended especially for those who are observing the night sky for the first time, because participation is open to all. If you want to observe Canopus from a darker area, observation is easier in Jeonja-am, an area 15 minutes away. One thing to note: the Astronomical Science and Culture Center is located in a remote area outside of the well-lit city, but wireless communication may not be too good. Seogwipo Astronomical Science and Culture Center is well-equipped with observatory facilities and devices that enable visitors to observe the celestial bodies in the night sky and the sun with a 400m celestial telescope to begin with, and 6 more telescopes in auxiliary observation capsules that provide sufficient technology to observe the beautiful night sky. Also, the center is currently operating projection chambers and video lecture rooms that allow visitors to familiarize themselves with the night sky, regardless of the weather.

This is a constellation hot spot located close to Jeju International Airport. Naturally, access to the downtown area is easy. It is highly recommended for those who seek to soothe any regrets that they may have experienced during their trip. Jeju Starlight World Park consists of 3 floors, including an area in which visitors can observe constellations through a dome screen in a celestial projection chamber, a 4D screening theater where visitors can embark on a realistic trip to outer space, two galleries in which visitors can learn in detail about outer space and stars, and an observation room in which they can directly observe planets and stars in the solar system. During the winter season(Nov-Dec), the celestial projection chamber is open from 2:30PM, a 4D screening theater is open from 2:10PM, and the observation room is open from 2:50PM - providing a total of 7 sessions each of which each is an hour long. You can check out the details on Facebook (www.facebook.com/jejustarlightpark) and Twitter (twitter.com/jejustarlight).

* Tip. How to catch a constellation 

Jeju’s night sky is extremely capricious. Because of the geological influence from the location of Halla-san in the center of the island, the northeastern wind in the winter weather causes the climate of each quadrant of the island to differ from one another. Just because some regions have cloud cover doesn’t point to cloud cover over the entire island. On days like this, it is best to travel to the opposite direction of the cloudy region, and you may be able to observe a clear night’s sky and the galaxy.