The night sky over the Dolomites
We, the Demetz family, are passionate amateur astronomers. It would be a surprise if we weren’t, given we offer such an unusual activity at our hotel. We’ve been advocating the appropriate lighting at our hotel in Santa Cristina Val Gardena for years… outdoor lighting which allows the best possible conditions for stargazing.
We’ve also been the proud owners of our own hotel observatory since 2011 – a remote control system which can even be used from the comfort of your own hotel room. To make this phenomenal experience of the Dolomites even better, for a small fee you may also use this system for astrophotography. This would be quite a special souvenir, wouldn’t it? A stellar reminder of your unforgettable, indescribable holiday in the heart of the Dolomites.
There are also some great viewing spots away from the hotel such as, for example, our own outdoor observatory with rolling roof. Experienced amateur astronomers may use this facility each evening to look at the stars. Our facility’s MPC observatory code is K75.
The mostly dry air and clear nights in the Dolomites guarantee unique astronomical moments.
A further, new location for exciting astronomical moments is our roof terrace with four concrete pillars and an adapter, where our guests may use their own equipment. Suitable covers, allowing the equipment to be operated remotely from the bedrooms, are already installed on three of these pillars. Each column has two shockproof sockets, an RJ-45 network socket and an Astromann adapter plate.
To complement your astro-holiday even more, each Thursday we put on a trip to the Max Valier observatory in San Valentino in Campo, near Bolzano. Alternatively, we can whisk you away to the Seceda, our partner Alpine shack, near the Gran Odla mountain. Right in the middle of the mountains, where there’s no light pollution. Here, the sky is especially dark and you can enjoy an almost undisturbed panoramic view of the horizon.
Our astronomy fans can use the following equipment:
OTA:
- 16“ Infinity Dobson with tracking platform and GoTo
- Orion SkyQuest XX12g 12“ f/4,9 GoTo Dobson
Astronomy rates
| Equipment (Rates per day) | 1-2 days | 3-6 days | 7+ days |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16" Dobson Infinity with oculars | 60,00 € | 50,00 € | 40,00 € |
| SkyQuest Dobson | 45,00 € | 40,00 € | 30,00 € |
| Osservatorio (with pier, empty) | 15,00 € | 10,00 € | 8,00 € |
