By Leah Froats
Promo image for the Southern Sky Party trip
Do you need something to look forward to in 2018? Or maybe you’re in search of exciting plans for next March? Perhaps you’d be interested in the inviting tropical climate, spectacular natural scenery, and abundant wildlife of Costa Rica?
And, of course, the opportunity to attend our 15th annual Southern Skies Party at Astronomy’s private star lodge on the Gulf of Nicoya, just a 2.5-hour flight from Miami, Florida.
If that’s not enough to tempt you, here are 9 more reasons to secure your spot on the trip today — don’t wait!
1. Just a hop, skip, and a jump away
Costa Rica is a wonderfully accessible destination. Just a 2.5-hour flight from Miami, it’s in the Central time zone, so there’s no grueling flight to endure and no tiresome jet lag to get over before you begin enjoying yourself.
2. The superb southern sky
There’s no shortage of stunning celestial sights on this journey: the Southern Cross, the Eta Carinae Nebula, Omega Centauri, and the countless Milky Way gems found in Scorpius and Sagittarius. During the several trips on which Dave Eicher has observed the deep southern sky, he’s agreed with an old friend’s pronouncement. It was astronomer Bart Bok who said, “All the good stuff lies in the Southern sky."
3. Sky-high stargazing
At 10° N, our Costa Rican viewing site is 15° farther south than the Florida Keys and even more southerly – by 10° – than the Big Island of Hawaii. Many astronomical highlights that hug the horizon in these popular stargazing locales are 10° to 15° higher in Costa Rica’s southern sky.
4. Grade-A amenities
Astronomy’s star lodge offers all the amenities to ensure a relaxed, carefree stay – right down to the convenience of North American standard AC power (120 volts, 60 Hz) in your room, so you never have to worry about keeping your gear charged. All you need to do is relax.
5. It’s the 15th annual
Who doesn’t love a good anniversary?
6. A custom itinerary
Whether you’re after a relaxing getaway or an action-packed astronomy adventure, there are options for you in our itinerary. We also have three available add-on options, ranging from an exploration of Tortuguero National Park to a trip to the Arenal Volcano and Monteverde Cloud Forest.
8. You’ll be among friends
On top of all these wonderful benefits, you’ll also be surrounded by friendly, like-minded astronomy enthusiasts. What more can you ask for?
Ready to pack your bags? Head over to our reservations page, and we’ll see you there!