A rendezvous with the stars begins

Organised in cooperation with Denizli Metropolitan Municipality and Beyağaç Municipality, the Beyağaç Topuklu Plateau Sandras Ethem Hoca Sky Observation Festival begins today as participants settle into the camping area. Amateur and professional astronomers and nature enthusiasts from across Türkiye are gathering at Topuklu Plateau, designated as a “Dark Sky Area,” to explore the mysteries of the universe.

Talks and workshops with Prof. Dr. Ethem Derman

Featuring the honorary participation of Prof. Dr. Ethem Derman, the event will offer a comprehensive programme dedicated to science and nature. Throughout the festival, panels and talks by experts in their fields will be held under the titles “Astronomy for Everyone, from Seven to Seventy-Seven,” “Meteor Showers and the Perseid Spectacle,” “Cosmology,” “Solar Observations,” “Astrophotography” and “Human Health in Space.” Space-themed workshops organised in cooperation with Denizli Science Centre, water rocket demonstrations, telescope-making workshops and a live broadcast of a solar eclipse from Spain will add further colour to the programme. The festival will continue until 13 August, with the opening programme taking place on Tuesday, 11 August, at 19:00.

Perseid excitement with giant telescopes

As darkness falls, the festival’s most captivating moments will begin. Saturn, the Milky Way and deep-sky objects will be observed using professional large-scale telescopes, while the Perseid Meteor Shower, which will peak on 11–12 August, can be viewed with the naked eye from the plateau, far from light pollution. In addition, accelerated astrophotography courses will be offered under the guidance of the Ankara Astronomy Group.

Important rules for safety and observation

Preparations have also been completed to ensure the festival runs smoothly. During the event, lighting fires and using barbecues in the area will be strictly prohibited, while camping stoves may only be used in designated safe areas with fire-resistant coverings. Vehicles may not be parked next to tents, and only low-intensity red-light torches will be permitted in the area to prevent disruption to night vision. Visitors are also asked to follow the directional signs along the road after reaching Beyağaç town centre rather than relying on navigation systems.