Stargazing with a Hanle astronomy guide

As night falls, the sky over Hanle fills with stars so thick that familiar constellations become hard to find. Your guide, a local villager trained as an astronomy ambassador, sets up a telescope near the homestay, away from lights. Sessions usually begin around 9 pm in summer and autumn, once the sky is fully dark. The guide's family often serves tea before you begin. Many hosts are trained astronomy guides themselves.

Through the telescope, you might see the rings of Saturn, the moons of Jupiter, the Andromeda galaxy and star clusters such as the Pleiades, depending on the season. With the naked eye, the Milky Way stretches across the sky, and on the darkest nights you can see the faint zodiacal light after sunset. Your guide explains what you are seeing, and how the observatory studies the same sky. Each season shows different objects.

We supply down jackets, blankets and hot drinks, because temperatures drop below freezing even in summer. Sessions last about two hours, and photographers can stay longer to capture the Milky Way over the monastery or the observatory domes. Clouds can intervene, so we plan two nights for the best chance. Red torches are provided. Keep phone screens dim to protect your night vision. Two nights give a better chance of clear skies.