Star -gazing For visitors, star-gazing in Thailand can
be a revelation. Astronomy is one of the kingdom's favourite
pastimes, brought to the country from Europe by one of its
greatest kings, King Rama IV, or King Mongkut. The revered
monarch was so enthused with this new knowledge that he
ordered an observatory built at his hilltop palace in Phetchaburi
Province. He quickly became adept and predicted a total
solar eclipse near Prachuab
Khiri Khan on August 18, 1868.
Almost everyone was sceptical, including the court astrologers
who believed such an event was impossible. So a great expedition
was organised to which many foreign scientists were invited.
There, the king's prediction was dramatically confirmed
- a sixminute solar eclipse that had the court astrologers
calling out in awe.
Today star-gazing is very popular and practiced by anyone
with a telescope or binoculars. Many of the country's national
parks organise stargazing activities and you can even join
the Thai Astronomical Society on one of their regular trips.
These usually go to a remote location such as a hilltop
in a national park or an island in the Gulf where the night
sky is at its clearest.
You can bring your own equipment or use their giant telescope.
Or of course you could follow in the hallowed footsteps
of King Mongkut. His Phetchaburi observatory is open to
the public and so is Phra Chomklao Science Museum at Wah
Kor in the adjacent Prachuap
Khiri Khan Province
SEARCH OUR SITE
