An “Astronomy Observation Festival” was held at Davraz Ski Center.

The “Sky Observation Festival” was held at the Davraz Ski Center in Isparta. Thousands of citizens enjoyed the depths of the invisible sky in the city environment hindered by light pollution.

The event was organized by the Isparta Governorship, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta University of Applied Sciences, Isparta Municipality, and the Turkish National Observatories. The event, held at the Davraz Ski Center for the first time, attracted 3,500 participants from 23 provinces. As darkness fell, thousands of citizens observed millions of stars with the naked eye, especially the Milky Way galaxy. During the festival, astronomy enthusiasts enjoyed the depths of the sky that are invisible in the city environment hindered by light pollution.

Speaking at the event, Prof. Dr. Mehmet Saltan, the Rector of Suleyman Demirel University, stated that Davraz Mountain in Isparta is a place that should be utilized in every season, saying, “It’s one of the centers with the best snow quality in Turkey, but it doesn’t seem very active in the summer season. The altitude is 1600 meters, which is ideal for athletes; the oxygen intake and the amount of oxygen in their blood reach maximum levels at these altitudes, so these places actually need to be utilized for Turkey.”

Recalling that there are few places in the world where light is minimal and the sky can be seen comfortably, Prof. Dr. Mehmet Saltan said, “There is currently a significant amount of light pollution in the world. In our country, one of the places where the sky can be observed is Melikler Plateau in Isparta; we have been holding these festivals there until now, but it is far from Isparta. The Davraz Ski Center, due to its altitude and low light pollution, is a place where these events can be held. There are about 20 centers worldwide regarding this matter. We need to include this place and our other centers among the distinguished centers. Because during certain seasons of the year, the movements of the stars can be easily observed here, and in this regard, these centers can host both those who are interested in this field and scientists. We want to open Davraz Mountain in this sense to our youth, children, and citizens who are curious about this. We want to continue holding these events here in the future. This is an important situation for both Isparta and our country. At the same time, these events can be thought of not only as a scientific observation of the sky or catering to curiosities but also as a form of entertainment. Timing-wise, it coincides with the end of August, which is the time when the stars move. This is a beautiful season for these altitudes. There are wonderful facilities here for our citizens to enjoy and relax; these should also be utilized. Beautiful walks can be done at these altitudes, and our citizens can evaluate these as well. In this respect, the value of our center will become more apparent throughout the different seasons of the year with various activities.”