Stargazing sparking interest across Malaysia

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Avid stargazers in Malaysia often take trips within the country to spots where stars are more visible.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: PIXABAY

SELANGOR - It is pitch dark at the Empangan Sungai Selangor lookout point in Kuala Kubu Baru, Hulu Selangor.

While this might not appeal to everyone, it’s perfect for stargazers.

The darkness only makes every star in the galaxy stand out, revealing their full glory.

To get started, you’ll need a telescope, smartphone, tripod and red flashlight to minimise impact on your night vision.

First-timer Tristan Giles Fernando, 17, can vouch for the experience.

After downloading a stargazing app on his smartphone, he was completely engrossed, identifying and taking photos of the constellations – those recognisable patterns or shapes formed by groups of stars in the night sky.

Tristan and his friends spent close to three hours at the spot, taking photos of the stars using nothing more than their smartphones mounted on tripods.

What does one truly gain from looking at the night sky, staring into vast nothingness for long periods of time?

Fourteen-year-old Che Ku Muhammad Umar Che Ku Ahmad Fuad from Kuching, Sarawak, said “the answer lies in the stars and their ability to transform the dark sky into a canvas of shimmering light.”

“The first thing to know is how they are formed. All this is basic knowledge which can be found in our school Science textbooks.

“Then there is YouTube and the Internet,” he added.

Having followed his parents for stargazing trips to Pantai Trombol in Petra Jaya, Sarawak, since he was 12, Muhammad Umar said Lundu and Tanjung