where you can experience the most epic night sky of the century

New batch of Northern Lights.

The geomagnetic storm that lit up the skies in unlikely places like Arizona and Texas on October 7 and 8 has ended, but more auroras are on the way. This is because the Sun launched another coronal mass ejection (CME) directly towards Earth. On the morning of October 8, a huge sunspot, designated AR3848, headed straight towards Earth. when it emitted a powerful X1.8-class solar flare, one of the most intense. The most interesting thing is that this flare lasted more than four hours, causing a giant coronal mass ejection that broke away from the Sun’s atmosphere. According to experts, this CME could reach Earth later this week.which will increase the likelihood of new geomagnetic storms and more auroras visible at unusual latitudes.

A comet visits us

This weekend’s new moon will help make nights darker, increasing your chances of seeing auroras. This will also make it easier to see the comet of the century. The Royal Observatory of Madrid explains that comet C/2023 A3 will soon disappear with the brightness of dawn, but It will reappear at dusk, coinciding with its closest approach to Earth on October 12.. You will need binoculars, but these will compensate for the increase in brightness. Here we have selected the best places in Spain to see the comet show. Among the designated destinations are places such as Lleida, Soria or Menorca. Yes, indeed; On the night of October 12, there will be a double show: a comet and, if you’re lucky, the northern lights.

Best Places to See a Comet Near the Auroras

Areas away from urban centers, where light pollution is minimal, are often the best places to enjoy exceptional astronomical phenomena such as the northern lights. Therefore, to enjoy this new dose of southern northern lights, it will be necessary to go to dark and open places such as mountains, natural parks and clear places.

Catalonia

The Prades Astronomical Park and the Serra de Monsant are two great places to try your luck. Like the Ebro Delta, the Pyrenees will also be an exceptional location for viewing the Northern Lights.

Valencian Community

Aras de los Olmos, located in the interior of the Los Serranos region, is a starlight destination and the Alto Turia Biosphere Reserve. Beautiful countryside to contemplate celestial wonders. The tourist astronomical observatory of Culla in Castellon and the island of Tabarca in Alicante are other places in the community from which you can enjoy both the comet and the northern lights.

Murcia

Caravaca de la Cruz, which celebrates its anniversary year in 2024, has the most emblematic place in the region from which to try to see the northern lights crossed by the comet of the century: Ermita de la Encarnacion.

Andalusia

Places far from the overabundance of light, such as the Sierra Norte in Seville, the Poqueira Gorge (in the Alpujarras in Granada) or Cuevas del Becerro (Malaga), are ideal places to enjoy the southern version of the magical Northern Lights.

Aragon

The reddish landscapes of the Albarracin mountain range, the isolated Matarraña, the Gudar region or the Mining Basins are the coordinates where you can escape light pollution and indulge the celestial fantasy of seeing the comet of the century and the northern lights.

Castile La Mancha

Destinations to look out for: the varied natural landscapes of Monte Iberico Corredor de Almanza with its constellation of small towns free from atmospheric pollution; the rural beauty of Almodóvar del Campo, which lies within the influence of the Alcudia Valley and the Sierra Madrona Natural Park; or the La Manchuela Plain in La Manchuela.

Extremadura

Various night routes with natural light have put places in Extremadura such as Moraleja, Cerrejon or Fuentes de Leon on the astrotourism map. In this case, they will be a great option for the most epic sky of the century.

Community of Madrid

The capital is one of the worst places for observing the sky. We will have to go to the Sierra de Guadarrama National Park.

Castile and Leon

It’s easy to enjoy the comet, the aurora, or both in the Regional Park of Gredos (Avila) or Muriel Viejo (Soria).

Balearic Islands

Within the coordinates of possible Aurora sightings, places like the Serra de Tramuntana in Mallorca would be a great place to connect with the magic the Universe has to offer.

Galicia

The Ilhas Atlanticas National Park provides the most epic backdrop to witness the passage of a comet or watch the northern lights illuminate the Galician sky.

Asturias

There will be no shortage of viewing platforms from which to admire the celestial spectacle around Allande, the first municipality to receive Starlight certification in the Principality of Asturias.

Cantabria

The entire interior of Tierruca is a balcony with the night sky. In places like the Pasjegos Valley or the Liebana Valley, maximum enjoyment of the comet and northern lights is guaranteed.

Basque Country

The Basque skies with the least amount of light pollution to go to for this special occasion is Behatokizki, where an astronomical observatory was opened in 2017. There, the Izki Nature Park features exceptional quality night skies as well as beautiful wild landscapes. Full guarantee.

Navarre

The Roncal Valley and the town of Lérins are two places to visit for this occasion to take advantage of the convergence of the passage of the comet of the century with the appearance of a possible northern lights.

Rioja

The Rioja Biosphere Reserve, located in the valleys of Lesa, Huber, Cidacos and Alhama, offers a wide range of locations from which to enjoy the most epic astronomical skies of the century. Also, dinosaurs, who left their traces in the form of ichnites, spread throughout the entire territory of the reserve, and also saw the majestic night sky at one time.