Located at the heart of the Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve, Observatório do Lago Alqueva lies 100 miles (161 km) east of Lisbon, Portugal, right on the border with Spain. The observatory lies on the banks of Lake Alqueva —the biggest artificial lake in Europe— a picturesque region of Portugal that is surrounded by ancient megalithic monuments, millenial olive trees and vineyards. The medieval village of Monsaraz, which provides a wide choice in accommodation and restaurants, lies only 9 miles (15 km) away. The Solar observation sessions, as well as guided tours of the night sky (available in in English, Portuguese, Spanish and French) under Bortle class 3 skies are offered every day from Tuesday to Saturday for a nominal fee, but require registration via e-mail at geral@olagoalqueva.pt.
Deborah Byrd
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About the Author:
Deborah Byrd created the EarthSky radio series in 1991 and founded EarthSky.org in 1994. Prior to that, she had worked for the University of Texas McDonald Observatory since 1976, and created and produced their Star Date radio series. Today, she serves as Editor-in-Chief of this website. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named 3505 Byrd in her honor. In 2020, she won the Education Prize from the American Astronomical Society, the largest organization of professional astronomers in North America. A science communicator and educator since 1976, Byrd believes in science as a force for good in the world and a vital tool for the 21st century. "Being an EarthSky editor is like hosting a big global party for cool nature-lovers," she says.