Astro biking – bicycle adventures under the stars

A bicycle is a friend to an active and curious person. It allows you to explore new places and reach places that a car does not always have such a possibility. Cycling is usually associated with daytime, because only then can you fully experience the landscape, nature or architecture. Tourism is changing, however. Tourists are increasingly looking for emotions and new experiences. A cycling trip at night will allow us to see what is hidden and inaccessible during the day. So it’s time for Astro biking!

Then it's time for astrobiking!

Astro biking is a combination of night cycling with observing interesting phenomena that take place in the sky at that time. Poland, especially its northern part, offers many interesting places to observe the night sky and take spectacular photos.

The proximity of the Baltic Sea (EuroVelo 10/13 cycling route) allows you to observe silver clouds in the northern sky from June to August. This beautiful riot of colours and shapes, still not fully understood by man, is best visible in open spaces. The show starts about an hour after sunset and can last all night. Warning: you never know when and where they will appear. They are there one night and gone the next, which makes observing them particularly exciting.

Another phenomenon that occurs most often in northern Poland is the aurora borealis. Currently, we have an 11-year cycle of its activity. It does not appear as often as the noctilucent clouds, but it can be observed all year round. However, in winter, warmer equipment is needed.

Shooting stars in the summer? Of course, it is the Perseids. This phenomenon, like observing deep space, is best visible in non-urban areas. A trip to the Kashubian Route, the Hel Peninsula or the Vistula Spit, or other places located away from cities and industrial areas, offer excellent conditions for observing the night sky, which is not “soiled” by city lighting.

The Perseid Night

Falling on August 10-12 is the most recognizable night event, which has been the subject of many outdoor events, for example in Hevelianum Centre in Gdansk. During this time, you can observe up to 100 phenomena per hour! There are more meteor showers throughout the year and they occur at any time of the year. However, the Perseid Night is particularly attractive due to its occurrence in the summer.

Observation of the Milky Way

Combined with beautiful views is also an astronomical feature of the EuroVelo 9 route and the Vistula Cycling Route. A summer bicycle trip in the southern direction of the Pomorskie Voivodeship allows you to observe both the Milky Way and the low-lying full moon. Taking interesting photos, e.g. on the Vistula embankment, requires more skill and possession of high-sensitivity photographic equipment and appropriate programs.

Cycling during a lunar eclipse is also a challenge that is not easy to repeat, because its occurrence in combination with good conditions for riding two wheels and suitable weather is sporadic. However, it is worth trying and experiencing a unique experience.

In the summer of 2020, cyclists riding the EuroVelo 10/13 route had the opportunity to observe the comet Neowise, which chose the northern part of Poland for its journey across the sky. It was a unique event and many cyclists immortalized it in photos.

Another comet is predicted for September 2024, which is expected to outshine its predecessor from 2020 in size and brightness! This phenomenon will certainly be met with great interest from astronomy enthusiasts and perhaps also Astro biking.

Let us remember that the clarity of the sky is crucial for observing the depths of space (e.g. the galaxy), while for observing the moon, planets or phenomena in the sky, it is enough to find a space that will not interfere with the lighting. There are numerous websites presenting the pollution of the night sky by city lighting.

Also go on other hikes or trails in the region:

• Along the shore of the Gulf of Gdansk
• Loop: Strzyza Valley and its surroundings
• By bike through Kashuby

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