A Night Filled with Stars, Meeting the Universe at Yangpyeong Jungmisan Observatory! Let's Go Star Gazing ㅎㅎ

A Fateful Encounter with Starlight

My friend kept asking, "Do you want to go star gazing these days?" Usually, my eyes, tired of the city sky, could only see a few stars, but suddenly I missed the stars that seemed to pour down at my grandmother's house when I was young. So, I finally clicked the reservation button for Yangpyeong Jungmisan Observatory...

About an hour and a half by car from Seoul. The road up deep into the mountains was quite winding, making me wonder, "Is this the right way?" But when I arrived, there were more people there to see the stars than I expected. It seems everyone shares a similar romance for stars!

From Reservation to Admission

I made a simple reservation through Naver. I booked the 8:40 PM slot on a Saturday night, and it was 25,000 won, probably because it was the weekend. It's 22,000 won on weekdays, so keep that in mind!

Upon arrival at the observatory, you have to wait a bit in the waiting area. It was nice and warm inside with the heater working well. But here's a really important tip! Since it's in the mountains, the temperature is much lower than in Seoul. I went in early May, and it was really cold at night. A long padded coat is a must!

Astronomy Education, More Fun Than Expected

First, you receive a 30-minute astronomy video education. At first, I wondered, "Will this be fun?" but wow! The video showing the size of the universe made not only the kids but also the adults exclaim "Wow!" The video comparing the sizes of stars was truly shocking.

They also showed us the constellations we could see tonight using a simulation program. They said, "Tonight you can see Jupiter and Mars, and the moon is expected to be particularly bright," which got me excited already!

Time for Real Star Observation!

Finally, it's time to go outside! As soon as I opened the door and stepped out, I couldn't help but gasp. It really looked like the stars were going to pour down. I didn't expect my phone to capture the stars so well.

There are several telescopes set up. The staff pointed out constellations with a laser pointer while explaining, and it was amazing how the laser seemed to reach the sky. When they said, "Those three stars over there are Orion's Belt," I could actually see it!

I saw Jupiter through the telescope, and I could really see the stripes! A kid in front said it looked like "samgyeopsal" (pork belly), and everyone laughed. It really did look like that. ㅋㅋㅋ

The Miracle of Moon Photography

The moon was really bright that day. They said that when the moon is bright, you can't see the stars as well, but you can see the moon very clearly instead. And a surprise event! The staff took moon photos for us by holding our phones up to the telescope.

Wow! I didn't expect such a clear photo of the moon. You could see all the craters! The staff even adjusted the iPhone settings for us and taught us how to take star photos. They said to fix the exposure and lower the brightness.

Photographing the Orion Nebula

As the observation was ending, the staff said, "If you hand me your phone, I'll take a photo of the Orion Nebula for you." I waited in line, and a truly amazing blue nebula photo came out! It was dreamy and really felt like space.

Practical Information and Tips

📍 Location

1268 Jungmisan-ro, Okcheon-myeon, Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do

⏰ Operating Hours

20:30 - 01:30 (Closed every Monday and Tuesday)

💰 Fee

Weekdays 22,000 won / Weekends and Holidays 25,000 won

📞 Reservation

Naver reservation required (0507-1319-0306)

🅿️ Parking

Free parking available

A Gift Received on the Way Out

When leaving, you can download a photo of Jupiter by scanning a QR code, and if you complete a survey, you can receive a constellation poster. I put it up on my room wall at home, and it reminds me of that night every time I see it.

Overall: A Place I'm Glad I Visited

Honestly, at first, I wondered, "Is it really that special to pay over 20,000 won to see stars?" But when I went, it was a completely different world. The countless stars you can never see in the city, the stripes on Jupiter seen with your own eyes, and the moon photos taken through a telescope!

It's especially romantic if you go with friends or a partner. Knowing it's the filming location for the last episode of "My Love from the Star" made it feel even more special. I think kids would really love it if you go with family.

I want to visit again in a different season next time. I'm curious because the constellations you can see vary with the seasons. For those who want to see stars, I highly recommend it! 🌟