Once in a while, a city dweller accidentally ventures into a place so poorly lit at night that life becomes a little too uncomfortable. The location may be remote countryside, all in the middle of the ocean. Still, nature appeases the city dweller with a gift of a starry sky, even when the moon is visible. It gets more confusing on a moonless night when bright dots crowd the heaven confounding a mesmerized spectator. The beautiful sky manifests itself in its full glory.

After the initial confusion, one can see that the stars are not a random collection of dots. Some of these may be official constellations while other chance combinations of several parts from many constellations.

Thailand has developed to the point that night skies in many locations are polluted by light from urban areas or industrial estates. Dark places are now found only in remote areas, near the border, or in large national parks and their vicinity.

The Siam Society will arrange a 2-day trip to visit Kaeng Krachan, Phetchaburi. This trip will be led by Mr Visanu Euarchukiati, a council member and a freelance astronomy academic/ educator. The programme will include a guided tour of the night sky and a trip to a historic site of the British royal Society total solar eclipse expedition in 1875 (the reign of King Chulalongkorn, Rama V) in Phetchaburi.