The Starry Skies: Observing the Milky Way and Southern Cross atop Junda Mountain

Reporter/Provider - TaiwanPlus
Publish Date -

Should a hand glider leap off Junda Mountain’s summit it would drift down to Dongpu Village! It takes eight hours to go on foot from the village back up the mountain. The difference in height is a staggering 2,100 meters! Taiwan’s Central Mountain Range has 268 mountains that are above 3,000 meters. Such rugged terrain proves that Taiwan is a young island born from the earth's moving plates. Yushan’s main and northern peaks are visible from both the top of Junda Mountain, and from Dongpu Village in the valley. Looking south from Junda Mountain, the view of Yushan and other peaks are untouched by light pollution. Having escaped the low-hanging clouds and dust at the low altitudes, the atmosphere is clear. The Milky Way is clearly visible, and the Southern Cross rises behind Yushan, moving along its ridgeline.


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