Witness 15 Meteors Light Up the Sky! Lala Mountain Launches 'Stargazing Right Outside Your Guesthouse,' Dark-Sky Association Bridges Astronomy and Gender Equality

Gazing at meteor showers offers more than a sense of the universe’s vastness—it can also prompt reflection on gender dynamics. This year, the Taiwan Dark-Sky Association launched its first cross-disciplinary initiative combining astronomy education with gender equality, hosting the 'Perseid Meteor Shower – Medusa’s Gaze' event at Lala Mountain from August 12 to 13. Under the dark-sky conditions near the Balong Tower, participants directly observed at least 15 meteors streaking across the night sky within approximately two hours. Simultaneously, they explored gender-related issues through the Greek myth of Medusa, and experienced Lala Mountain’s improved nighttime environment—where guests can safely stargaze just steps from their guesthouses after light pollution reduction efforts.

The cross-domain concept was initiated by Lin Ming-Jing, Secretary General of the Taiwan Dark-Sky Association. The event used the myth of Medusa as a starting point to guide participants beyond superficial stereotypes, re-examining the unequal treatment of mythological figures and extending the discussion to societal expectations and evaluations of gender roles today.

To make serious topics more accessible, Medusa-themed balloons were provided as interactive tools, allowing participants to engage in relaxed conversations while waiting for nightfall. As darkness deepened, attendees moved to the Balong Tower to observe the night sky, spotting at least 15 Perseid meteors over two hours. Many participants shared that listening to mythic stories under the quiet night sky offered a temporary escape from daily routines and delivered a uniquely healing experience.

The event also guided participants to understand how outdoor lighting can protect the night sky and reduce light pollution while still ensuring pedestrian safety. According to the local authority, the city government has prioritized environmental sustainability and is actively investing in infrastructure upgrades. A comprehensive project is currently underway to reduce light pollution from streetlights across Lala Mountain, aiming to create a nighttime environment where visitors can 'step out of their guesthouses and safely enjoy stargazing.' Participants noted that firsthand experience helped them deeply appreciate the ecological and astronomical importance of 'changing the lights,' and emphasized that well-designed dark-sky environments provide women with sufficient safety, enabling all groups to confidently enter the darkness and connect with local ecosystems.

Since August, the Taiwan Dark-Sky Association has fully launched its 'Astronomy × Gender' cross-sector advocacy series. Beyond recent activities such as astronomy picture book workshops at Xingshan Social Housing and on-site stargazing experiences at Lala Mountain, the association will now extend its discussion from mythological narratives to real-world scientific workplaces. The next event, a lecture titled 'Beyond Astrophysics: How to Increase Female Researchers in STEM Fields,' will be held on September 5 at the National Taiwan University Astronomy-Mathematics Building, bridging discussions from mythology and stargazing to actual conditions in scientific careers.