As the last office in the city flicks off its lights, the final local train calls it a night, and citizens in Mumbai and its suburbs tuck themselves into a well-deserved slumber, another party comes to life not too far way. On the guestlist are nocturnal bamboo pit vipers, tarantulas and geckos; and their floor is the lush green forest of the Bombay Natural History Society Nature Reserve illuminated by the night sky. An overnight experience organized by BNHS is offering us a wildcard entry to this party in the dark.

“The sky that we see in the city is illuminated by city lights. A true dark sky can only be witnessed from the interiors of the forests,” shares naturalist Shardul Bajikar. To that end, a stargazing session by astronomer Satish Shirodkar will offer participants the opportunity to spot celestial bodies and identify constellations in the clear night sky. “Photographers can also get clear shots of the full moon through our specialised telescope,” he adds. We learn that if the schedules align, one might also spot the International Space Station in transit during the session.