Oh, to spend the night under the blanket of stars! Well, one of the most spectacular experiences in the world has to be being in touch with the celestial beauties of the sky, and here are some places on Earth that give an unparalleled view of the same.
- The Atacama Desert, Chile
The vast expanse of the Atacama Desert is the driest place on Earth if you don’t consider the two poles, where rains are scarce and is inhabitable, more or less. Since light pollution or radio interference is negligible, along with high altitude and optimal climatic conditions, this place has a vivid view of the Milky Way, Tarantula Nebula, and Fornax Cluster of galaxies, to name a few.
2.Teide Observatory, Tenerife
This popular destination in the Canary Islands is home to the high-altitude Teide Observatory, situated on a volcano. It has been considered a hub for solar astronomy since 1964. Many scientists visit this place to understand how the Sun works. Besides this, the place also has a spectacular view of many constellations from both hemispheres, meteor showers, and the infamous Summer Triangle.
3. Kerry, Ireland
The Kerry peninsula is renowned for its lush scenery, perched beside the Kerry Mountains washed ashore by the Atlantic Ocean. With a secluded location, many star clusters, nebula, and the Andromeda Galaxy are visible to the naked eye, with the place being dubbed a ‘Dark Sky Reserve’. Notably, this place has been a site for sky observation for thousands of years.
4. NamibRand Nature Reserve, Nambia
A wildlife haven in the day and a dazzling sky-gazing sight at night, NambiRand Nature Reserve can do both! With a cluster of wilderness in its orange-hued dunes and sand-crusted topography to be found as the nightfalls, this transforms into Africa’s first Dark Sky Reserve, which can be witnessed in a self-drive trip or a guided tour.
5. Mauna Kea, Hawaii, United States
The Mauna Kea summit on the Big Island is a famous stargazing location in the US. The Mauna Kea Observatory is the largest research observatory in the world, has 13 of the most powerful telescopes, and can be traversed easily by a car ride. You can observe the bands of Jupiter, Milky Way and many famous constellations like Ursa Major and Orion. Its strategic location also means that 85 per cent of the visible stars on Earth can be viewed.
6. Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park, Japan
This is one of Asia’s most coveted places for sky-gazing as it is one of the first places to receive the International Dark Sky Places accreditation and is located in the Okinawa Prefecture. Situated close to the Tropic of Cancer on the Yaeyama Islands, a nightwatcher can see 84 of the 88 constellations recognised by the International Astronomical Union. A surely picture-perfect destination with the Japanese beauty amalgamated with a glittering night sky.
7. Kiruna, Sweden
Up north of the Arctic Circle, with a close border to Norway and Finland and a stone’s throw away from Esrange Space Center, Europe’s largest civilian space center, is the perfect place for stargazing. With a display of glittering constellations, this Swedish Lapland can boast another spectacular natural phenomenon: the Northern Lights, as they intermingle in a beautiful dance above the sky.
8. Pic du Midi, France
Located in the French Pyrénée, it is known for being the place where NASA scientists took photos of the surface of the moon for the first outer space expeditions. The best way to reach it is by cable car to the mountaintop, where the observatory emerges from the clouds. While it has the darkest skies in Europe, it is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a French national park. Get your blanket and get ready for a night under the sky.
