Buzz
Global urbanization and modernization have made it increasingly challenging for people to find locations to admire the beauty of the starry night sky. Below are 10 perfect spots to marvel at the most beautiful night skies on the planet.
Sahara Desert
Stretching over 9 million km2, equivalent to 10% of Africa's land area, the Sahara is the largest hot desert in the world. Despite its harsh, extremely hot and dry environment, and its remoteness from human habitation, it ranks among the most exquisite places to observe the night sky.
Namib Desert
The astronomy tourism industry in the Namib Desert is thriving due to its extremely dry weather and exceptionally clear skies, making it perfect for stargazing. Being one of the oldest and largest deserts in the world, it hosts several 'stargazing camps' for those enchanted by the beautiful night sky.
The Empty Quarter Desert
Located in the Arabian Peninsula – one of the largest deserts globally, covering an area of about 650,000 km2 and almost entirely uninhabited, it is an ideal place for observing the night sky.
Atacama Desert, ChileImage
The Atacama Desert offers an incredibly clear night sky with millions of twinkling stars visible across most of its expanse. As the driest desert in the world, mainly located within Chilean territory with small portions extending into Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina, it is also home to several astronomical observatories catering to sky enthusiasts.
La Palma Island
Part of Spain's Canary Islands, La Palma is a familiar destination for astronomy enthusiasts. It boasts a marvelously clear sky.
The Himalayas
The crystal-clear sky over the high mountain trails and villages in the Himalayas ranks among the most beautiful in the world.
Hawaii
Hawaii's volcanic mountains host several renowned astronomical observatories. Mounts Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, both over 4,000m above sea level, provide ideal locations for stargazing. Pictured here is the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii.
Western Australia
Many National Parks in Western Australia are favored spots for stargazers. 'The southern hemisphere sky is even more captivating than the northern hemisphere's, with the Milky Way shining brightly across the sky,' said Babak Tafreshi, Director of The World at Night (TWAN), an international organization dedicated to observing and exhibiting space-related photography.
Alps Range, Austria
'The last remaining pristine night sky in Western Europe can be found in the Alps range,' shared Tafreshi.
Wyoming, USA
With sparse population and featuring Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming is renowned for its prime locations for observing the night sky.
