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Is Astrotourism The Next Big Thing? Incredible Nighttime Outdoor Adventures For Stargazers

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If you’re the type of person that points out constellations in the night sky—Ursa Major (Big Dipper), Orion, Taurus—or maybe one that wakes up when it’s still dark, while on vacation, so that you can catch the sunrise, then Astrotourism is likely something that you’ll gravitate toward naturally.

Purposely traveling to nature-rich destinations that experience less light pollution, allowing you to spot stars more easily, as well as visiting observatories and astronomy-related organizations with ecotourism in mind, defines Astrotourism. Point your nose skywards, try out one of these star-filled experiences, and appreciate the night sky in a new way.

Visit a Dark Sky Park

A good place to start is with the International Dark-Sky Association, an Arizona-based non-profit that not only locates dark sky preserves where you can see planets and stars more clearly, but also works toward protecting the night sky through outreach, education and public policy. More than 60 International Dark Sky Parks have been identified by the association, including parks in Germany, Spain, Ireland, England, Hungary, Japan, Netherlands, Israel, South Korea and, of course, the United States.

Participate in Night Sky Programs at National Parks

The National Park Service hosts stargazing parties, night festivals and astronomy talks in many of America’s national parks. Learn about NASA space telescopes in Arches National Park, go on a full moon walk with a ranger at Big Bend National Park and camp under the stars at Joshua Tree National Park, all certified International Dark Sky Parks.

Visit a National Park Observatory to take your love of astronomy to new heights. Chaco Culture National Historical Park Observatory, located in New Mexico, is a great way to view the Milky Way and learn about the Chacoan people. Rangers lead star talks at Great Basin Observatory, located in one of the darkest places in the nation at the border of Nevada and Utah.

See the Aurora Borealis in Finland

Travel to northern Finland’s Lapland and see the aurora borealis, visible nearly 200 nights per year when the sky is clear. Autumn and spring are the best times to visit to ensure that you’ll catch sight of solar flares connecting with our planet’s magnetic field. Normally green in color, the light show in Finnish Lapland has also contained pink flashes. Don a pair of snowshoes, cross-country skis or warm boots and spend time outside as you wait for the magic to happen.

To up the wow-factor, book a stay above the arctic circle at the Artic Treehouse Hotel or the Nellim Aurora Bubble Wilderness Hotel, both with special packages and experiences like visiting a reindeer farm or going on a dogsledding adventure. Finnair operates flights between Helsinki and Lapland all year round.  

Kayak at Nebraska’s Big Ole Star Party

The solar eclipse was a big event in Alliance, Nebraska in 2017, however, Nebraskans have been attending stargazing parties for decades. For nearly 30 years, north-central Nebraska has hosted a week-long Star Party at Merritt Reservoir, where the sky puts on a stellar nighttime show. This family-friendly event utilizes the Beginner’s Field School—classes will teach new skills each day— to ease newbies into stargazing. You’ll, of course, learn about telescopes and astronomy just by strolling around and interacting with other attendees. Kids can take part in special programming during the week. Long-time observers can enter an astro-photo contest and other star-themed challenges. During the day, you can swim in the spring-fed water, go boating, fishing and kayaking.

Stand Up Paddle Board in the Moonlight

Chase the night sky, while on the water, in Colorado, Florida or California, where many outfitters can lead night-glow paddling sessions. You’ll spot stars with an intrepid group of nature lovers and have a heightened awareness of your surroundings as you slice through the water on your board (boards can be fashioned with dim lights for better visibility).

If you develop a passion for paddle boarding, and want to take a board wherever the wind blows, including to star parties and International Dark Sky Places, then check out the versatile compact board from Red Paddle Co. This inflatable board folds up into half the size of a standard board and easily fits into a backpack, along with a five-piece paddle, fins and a high-powered pump.

Take a Cruise on Viking Orion

Viking Ocean Cruises has a relatively new ship, the Viking Orion, which has a planetarium on board. The Explorers’ Dome, which houses a telescope and the planetarium, offers passengers insight into the history of space travel and an in-depth look at the aurora borealis through their Journey to Space and Under the Artic Sky programs. The resident astronomer will host informative star gazing gatherings and lead lectures based on sky current events. Travel from Sydney to Auckland, Hong Kong to Tokyo, Bali to Sydney on one of the cruise expeditions and discover the world from sea to space.

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