Looking up at the sky at night can be an amazing experience – provided, of course, that you’re far from any light-polluting urban areas. In certain parts of the world, the skies are clear, and the entire galaxy is visible – and would-be stargazers will also benefit from astronomy-related facilities.
If your time and budget allow for it, you might even set up a personalised astronomy tour. Those seeking the ultimate astronomical experience might consider a private jet tour to Dallas, Texas. There, you can visit renowned observatories and enjoy exclusive stargazing opportunities.
Let’s take a look at some of the best countries to visit if you love astronomy.
New Zealand: A Southern Hemisphere Stargazing Haven
New Zealand boasts a winning combination of remoteness and a familiar culture. It’s an English-speaking nation, which makes life more convenient for English-speaking visitors. It’s also home to one of the world’s largest dark sky reserves, the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dary Sky Reserve. There’s also a world-class observatory in the shape of the Mount John Observatory, from where you’ll be able to take in the amazing Southern Cross constellation.
New Zealand
Chile: A Global Hub for Astronomy
In Chile, astronomers benefit from a combination of high altitude (which means little atmospheric pollution getting in the way of the stars), and an arid, cloud-free climate. The Atacama Desert is particularly popular among stargazers, thanks to a combination of these features. There are several amazing observatories to visit, like the European Southern Observatory and the Atacama Large Millimeter/Submillimeter Array. The latter is comprised of sixty-six radio telescopes, scattered across the amazing Atacama desert.
Iceland: A Land of Northern Lights and Volcanic Landscapes
Being mountainous and remote, Iceland is also a great fit for astronomy. The northerly location makes it a great place to look at the Northern Lights. The Icelandic Astronomical Association maintains an observatory here, and at the height of summer there’s the midnight sun phenomenon to enjoy. The skies over this part of the world are very different than those you might observe elsewhere, which makes this place an essential visit for fans of all things celestial.
Northern Lights
Australia: A Continent of Astronomical Wonders
One thing that Australia has going for it is masses of open space. Aside from the southwestern tip, the country is very sparsely populated, which means that there are plenty of remote locations that are untouched by light pollution. You might head to the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, whose clear skies have earned it UNESCO World Heritage status. There’s also the Siding Spring Observatory, in New South Wales, which will provide a place to look at the stars, even if you’re just visiting one of the larger cities.