The likelihood is that, by this time in the year, you’ve already decided where you’re going in the world for your holiday this year, paid the deposit and are now counting down the days until you jet off for somewhere new. But if you’re still looking for inspiration, how about somewhere that’s guaranteed to give you space to relax?

Space travel is no longer the distant fantasy it once was. While the cost of travelling to the moon and back is prohibitive for many, advancing technology is likely to make it more accessible in the coming years. Where in our solar system would you go? We take a look at four destinations that are out of this world.

The Moon

  • Time to get there: three days, so it’s your planet of choice if you’re looking for a quick getaway
  • What to do: explore space history – there are six Apollo landing sights to visit and you can see the perfectly preserved footprints of Neil Armstrong. The moon also has a collection of flags
  • Where to go: visit the Sea of Tranquility, or Mare Tranquillitatis, although don’t expect to see any water
  • What to bring back: moon rock

Mars – the Red Planet

  • Time to get there: 300 days
  • Best time to go: every two years, the planets align to shorten the journey to 55 million km, which will take only seven months
  • What to do: go hunting for fossils of alien microforms from four billion years ago. Spend some time jumping: with 62% less gravity than earth, you can take giant leaps on Mars
  • Where to go: visit Mars’ windswept red plains, or take a trip to Olympus Mons, the tallest mountain in our solar system which is a (potentially active) shield volcano
  • What to bring back: fossils, which will be welcomed by NASA

Jupiter

  • Time to get there: 6 years
  • Where to stay: Jupiter is mostly gas, so opt to stay on one of its moons
  • What to do: visit Jupiter’s Great Red Spot, anticyclonic storm larger than the earth, which has been raging since the 17th century
  • What to see: take time to see all 64 of Jupiter’s moons
  • What to bring back: known as the vacuum of space, you’ll find souvenirs galore in its gravitational field

Saturn

  • Time to get there: 10 years, but you’ll get to see great scenery along the way
  • What to see: fascinating landscapes, from jets of Enceladus to the methane lakes on Titan
  • Where to go: visit Titan, one of Saturn’s moons, but be sure to take wellies as it’s muddy
  • What to bring back: diamonds – Saturn has rainfalls of them

Book your travel with Virgin Galactic, or NASA and literally visit a completely different world.

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