Antofagasta·Chile
Photo: F. Kamphues/ESO · Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)
The high Atacama Desert has almost no rain or cloud, thin dry air and very little light pollution, which is why astronomers built some of the world's great telescopes here, including ALMA and Paranal. From San Pedro de Atacama, local astronomy tours show the Milky Way and southern sky in astonishing detail.
In season: Year-round · Peak: Apr–Sep
Clear, cold nights at high altitude, guided sky tours with telescopes, and daytime visits to observatories when open. Nights around the new moon are best.
Base in San Pedro de Atacama and book a night astronomy tour. Plan around the new moon, bring warm layers, and book the free ALMA or Paranal visitor days well ahead.
StargazingNew Zealand
The southern sky and the Magellanic Clouds from a gold-tier dark sky reserve in the Mackenzie Basin.
StargazingNamibia
Africa's first International Dark Sky Reserve, in the true desert of the southern Namib.
StargazingSpain
The Roque de los Muchachos at 2,400 m, above the cloud layer and one of the best observatory sites in the world.
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