Monday, November 10, 2008

10 of the best places in the world to stargaze

Wondering where to go to see the world's starriest skies? Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2009 guide lists ten of the best places on Earth to view the heavens.

1. McDonald Observatory
Texas, United States

For a night-time even like no other, head 2,040 meters (6,700 ft) above sea level to the top of Mount Locke. The McDonald Observatory, at the Davis Mountains in Texas, enjoys some of the best dark skies in the continental United States, ensuring jaw dropping views of celestial splendor. It also holds regular star parties, allowing you to look through the kind of massive telescopes that make astronomers rub their hands with glee.

McDonald Observatory
(image credit: Frank Peters)

McDonald Observatory
(image credit: Essem.W)

2. Stonehenge

Thought by some to be a giant, primitive observatory, Stonehenge suggests that going "wow" at the heavens' twinkling bits is nothing new -- they began building this monumental circle of standing stones around 5,000 years ago. It's still a good place to stargaze today -- out in Salisbury Plain, in Wiltshire there aren't many lights around interfering with nature's display.

(image credit: javajones)

(image credit: Alex Clark)

3. Abu Simbel

Even in a country crammed full of awesome ancient sites, Abu Simbel, one of the most important ancient observatories in the world, inspires. Its four 20 meter (66 ft) statues of Ramses II and the monumental main hall were laid out to honor sun gods. The whole structure was moved, lock, stock and statuary during the construction of the Aswan High Dam, and rebuilt, still precisely aligned.

Abu Simbel
(image credit: p_snelling)

Abu Simbel
(image credit: Jungle_Boy)

4. Caribbean Islands

Where better to gaze at a bejeweled blanket of stars than the islands where the breeze is warm, the night air is fragrant with franipani and the rum is sweet. Find a romantic beachside, palm-fringed spot, lie back and star into the velvety darkness.

(image credit: rgtmum)

(image credit: ornoth)

5. Pisac

For the Incas, gazing at the heavens was about much more than horoscopes and romantic views. Instead, the sky featured a celestial roadway -- the Milky Way. Priests possibly used this wide band of diffuse light as a route map for parallel earthbound pilgrimages.

(image credit: Erik De Leon)

(image credit: Lee Otis)

6. Caldera de Taburiente National Park
Canary Islands

Flung out into the sea off west Africa, the Canary Islands are the last chunk of land before a whole lot of ocean. La Palma is the island furthest west, and right at its tip is the Caldera de Taburiente National Park. It's such a good spot for star gazing that it's home to the Roque de los Muchachose Observatory, which has one of the most extensive fleet of telescopes in the world.

Caldera de Taburiente National Park
(image credit: untipografico)

Caldera de Taburiente National Park
(image credit: untipografico)

7. Sherbrooke
Quebec, Canada

Once the global hub of ice-hockey-stick manufacturing, Sherbrooke, Quebec, didn't, until recently, have many other claims to fame. Visitors tend to use this French-speaking city as a springboard for the pristine rivers, mountains and lakes of nearby Mont-Megantic National Park. But there is another reason to visit: both the park and the city have been designated the world's first International Dark-Sky Reserve.

(image credit: jrgcastro)

(image credit: avlxyz)

8. Slovenia

As Oscar Wilde put it: we are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars. In theory, you should be able to see a lot of stars in Slovenia -- the country recently passed its first light-pollution law. The International Dark-Sky Association reckons the law will save Slovenia 10 million euros ($13.5 million) a year, as well as saving the planet from some hefty greenhouse gas emissions.

(image credit: Clear Inner Vision)

(image credit: holstomer)

9. Hawai'i (The Big Island)
Hawaii, United States

You may plan to explore the smoking, steaming landscape around Crater Rim Drive, crawl through the lava tubes at Kaumana Caves or simply snorkel and sunbathe on the perfect white beaches of Kauna'oa Bay. But it would be a shame to leave the Big Island without at least one long look at the night sky -- Hawai'i's altitude and isolation give it a distinct astronomical advantage.

(image credit: fusionpanda)

(image credit: j o s h)

10. Sark

Get out of the cities to see more stars. Urban light pollution means you'll usually only see 100 with the naked eye; in a dark-sky zone you can pick out 1,000. For a beautiful nightscape, head to Sark, in the Channel Islands. This high plateau of granite is nearly 5 km (3 miles) long, 2.5 km (1.6 miles) wide, has few houses and no cars or street lights. Cycling its pock-marked, unpaved lanes by moonlight is magical -- but bring a flashlight.

(image credit: Oisin Mulvihill)

(image credit: josimh)

(Source: Reuters - This list is an edited extract from Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2009)

Previously on Lists Galore!
10 unusual monuments to rub, kiss or pat for good luck
The 10 best destinations in the world for food lovers
What to do when you get there


bonnie said...

Andi, these images are stunning. You are getting really good with the camera. :-)

I really do love looking at beautiful photography. One of my favorites here is the fronds in front of the sun. So simple. so perfect.

I'm sending you an email now.

love, B

Leslie Scott said...

Esalen institute in Big Sur, California is the most magical place in the world to me, to sit in natural hot springs and see a sky blanketed in more stars than I have ever seen in my life. It is awesome.

Andi said...

The next time I travel to California, I'm going to have to make a point of going there!

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