10 BEST Stargazing Places In The World

Early man was also interested in the starry night sky but lacked the technology and equipment the modern era has. A study by Science Advances claims Europe and the USA have blocked views of the astral skies. That’s when the scientific community and the non-profit organization IDA started designating spots where the quality of the night sky was preserved for stargazing at the Sky reserves. They also introduced the dark sky compliant electric lights. The latest designate to the IDA’s list of stargazing spots, the Grand Canyon National Park, took almost three years to convert their 5,000 electric fixtures to be compliant. It was recently certified as one of the stargazing spots in the USA. Here is our pick of the top ten with all the details required to plan your next vacation there. And let us remind you these locations are not so remote. So, find one closest to you.

The Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, New Zealand, was designated as a stargazing site in June 2012 by the IDA. The sky reserve of Aoraki Mackenzie is best watched when the night is moonless. Most people never get to see the Milky Way or the starry night sky sights of the southern hemisphere. But this sky reserve is known to be among the best spot for stargazing. You can get to see the Magellanic Clouds, Southern Cross, the Southern Star, some of the dwarf galaxies, and the Aurora Australis. This reserve at 4,300 sq km is located in New Zealand at Mackenzie Basin, and almost on the South Island is famed for its views of the Milky Way stretching end-to-end across the moonless horizon. Of course, when the moon does shine, it seems like someone turned the lights on. On full moon days, it even appears to be like daytime, and stargazing is difficult. Since most visitors never get to see the stars due to various obstructions, weather conditions, or lack of proper equipment. The stargazing spots, the Mount Cook and Lake Tekapo night sky tours are extremely popular. And thousands flock here undertake tours like the Mt John Night-time Observatory Tours or the Big Sky Stargazing. Lake Tekapo is also home to the Dark Sky Project. The Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve can be accessed on State Highway 80 in New Zealand, and you can call 64*27*702*1213 for further information and tour dates or such.

The Welsh Brecon Beacons National Park located at Plas Y Ffynnon on Cambrian Way encompasses the Sugar Loaf Mountain. It has the most-dark sky and high-quality viewing darkness for stargazing. You will need to use the road up the Sugar Loaf Mountain, which lies just off the hill near the main road of A40. It uses several smaller roads and detours and winds its way uphill to a height of almost 335 m above mean sea level to get to the stargazing spots. Call them on 44*1874*624*437 if you need any information on the best times or tours to view the skies.

This IDA designate of February 2013 allows you to see Jupiter and Mars quite clearly against the starry night sky of the Brecon Beacons, even without any equipment. The stargazing telescope brings into focus an enlarged view of the four Jupiter moon’s, also known as the Galilean satellites – Callisto, Europa, Io, Ganymede and more. The group of moons has been named after the first-star observer Galileo Galilei who documented them well over 400 years ago.

The Sugar Loaf Mountain vantage point also offers you the best stargazing views during daytimes over the Usk Valley when you follow the road from Abergavenny en route to Crickhowell. You can also mix stargazing with viewing historic Welsh architecture. Enjoy the Llanthony Priory silhouette against the starry Welsh night sky.

Did you know that the US has the largest number of sky parks? 9 of 12 sky reserves that are designated dark sky parks lie in the US, and four lies in National Parks. And this valley’s stargazing spots are so dark that the only light that pollutes them is the 100-mile distant neon lights of Las Vegas. Death Valley National Park in California is the largest IDA Dark Sky designated area from February 2013. It covers an area of 13,700 sq km of the starry night sky. Lying just 190 km of Las Vegas and 460 km from Los Angeles, it is easily accessible. There are a lot of stargazers queuing up between the months lasting from November to late April when the skies have the least light pollution. And the rangers of the Death Valley Park lead the events for stargazing and night sky programs. The Mahogany Flat Campground is close by, and you can book a tour of the overnight stay for stargazing from its Telescope Peak highest point 2,499 m above MSL. Contact the Death Valley National Park on 1*760*786*3200.

The French Pic du Midi International Dark Sky Reserve was IDA designated for its stargazing spots in December 2013. And an average of 110,000-star visitors visits the stargazing spot annually. The 3,112 sq km Pic du Midi is part of the Pyrénées-Mont Perdu and Pyrénées National Park. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This starry night sky is also the 1870s site of the Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées. It also has a museum of astronomy attached to it and stands proud at the height of 2,877m above MSL. From here, the view of the night sky is phenomenal through the French largest telescope, the Bernard Lyot telescope. You can be a part of the popular "Night at the Summit" package and combine it with the ski down the slope. Call the Pic du Midi International Dark Sky Reserve on Rue Pierre Lamy de la Chapelle on the number 33*08*25*00*28*77.

The Westhavelland International Dark Sky Reserve in Germany was designated as an International Dark Sky Reserve in February 2014, largely due to the efforts of the Director of Museum Am Schölerberg's planetarium Andreas Haenel. It lies just 100 km from Berlin and to the West of it. This is also Germany’s closest sky reserve and lies closest to a major city than any other place in the world. Locals call it the Sternenpark Westhavelland, which in German means the Star Park Westhavelland. It is a fascinating experience both at day and against a starry night sky. Especially in autumn with thousands of cranes, geese, and other migratory birds flying homewards. The dusk is an impressive time under the darkened skies to view the Aurora Borealis and the astral displays of the Milky Way. Mid-May to Mid-July, when the new moon is just about to rise, is the best of astral sights and is yours for stargazing for free! The skies are dark, clear. It is under such conditions you see the light scattering in space known as the zodiacal light and the midnight brightening of the moon and sky, though faint, called the gegenschein in German from the stargazing spots. The Westhavelland Nature Park is located at Stremmestraße #10, 14715 Milower Land OT Milow. One can call them for further information on 49* 033* 86* 211*227.

Scotland’s Galloway Forest Park also called the highlands of the Galloway lowlands, is full of mountains, forests, lochs, and yes, stars overhead! UK’s only Dark Sky Park in the Galloway Forest Park and its stargazing spots, which were IDA designated in November 2009. The park is dark even more than a photographer’s darkroom making it an ideal spot to view the aurora borealis on a cloudless starry night sky or day! The Scottish Dark Sky Observatory in Galloway Forest Park, UK, is perched on the hill's edge and has two large high-resolution telescopes to help with viewing the astral wonders of the Milky Way nebulae, stellar nurseries, the meteors, and the Northern Lights. You will need to book your event or participate in an open evening session and can contact Scottish Dark Sky observatory, off #A713 lying south of Dalmellington on the telephone number 44*01*292 *551*118 or Galloway Forest Park; 44*01*671*402*420.

Hawaii has 13 large resolution big telescopes atop the Mauna Kea summit, which stands majestic at 4200m above mean sea level. Did you know the Mauna Kea is a dormant southernmost Hawaiian volcano on an island there? The high altitude, low light pollution, and its location makes it an ideal sky park and provides stargazing spots for stargazing under the clear starry night sky conditions. There is a catch, however. To visit the summit, one needs to have an acclimatization session to high altitude issues like breathing rarefied air. Visitors are welcomed here from sunrise to sunset, and by nights it turns the focus on the sky reserve from where the distant secrets of the observable universe of stars and galaxies lie bare and can be gauged by their lights visible through the lens and even with bare eyes.

Did you know that the Canary Islands have a stargazing sky park? The Teide Observatory at Tenerife has been since 1964 the best spot for solar astronomy where international scientists try to decipher the sun’s wonders from these stargazing spots. The Observatory is perched atop the Tenerife Volcano. And if you thought the Canary Islands was just known as a fun beach filled karaoke dance bar stuffed holiday spot, we forgive you. Now, think again, because Volcano Teide has starlight guides, budding solar astronomers to help you take in a guided observatory tour where you can see the meteor showers and both hemisphere’s constellations and perhaps the Summer Triangle too.

Want to see the Andromeda Galaxy, the various star clusters, or budding nebulae with naked eyes? This is possible at the stargazing spots and unpolluted skies above the lush Kerry Reserve peninsula. The adjoining Atlantic Ocean and the desolate Kerry Mountains help preserve the quality of darkness of this IDA designate of January 2014. Though this is the 21st-century attempt at stargazing, inscriptions found at the Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve of Ireland prove that the earliest known inhabitants of this region, too, were equally fascinated with the starry night sky. Today the modern times have provided us with the best equipment of telescopes, laser lights, and such to study the dark sky that this invaluable sky preserve provides.

Did you know the Andromeda Galaxy on view here is 2.5 million light-years away and is the closest neighbor of our Milky Way? Also, to be seen are the wondrous views with the meteors and the starry night sky of the Milky Way twinkling down on you. CNN reports suggest that the place is the latest addition to the menu of attractions provided by Ireland. And the Kerry Dark Sky Group Chairperson Julie Ormonde, at the Kerry Dark Sky Reserve, agrees with this statement judging by the1.5 million numbers of tourists and visitors it has been receiving since 2014. The700 sq km reserve stretches right over the Iveragh Peninsula. Even during the day, the reserve draws people to photograph the picturesque landscape.

With a sparse population of 4,000 residents, the Kerry sky-reserve is among the best stargazing spots in Ireland. It is easily accessible when you drive up in a car to the center of the park where St. Finian's Bay can be accessed to view the starry night sky light pollution or light scattering. You can call the Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve on 353*0*877*845*688.

We have just briefly explored the top ten stargazing spots where excessive and misdirected lighting has been reduced by the use of dark light compliant electric lights. IDA strives to preserve the sky quality and carve out spaces where one can whet one’s curiosity about the various constellations. They even run a program, granting funds and certifying such spaces as designated Dark Sky Reserves or Dark Sky Parks.

Many such stargazing spots have now been set up, and most parks are accessible for you to have a starry vacation in places like the Pennsylvania Cherry Springs State Park and the Grand Canyon Reserve in its National Park. Many of our parks are naturally dark and accessible, being visited mostly in the daytime due to a lack of information. Choose the one nearest to you and put this down on your must-do list.