Starry-eyed: From US to Japan, 10 best places in the world to stargaze
Bryce Canyon National Park, United StatesBryce Canyon is a national park in Utah that is particularly noteworthy for its surreal-looking rock formations and starry night skies. On nightly excursions, visitors can check up to 7,500 stars.
NamibRand Nature Reserve, NamibiaThe nearly 500,000-acre stretch of land in southwestern Namibia is protected by the Namib Desert Environmental Education Trust (NaDEET) Centre, which runs educational environmental programs in the area.
The Atacama Desert, ChileThe Atacama Desert's visibility provides crystal-clear views of the most famous constellations of the Southern Hemisphere sky including the Tarantula Nebula, the Fornax Cluster of galaxies, and the Southern Cross among others.
Iriomote-Ishigaki National Park, JapanThe park is located on the Yaeyama Islands, close to the Tropic of Cancer, and from it you can see up to 84 of the 88 constellations recognised by the International Astronomical Union.
Kruger National Park, South AfricaKruger National Park encompasses more than 7,500 square miles and visitors come hoping for a sighting of the famous lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants, and water buffalo namely the Big Five.
Mauna Kea, United StatesThe Mauna Kea summit on the Big Island is perhaps the most famous stargazing spot in Hawaii, and certainly among the best places in the state to see stars. The Mauna Kea Observatory is the largest research observatory in the world.
Pic du Midi, FranceA cable car service from La Mongie is available to the summit, where a mountaintop observatory is perched above the clouds. The reserve, one of the darkest skies in Europe, encompasses both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a French national park.
Kiruna, SwedenRemote Kiruna in Sweden has the best nighttime sky spectacles. Not only can you stare heavenward in awe of the blanket of glittering constellations, but you might get lucky with a double showing of the colourful aurora borealis or Northern Lights.
La Fortuna, Costa RicaSince it is located near the equator, it means that this Central American country is uniquely positioned to view both northern and southern constellations. It is also the only place above the equator where the Magellanic Clouds are visible.
Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve, IrelandAt night, this natural reserve between the Kerry Mountains and the Atlantic Ocean offers a breathtaking dark and starry sky undisturbed by the nine inhabited villages within its parameters.