Astronomy tips

In Toulouse, France, the Cité de l'Espace is launching a new immersive experience: Lune Xplorer, where you can take a seat in a rocket simulator. 

Many astronomy events will grace the sky this year, but the total solar eclipse is hands down the highlight for those even marginally interested in celestial happenings. On April 8, 2024, the total solar eclipse will cross North America, and many are trying to get in on the action (though the options for where to stay along the path of totality is already limited).

Solar eclipses are rare events. North America, however, has been blessed with two in quick succession: one in 2017, and another that will happen on April 8, 2024. The first stopped people across the country who sat in awe in the path of totality. The latter will be even more accessible for people in the United States, with a long stretch of totality from the Southwest to New England.

Not long after the light first burst from the furnace at the heart of the realm, chaos reigned. Cosmic islands were careening into one another, fracturing and shattering, then melding and building. The most colossal orbs emerging from the pandemonium often had companions of rock or ice dancing around them. One stood largely alone, its fiery surface bubbling away, as another, Theia, approached at breathtaking speed. Soon a white-hot, soundless blast sent an eruption of diamantine matter out to the stars. It took an eon to see the outcome of this massive collision. In the end: a world of green and blue, and its pale companion, Selene.

Stargazing is a time-honored tradition that has been an integral part of history in Saudi Arabia for millennia. The night sky was a crucial navigational tool in the vast and often featureless stretches of Saudi’s desert. Just as sailors use stars for navigation at sea, Bedouins relied on them to find their way across the sand. Those traditions are still honored today, and if you’re interested in learning more about the culture while enjoying the outdoors and vast star-studded sky, there are few locations in the country that can rival the natural beauty and vastness of AlUla.

Astrophotography is the art of capturing photos of the nighttime sky. It’s like landscape photography, except it happens in the dark hours after sunset. This type of photography requires camera gear, know-how, and determination. You can start with the equipment you already have, but grit and patience are things that can’t be bought or taught — you must want it. By the end of this guide, you’ll be armed with a few simple rules and helpful apps, so you too can venture out and capture photos of the stars.

The key to seeing any celestial phenomenon is pretty obvious: You must be in the right place at the right time. While the exact location and time changes with every astronomical event, the right place is undeniably somewhere far away from any light pollution. These days, unless you make your way to a dark sky park, finding a spot on land that’s far away enough from civilization isn’t easy, so why not take to the seas? In the middle of the ocean, chances of street lights ruining your stargazing experience are very thin, that’s why cruise lines are ramping up their astronomy at sea offerings, including northern lights cruises, solar eclipse cruises, and more.

Taking a year off and traveling cross country is a dream many never actually get to live out. Those who procrastinate, and explain away their road trip reluctance, often do so by citing real-life responsibilities and jobs. Taking a year-long vacation would mean neglecting a career. But what if you could do both? That’s what aspiring astrophotographer Anthony DeSantis did when he embarked on a one-year vanlife trip across the US — in a van he built himself — with the goal of turning his passion into a career.

The vast expanse of the cosmos has long captivated human imagination and curiosity. And thanks to advancements in technology, astronomical observation has evolved from being a practice limited to only a few members of a society with access to expensive tools to something accessible to anyone with a smartphone. In the era of mobile apps, when people spend more time looking at their phones than ever before, it’s nice to use your phone for something that actually helps you better connect to nature.

If conditions are favourable, you don’t need much for a simple astronomy exploration. However, it can be a lot more comfortable and rewarding with a little planning and some key items of stargazing equipment. There’s a few essential pieces that will dramatically change your experience in a dark sky area.

Scattered across the US are pockets of dark skies that offer some of the best stargazing experiences in the world. Within these often protected and designated areas luxury hotels are catering to the astro-tourism market with expert lead stargazing experiences. Situated in areas with low levels of light pollution and excellent air clarity, the night sky over these properties is so pristine you can enjoy it from the comfort of your hotel room or balcony. But these stargazing hotels have stepped it up by offering a range of astrological events, in-room telescopes and binoculars, outdoor skybeds, and even an on-site observatory. With a focus on the outdoors, these are not only some of the best resorts in the US, they run some of the top dark sky experiences in the nation.