I'm an Expert StargazerHere Are My Top Nighttime Viewing Tips for Auroras, Meteor Showers, and More

"From bioluminescence tours to northern lights excursions, nighttime tourism is on the riseand I understand the allure well. I fell hard for astrotourism after an alfresco camping trip beneath the stars in the Sahara Desert. I've since traveled the globe to see the world's countless after-dark wonders, including aurora hunts from hot springs in Iceland, stargazing from Chile's remote Atacama Desert, and treks and paddles by moonlight in the Amazon Rainforest."

"If stargazing tops your noctourism wish list, choose your travel location based on dark skies. Light pollution obscures the Milky Way from up to one-third of humanity, according to Astronomy.com. Heading beyond city lights, to a DarkSky International-certified place or a national park, will ensure you see the night sky at its most shimmery. You can also choose an astronomy-specific hotel like Under Canvas Lake Powell in Utah, the first DarkSky-certified lodging, or use a light pollution map to find lesser-known locales with unobstructed nightscapes."

"While a full moon is dazzling, the bright orb can act as another source of light pollution. That's why stargazers and aurora hunters plan their trips around the new moon. In the days leading up to, during, or just after a new moon, the skies are at their darkest. This makes nighttime sights like the stars and the ocean's bioluminescence much more visible."

Nighttime tourism is growing, offering experiences such as bioluminescence tours and northern-lights excursions. Examples include an alfresco Sahara desert camping under stars, aurora hunts from Icelandic hot springs, stargazing in Chile's Atacama Desert, and moonlit treks and paddles in the Amazon. Travelers should plan with gear and timing in mind. For stargazing, choose locations with dark skies because light pollution hides the Milky Way for up to one-third of people. Seek DarkSky International-certified sites or national parks, astronomy-focused lodgings like Under Canvas Lake Powell, or use light-pollution maps. New-moon periods deliver the darkest skies; full moons suit other nocturnal activities.

Read at www.travelandleisure.com