5 Highly Rated Stargazing locations you must visit

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It is rather unfortunate that the stars cannot be viewed from everywhere anymore as the polluted skies have made it next to impossible for us to see stars at night. Hence, we need to travel with a telescope to certain locations to gaze at the stars. Without further ado, here are 5 highly-rated stargazing locations you must visit! The list isn’t in any particular order as it would be an injustice to place one location over the other.

1. Western Australia Outback

There are many National Parks in the Western Australian Outback that are hotspots for star gazers. Out of the lot, the Nambung National Park north of Perth is regarded as the best spot for camping under the stars.

2. La Palma, Canary Islands

La Palma is located around 260 miles off the coast of northwestern Africa. And, you can find stargazing enthusiasts regularly visiting the edge of Caldera de Taburiente just to get a clear view of the stars. The island of Tenerife has a close proximity to the Canary Islands and is also regarded as an astronomer’s paradise.

3. Mauna Kea, Hawaii

Mauna Kea accommodates a state-of-the-art observatory named the Mauna Kea Visitor Center. The place, located at 9,200 feet, offers many stargazing programs. If you want to enjoy a panoramic view of Maui and gaze at emerging stars, you can also pay a visit to the top of the Haleakala crater.

4. National Parks of the Southwest United States

The National Parks of the Southwest United States is truly a haven for stargazing enthusiasts. Many people visit the Grand Canyon to view the clear skies at night. You would also find astronomers setting up their telescopes at Glacier Point in Yosemite in the summer. If you want to view the dark skies properly, you should consider visiting the Death Valley.

5. Atacama Desert, Chile

Since the Atacama Desert is one of the driest places in the world, it can’t exactly be described as heaven on earth. However, it is a paradise to stargazers and astronomers. The location enjoys clear skies throughout the year, allowing you to gaze upon stars every time you visit the location.

Helpful tip: We understand that it can be a little nerve-wracking to transport and travel with a telescope for the first time. However, there is nothing to worry about as you will do just fine with a little preparation.

Here are some tips for transporting a telescope.

1. If you haven’t thrown away the original packaging for your telescope, you can easily use it to provide protection to your telescope during your travels. After all, the packaging usually comprises of customized styrofoam that can safeguard your prized possession.

1. When transporting your telescope by car, it is essential for you to disassemble the telescope into two parts—the mount and the tube. You can use foam sleeping mats to safeguard the tube. The mount can be kept separately across the back seat.