Astro tourism

Travel where the main reason for going is the night sky. The DarkSky International certification, launched in 2001, now covers more than 200 places across 22 countries where light pollution is low enough to see the Milky Way clearly. Astro-tourism hotels add a resident astronomer, professional-grade telescopes (Celestron, Takahashi), rooms with ceiling skylights or transparent domes, and a daily printed sky chart. Notable properties include Elqui Domos in Chile's Atacama desert, Kakslauttanen in Finnish Lapland (aurora viewing), and Awasi Patagonia. The Atacama, with 320 cloudless nights per year, is the global reference destination for serious stargazing.