Exploring the World's Darkest Skies: Where to See the Clearest Night Sky

For many of us, a truly dark night sky is a rare event. With the ever-increasing light pollution in cities and towns, the stars have become a distant dream. But fear not, for there are still places in the world where you can experience the full glory of a truly dark sky. By exploring the world’s darkest skies, you can experience the beauty of a star-filled night sky and be awe-inspired by the vastness of the universe. From the remote deserts of Namibia to the deserts of the American southwest, there are many locations to explore and witness the night sky in its full glory. So, if you’re looking to escape the light pollution of the cities and see the stars in all their glory, read on to learn where you can explore the world's darkest skies!

What is light pollution?

Light pollution is the excessive or inappropriate artificial lighting that damages the environment, ecosystems and our health. It’s caused when we put lights where we don’t need them, like floodlights in the middle of a city parking lot, or when we put lights in the wrong place, like leaving the porch light on all night. Light pollution isn’t just an aesthetic nuisance; it affects wildlife, our health, and our ability to see the stars. Light pollution damages ecosystems by interrupting the natural patterns of wildlife, like migration, feeding, mating, and hibernation. In certain areas, light pollution can also cause habitat destruction, like when birds mistake carbon emissions from power plants for insects and drop sticky tar on power lines. Light pollution also affects our health. High-intensity lights, like those found near highways, airports, and some building construction sites, can disrupt our sleep cycle and decrease our melatonin levels. Similarly, light coming from buildings and street lamps can reduce our Vitamin D levels, which are needed for healthy bones, muscles, and immune systems. Finally, light pollution impacts our ability to see the stars by creating an over-illuminated atmosphere. This is especially true in large cities, where light pollution can be 10 times greater than in nearby rural areas.

Where to find the darkest skies

If you’re looking to explore the world’s darkest skies, you’ll want to head to areas with minimal light pollution. To find the best places to see the clearest night sky, check out the International Dark Sky Association’s (IDA) list of Dark Sky Places. To be included on the list, an area must have exceptional star visibility, no general light pollution, and a commitment to responsible lighting. You can find some of the best places to see the stars in the table below. Many of the places listed above are remote regions with very little light pollution, making them perfect for stargazing. For example, the best place to see stars in the Northern Hemisphere is the American Southwest, where less than 10% of the population lives under light-polluted skies. Similarly, the best place to see stars in the Southern Hemisphere is the remote Atacama Desert in Chile, where less than 5% of the population lives under light-polluted skies. All of these locations are great for stargazing and are the best places to see the world’s darkest skies.

a. Namibia

Full of remote deserts, rare wildlife, and diamond-rich sand, Namibia is home to some of the darkest skies in the world. The Southern African country sits just north of the celestial equator and is an ideal destination for stargazing. With minimal light pollution and no light pollution along the coastal regions, there are few places in the world with better star visibility. If you visit Namibia, be sure to check out the Namib Dune Lodge, which is built in the middle of the Namib Desert and has an astronomy guide and special telescopes to help you see the stars in all their glory. While Namibia is an excellent place to see the stars, it’s also an excellent wildlife and wildlife photography destination, so be sure to explore the other sights the country has to offer.

b. American Southwest

Not only is the American Southwest home to a vast desert landscape, but it’s also home to some of the best stargazing in the world. With extremely minimal light pollution and high altitude, the region has some of the clearest skies in the world. If you visit the Southwest, be sure to check out the desert, where there are plenty of designated dark sky areas. To see the stars in all their glory, visit the Saguaro National Park at the Astronomy Hut. At the hut, you’ll find a telescope and knowledgeable staff to help you enjoy the best stargazing experience the American Southwest has to offer. If you’re looking for a more robust stargazing experience, consider visiting the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, which hosts a monthly astronomy event with a guest astronomer.

c. Australian Outback

The Australian Outback is an ideal destination for stargazing. With minimal light pollution, little human population, and vast open skies, the Outback is one of the best places to see the clearest night sky. If you’re visiting the Outback, be sure to check out the Woolshed Astronomy Village, which is home to the Grace Woolshed Restaurant, the Australian Astronomical Observatory, and the Woolshed Mining Museum. At the Woolshed Astronomy Village, you can see star shows, learn about black holes, and even view the stars with your feet in a sensory-friendly, barefoot sandpit. The Australian Outback is a spectacular place to visit and a great place to see the stars in all their glory.

d. Atacama Desert

The Atacama Desert, located in Chile, is one of the best places to see the stars in the Southern Hemisphere. The desert has some of the best stargazing in the world and is home to one of the most famous observatories in the Southern Hemisphere, the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA). To experience the best stargazing in the Atacama Desert, visit the ALMA Observatory, which hosts public observing nights with astronomers, every night of the year. The Atacama Desert is also an excellent place to see other desert wildlife, like the Humboldt penguin, the Andean condor, and many species of cacti. If you’re visiting Chile, be sure to check out the other things the country has to offer, like the beautiful architecture of Santiago and its rich culture.

Benefits of seeing a dark sky

When you visit the world’s darkest skies, you’ll experience many benefits. Aside from seeing the beauty of the night sky, you’ll be able to use the stars to navigate, you’ll be able to see astronomical events, like a meteor shower, you’ll be able to appreciate the scale of the universe, and you’ll be able to see the Milky Way in all its glory. Navigation - When you see the stars in all their glory, you’ll be able to use them to navigate and find your way in the dark. In the Southern Hemisphere, you can navigate using the Southern Cross and Magellanic Clouds. In the Northern Hemisphere, you can navigate using the Big Dipper and the North Star. Seeing astronomical events - By visiting the world’s darkest skies, you’ll be able to see astronomical events, like a meteor shower, that are normally difficult to see. During the peak of the Perseid meteor shower, you can see up to 100 meteors per hour, but in major cities, you might see fewer than 10. By visiting the world’s darkest skies, you’ll be able to see the meteor shower in all its glory. You can also see other astronomical events, like lunar eclipses and auroras. Appreciating the scale of the universe - When you visit the world’s darkest skies, you’ll be able to appreciate the scale of the universe and see how small we are compared to the stars. By visiting the world’s darkest skies, you can see how many stars there really are and see how small our sun is compared to them. Seeing the Milky Way in all its glory - Finally, when you visit the world’s darkest skies, you’ll be able to see the Milky Way in all its glory. The Milky Way, a band of stars that stretches across the entire sky, is the closest galaxy