It feels a little strange to call stargazing “trendy.” After all, humans have been observing the skies since our earliest days on Earth. But how else to explain the eclipse-induced traffic jams, overcrowded hotels, the proliferation of certified dark-sky sanctuaries, and the emergence of resorts with in-house astronomers? Well, in a nutshell: space travel.
Astrotourism involves traveling to witness celestial phenomena such as meteor showers and the aurora borealis, or to visit planetariums and other astronomical attractions. If you're the type of traveler who opens a star map app to check the constellations at a campsite or wakes up early to watch the sunrise over the ocean, you might already be a space traveler. If you're thinking of taking your first astronomy-related vacation, 2024 is the perfect year to start, as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is just around the corner.
On April 8, a total solar eclipse will occur across parts of North America, from the Pacific coast of Mexico to Canada's Maritime provinces and more than 13 U.S. states. For a while, the moon passes between the Earth and the sun, and the sun is completely invisible.
Unlike the more common lunar and partial solar eclipses, the “total path” of this spectacular phenomenon only passes through a location once or twice in a person's lifetime. The New York Times' popular list of 52 places to go in 2024 ranks “North America's Road to Totality” at number one. In Quebec, it could be the astronomical phenomenon of the century. Next is your chance to see total stars. The solar eclipse in the state will be in 2106.
Given its rarity, it's no wonder people flock to a total solar eclipse. In 2017, when the so-called Great American Solar Eclipse passed through South Carolina, an estimated 1.6 million people traveled to see it. Highways in Wyoming were disrupted, with some routes near the eclipse reporting a 400 percent increase in vehicle traffic.
Toronto-based traveler Pau Wouters was among the space travelers. He and his partner traveled more than 1,500 miles to Casper, Wyoming just to see the eclipse. This trip had been planned for a year in advance so that he could secure accommodation in a chosen location where clouds were least likely to form.
“It's really majestic and a complete sensory experience to see how nature reacts,” says Waters. “Insects come out as if dusk has set in. Birds react to that. There's a temperature difference, right? Then you slowly begin to notice that the shadows are slightly shifted. And then, actually… It's a solar eclipse. It's not something you can photograph. You really have to be there.”
This April, the path of a total solar eclipse will pass through tourist destinations in eastern Canada, from Niagara Falls to Fogo Island in Newfoundland. And Canada is ready. There is an Ontario Solar Eclipse Task Force, with members from astronomical societies and science centers communicating safety measures to the public. The City of Kingston has ordered 40,000 solar eclipse glasses to be distributed at a number of events, including designated viewing areas with music and food trucks. Even small towns are planning big things. A-list astronaut Chris Hadfield is scheduled to speak in Florenceville-Bristol, New Brunswick.
The Mont-Mégantic Observatory in Quebec will be in the path of a total solar eclipse this April.
Nathalie Nguyen-Quoc Ouellette, an astrophysicist and deputy director of Quebec's Mont-Mégantic Observatory, also traveled for the eclipse in 2017. This April, she will host thousands of visitors on-site at her observatory atop the national park. Mont-Mégantic in the eastern region. This astronomy center is located within the International Dark Sky Reserve and also on the Path of Totality.
“This was the closest thing to a spiritual experience I've ever had,” said Nguyen Quoc Ouellette, who watched the total solar eclipse. “I know a lot of people are thinking, 'Oh, I've seen partial solar eclipses before, and it's basically the same thing.'” But even if it's a 99 percent solar eclipse, However, it is completely different. A total solar eclipse is the only time you can take off your eclipse glasses and witness with your naked eyes the corona, a giant black hole in the sky where the sun should be. It's like being in another dimension. ”
Space travelers who can't travel in April can always explore the wonders of the night sky at more than 200 certified dark-sky sites, including parks, preserves, and preserves around the world. These areas listed on darksky.org have been recognized by DarkSky International (formerly the International Dark-Sky Association) as limiting light pollution. In these places you can see the stars shining with a clarity you would never see in the neon glare of a sleepless city.
Zion National Park is just one of Utah's many certified international dark-sky parks.
Vicki Derksen, a member of Arizona's Fountain Hills Dark Sky Association and host of the podcast “Night Sky Tourist,” says increased light pollution not only obscures the night sky but also disturbs wildlife. , I believe that it is actually the driving force behind the rise of space tourism.
“Last year, there were reports that light pollution was increasing by 10% per year,” Dirksen said. “That's scary! But there are more solutions, and more people want to go somewhere to see the stars while they're still visible. For example, go to Glacier National Park before the snow melts. is.”
Nguyen Quoc Ouellet of Mont-Mégantic has a different theory. We are thinking of sending humans to Mars within the next few decades. And then there's the James Webb Telescope. “Space is like a frontier and it's becoming more and more accessible, so it's no wonder more people are thinking about it,” she says. “There are pros and cons to commercial space travel, but when you look up at the sky, it's democratic. It's still pure.”
5 astronomical experiences worth traveling to
For the Canadian Space Festival: Jasper National Park's annual Jasper Dark Sky Festival (October 18 – November 3, 2024) attracts people of all ages to events such as science talks, night photography workshops, and the popular Symphony Under the Stars. Space enthusiasts gather here.
For a scientific experience: Perhaps the closest thing to a real astronomer is the Night Telescope Observation Program at Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona. Small groups (only his four participants at a time) can observe deep sky objects through state-of-the-art research telescopes. As long as I can bear it. ”
For Dark Sky Glamping: Located in Utah (a state with 24 Dark Sky Certified Parks), Under Canvas Lake Powell – Grand Staircase is the world's first Dark Sky Certified resort. Luxury safari-style tents with private bathrooms offer stunning views of the valley below and the stars above.
to observe the aurora: The dark winter months from September to April make Iceland a great place to see the Northern Lights. Hotel Langa (which also has its own high-tech observatory) offers an aurora wake-up service that alerts you by phone if the lights appear in the early morning, provides warm winter clothing and is open all night. There is also a bar.
To stargaze in the middle of the ocean: On the clearest nights, Hyatt Regency Maui guests can see 80 of the 88 constellations from two giant telescopes on the resort's rooftop during the Tour of the Stars, guided by the in-house astronomy director. can.
