Alaska: The 49th State. The Last Frontier. The Land of the Midnight Sun. The Best Place in the United States to see the Northern Lights. If you want to see the northern lights (or aurora borealis) in Alaska, you’re not alone. Seeing the northern lights is one of the top reasons people travel to Alaska during the cold winter months, …
Urban Stargazing: How to See the Night Sky Where You Live
Have you ever gone outside of your house and looked up at a full sky of stars? Probably not. Most of us live in urban areas – cities, suburbs, and neighborhoods – where it’s hard to see the stars. That doesn’t mean you can’t see the stars at all though. You can enjoy the popular activity for space-loving city-dwellers of …
How to Visit the Space Shuttle Endeavour
In the United States, we’re lucky to have a lot of opportunities to interact with our national heritage in space. As a government organization, NASA is funded by taxpayers both financially and with public interest and opinion. To help inspire future generations to support NASA and explore space, many amazing relics and artifacts from the different eras of NASA exploration …
Rancho Cacachilas: Eco & Astrotourism in Baja California Sur
Are you an environmentally conscious traveler? Do you enjoy seeing a dark night sky? Consider how these two ideas go together. Ecotourism is an increasingly popular trend as travelers become aware of the impact of tourism on destinations and ecosystems. Simultaneously, more of us are interested in astrotourism – traveling to experience the night sky. Unfortunately, most tourism increases development …
What It’s Really Like to Go to Space Camp
Did you dream of being an astronaut as a kid? Maybe your own kid is completely space-obsessed. Whether you’re enduring an endless stream of pleas from your child – or your inner child –, it’s time to go to Space Camp! Space Camp is a one-of-a-kind experience where you can relive those dreams of astronaut stardom or let your own …
What to See in the Night Sky in 2019: With a Telescope (Part III)
2019 is a great year to get out and see the night sky. All year long, there are interesting astronomical events and opportunities to see objects in our solar system. For some of these, you can spot them with your own eyes. For others, you’ll need stargazing equipment like a telescope or binoculars. This post is the third part in …
What to See in the Night Sky in 2019: Our Solar System (Part II)
If you’re eager to do more stargazing this year, now’s the time. All year long, there are opportunities to enjoy the night sky, from basic stargazing sights to asteroids, moons, planets, nebula, and galaxies that require equipment to enjoy the view. In this post, you’ll learn how to see each celestial object in our solar system, from the sun and …
What to See in the Night Sky in 2019: Stargazing Sights (Part I)
While most people are setting resolutions to mark the new year, we’re setting calendar reminders. 2019 is going to be a great year for astronomical events! We’ve pulled together a list of the best ones. Read about each of these 14 night sky events in 2019, and you can add them to your own calendar here. Did you know? We’ve …
A Guide for Stargazing in Calaveras County, California
Located 2.5 hours east of the San Francisco, Calaveras County is a perfect weekend getaway from the Bay Area. It is a popular destination for hiking, biking, and boating in the summer, and for skiing in the Sierra Nevadas in the winter. Throughout the year you can learn about the county’s historic roots and sample delicious local food and wine. …
How to Plan an Astronomy Trip to the Royal Observatory Greenwich
The Royal Observatory Greenwich is one of the world’s top historic astronomy destinations. King Charles II commissioned the Royal Observatory in Greenwich in 1675. Sir Christopher Wren originally chose the site, and the Royal Observatory in Greenwich began operations in 1676. In the nearly 350 years since, the Royal Observatory Greenwich has been one of the foundational observatories in the world. In fact, …