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The 25 Best Places to See the Northern Lights in the World
Is seeing the aurora on your bucket list? Here are the best places to see the northern lights in the world, in 12 countries across the globe.
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The 13 Best Places to See the Northern Lights in Finland This Winter
Among Scandinavian countries, Finland is often overlooked. People love Denmark with its delicious food, Sweden with its striking design, and Norway is one of the world’s top aurora destinations. Meanwhile, Finland is easily just as good (or maybe better) when it comes to seeing the northern lights – plus you can enjoy dog sledding, sauna breaks, and delicious Finnish pastries when you’re not out looking for the aurora borealis!c If you’ve decided to go a bit off the beaten path in trying to see the northern lights, Finland might be the perfect destination for you. Read on to learn everything you need to know about the northern lights in Finland,…
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The 12 Best Places to Go Stargazing in Tucson
Tucson, Arizona is arguably the best city for stargazing in the United States – if not the world. Home to the International Dark-Sky Association (STG founder Valerie is a proud member!), the city of Tucson has taken large and bold steps to reduce light pollution, and it is one of the best mid-sized cities where you can stargaze right within the city. To narrow down the best spots for stargazing in a city that’s already great for stargazing, this guide points out some of the notable or interesting opportunities. This is by no means an exhaustive list of stargazing spots in Tucson, but it’s a good list to get you…
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17 Astronomy Events in the October Night Sky (2020)
In the northern hemisphere, October evokes thoughts of crunchy leaves, jack-o-lanterns, and yes, even the PSL. It also signals a full turning of the seasons; after the equinox in September, we’re into aurora season – and it turns out to be meteor season too! This year, the October night sky is going to be a great one. This month is a fun combination of those meteor showers, close approaches, and oppositions. It turns out to be one of the ‘busier’ months of the year, from an astronomical perspective. If you need a telescope to help enjoy this month’s night sky events, we have a guide to the best stargazing telescopes. From…
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The 21 Best Places to See the Northern Lights in Alaska This Winter
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, and it’s totally worth it. While Alaska is certainly not close to the rest of the U.S., this works out in its favor: it’s far enough north and sparsely populated so that you can have amazing aurora viewing opportunities, even near major cities. If you want to see the aurora…
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The 7 Best Places to See the Southern Lights in New Zealand
New Zealand is a space enthusiast’s dream. Stunning stargazing, regular rocket launches, and awe-inspiring aurora are all common sights in New Zealand, though most travelers visit for the beautiful vistas, friendly Kiwi locals, and delicious food and wine. Seriously, if you aren’t sold on New Zealand yet, what’s stopping you? If you’re planning a trip to New Zealand and you’re a fan of space, you might want to plan your trip to see the Southern Lights while you’re there. In this post, you’ll find everything you need to improve your chances of seeing the aurora during your trip. This post was originally published in April 2018, and was updated in September 2020.…
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16 Great Spots for Stargazing in Hawaii
Most people visit Hawaii for daytime activities: snorkeling, sunbathing, or exploring the active volcanic areas of each of the five main islands that attract travelers. For stargazing, Hawaii is also a great destination: each island offers a unique quality to the night sky, and Hawaii’s remoteness and concentrated residential development create dark sky areas that are among the best in the world. Each of the Hawaiian islands offers something different to visitors – and all have fantastic stargazing spots. Below we’ve detailed some of your options on each of the five main islands, as well as one bonus stargazing ‘spot’ you might be surprised to learn about. Whether you visit…
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The 8 Best Places to See the Northern Lights in Sweden This Winter
Sweden is a great, less-crowded destination to see the aurora. Here's everything you need to know about the northern lights in Sweden.
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The 13 Best Places to See the Southern Lights in Tasmania
Tasmania is a surprisingly great destination to see the southern lights! Learn the best places to see the southern lights in Tasmania.
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9 Fascinating September Equinox Celebrations Around the World
Curious how people mark the equinox in September around the world? These September equinox celebrations will fascinate you!
