5 deserts for stargazing – My Sky Map

We’ve already talked about the incredible places in Brazil that are perfect for stargazing. But if you want to venture to other places in the world and have this opportunity… we will give you the path of stones (or stars?) so you can make your international trip even more special by observing the night sky!

If your profile is more adventurous and loves to connect with nature and its mysteries, legends and geological formations over time… a trip through deserts around the world, aiming to observe the stars, is the ideal destination. Besides being unforgettable, as we will prove below!

We’ve selected some of the most beautiful deserts around the world for you to get excited about and immerse yourself in on a unique trip!

Chile – Atacama Desert

The Atacama Desert is one of the driest deserts in the world! Practically perfect at any time of year for stargazing, it’s a matter of principle to go there and take an astronomical tour, which can be booked through local agencies. From the most mystical to the most “technical” (such as those focused on photography of the night sky), we are sure that if you research and plan, you will have an unforgettable trip. But it’s important to plan: on full moon nights they don’t always take the tour due to the light (which affects observation) and they also rely on sky conditions, often canceling and rescheduling the tour. The ideal is to observe the lunar calendar before going and not leave it until the last few days!

It is also home to the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA), the largest telescope network in the world. With 66 antennas at an altitude of more than 5,000 meters, it is a worldwide reference for observing stars and capturing absurdly precise and small details because it captures millimeter light waves. To visit the place you must book several months in advance (because there are few and busy places!), here. (link in English and Spanish)

Read also: “12 interesting facts and everything you need to know about the stars”

Morocco – Sahara Desert

It is impossible to talk about deserts without mentioning the monstrous Sahara desert, which occupies around 10% of the entire African continent (!!) it is the hottest in the world and perfect for seeing the stars in ideal weather conditions. This is because it is far from civilization and light pollution and has very inhospitable places! But if you think that only natives can observe the stars there, you are wrong… you can hire a Moroccan agency (the tip is Sahara Desert Crew – link in English and Spanish) and sleeping in the desert from the simplest to the most luxurious, depending of course on your motivation and budget. The tours can be done by car or dromedaries (we go by car so as not to harm the animals, right?) and are normally set up in tents located in valleys to protect themselves from the “cruel” wind that blows at night. Do you want a more fantastic experience of observing the starry sky?

African continent – ​​Namib Desert

From southern Angola to northern Namibia, the Namib Desert is probably the oldest desert on Earth, 80 million years old and its reddish dunes, characteristic of iron oxidation over the years. Its nature reserves are preserved using only low-intensity red lights, which helps make it one of the “darkest places in the world” at night, ideal for seeing the stars. With its dunes that can reach 300m in altitude, it is known for its 360° view of the starry sky (“Namib” means “open space” in the Nama language). It is possible to rent a lodge (shelter for short stays), for example, and be isolated from everything and everyone to be able to contemplate the stars and other beauties of the Namib desert.

Australia – Outback

If you’ve ever thought about food, forget about your worms: the Australian Outback is nothing more than a desert that stretches from the east to the west of the country and has as part of the adventure a lot of heat due to the aridity and also the possibility of encountering with some very exotic animals: like family-sized spiders or the most venomous snakes in the world. Therefore, it is recommended to go with guides and travel agencies, but make no mistake: the trip is totally worth it, despite not being so cheap. Stargazing in the Outback region is simply fascinating, and you can see the Milky Way clearly. In the salt lakes, the stars are reflected in the ground, creating a wonderful mirror and a breathtaking scenery. A guided tour option is from Alice Springs to Uluru (link in English and Spanish)getting to know natural landmarks, group experiences in cooperation, learning about the indigenous aborigines and of course, sleeping under the stars on a very rootsy but very interesting tour.

Read also: “The mysticism of stars and constellations in History”

United States – Mojave Desert and Death Valley National Park

The Mojave Desert is the driest desert in North America. The landscape there is fascinating and is home to Death Valley National Park, which is just two hours from Las Vegas and has (surprisingly) one of the darkest skies in the country. With many, many hectares and mountainous scenery, it is the setting for constant astronomy events and frequent trips organized by park employees to Badwater Basin to observe the stars and the stars. It’s really worth extending your trip there (after all, it’s not that far from the big cities) and on the Tô Pense em Viajar website you’ll find some really cool tips.

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Deserts leave us open-mouthed with their stunning landscapes and the life that survives there, even in the midst of the difficulties imposed.

If you like this type of trip and love watching the stars almost entirely, we are sure that recording a special moment in your life or even a trip like that in which you had the privilege of seeing the stars, which only around 60% of all the world population could have…it would be very significant.

Check out our paintings and posters of your star map and see how to transform a special date into a unique gift that will make your home more beautiful and full of memories. After all, traveling is feeding the soul and brings us sensations that we can never forget.

Count on us to cherish your memories not only in your heart, but also in a place you can always see and return to those moments.