The trend of stargazing astrotourism is increasing rapidly as more and more parts of the world are exposed to light pollution.
An astronomical study near the beginning of this year showed that the sky is lightening by about 10% a year and that the Milky Way is gradually "invisible" to a third of the world's population. Cheryl Chapman, VisitScotland tourism board development director, said she had never seen a night sky full of stars, clearly showing the Milky Way until she moved to the remote Orkney Islands in Scotland.
Northern Lights on the Athabasca River in Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada. Image: Getty
Orkney is sparsely populated, which means less light pollution. People living here are luckier than many people in big cities around the world because they can see the night starlight with the naked eye, something that people living in urban areas are accustomed to artificial electric lights do not have.
Light pollution is a big cause for astrotourism to flourish. This type of travel takes visitors to remote, few places where the sky is filled with multicolored stars of varying brightness. The sky has depth, even the Milky Way can be clearly seen. There, there was almost no artificial light, only the stars illuminating the way.
North Ronaldsa, the northernmost island of the Orkney Islands with a population of about 60, has just been certified by the International Night Sky Association as a location with clear, light pollution-free skies. This is also a place that attracts nature-loving tourists to visit when it keeps many Iron Age relics, owns the UK's tallest land lighthouse and is home to a unique breed of seaweed-eating sheep.
North Ronaldsay and Orkneys also attract tourists who are passionate about watching the night sky and northern lights. From late September to April is the peak tourist here because in the aurora season appears. The increasing aurora viewing tours led to a series of smart weather forecasting applications appearing. These applications help visitors check which days are less cloudy with many stars, also forecast quite accurately the day the aurora will appear, partly helping visitors to proactively schedule special trips that only depart at night.
Mike Gere, owner of Jasper Photo Tours, which offers photography tours in Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada, says weather apps are on the rise, enhancing visitors' night sky viewing experience.
Gere also shared that Jasper National Park is one of the ideal spots for astronomical tourists. It is one of 27 sites with clear night skies designated by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada and is the second largest night sky reserve in the world. The starry sky makes Jasper attractive. Tours here are usually crowded in the summer and fall, especially during the Jasper night sky festival, this year taking place on October 13-23.
Night sky at Jasper National Park, Canada. Photo: Peter Neville-Hadley
This park not only has a fanciful night sky but also an interesting nightlife. “We occasionally encounter ungulates, usually deer and elk, on our night sky hunts. Maybe even meet wolves, foxes or coyotes. However, this situation is not too dangerous because just shine a light, the animals will disappear," Gere said.
In early 2016, the Italian Institute of Light Pollution Science and Technology announced that 60% of Europeans and 80% of North Americans can no longer see the Milky Way due to artificial light.
Some scientists are also concerned about the consequences for human health that as the night sky becomes increasingly difficult to reach with the naked eye. However, the specific impact has not yet been clarified.
