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A GALAXY NOT SO FAR, FAR AWAY
So space travel’s a few years away yet: content yourself with a perfect holiday under the stars. When was the last time you looked up at the night sky and were dazzled by countless constellations? Gazing at the stars, planets and distant galaxies is a universal pleasure, but it’s one denied to most of us. A recent study estimated that 99% of the population of America and Western Europe never see a clear night sky unobscured by dust, smog and light pollution. In cities such as London, the firmament simply never darkens. Now imagine yourself reclining in a desert oasis on a clear moonless night, the air still and silent as you stare up at velvety black heavens carpeted with stars. Linger long enough, and you’ll see satellites inching across the sky and glimpse shooting stars (which aren’t stars at all, but the dying embers of space debris as it breaks up on entering the Earth’s atmosphere). You’ll spot the difference between stars and planets (stars pulse, planets emit a constant glow). Best of all, you’ll feel calmed, humbled and uplifted — and it won’t cost you a penny. It’s no coincidence that some of the best places for stargazing are also among the most ravishingly beautiful: rugged mountain ranges, empty deserts and tropical islands. More and more hotels in these destinations are installing telescopes — and in a few cases, amateur observatories — to give guests a closer view. And you don’t need to cross oceans to surf the skies: Tenerife, Mallorca and even the Welsh valleys offer brilliant nocturnal light shows. NAMIBIA The arid desert air and endless vistas of the Namib Desert make for stunning night skies. The place to aim for is Sossusvlei Mountain Lodge, which has its own observatory equipped with a 12in computerised telescope, plus a resident astronomer who is ready to help you photograph celestial images and burn them onto CDs. The setting is magnificent: close to the world’s highest sand dunes and surrounded by the largest private nature reserve in southern Africa. All 10 rooms in the hotel have their own private telescope, too. How to do it: a four-night Namibia safari, including one night at the Sossusvlei Mountain Lodge, game drives, quad-biking and a hot-air balloon ride, costs from £1,475 with Original Travel (020 7978 7333, www.originaltravel.co.uk).
A Galaxy Not So Far, Far Away