LOL, we all do it. Sometimes it is relevant so don't be shy. Cool pic!

I am really trying to replicate the memory. It felt so much like floating in space that it was disorienting and a little unsettling. Lying flat on the ground added to it I am sure.

I know there are a lot of places with dark skies, and I have enjoyed them elsewhere, but I am really trying to find the best place on earth. The Atacama comes up a lot, and I like Chile anyway. The only other one I have not been to on the list is Namibia, but I have done a few safaris and not particulalry interested.

• Atacama Desert, Chile: Often considered the best, this high-altitude desert (3,500m+ / 11,480ft+) has virtually no humidity or light pollution, making it ideal for astronomy.
• DONE - Mauna Kea, Hawaii: A premier spot where major international observatories are located, offering some of the best, clearest, and darkest viewing conditions on the planet.
• NamibRand Nature Reserve, Namibia: As a dark-sky reserve, it is recognized for having some of the darkest, most accessible skies on Earth, ideal for Southern Hemisphere stargazing.
• DONE -Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve, New Zealand: Known for the spectacular views of the Southern Milky Way and the Southern Cross.
• DONE Death Valley National Park, USA: A "Gold Tier" dark-sky location in the USA with rare, nearly perfect conditions for viewing.
• DONE Canary Islands (Roque de los Muchachos) and Tucson, Arizona, both renowned for their exceptional astronomical visibility.

I had that experience on a boat in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico. I went on an Outward Bound sailing trip. we sailed in what was basically a large rowboat with sails The night sky was incredible. It was like being under a bowl with millions of holes poked in it. It was an experience ill never forget. Hardly luxurious yhough since there was no toilet. You just did the ” orangutan hang” over the side of the boat.

Another time I went camping at Cherry Springs in north central PA. You have to go on a moonless clear night. I could see the Milky Way and tons of stars, although not quite as many as in the Gulf.

Cherry Springs ⬅️

Yes, yes, exactly this!: It was like being under a bowl with millions of holes poked in it. It was an experience ill never forget.

When people talk about wonderful night skies, I'm always like, if you had to look up, it wasn't what I am talking about.

We had a similar experience in the desert at night in Abu Dhabi. Not a big fan of Abu Dhabi (we have family there, so have been numerous times), but that night was magical.

No, but I've hear a lot of folks describing similar experiences in Big Bend National Park (the McDonald Observatory is there) (far south Texas), Palo Duro Canyon (panhandle) and Enchanted Rock (central Texas). Canyon of the Eagles is also in Central Texas, but I don't know anything more then seeing the name and that they have a resort with an observatory.

I have been to a few observatories, but it's also not the experience I am looking for. I may actually have to camp to replicate it!

I think I need to do research on this. Planning trips on moonless nights supposedly also helps!

I think temperature has an impact. We had a wonderful night sky experience in Arches Park in Utah in the summer. It wouldn't have been the same if we were bundled up in the freezing cold.
I don't recommend going for an extended trip to Moab in the summer. SO hot. This was a quick stop while we were on our way to somewhere else.

We do night photography. There's a "dark sky" map online. We've been to Australia several times. Utah several times. Not been to Chile. Life is about "experiences". I'd love to hear about your experience when you get back.

Jeez, Nicole, that is so incredibly beautiful.

I am thinking the ”bowl” experience is also facilitated by being somewhere flat. We’ve had great dark sky experiences in the Nahmakanta Wikderness Area in Northern Maine. One of those we rowed a canoe out to the middle of a lake, lying in the canoe gave me that feeling. , Laying on the shore was not the same sensation because i was ”grounded” by the landscape. I was aware of the shore, the mountains ringing the lake, etc. But when I was in the middle of the lake everything felt ”vaster” and it was a more disembodied experience.

Interesting how many mention photography. Is it like the Northern Lights, whereby you can see more stars with the camera than the naked eye? I did not see many colors in the night sky; it was navy and white.

The Milky Way was incredible in NZ, but still did not give me the floating-in-space sensation.

We also saw wallaby shadows, LOL, It was a lot like this.

@deegw, good point!

Yes, @localeater, most places mentioned are deserts, and now both you and @dedtired mentioned being on the water, which sounds dreamy!

Interesting how many mention photography.

In order to get a GREAT foreground shot with everything in focus AND get a shot of the stars & Milkyway in focus....you have to take two shots and blend them together. You have to have a camera that does timed exposures, a tripod & remote shutter release. Then software + a large screen with pixel definition. We also had to park the car and hike into the areas to get away from car headlights from the road. There were Badger holes we almost fell into for instance. "IF" your on a boat it's not stable enough to take "Tripod timed exposures". In Australia we were on a live aboard Yacht miles from land....in the Coral Sea. The stars seem bigger & brighter at high altitudes....above timberline....IMO

Edited to add: Matt Payne is my husbands nephew. He's perfected the art: Link to view

We are not photography buffs. Wondering why it comes up so often in re stargazing; Is it like the Northern Lights, whereby you can see more stars with the camera than the naked eye?

I am given to understand that the reason the Atacama is mention is: 1) arid, and hence no clouds; 2) high altitude: and 3)remotness and hence little to no light pollution (phones not allowed!)

Yes....the camera sees a LOT more than the eye. We had a good Northern Lights night here in Colorado a few weeks back. Then the next night was cloudy. We couldn't see anything different visually....but the camera on a 30 second exposure caught a ton of color.

The 2nd night....with total cloud covering....

ie: The photo you posted of the kangaroos. That's two shots and a blown up version of the Milky-way. You would never "see" that particular shot. Most shots, like the ones I took...looked that way In Real Life. I had to take two shots to make the photograph look "realistic". Note: I also "took out" the planes passing over and any shooting stars....they create streaks in my photos.

If you look at the white farm houses night photo I posted...to the lower right there's a streak...if small, I leave them....

OMG! I just looked through some of your husband's nephew's (I've always just referred to my SO's nieces/nephews as mine - we've been together for almost 15 years - but I guess this is more accurate) photos.

THEY ARE STUNNING!!!!

credit: mattpaynephotography.com

I put the general link to his website - he has some other really beautiful work. I've always loved photography - but I never had enough time to spend + expensive equipment. I have time now - but not the equipment!

@dani_m08....Equipment for night photography is not as expensive as wild life photography. For night photography I purchased a wide angel lens/2.8 for about $1500....Link, but a good Nikon 600mm/fixed focal length lens for wildlife photography = $8.6K + filters + 1.4 teleconverter. It's a GREAT hobby!

@Nicole - I've sent you a message - didn't want to disrupt Mtn's post!

My friend and I went to Uluru but it was actually cloudy at that time so not that great of a night sky the days we were there. We wanted to do this dinner in the desert but I think it rained. This was 2003.

Still, we had a great time. It was end of February. I think this is just from a disposable camera.