Starry starry NIGHTS

Travel that puts the stars, moon and Northern Lights into focus is trending. Here's where you should be gazing - to infinity and beyond

- ALICIA MILLER

Do you remember the first time you stared up at the night sky to the stars? To a child, the universe is mind-boggling, vast, breathtaking and ancient, although it somehow slips out of focus as we get older.

Time to just look up and ponder the bigger picture is lost. But now, a rise in astrotourism holiday experiences is putting the celestial magic back into our lives.

Dark skies are good for people, good for economic development and good for the planet,' says Susan Serven of DarkSky International, which advocates for protecting our nighttime landscapes. With an estimated 80% of the planet now suffering from light pollution, is it time we thought about protecting our skyscapes, just like forests, lakes or oceans? Not only are dark skies beneficial for wildlife, biodiversity and human health, says Susan, they also connect us to history. After all, from the ancient Greeks to the early Polynesians, civilisations across the globe have embraced constellations, the moon and solar phenomenon as an important part of culture and communication. While keen astrotourists may want to book a specialised tour to see the Northern Lights or a far-flung eclipse, in many cases you needn't travel to sample nighttime wonders. The UK is home to a number of dedicated 'dark sky' reserves, where the heavens are particularly spectacular, and they are at their best right now, when days are short and crisp, as cool weather increases clarity.

1 SWEDISH LAPLAND