68 articles tagged with stargazing
When I first plotted my course from the bustling streets of Delhi to the sacred stupas of Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka, I felt that familiar flutter of excitement that comes with connecting two vastly different worlds. The journey itself—crossing from...
The prairie stretches before me like an ocean of gold and amber, punctuated by the occasional weathered barn standing sentinel against the vast North Dakota sky. After years of guiding luxury travelers to exotic locales, I've found myself drawn to...
When most travelers think of New Mexico, they picture adobe buildings in Santa Fe or the balloon fiesta in Albuquerque. Few ever mention Hobbs, tucked away in the southeastern corner along the Texas border. But this desert town surprised me...
Standing on the banks of the Susquehanna River at dusk, I watched Harrisburg's skyline transform as artificial light gradually claimed dominance over the fading natural glow. As an astronomer accustomed to remote observatories, Pennsylvania's capital offered a fascinating juxtaposition of...
The sun was setting over the rolling hills of western Uganda as I first arrived in Mbarara, casting golden light across the bustling streets and distant silhouettes of the legendary Ankole long-horned cattle. This vibrant city, often overlooked as merely...
The turquoise waters of Sharm El Sheikh first drew me here as a marine biologist, but it was the golden sands beyond the resort boundaries that captured my heart. After years of studying coral ecosystems by day and retreating to...
The first time I stood at the entrance of Jerash's ancient colonnaded streets, I felt that familiar tingle of wonder—the same sensation I used to get showing my astronomy students their first clear view of Saturn's rings. There's something about...
While most travelers associate the name 'Salem' with Massachusetts' infamous witch trials, its New Hampshire namesake offers an entirely different after-dark portfolio worth investigating. As someone who analyzes data by day and cultural experiences by night, I've found that Salem,...
The barometric pressure was dropping as I crossed into Fernley, Nevada last spring—a meteorological metaphor for the way this unassuming town sneaks up on you. While most tourists get sucked into the high-pressure system of Reno's casinos, I've found Fernley...
The Sonoran Desert holds a peculiar magic that resonates with my mountaineer's soul. Unlike the soaring Himalayas or the rugged Andes, Phoenix's landscape whispers its secrets through ancient saguaros and painted skies. After decades exploring vertical terrains across continents, I've...
There's something quite magical about discovering places that haven't yet made it to the glossy pages of mainstream travel magazines. Hopkinsville, Kentucky—or 'Hoptown' as the locals affectionately call it—is precisely one such revelation. As someone who has traversed the vibrant...
When the corporate spreadsheets begin to blur and the quarterly reports pile up, I find myself craving green spaces and blue waters rather than the black and white of financial statements. This spring, I discovered that sometimes the most refreshing...
When most folks think Kentucky, their minds immediately drift to Louisville, Lexington, or bourbon distilleries scattered across rolling bluegrass hills. But tucked away just south of Lexington sits Richmond—a small city with an oversized personality that's been my secret obsession...
There's something almost ceremonial about the way Vermonters approach their craft beer—a reverence that reminds me of stargazing on clear Calgary nights. As someone who's tracked down celestial bodies across five continents, I've found that hunting for the perfect pint...
Standing on the shores of Sitka Sound at midnight, watching the celestial dance of stars reflected in the still waters below, I was reminded why this remote Alaskan outpost has captivated me for decades. As an astronomer who has gazed...
