What is Astro Tourism?
Astronomy has fascinated people throughout history. For the longest time, it was an unfamiliar and mysterious territory. However, advancements in research and technology have made it easier to predict the exact occurrence of some astronomical events. Sometimes, these events are best viewed from a specific geographical location. Thus comes Astro Tourism, which connects Astronomy and tourism.
What does Astro Tourism involve?
1) Visiting Nature—Astro Tourism involves visiting natural sites where we can witness natural astronomical phenomena. An example is visiting the Northern Lights or the Aurora Borealis, which are found along the Arctic skies.
2) Visiting Monuments – Monuments around the globe are considered wonders because of the genius behind their building. Various monuments are built with astrological phenomena in mind. People visit such sites to witness those awe-striking sights. An example is the Surya Tilak, in which the temple’s construction made it possible for sun rays to fall directly on the idol of Ram on every Ram Navami at noon.
3) Star Grazing—Many resorts now provide ample opportunities to watch the night sky. They include additional facilities like professional telescopes and workshops with experts so that common people will understand and enjoy it to the fullest extent.
4) Event-based tours – Special tours are arranged so that events such as solar and lunar eclipses, meteor showers, and planetary alignments can be closely observed.
5) Observatory tours – Many observatories offer visits to their sites where they guide us through the facility, assist us in telescopic viewing, and give information about the research in their centre. Thus making it a great learning experience.
Way forward:
The year 2024 will mark an increase in the trend of Astronomical Tourism as people seek meaningful experiences when they visit any location. Future technological developments will increase travellers’ interest in astronomical locations and phenomena and make them much more manageable.