A Guide to Astronomy at Sea
The relationship between sailors and the sky is one of the oldest partnerships in travel. Historically, before the advent of GPS, navigators would look to the stars in order to find their way to their destination: Polaris held true north, the Southern Cross pointed south and entire trade routes were plotted by the position of stars rising and setting over open water.
While technology has provided more precise means of navigation, we still find ourselves looking to the sky. Where the stars once served as instruments, they’ve now become the destination themselves.
WHAT IS ASTROTOURISM?
Astrotourism is a growing trend in experiential travel undertaken specifically to witness astronomical phenomena – the Milky Way, meteor showers, the aurora, even solar eclipses – usually somewhere chosen for the darkness of its skies.
WHY DOES BEING AT SEA PROVIDE THE BEST VIEWS?
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the further away you are from the shoreline, which often glitters with lights from homes, restaurants, bars and more, the darker and more revealing the sky becomes. City dwellers will be all too aware of the impact that light pollution can have on stargazing, so it’s not good enough to simply take a telescope to a rooftop to try and see a celestial event. Instead, discerning travellers should opt to sail a superyacht to a remote corner of the sea in order to escape light pollution entirely and see a sparkling smattering of stars without so much as a hint of a streetlamp.
WHERE ARE THE BEST PLACES TO SEE THE STARS FROM A SUPERYACHT?
Martinique to See the Milky Way
Famed for its palm tree-fringed white sand beaches, perfect for daytime sunbathing excursions, Martinique is a staple of the yachting season. Positioned at the Caribbean’s latitude of 14º N, it’s a rare opportunity for superyacht guests to witness the Milky Way rise over the volcano, Mount Pelée. For the best views, moor at St Pierre’s Bay between May and August and hope for a moonless night.
The Balearic Islands to See a Total Solar Eclipse
On 12th August, observers will be able to view a Total Solar Eclipse from the deck of a superyacht anchored in the Balearic Islands. It marks the first event of its kind visible in Europe since 1999. For a particularly spectacular showing, head to the northwest coast of Mallorca to watch the moon totally eclipse the sun for almost two minutes. The sea-level views and unobstructed horizon will be one of the clearest vantage points and the orange-hued sky will be unlike any previously seen.
The Norwegian Fjords to See the Aurora Borealis
As one of the northernmost points reachable by superyacht, the Norwegian Fjords sit at the precipice of the Arctic Circle, squarely beneath the dancing green ribbons of the aurora borealis. Here, the fjords shelter vessels from open-sea swell, which makes for easy cruising and a still environment to take pictures of the night sky. Tromsø and the Lyngen Alps offer some of the most dramatic backdrops, jagged snow-capped peaks rise straight from the dark waters to frame the Northern Lights. For the most active aurora, moor off Lyngenfjord, known for its dry climate, between October and March.
The Maldives for Dual Hemisphere Constellation Views
Thanks to its proximity to the equator, the clear waters of the Maldives have become a world-class Astrotourism destination. Providing superyacht guests with the opportunity to view iconic Southern and Northern constellations like the Southern Cross and Orion’s belt in the same evening, it is yet another reason to visit this tropical paradise. Moreover, for those more interested in planets, Saturn and Jupiter reach their highest points over the Maldives, making for some of the clearest and most stable year-round views in the world.
French Polynesia to Experience Astronomy History
Long before superyachts charted the Pacific waters, Polynesian wayfinders used celestial navigation to cross thousands of miles of open ocean. It’s this rich history which makes the region such an iconic destination for astronomers. The Tuamotu Archipelago’s remote atolls, among them Fakarava, offer some of the darkest skies in the South Pacific, with barren coral motu and no elevation to interrupt the view, meaning stars stretch cleanly down to the horizon.
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