Since light pollution blots out all but the brightest stars, many of us don't experience truly dark skies, which is why stargazing and astronomy holidays are a great option.
Many stargazers or astrophotographers embark on far-flung holidays to get away from the hustle and bustle - and light pollution - of large cities.
The rule of thumb is simple; when the Moon is down, go wherever humans are not.
Rural locations are the best bet, and many hotels and resorts around the globe are beginning to schedule stargazing sessions and install telescopes and observatories.
Here are 10 of the best places to take astronomy or stargazing holidays and make the most of truly dark skies.
And if you're wondering what to take with you, read our guide to the best travel telescopes.
Brecon Beacons, Wales, UK
Wales is one of the darkest countries in the world, with an amazing number of rural areas where light pollution becomes a distant memory.
Brecon Beacons, now officially adopting its Welsh name of Bannau Brycheiniog, became the fifth International Dark Sky Reserve in the world, and the first in Wales.
The national park hosts a Dark Sky Festival in September and has some of the highest quality dark skies in the UK.
It's one of the best places for stargazing in Wales and one of the best places for stargazing and astronomy holidays in the UK.
And there is a range of places nearby where far-flung stargazers can stay.
Find out more at the Brecon Beacons official list of places to stay while stargazing.
Hotel Rangá, Iceland
Far from any light pollution and in a great location for views of the Northern Lights, this luxury hotel complete with thermally-heated outdoor hot tubs has its own roll-off roof observatory just 150m from the main building.
Inside is an 11-inch Celestron Schmidt-Cassegrain and a TEC 160ED apo refractor on an Astro-Physics 900 mount, both computerised and perfect for astrophotography.
An 18-inch reflector – the biggest telescope in Iceland – can often be found outside on a platform, too.
And if you visit in summer, a Coronado Solarmax II 60 solar telescope is on-hand.
Best Served Scandinavia offers a seven-night trip to Iceland, including a two-night stay at Hotel Ranga (£990 per person including flights, car hire and accommodation).
Find out more at hotelranga.is
Stargazing Hotel SaharaSky, Morocco
Set at the eastern end of the Draa Valley's palm-filled oases, Hotel SaharaSky has a rooftop observatory equipped with an impressive range of telescopes for 'stargazing à la carte'.
The first private astronomical observatory in north Africa, it includes Schmidt-Cassegrain and Ritchey-Chretien telescopes up to 16 inches in aperture.
If that's something truly special, so are the night skies and the 28° latitude north.
The hotel is visited by Intrepid Travel's Night Sky and Caravan Trail trip (including accommodation, ground transport, some meals and most activities).
Read more about African astronomy: where to stargaze on the continent.
Find out more at www.saharasky.net/hotel/index.php
Utah, USA
There are dozens of legendary places to stargaze in Utah. It's a world-famous dark-sky location and a great place for stargazing astronomy holidays.
Bryce Canyon National Park holds a fine astronomy and night-sky programme every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, which includes 90 minutes to wander between telescopes outside.
A short drive away is the gorgeous Cedar Breaks National Monument, where the air is thinner, colder and offers even better stargazing (altitude is more than 3,000 metres). The Grand Lodge at Brian Head,from £118, is handily located.
Utah also hosts the grand Zion National Park, Arches National Park, Natural Bridges National Monument, Canyonlands National Park and the northern side of the Grand Canyon.
If you use Las Vegas as a hub, consider visiting the Great Basin National Park in Nevada, which hosts the Great Basin Astronomy Festival every autumn.
The Canary Islands
The Canary Islands might just be the best places in Europe for amateur astronomers to head.
As well as super clear dark skies as you gain altitude inland, here at 28° latitude north you’ll get the chance to see Sagittarius, Scorpius and southern hemisphere sights like Canopus.
That makes the island of Fuerteventura - a UNESCO Starlight Reserve since - perfect for a four-day night photography course with professional photographer Simon Waldram (including accommodation, meals and transfers), who hosts theory and practical sessions each evening covering star trails, stars, time-lapses, light painting and the Milky Way.
The nearby island of Tenerife's El Teide National Park is also a UNESCO Starlight Reserve, with Parador de Las Cañadas del Teide holding stargazing sessions with telescopes.
Or you can stay on the slopes of El Teide at the Refuge Altavista and stargaze from 3,260m.
Sierra Sur de Jaén Starlight Reserve, Andalucía, Spain
If you happen to be holidaying in Andalucía, take the 1-hour drive to the Sierra Sur de Jaén Starlight Reserve.
This region is sparsely populated, meaning a lack of light pollution, and boasts 300 clear nights a year.
Be sure to pay a visit to the Observatorio Andaluz de Astronomía at La Pedriza, which hosts stargazing events and workshops.
Or head to Casa Olea Starlight Hotel, a boutique B&B on the fringes of Sierra Sur de Jaén that has night-sky-friendly lighting and hosts stargazing weekends.
Flagstaff & Scottsdale, Arizona
Flagstaff, Arizona hosts the wonderful Lowell Observatory – where Clyde Tombaugh discovered Pluto– which holds nightly stargazing with telescopes (using the refurbished 120-year-old 24-inch Clark refractor!), while Sky Jewels offer astronomy tours out of Phoenix and Scottsdale.
If you're after luxury, the Four Seasons at Troon North in Scottsdale holds regular, free stargazing sessions with a small telescope, while about three hours' drive south – either side of Tucson – are Mount Graham International Observatory and Kitt Peak National Observatory.
The Maldives
Asia isn’t often thought of as a stargazing destination, but there are pockets of dark skies that rival anywhere on the planet – including on prices, too.
If it's good enough for Buzz Aldrin…
The luxury Gili Lankanfushi over-water resort in the Indian Ocean is completely devoid of light pollution, has a powerful telescope and night sky-trained staff, but that’s not why Commander Aldrin likes it.
Is it the sprawling 1,700 square meter villa? Or the 24/7 butlers?
Actually, it’s the resort’s Ocean Paradise Dive Centre.
“Scuba diving in the ocean has a similar freedom to being in space,” says Buzz. “Particularly when you’re upside down!”
Indian Ocean
Another Indian Ocean choice is Soneva Kirii, a beach resort off Thailand’s west coast whose Celestial Experience includes a private trip to the resort's own observatory.
Six Senses' Con Dao in Vietnam includes a private observatory (private sessions possible) with a 5-inch Maksutov-Cassegrainian telescope.
Masseria Gialli, Ugento, Puglia, Italy
A remote countryside location, clear skies and no more than a partly-lit Moon is all you truly need to stargaze, but this hotel in Italy's heel adds its own observatory in a traditional 'trullo' (dry stone hut ).
Inside Masseria Gialli's own trullo, surrounded by an olive grove, is a Sky-Watcher 70/900-EQ-1, telescope, while about 20km away close to Salve is Parco Astronomico, which has several optical telescopes and even a Sun-scope.
