Astrotourism: Finding a Place in the Stars

I may have been six years old when “seeing a comet” made it onto my bucket list. That year, an episode of the cartoon Hey Arnold! introduced me to the concept as the characters schemed and traveled to see a parody of Halley’s comet. Their quest was urgent because they’d be “really old—I mean ancient—I mean, hair growing out of our ears!” the next time it passed in 70 years.

My resolve was strengthened in junior high when I learned that the storied author Mark Twain was born with Halley’s Comet in the sky, and he died the year of its return. I was devastated to find that its next pass had come a few years before I was born, and I would have to wait until 2061 to see it myself at a ripe old age.

But Halley’s wasn’t the only comet in the universe. I knew I had to see a comet. But, little did I know that it would take more than 20 years and a bit of travel finesse to get make it happen.

What Is Astrotourism?

When you hear the term astrotourism, you might think about famous figures like William Shatner taking a Blue Origin New Shepard rocket to the edge of space. But astrotourism isn’t about going to outer space; it’s about enjoying outer space from good old planet Earth. It’s a type of ecotourism centered around dark skies and celestial events such as eclipses, meteor showers, comets, and auroras.

Astrotourism sometimes involves jet-setting to exotic locations. It could also happen in your hometown. But whether you’re traveling near or far, the key is finding the right location.

You’ll Need a Dark Sky

Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS (C/2023 A3) was discovered in 2023. As it neared naked-eye visibility in October 2024, I thought I was ready. It reached its closest proximity to Earth on October 12, and I stood facing the southwest, 45 minutes after sunset, just as the viewing guides suggested.

As the glow faded from the sky, I saw… nothing.

The problem? My neighborhood is swamped with ambient light. There’s a glow over both city and suburbs from nocturnal security lights, car headlights, the airport, night workers, neon signs, and all-night gamers.

The comet would remain bright for a few more days, and I needed a plan. I don’t live near any designated dark sky parks or reserves, but I could make it to the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area in a couple of hours.

Atlas comet photo by Cara Siera

The Search for Dark Skies

How, though, could I guarantee a clear view of the southwest sky? I didn’t know of any elevated hiking trails with clearings. Plus, I wasn’t crazy about hiking back in the middle of the night. I thought about the lakes themselves—they were flat, and only the marina and a few lakeside homes would be shedding light.

If this was going to work, I knew I’d have to put the lake between me and the comet. In other words, I’d have to find a lonely spot on the lake’s northeast side so I could look at the southwestern sky. I opened Google Maps and went to work. I remembered seeing a gravel road just before the bridge. Sure enough, there was a boat ramp called Gray’s Landing that, judging by the photos, had a few hundred feet of treeless shoreline facing the southwest.

I embarked on my quest with a friend and a packed picnic basket the next day.

Pro Tip: Find one or two local areas that are good for stargazing that you can use anytime there’s an interesting astronomical event. Large, protected lands such as state and national parks often provide enough distance from light pollution to view the night sky. Search for accessible areas with no trees or buildings blocking the direction you’ll be looking. Bodies of water are a great option because of their “flatness” and lack of light-producing structures. Use the same method to locate stargazing spots while traveling.

You’ll Need a Roadmap

The little gravel road would have been easy to miss. It was almost sunset, and the road sign was hidden behind the trees. Up ahead, we encountered a barrier with a “Road Closed” sign emblazoned across it. Thankfully, it closed one half of the fork in the road. I took the other fork.

Google Maps got me to Gray’s Landing, but that’s not the type of roadmap we’re talking about here. The night sky is a massive and busy place. Just as Halley’s wasn’t the only comet, comets aren’t the only objects of interest, and often, constellations, the moon, and readily visible planets like Venus are used to direct the eye to what you want to see.

Numerous apps feature interactive night sky maps to help you understand what you’re looking a and find what you’re looking for. I used timeanddate.com’s map to make sure I was looking in the right place. A worn copy of Guideposts to the Stars: Exploring the Skies Throughout the Year by Leslie Peltier has accompanied me on many adventures.

Pro Tip: Keep a guidebook or app handy to help you locate astronomical objects.

Atlas comet with bridge and marina on horizon, photo by Cara Siera

You’ll Need Patience

Mine wasn’t the only vehicle waiting by the boat ramp. Two young men fished beside a truck, GoPro pointed toward the sky. An older man with binoculars sat in a van. A lady in an SUV swung through right after dark, seemed to look to the southwest, then drove away.

An hour passed, I got out of my car and walked to the water’s edge. Even here, I wondered if the light pollution, even here, was too much. I was looking where the comet should be, and it wasn’t there. Then suddenly, there it was.

At that moment, nearly an hour and a half past sunset, the fading of dusk finally allowed my eyes to detect the tiny particles of light that had traveled 44 million miles. The shocking suddenness of its appearance made it that much more magical. It wasn’t like in the movies, shooting across the sky like a meteor.  Rather, it was a pale and elegant spectre, a ghostly counterpart to a rainbow arching across the sky.

My patience finally paid off. This wasn’t the first time I’d been out in the country in the middle of the night, looking for a comet. When Comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) became visible in July 2020, I hadn’t yet found the ideal spot, and trees and ambient light interfered. On other nights, storm clouds blocked my views of unusually far-reaching auroras. Not every stargazing excursion brings success. But when it is, the time spent is worth it.

I soon learned that photography also requires patience. I found that the phone made better images than my DSLR and cell phone camera, but they took time. Using the “night sight” mode, the exposure time took about 10 minutes. You can’t hold a camera and get a usable image with an exposure like that. So, I put it on its tripod and let it do its thing.

Pro Tip: Conditions aren’t always right for stargazing, so be prepared to make multiple attempts. Use a tripod and “night” settings on your cell phone camera to capture images.

Looking Back and Looking Forward

In half an hour, as the world turned, the comet drew too near the horizon to be seen. As I drove home that night, visions of eclipses, auroras, and other astrotourism events danced through my mind.

I knew I wouldn’t get to see Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) again. It’s a long-period comet that passes through our solar system only once every 80,000 years.

But the return of Halley’s Comet in 2061 doesn’t seem as distant as it once was. I wonder how difficult or easy it will be to find a dark sky that year. It’s like the character Gerald said in that episode of Hey Arnold!—“The price of admission, you may wonder? Just turn out your lights… and you’ll have front row seats to the greatest star-studded show in 70 years.”

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