You can see a galaxy with the naked eye: Astrotourism is an adventure 'you can't experience from photos'

The first time you find yourself under a truly dark night sky is amazing to see how bright the stars shine. And yet some of us have never seen its potential, even if we've gone outside at night and it's been so-called dark.

The darkest skies in the world are increasingly rare and often difficult to get to because of their remote nature. According to the Department of Energy, 83% of the global population lives under a light-polluted sky. But you don't need to go to the most remote corners of the world to see sensational night skies.

Because of the prevalence of light pollution, even visiting a destination with a little less artificial light than what you live with on a day-to-day basis can change your perspective on what a star-filled night looks like.

There's been growing awareness and interest in the concept of dark skies and seeking it out as a destination. The International Dark-Sky Association, which recognizes exceptional high-quality night skies, has certified more than 190 dark-sky places worldwide, with 37 new destinations in 2021 alone.

Utah, home to the highest concentration of the association's certified areas in the world, is celebrating its second Dark Sky Month this April. And this type of astrotourism is becoming more and more popular for travelers wanting to try something different, looking for more sustainable travel or avoiding indoor crowds.

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Stephen Hummel, Dark Sky Specialist at the University of Texas' McDonald Observatory, which saw 80,000-100,000 annual visitors pre-pandemic, confirms it's still been busy.

"We have had a lot of people interested in astronomy. I think people were looking for a new hobby during the pandemic that they could do from home. And then as soon as travel restrictions began to lift they were OK, I'm tired of doing it from my light-polluted backyard," he said.

The observatory's programs typically sell out two to three months in advance as a general rule, similar to pre-pandemic levels.

"I just love the night sky and when I started learning more about these magical properties in places like Tierra Hotels in Patagonia or even the Dark Sky National Park in Ireland I got chills and wanted to go there myself," said Rani Cheema, founder of Cheema's Travels.

Even though her business specializes in culinary travel adventures, she has seen growing interest from clients wanting to chase events like eclipses and meteor showers, as well as those from cities where they may never get to see a sky full of stars.

And visiting a dark sky destination can be an emotional experience.

"Some things you can't experience from photos or videos or stories. I remember the first time I went to the Grand Canyon was like that – there's a feeling from being in a natural and vast place. I'm going to a dark sky destination later this month in Brazil because of that feeling," said Olivia Snyder-Spak, a film producer in New York and the proud bearer of a stars-themed tattoo.

Whatever the inspiration, with International Dark Sky Week this April 22-30, now is a good time to think about whether stargazing fits into your next trip.

Whether you're looking to center a vacation around dark skies or looking for a quick weekend getaway close to home, here are some things to consider as you plan your trip:

Pick the right dark sky for you

The International Dark-Sky Association grants a variety of designations (Dark Sky Parks, Dark Sky Sanctuaries, Dark Sky Reserves, and Urban Night Sky Places) on a spectrum, so think about what your minimum threshold might be for your visit and filter your search around that classification in their online map tool.

The most common designation is a Dark Sky Park, which Ashley Wilson, association's director of conservation, considers a well-rounded designation in regards to stargazing potential and programming to engage with the environment – like having a biologist speak about the impact of light pollution.

"In addition to having dark sky quality and a typical experience coming to the site, you get to see the Milky Way with the unaided eye ... You see photos, but having that innate experience for yourself is indescribable."

When thinking about potential destinations, it's also helpful to look at a light pollution map and see how different it'll be from the night sky you're used to seeing. It can be tempting for the overachieving travelers in us to seek out the darkest, most exclusive skies, but you don't have to drive seven hours to a Dark Sky Park to get a spectacular view.

Hummel pointed out, "Don't overthink it. Because even if it isn't 100% dark, you can still see quite a lot."

Find a star party

Star viewing parties are regularly offered by educational institutions, state and national parks, and astronomy groups – and the opportunity for getting together with enthusiastic fans (with premium telescopes) is infectious and helps make the otherworldly experience even more rewarding.

Try starting with the closest state or national park's website to check out their events calendar. Or if there's an observatory in the region, they can help give advice on guiding your visit.

Look at the calendar (The full moon is not your friend)

Visiting a dark sky destination during a full moon will lead to disappointment.

"Come and visit seven days before or seven days after the new moon because a full moon or any portion of the moon is huge light pollution and can affect up to 80% of the stars you will see at night," said Scott Morgan, Park Manager at Cherry Springs State Park, a Dark Sky Park in Pennsylvania.

Think about what the climate is like in the region during your visit. For instance, Hummel recommends, "If you're planning a trip to West Texas or Utah…you don't want to go in late summer, because that's monsoon season. That's when it rains all the time and so it's a lot more cloudy."

Besides the standard night sky, there are also unique events happening at certain times of the year like meteor showers or a satellite passing through the area and they can be a great reason to time your visit.

You don't need fancy equipment

All you need to enjoy a quality sky full of stars are your eyes, but if you want to bring your own equipment, Cheema suggests bringing along relatively lightweight binoculars or if you're visiting from out of town, ask your hotel or guide if they can provide one – more and more high-end resorts are programming dark sky experiences for guests.

Put away your phone. Seriously.

It takes 20-40 minutes to benefit from night vision, which means some people may have been outside at night, but never fully seen what they could've seen with the naked eye.

"I think a fair number of people have never actually allowed their eyes to completely adapt to the darkness," Hummel said.

Anything that produces artificial light, whether it's your phone or digital camera screen, should be put away as soon as possible. If you do have to use it, change your phone to red screen mode or use a flashlight with a red light setting; your eyes are least sensitive to red light and it won't disrupt your night vision.

No matter when or where you go, consider dark skies on your next trip as a way to add another dimension to your adventure.

"People talk about the wonders of the world, but dark skies are the best place to go to see all the wonders of the other worlds," Snyder-Spak said. "It's a really cool moment of appreciation for all the other things, little and universally big, that I've overlooked."

Grace Lee Kang is a writer and creative director who loves learning about niche cultures and diving into the mundane — find her at www.graceleekang.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Astrotourism 101: How to plan your visit to a dark sky destination