Extraterrestrial experiences

As space tourism looks closer than ever to becoming a reality, there are still plenty of out-of-this-world experiences you can have without leaving the planet – and for a fraction of the price, too. Intrigued? From awe-inspiring museums and planetariums to stargazing spots and space camps, here are the best ways to get a slice of space life right here on Earth.

The Atacama Desert, Chile

For an authentic stargazing experience, few places on Earth match the ultra-remote Atacama Desert. Travel to the heart of this crater-studded landscape and you’ll be able to look up at incredibly clear, starry skies, practically untouched by light pollution. The best bet is to book a stargazing tour, during which experts lead visitors to the best locations and observatories to find constellations, planets, shooting stars and more.

Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan

Ever wondered where Sputnik took off from? It was right here at the Baikonur Cosmodrome, located in south-central Kazakhstan. And that’s not the only historic flight that started here: the first spaceship to put a female astronaut on the moon, the first crewed orbital flight and the first artificial satellite all took off from here too. Today, the Cosmodrome typically runs group tours, during which visitors can see museums and memorial complexes, rocket launching sites and Yuri Gagarin’s former cottage.

Nagoya City Science Museum, Japan

From the outside, Nagoya City Science Museum is nothing short of spectacular. And its NTP Planet planetarium, housed in the 115-foot (35m) wide silver orb, is all the more impressive inside. Here, you can see the night sky reproduced using the world’s most complex star projector, with regular shows educating visitors about constellations and other astronomical phenomena. Shows are conducted in Japanese and vary monthly.

Extraterrestrial experiences

The Atacama Desert, Chile

Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan

Nagoya City Science Museum, Japan

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