astrotourism

[ as-troh-toor-iz-uhm ]

noun

1. tourism for the purpose of viewing astronomical phenomena, especially stars, meteor showers, auroras, and other things visible only where the night sky is unaffected by light pollution from cities:

   We went to the Canary Islands for some quality astrotourism in one of their Starlight Reserves.

   The solar eclipse promises a boom in astrotourism for Western Australia.

Word History and Origins

Origin of astrotourism¹

First recorded in 2000–05

Example Sentences

“Light pollution sneaks up on you,” Carol Redford, who runs Astrotourism Western Australia.

From New York Times

A last job for the center will be to alert and seek help from other affected groups, including amateur astronomers, astrotourism operators, and Indigenous communities that observe the sky in their cultural practices.

From Science Magazine

Wilson theorizes that the increase in the program’s popularity has to do with the presence of astrotourism, a branch of travel that has a disproportionately high economic impact because it necessitates an overnight stay and benefits from the long nights in winter, which is typically the offseason for many tourist areas.

From Washington Post

Several nearby lodges cater to astrotourism, such as Redfish Lake Lodge, which has pontoon boats for patrons who want to get out from under the trees to stargaze.

From Seattle Times

“Astrotourism is any kind of tourism that involves the night sky or visiting facilities related to astronomy like observatories, and combining that with a broader sense of ecotourism where interaction with nature is what the visitor experience is about,” said John Barentine, the director of public policy at the International Dark-Sky Association, a Tucson-based nonprofit organization devoted to battling light pollution and certifying dark sky preserves where stars and planets shine brightly.

From New York Times