Going dark: Stargazing destinations lure 'astro tourists' to the night sky

The night sky has become a tourist destination.

But wait a minute. Can't we see the night sky simply by stepping outside after dark and looking up?

Well, yes. But for most of us, that means seeing the glow from artificial lights reflecting off clouds, water vapor and dust particles in the air. It's called sky glow; the night sky is so bright, it's hard to see the stars.

For most of the time people have lived on this planet, the night sky was inky dark and filled with visible celestial objects. It's inspired poets and dreamers, artists and scientists, linking humankind with its past and perhaps its future, as people looked to the sky to ponder life's mysteries.

It's only been in the last