A night sky is special precisely because it brings people together.
It has always confounded me how much we collectively nurse our obsessions with individuality — especially in our youth, but it can also be an unending fixation. It’s not that I can’t understand why. It’s just that sometimes I wonder how much it actually matters.
I bring you night skies as an example of one thing that people are okay with being unoriginal for. They will sacrifice their need to be special to share in appreciation for a beautiful, mystical night sky. I will never forget the sense of divinity experienced in these moments:
1. San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua has the clearest night sky.
Did you know that out of a total of 88 constellations found in the night skies, 86 of them can be seen clearly in Nicaragua? Morgan’s Rock is Nicaragua’s Ecolodge located in San Juan del Sur and I kid you not the most astoundingly beautiful night sky I will never forget. You win.
2. Undara Volcanic National Park, Northern Queensland, Australia’s remarkable night sky.
As a city-dwelling Brooklyn native, congestion of the land and sky has been a given my entire life. When I studied in northeastern Australia, I was in for an awakening. I’ve not been so far deep into the Outback as my friend Kylie Fisher, but when she showed me her picture from the photography course’s field trip, I was blown away. In this instance, it really did not matter that I wasn’t there.
Image by: Kiley Fisher
Image by: ThinBoyFatter
3. Byron Bay Lighthouse, Byron Bay, Australia
Anyone who has experienced study abroad or has fallen in love with a slice of the world (Australia or other) would understand what I mean when I say “words will never be enough.” Byron Bay was my favorite trip. One night, I hiked up to the lighthouse for sunset but missed it and arrived for the night sky. The accidental night sky was beautiful. But not only that, it was among the top five moments of my life…
Maybe the sky wasn’t even that beautiful. Maybe it was the circumstances. Whatever it was something about it brought me to the full realization and understanding of what it means to be – to be 10,000 miles away from home, and be where I was and where I’ve envisioned myself since I was 7.
Image by: Alex Frings
4. So, this isn’t a night sky but a wide, open, world-expanding window (in Plattsburgh, New York).
While I didn’t love my time at SUNY Plattsburgh, I loved my first dorm’s window. It was my first home away from Brooklyn (a relatively starless home base) and it was way upstate New York. Falling asleep every night with the night skies of way upstate New York made the problems of every day feel rather small. It was therapeutic in a way NYC very often fails to be.
Which of these night skies make you want to forget your differences and be one with me? I’d love to hear your thoughts and anyone’s own experiences. Do share for my humble appreciation.
Featured image: Deography
