astrotourism

American  

[as-troh-toor-iz-uhm] / ˌæs troʊˈtʊər ɪz əm /

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.

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Etymology

Origin of astrotourism

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

But in the past five years, according to experts, the term astrotourism has evolved to describe more intentional travel to places with dark skies and more visible stars.

From New York Times