July 7 is called tanabata (Star Festival) in Japan and is marked by the custom of writing one’s wishes on a tanzaku colored strip of paper and hanging it from a bamboo branch. Tanabata is the story of two lovers, the stars Vega and Altair, who are able to meet only once a year in their journeys across the Milky Way. The custom spread from its place of origin in China to Korea, to Vietnam and throughout Asia.

Legends involving the Milky Way can also be found in Europe. Stretching across the night sky, the Milky Way is a band of light containing some two hundred billion stars. In Asia, it was seen as a river, while in Grecian myth it was created by a spray of milk from the breast of the goddess Hera. This myth is said to be the origin of the English term Milky Way.

The Milky Way can rarely be seen in cities because of the ambient light. The best stargazing spots are places at a suitable altitude with clear skies and few artificial lights. Some regions organize Milky Way viewing tours and other events, and these are popular with large numbers of astronomy buffs and tourists. When planning your next trip, you might want to add stargazing when searching out possible destinations.

Namib Desert, Namibia

The world’s oldest desert, said to have been formed 80 million years ago, the Namib Desert covers an area of 80,000 square kilometers and is environmentally protected as one of the darkest night skies on earth. Against the vast desert scenery, the Milky Way makes a truly awesome spectacle. 

Lake Tekapo, New Zealand

Lake Tekapo is one of the most famous spots in the world for observing the night sky, giving great views of the Southern Cross and Aurora Australis or Southern Lights. From mid-November to mid-December the shores of this milky-turquoise blue lake are covered in dense lupin flowers, creating a beautiful effect during the daytime too.

Mauna Kea, Hawaii, U.S.A.

This is one of the volcanos that form the island of Hawaii. At 4,205 meters above sea level, the top of the mountain suffers from no light pollution, and weather conditions are stable all the year round. This makes it what is said to be the best place in the world to view the starry heavens, and the astronomical observatories of many countries are located here.