Top 10 Sights in the Sky

Top 10
sights in the sky

rankings you can trust

Top 10 rankings
Best sky sights
of the world

Stars
Total solar eclipse
Glorious sunset
Aurora borealis
Thunderstorms & tornadoes
Inspirational sunrise
Total lunar eclipse
Geminid meteor shower
Wildlife flying in mass
Soaring cumulonimbus clouds

Insights on the
Sights in the Sky

As a traveler, I keep my eye out for sights in the sky because they are sometimes different from those back home. For instance, African safari sunsets are intensely yellowish orange because the wilderness air is laden with dust particles.

Stars

The nocturnal display is brightest and most awesome on moonless nights. Ditto when you are far from city lights and have given your eyes sufficient time to adjust to the darkness.

Total solar eclipse

The odds are more than 100 to 1 against you ever seeing one from your backyard. If you travel to the eclipse's path, there's a 50% chance that clouds will completely or partially obscure the view you've come to see.

Glorious sunset

Sunsets that reflect over a still body of water are extra special. When photographing, lower your exposure setting so the surrounding clouds won't look dark.

Aurora borealis

It is produced by charged solar particles colliding with the earth's magnetic field. The polar light show also occurs in the Southern Hemisphere (aurora australis).

Thunderstorm & tornados

Thunderstorms are most dramatic along squall lines at night. Have a Plan B when tornado sightseeing - the fickle funnel could quickly veer towards you without warning.

Inspirational sunrise

Sunrises are generally less breathtaking than sunsets because the morning air bears less dust. Sunsets are particularly inspirational from a mountain summit.

Total lunar eclipse

They occur more often, last longer, and cover a larger area than do solar ones. Unlike the latter, you don't need to protect your eyes.

Geminid meteor shower

The shower is created when the earth passes through a cloud of comet debris in space. The Geminid sky show occurs annually in mid December and is best seen on clear, moonless nights.

Wildlife flying in mass

Some swarms are so thick they can fill and darken the sky Locusts are the best known example - but migrating birds produce the most stirring spectacle.

Soaring cumulonimbus clouds

These dense, tall, puffy flat-bottomed clouds are most picturesque on an otherwise sunny day. Some reach 15,000 meters (50,000 feet) in height.