Everything you need for astrotourism, dark-sky and Northern Lights trips

If you’ve ever traveled to remote parts of the world in search of dark skies or raging auroras, you’ll know the feeling of being unprepared. Whether it’s a new astrophotography camera that you’re unfamiliar with, a tripod that’s not big enough, or a pair of binoculars that just aren’t giving you the stunning night sky effect you were hoping for, what you take with you on an astrotourism trip is important.

Astrotourism has three rules: be prepared, stay warm, and stay charged. This way, you know what to expect, you’ll stay patient and alert, and your cameras and apps will work better. Above all, it is wise to learn how to use the new equipment before arriving at your destination. Testing tripods, smart telescopes, apps and eSIMs at home first transforms the potential chaos of cold nights into muscle memory.

You don’t need a van full of gear: a small, carefully chosen setup can capture wildlife by day, the Milky Way at night, and the Northern Lights whenever they decide to show themselves. Here’s the gear that deserves its place on dark-sky and aurora trips.