TRUE NORTH
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STARGAZING AT JOSHUA TREE
As an official Dark Sky Park , Joshua Tree National Park has long been a favorite spot for travelers and locals alike looking to kick back and marvel at the beauty of Earth ’ s celestial bodies . And this fall , nature lovers can do just that at the 2023 Joshua Tree National Park Night Sky Festival from October 13 through 14 . Best of all , this year ’ s event corresponds with an annular “ ring of fire ” solar eclipse .
Joshua Tree National Park is an official Dark Sky Park .
COURTESY OF VIRGIN GALACTIC
Commercial Space Travel Now a Reality
Virgin Galactic ’ s “ Galactic 01 ” went down in history as the first commercial spaceflight after ship Unity ’ s inaugural mission on June 29 , 2023 . Then , in August 2023 , Unity ’ s next flight , “ Galactic 02 ,” marked the beginning of recurring monthly commercial flights hosted by Virgin Galactic , which plans to offer its services mainly for scientific research and private astronaut space missions . Want to get on the list ? A 2022 financial filing by the company showed tickets start at $ 450,000 .
Virgin Galactic ' s VSS Unity .
12 / THE COMPASS / FALL 2023 vaxvacationaccess . com / thecompass