The pressure and fatigue brought by urban life have made people increasingly hope to relieve their physical and mental stress by connecting nature. On social platforms, travel experts share the spectacular Milky Way and natural scenery they see when sleeping under the stars, arousing the interest of more and more people in the experience of sleeping under the stars. Some people choose to use sleeping bags or sleep directly on the ground, some choose to hang a hammock in a fixed place to sleep, while others choose tents to experience the romance of sleeping under the stars.
Imagine that you are sleeping in a tent in the open air in an area far away from urban light pollution, enjoying the night with a sky full of stars. How cozy it is! This is the stargazing camping, a way of camping under the stars that has become popular abroad in recent years. The following article will introduce different experiences of sleeping under the stars. If you are interested, just continue reading!
Why Do People Choose to Sleep Under the Stars?
After the COVID-19 pandemic, people who had been repressed for a long time promoted a surge in outdoor activities. Among the many ways of traveling, the low-cost, nature-oriented stargazing camping has become a popular choice.
Improve Sleep Quality
People with irregular lifestyles and disrupted circadian rhythms due to urban living can try the experience of sleeping under the stars. The human circadian clock is primarily regulated by the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), which receives signals of light exposure and darkness at night. The natural environmental day-night light changes are more in line with the rhythm of human evolution.
Studies have shown that, compared to artificial light, the natural light-dark cycle can more effectively calibrate the circadian clock. Sleeping under the stars usually occurs in environments with low light pollution, where the light intensity is extremely low. This close-to-natural darkness environment can effectively synchronize the 24-hour circadian clock.
Another factor affecting sleep is melatonin. Melatonin produced by the pineal gland can promote sleep. Artificial light in cities can inhibit the production of melatonin, while the extremely low light intensity under the starry sky hardly interferes with the secretion of melatonin, thus effectively ensuring the normal operation of the pineal gland.
Spending some time camping in a natural environment and exposing the body to the natural light-dark cycle for several consecutive days can advance the secretion time of melatonin, making the body's biological clock tend to synchronize with sunset time, thereby improving sleep quality.
Relax in a Natural Environment
Generally, when camping under the starry sky, people tend to choose places surrounded by flowers, grass and trees. The areas near forests and natural water flows generally have a relatively high concentration of negative oxygen ions. These negative oxygen ions can not only enhance lung function and improve myocardial metabolism, but also regulate the nervous system. Therefore, they can relieve mental anxiety and depression.
A cool breeze blows, and the air is mixed with a little fragrance of flowers and grass, which sweeps away the fatigue from your daytime labor.
If you have ever tried sleep aid apps, you will find that the sleep music used in these apps comes from natural sounds. That's right. These natural sounds, such as the chirping of insects at night, the sound of the wind, the sound of streams, and the sound of bonfires burning, create "white noise" to eliminate the interference of urban noise, help the brain enter a relaxed state, and allow both the body and mind to be healed and relaxed.
Connect with the Universe
Being in nature and observing the spectacular starry sky can trigger a sense of "awe" within people. Research shows that this emotional experience can enhance people's sense of happiness. This sense of awe can make people experience a "self-diminishment effect", so that they feel that their daily troubles become insignificant on a cosmic scale.
Against this strong contrast, it is easy for people to unconsciously relieve the accumulated pressure and anxiety. Moreover, the connection strength between the prefrontal cortex and the amygdala will increase by 23%, enhancing people's ability to regulate emotions and making their emotions more stable.
When astronomical knowledge learned in life is presented under the real Milky Way, it activates people's cultural memory. This cross-temporal emotional connection will arouse a resonance that echoes constellation myths and historical cultures, shocking people's hearts.
The experience of stargazing can also inspire people's scientific dreams, rekindle the curiosity about all things in the universe that they had in their childhood, and awaken the unrestrained imagination that has been worn down by reality. These experiences enable people to return to simplicity, find a positive energy full of hope for life by connecting with nature.
Create Beautiful and Lasting Memories
Camping under the stars can create unforgettable memories for you. When you camp in a valley, by a lake or surrounded by a forest, the quiet and vast environment around you allows you to achieve inner peace.
If you camp with your family and friends, you can also enjoy the night sky full of stars while sharing your innermost thoughts or singing and dancing around the campfire with them. This kind of experience of getting in touch with nature away from the hustle and bustle of the city and interacting with family and friends to enhance emotional relationships can leave you with deep and wonderful memories.
The field exploration activities carried out with your family and friends can also narrow the distance between you and them, and the realization of these activities can also bring you a sense of accomplishment. These social activities can promote interpersonal interactions, which can bring a sense of social satisfaction and thereby alleviate the loneliness in modern society.
4 Popular Ideas for Sleeping Under the Stars
If you are very interested in how to sleep under the stars, but not clear about what experience methods there are, then don't swipe away, keep reading. Next, several popular experience methods will be introduced, and you can choose the relaxation method that suits you according to your preferences.
Backyard Dome
If you are afraid of the troubles brought by traveling, but want to try a lifestyle that connects with nature, then trying to sleep under the stars dome in your backyard is a good idea. The transparent dome design of the stargazing tent allows you to enjoy the night sky in 360° inside the tent. It not only provides good protection but also offers an open environment.
While admiring the night sky, you can also breathe fresh outdoor air and listen to the sounds of insects and wind. When you want to relieve the pressure of life through contact with nature, the backyard dome tent allows you to experience the comfort of sleeping under the stars at any time.
The garden dome of Shelter Dome is a great fit for those who have aesthetic requirements for tents. Its shape adopts a triangular frame structure, which not only ensures that the whole frame has solid mechanical support, but also gives a unique visual effect from the appearance, adding a modern and fashionable visual effect to the backyard and enhancing the unique charm of the scenery.
The garden dome uses PVC fabric with waterproof, anti-ultraviolet and strong anti-mold properties, combined with steel pipe components and aluminum alloy frames, ensuring that the tent is both safe and durable and can withstand different climatic conditions.
To meet users' stargazing needs, Shelter Dome has equipped the garden dome with a transparent panoramic window design, allowing you to feel the vast starry sky as soon as you look up. The design inside the tent also takes into account the temperature difference, setting the adaptable temperature range at -22ºF to 176ºF (-30℃ ~ 80℃). Don't underestimate this feature. This feature greatly enhances your comfort when sleeping in the tent.
Beach Hammock
Besides setting up tents, sleeping in a hammock on the beach can also be a great experience. Hammocks are easy and convenient to set up, yet they provide good support. Since they are suspended in the air, they also prevent contact with sand and insects.
Due to the material of the hammock, it has strong breathability, so it is very suitable for use in hot summers. When you lie in the hammock in very hot weather, listening to the sound of the waves, feeling the cool sea breeze, and looking at the starry night sky, your pressure and anxiety disappear. The slight swaying of the hammock can also bring a sense of relaxation and stability, like soothing a baby to sleep, effectively relieving physical fatigue.
However, hammocks usually do not provide much shelter and are more susceptible to weather conditions. You can install a sunshade tent with stronger shading to reduce the interference of weather factors.
Tent on Mountain
If you are an astronomy enthusiast or a photography enthusiast, then sleeping in a tent on the mountain will give you a different experience. Mountains usually have a relatively high altitude, so the night sky will appear clearer. The brightness and density of stars will be more obvious, and you will see brighter stars than in the city center at night.
There are also diverse ecosystems in the mountains, and the air and environment are very beneficial to the human body. Due to being far away from the hustle and bustle of the city, you can enjoy more tranquility and personal space in the mountains. If you want to regain your passion for life by briefly escaping from real life, then pitching a tent in the mountains and sleeping under the starry sky may make all your worries disappear with the wind.
Although you can enjoy a more tranquil atmosphere in the mountains, you need to carry more things up the mountains, such as food, safety equipment, etc., which increases the difficulty of camping. Moreover, if you use a simple tent on the mountains, you will also face problems such as poor comfort and the safety hazard of being attacked by wild animals.
Open-Air Rooftop
If you want to escape the light pollution of the city but don't want to travel far, then camping on an open rooftop can provide you with a better view of the starry sky. Rooftops are usually closer to home, ensuring convenience during your camping trip. For example, if you run out of food, you can go home to restock; if you want to add some entertainment, you can also bring your phone and computer.
Camping on a rooftop not only allows you to look up at the brilliant night sky but also look down at the bustling city streets below, creating an atmosphere that is perfect for a small family gathering.
The roofs are usually equipped with railings or other protective facilities. This ensures that camping activities are not disturbed by wild animals. For family gatherings with children, the level of safety is greatly enhanced.
Although camping on the roof has the advantage of safety, it is important to pay attention to noise issues and avoid disturbing other residents in the community. If a barbecue is held, it is also necessary to take fire prevention measures.
Tips for Sleeping Under the Stars
If you want to have an unforgettable stargazing camping experience, full preparation can ensure that your camping activity goes smoothly and won't affect the wonderful mood you originally wanted to get through camping. Here are some suggestions to enhance your stargazing experience.
- Location：Generally speaking, places suitable for stargazing are suburbs with very low light pollution. You can use a map to find places more than 30 kilometers away from the city. These places should not be close to strong light sources such as mining areas. It is best to give priority to valleys or forests. Also pay attention to safety issues while camping. The location should also avoid dangerous places such as rivers and cliffs. At the same time, make sure that the place where you want to camp is a legal campsite and there are no wild animals.
- Weather：Weather is an important factor affecting the stargazing experience. Before stargazing and camping, use online tools to check the cloud cover, wind speed, and humidity in the sky to understand whether the weather meets the conditions for stargazing. The weather with few clouds, high wind speed, and low humidity is most suitable for stargazing. In addition, it is also necessary to track real-time weather forecasts and have protection and response measures for extreme weather such as thunderstorm warnings, heavy rain, and typhoons.
- Tools: Of course, you can't do without some stargazing tools when watching the starry sky. You can install some stargazing apps on your mobile phone in advance, such as SkySafari and Star Walk. These apps can help you identify constellations and planets, and can also provide real-time star maps. If you go to a relatively remote wilderness, it is even more advisable to bring paper maps and constellation guides. If you are fond of photography, in addition to bringing a camera, don't forget the tripod and telescope.
- Amenities：Comfortable sleep under the stars depends on some of your equipment. To have a peaceful sleep, you must have a soft pillow, a comfortable sleeping pad, a fluffy blanket, and a lamp that can create a warm atmosphere. If it is cold, a warm hot water bottle can also greatly enhance your sense of happiness. In addition, there are portable lounge chairs, small tables, and even to make you feel happier, you can bring a music player or Bluetooth speaker.
Final Thoughts
Different ways of sleeping under the stars have different charms. If you want to find a moment of tranquility by getting away from the hustle and bustle of the city, then looking up at the vast starry sky can make you feel the charm of nature, thereby relieving all your fatigue and finding your best state through relaxation.
No matter which way you choose to sleep under the stars, a high-quality dome tent can bring you an unforgettable stargazing memory in a comfortable camping experience. If you can't wait to try a different stargazing camping experience, then check out stargazing dome guide on Shelter Dome's official website and contact us immediately!
