Written By: Shizna Ahmed (Shizu)

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The Maldives is often thought of as a paradise for its turquoise waters and white sandy beaches, but what happens after the sun goes down is often overlooked. On a clear night, the sky becomes a vast canvas studded with stars and planets. For me, this has always been one of the most beautiful parts of living here.

My love for the night sky sparked when I was young. Growing up, my mum often took me on trips to uninhabited islands with her friends. With no high-rise buildings or city lights, the skies were free from light pollution and revealed their true brilliance. I remember lying back on the sand, staring up at the Milky Way, and feeling an overwhelming sense of wonder about what might be out there.

One memory that still makes me smile is a camping trip with friends. We spent hours lying under the Milky Way, watching meteors streak across the sky. It was one of those rare experiences that makes you feel both small and infinite at the same time, a feeling that has stayed with me ever since.

Years later, working as an astronomer at Soneva allowed me to turn that childhood curiosity into something deeper. I had the opportunity to look through a telescope for the first time, and that moment changed everything. Suddenly, the planets and distant worlds weren’t just dots in the sky; they were real and detailed. Saturn’s rings, the craters of the Moon, and the faint glow of galaxies became part of my everyday life. I’ve spent countless nights under the stars, learning from previous astronomers and visiting scientists, guiding guests, and still finding my own sense of awe each time. Sharing that view with others has been one of the greatest joys of being an astronomer.

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What makes the Maldives so special for stargazing is its remoteness. Our skies are incredibly dark thanks to minimal light pollution, and being surrounded by the vast Indian Ocean keeps them especially clear. But the real magic is in our location. Sitting close to the equator, we’re able to see both the northern and southern hemispheres of the sky. This means the view changes dramatically throughout the year. Every six months, new constellations rise, planets shift, and the sky offers an entirely new canvas. Even within a single night, if you watch after sunset and again before dawn, you’ll see a completely different set of stars.

Stargazing here is unforgettable. With the naked eye, you can spot bright planets, shimmering star clusters, and even the Andromeda Galaxy, our nearest galactic neighbour. Through binoculars or a telescope, the view becomes even more spectacular. Saturn almost always steals the show. Guests are often speechless when they see its rings for the first time. Many laugh in disbelief or ask if the image has been placed inside the telescope. The Moon, too, is striking, with its craters and shadows standing out in sharp detail. My personal favourites are the deep sky objects: nebulae, galaxies, and clusters whose light has travelled thousands of years to reach us. Looking at them feels like gazing back through time

Some nights bring especially rare and humbling moments. In October last year, I saw a comet for the first time. Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS). Its hyperbolic orbit meant it would never return to the inner solar system. Knowing I was seeing something that had travelled millions of years across space, and that this was our only chance to witness it, was deeply moving.

Although the skies in the Maldives are beautiful year round, my favourite time to stargaze is between late August and February. During these months, the centre of our galaxy comes into view, along with countless distant objects, and Saturn often graces the night sky. Of course, everything depends on the weather, but this season always feels like it carries a special weight.

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Looking ahead, I believe stargazing here will only grow in importance as more people discover the wonders of the night sky. But alongside this fascination comes a responsibility to protect it. Just as we preserve coral reefs and marine ecosystems, we should also safeguard the stars above by reducing light pollution. For example, by using warm toned lights instead of harsh white ones. A star filled sky is as much a part of the Maldives’ natural heritage as its beaches and lagoons.

More than anything, I hope travellers are inspired to pause and look up when they are here. The Maldivian night sky is not only beautiful, it’s a reminder of how vast the universe is and how lucky we are to witness it. For me, lying under the stars has always been a humbling gift. And in the Maldives, that gift shines brighter than almost anywhere else in the world.