With astrotourism on the rise and the solar maximum in its final phase, Road Scholar, the not-for-profit leader in educational travel for older adults, launched two new 2027 eclipse trips in Portugal and Spain and Egypt to experience “The Eclipse of the Century,” in August, 2027.
After the Egypt Eclipse trip sold out in less than a month. Road Scholar added more space to the trip, chartering the entire ship exclusively for Road Scholar participants.
“By chartering the full ship we’re going to be able to add some additional educational content onboard, more lectures and other cultural content,” said Road Scholar Program Director Eliza Carrera.
Astrotourism on the Rise
The eclipse isn’t the only thing in the sky that’s attracting travelers. “Astrotourism” – the trend of traveling to study astronomy– is on the rise. Road Scholar saw a 68% increase in enrollments for their astronomy programs in 2025, and their astronomy programs for 2026 are filling up fast— two of their five programs are already 99% full.
Pennsylvania State University Professor Kevin Luhman says that advances in telescope technology, especially the NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, have brought more attention to and interest in learning about space.
“We are fortunate to live during a time in history when our knowledge of the universe is expanding rapidly because of technological advances,” said Luhman, who is an instructor on Road Scholar’s Astronomy programs at Penn State. “Many people find astronomy to be a fascinating subject because it encompasses some of the most fundamental questions that humans have pondered (how was the universe born? is there life elsewhere in the universe?), combined with phenomena that are visually striking.”
Solar Maximum in Final Phase
Astronomy enthusiasts should also squeeze in visits North to chase Aurora Borealis NOW. The current solar maximum is in its final phase, offering some of the best auroral displays in over a decade. Sightings will become less frequent and intense, and the next major peak in activity is not expected until the mid-2030s. Road Scholars can look for and learn from experts about the Northern Lights in Manitoba, Iceland, and Norway.
Outside of eclipse sightings and solar maximums, the sky can best be studied in Dark Sky Parks and Dark Sky Reserves and Parks, from the Grand Canyon and Big Bend National Park to New Zealand.
“The majority of people live in areas where light pollution prevents them from ever knowing just how much can be visible,” said Road Scholar Program Operations Manager Carryn Kliesen-Whitehead. “When our participants travel to Dark Sky places, like Big Bend, they are suddenly exposed to how vast the universe is and they find it both astonishing and grounding. It seems to awaken something elemental in them and makes them want to get out and explore new areas and even revisit familiar places to see them in a new light (or lack thereof!).”
Participants on Road Scholar programs can participate in “Star Parties” on many of their programs, joining together with other lifelong learners and an astronomy expert to stargaze and study the night sky together, including: Grand Canyon, White Stallion Ranch in Tucson, Rancho de la Osa in Tucson, Terlingua (awarded the “Dark Night Skies Award”), Death Valley, Glacier National Park, Big Bend National Park, Penn State, and New Zealand.
Nighttime astronomy experiences are also included on Road Scholar’s Grandparent and Family Programs at White Stallion Ranch and Panama (with family or grandkids).
Road Scholar, 800-454-5768, www.roadscholar.org.
