The resort in the Maldives where you can see stars with an astronaut

22 Aug 2023by Rob Gill

The clear skies above the Maldives offer some the world’s best locations for viewing the stars and who could be a better guide than the UK’s very own astronaut Tim Peake.

Rob Gill

Senior contributor

Astronaut Tim Peake will give talks about space at a Maldives resort in November (credit: NASA)

Peake will be hosting special talks in November at Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas in the Baa Atoll, which is part of the Unesco Biosphere Reserve.

The resort is also home to the first overwater observatory in the Maldives as well as the most powerful telescope in the region. Its location near the equator also allows for the stars of both hemispheres to be viewed.

The celebrated astronaut will be hosting a Journey Beyond Earth talk on 2 November for up to 20 guests on Anantara Kihavah’s Sky Deck. This will be complemented by a 60-minute stargazing session with the property’s own resident “sky guru” Hammadh using the resort’s telescope.

In December 2015, Peake became the first British astronaut to visit the International Space Station and conduct a spacewalk during his six month mission.

At the resort, he will also be holding a separate talk for younger guests, aged between 10 and 18, on 3 November, followed by their own stargazing event.

Journey Beyond Earth: An Inspiring Conversation with Tim Peake on 2 November is priced $165 (around £130) per person. While the Exploring Space with Tim Peake for 10 to 18-year-olds costs $125 (around £98). Villas at Anantara Kihavah start from £1,200 per night including breakfast and dinner.