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STARGAZING is shooting to the top of our bucket lists for 2025.

According to Booking.com, 62 per cent of travellers are seeking “night-time-focused travel destinations”.

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Hong Kong’s Clearwater Bay Country Park is especially famous for its twinkling night skies[/caption]

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Sark, part of the Channel Islands, is the world’s first designated Dark Sky Island, ensuring sparkling views no matter where you are[/caption]

There are some gorgeous spots in the UK known for their clear, night skies.

But if you want to throw in some sunshine too, there are more locations further from home.

Here is our pick of the best stargazing holidays . . . 

SARK, UK: Nestled between Guernsey and Jersey, Sark became the world’s first designated Dark Sky Island in 2011.

That means no matter where you base yourself, you’ll get sparkling views after the sun sets.

Pay a visit to Sark’s observatory and its telescope (£10 per adult). Make sure to request your visit in advance as availability can be limited.

Stocks Hotel, at the centre of the island, has simple, country-style bedrooms from £157 per night, see stockshotel.com.

FORMENTERA: Spain’s untouched and secluded Formentera island experiences low levels of light pollution, offering great conditions for spotting stars.

Head to the lighthouse in Barbaria, perched high on a cliff at the southernmost point of the island, for some of the clearest night-time views.

Jet2holidays has some great package deals for those that want to take the faff out of planning.

A seven-night getaway to the 4H Insotel Hotel Formentera Playa is from £783pp on a half-board basis, including flights from Manchester on May 18. Go to jet2holidays.com.

SHROPSHIRE, UK: Seven regions in the UK have received International Dark Sky Reserve status.

 So, if you want to keep costs down, you need look no further than home.

Within the glorious Shropshire Hills there are four sites alone, each dotted along the Long Mynd Valley. With skies so clear and dark, you’ll be able to spot the Milky Way with the naked eye.

Book a stay at Longmynd Hotel in Church Stretton, a historic property featuring cosy twins, doubles and singles with equally great views.

Two nights’ full-board costs from £345pp at hfholidays.co.uk.

CANARY ISLANDS TOUR: A favourite winter sun spot for Brits, The Canary Islands offer high peaks, little wind and ideal conditions for stargazing.

If you are really keen to unlock your inner astronomer, this seven-day guided adventure around Tenerife and La Palma won’t disappoint.

It will set you back a hefty sum, though.

 The trip costs £2,989pp including all flights and travel, excursions, accommodation and food.

But with the steep price also comes a wealth of expert knowledge, including Dr Stuart Clark, an astronomer who was once described as one of the “stars” of British astrophysics teaching, who will be leading the trip.

When holidaymakers aren’t gazing through some of the strongest telescopes in science, you will be sipping wine on one of Tenerife’s most picturesque vineyards.

For more, go to kirkerholidays .com.

HONG KONG: This city may initially conjure up images of soaring skyscrapers with dazzling, bright lights that don’t seem all that conducive to dark skies and sparkling stars.

But step a little further out of the city centre and you will be greeted by greenery and rugged peaks galore.

Clearwater Bay Country Park in particular is known for its twinkly skies.

A four-day city break with Trailfinders costs from £735pp without flights.

It includes street food tours, a visit to Victoria Peak, a “Starry Ferry” ride, a light show and island trips. See trailfinders.com.

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STANDING on a pitch-dark, icy road in bone-chilling arctic cold, a small tinge of green appeared in the sky. Seconds earlier we had screeched to a halt and jumped from a minibus.

At first we could only see it by looking through phone cameras. Then a bigger band of green started to spread and change. Was there purple too?

Now we could see it without using cameras. Another band of colour started to appear.

This was the moment when I saw the Northern Lights on an astronomy voyage with the Norwegian cruise line Hurtigruten.

“Look to the south east, there’s another,” said one of our group.

“This is insane.”

“Oh, wow! Just wow!”

“Look over there!”

“I never thought I would experience anything like it!”

We were 11 miles from the Norwegian border with Russia, and had been hunting the lights for nights by ship and road.

The must-see cosmic phenomenon is a little shy and it takes perseverance to experience it.

But Norway above the Arctic Circle is an ideal place to see it. And the next 18 months could be the best time in a decade as the sun is at its most active.

Hurtigruten has been running ships along the Norwegian coast since 1893. It makes 34 stops between Bergen and Kirkenes on the Coastal Express route.

Our own on-board Chief Aurora Chaser, Tom Kerss, tells guests how and when they have the best chance of catching the lights.

A decent smartphone is all you need plus a power bank in case the battery dies in the cold.

Tom explains our eyes have evolved to make it hard to see colour at night but a camera can detect it. If you are in the dark long enough, your eyes can adjust. But this takes time.

Astronomer Tom, who has worked at the Royal Observatory in London’s Greenwich Park, delivers on-board lectures which are a deep dive into the science of the Aurora Borealis.

You are introduced to “coronal mass ejections” and “solar wind” — take away as much or as little info as you need.

Tom constantly monitors the space data. He explains: “We work out the best protocols for spotting the lights.”

A WhatsApp saying, “Something’s happening”, was the cue to grab our coats and dash to the deck to stargaze.

But being on a ship means that despite the extreme cold there is a warm place to relax between stints of aurora-spotting.

My cabin on MS Nordkapp was cosy, with a double bed and an en suite stocked with seaweed-based toiletries from Norway’s Lofoten islands.

There is a main restaurant which served mouth-watering breakfasts, lunches and dinners.

From pancakes, to lamb and locally sourced arctic chard, take your pick.

The cafe serves ice cream in flavours including, yes, stockfish and brown cheese.

Suite passengers can also enjoy the Kysten fine-dining restaurant every night.

TOM L NILSEN

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We sampled Hurtigruten’s sparkling wine, Havets Bobler. It’s from the English Rathfinny vineyard but with a twist — bottles are sunk to the bottom of a fjord and left for eight months to mature before being hauled up.

Our trip, meanwhile, was more of a quest. We were hit by what Norwegians simply call “weather” — stormy seas that caused some port stops to be cancelled — and heavy cloud preventing astronomy on some nights.

When we had a first glimpse of the lights at sea they were fleeting.
Hurtigruten offers a Northern Lights promise on 11-day voyages.

If the aurora does not occur within sight of your ship, the company will give you a six-day southbound or seven-day northbound Coastal Express voyage free.

But it stresses this is not a guarantee. And passengers must do their best to try and see the lights — when there is a sighting the ship makes an announcement.

King-crab safari

One night we were on the freezing fore deck well after midnight. The aurora had been announced but was elusive.

We sailed past a shore white with snow, like explorers looking for the Northwest Passage.

But the excursions from the various port stops are also bucket-list thrills.

I jumped off in Kjøllefjord to go snow-mobiling to our next port, Mehamn. Riding across a glacial snowscape at night, it felt like being in a Bond film.

Elsewhere there was a chance for a stroll, and a reindeer hot dog at the “tiniest bar in the universe” in Tromsø.

The end of the line was Kirkenes — a mining and fishing town of about 3,500 people. We stayed at the Snowhotel — a giant man-made igloo.

Each ice room has its own ice sculpture — a cat, an owl, a polar bear or a scene from Frozen — and guests sleep on a ice bed in an avalanche-standard sleeping bag.

The hotel also has 180 friendly Alaskan huskies for dog-sledding trips — and the ride through the countryside was magical.

Next up was a king-crab safari. A skidoo hauled us in a sledge on to the frozen fjord, and to a hole in the ice where our guide pulled up a trap. Inside were five crabs — which can measure up to 6ft across.

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They are an invasive species secretly introduced to the Barents Sea from far-east Russia in the 1960s and the population has spiralled.

From fjord to table, the king crab was served in less than an hour and was the freshest seafood I have ever tasted.

So far so incredible, but we were yet to get a decent look at the lights — until at teatime Tom sent the alert and an aurora was already forming above us.

Hotel manager Milivoj Krzanic wasn’t going to let that be all. We jumped into his minibus and drove into the countryside as a solar substorm erupted. He will take you as far as Finland if needed.

But we only had to go a mile or so before he pulled over — and that is where we experienced the most spectacular of light shows.

At last. Some of my group were moved to tears. Aurorasome!

A MUM has disappeared with a six-month-old baby as cops launch a desperate search for the pair.

Jessica, 29, vanished from her home in Pinehurst, Swindon, this afternoon, leading to a frantic hunt for the mum and tot.

Cops said she went missing at around 1.30pm and said they believe she’s with a six-month old child.

The force has urged anyone who has seen Jessica to get in touch or call 999.

Swindon Police released a statement today, saying: “We are urgently appealing for help to find Jessica who is missing from Pinehurst in Swindon.

“Jessica, 29, was reported missing from her home address in Pinehurst Road at around 1.30pm this afternoon (21/02).

“We believe she is accompanied by a six-month-old child.

“If you see her, or know of her whereabouts, please contact us on 999 quoting log 123 of today’s date.”

Facebook/Swindon Police

Jessica, 29, went missing from her home in Pinehurst, Swindon, this afternoon[/caption]

A SNOWY ski slope turns into a fiery peak as hot lava spews from an erupting volcano.

Mount Etna in Sicily started erupting on February 11.

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Mount Etna in Sicily started erupting on February 11[/caption]

Jam Press/Marco Bassot

This image shows a skier admiring the eruption[/caption]

But despite bans, skiers have taken to the slopes.

Ash, hot stones and giant flames can be seen in the background.

And an image shows the skiers admiring the eruption.

Marco Bassot, who has 416,000 Instagram followers, captured the moment on camera in Sicily, Italy.

Snowboarder Marco said: “This fracture started some days ago and created a huge, intense and impressive lava flow for more than 1,000 meters.

“I’ve seen many things in my 40 years of life but riding side by side of a flowing river of lava is one of the most special, impressive, and breathtaking experiences I’ve ever lived.”

A 3km river of lava is currently flowing out of the crater.

In the past, Etna’s eruptions have caused nearby towns to be covered in black volcanic ash.

This time round it has caused minimal disruption.

SIR JIM RATCLIFFE could be forced out of Manchester United THIS YEAR.

The British billionaire, 72, invested more than £1billion to take a 27.7 per cent stake in his beloved Red Devils little more than a year ago.

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Sir Jim Ratcliffe could be pushed out of Manchester United this year[/caption]

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The Glazer family reportedly have a deal which means they can sell up in six months[/caption]

To say it has been a tumultuous rollercoaster ride so far would be an understatement.

Part of the minority takeover entrusted the running of the club to Ratcliffe from the Glazer family, who remain the majority owners.

And he has wasted no time in making his mark with an overhaul of the board, a new manager, hundreds of redundancies and various unpopular money-making measures – from increased ticket prices to the staff Christmas party being cancelled.

He has even made a start on plans for a brand-new £2bn, 100,000-seater stadium to replace the crumbling, leaking Old Trafford.

However, the Ratcliffe reign at Manchester United could be all over later this year.

According to Bloomberg, the Glazers have the option to sell the club in six months’ time.

And should they go ahead and proceed with it, they can force Ratcliffe to give up his United.

The report does add that Ratcliffe would have the option to make his own bid first.

CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS

And it is understood the Ineos chief not only wants to keep his stake – but increase it if the opportunity arises.

It is unclear what the Glazers plan to do with the club.

The American family continue to own United from afar and keep a hands-off approach, even more so with Ratcliffe in charge of the day-to-day operations.

Bloomberg state, though, that the Glazers were still happy with the state of the club at the end of last year.

That is despite the club losing more than £100million in Ratcliffe’s first year and results on the pitch getting worse.

Under new boss Ruben Amorim, United are 15th in the Premier League table.

Internally, the ambitious plan is to win the title again by 2028.

Off the pitch, the financial landscape is bleak.

They posted losses of more than £300m over the last three years to put them at risk of breaching PSR rules while debts now stand at approximately £700m.

So even if the Glazers did want to sell, finding a buyer willing to take on the mess of Manchester United could be difficult.

It would likely require another mega-rich state-backed bid – similar to the one that rivalled Ratcliffe from Qatar.

And one speculative option could be for the Qataris to go back in for United – fronted by Nasser Al-Khelaifi.

Al-Khelaifi, 51, is the chairman of beIN and the Qatar Sports Investment group – which in turn sees him president of Paris Saint-Germain.

But troubles are brewing with PSG and this could in theory be an ideal opportunity for the Qataris to jump ship out of PSG and taking on a new challenge.

Al-Khelaifi has clashed aggressively with rival Ligue 1 owners – even calling Lyon counterpart John Textor a “cowboy” in leaked footage from an online meeting.

He has also, according to Agence France Presse, been charged with complicity in an “abuse of power” case this month relating to a key vote.

And finally, Al-Khelaifi – who has failed to deliver the Champions League since his appointment in 2011 – has expressed his frustration that PSG will leave the Parc des Princes and look for a new stadium after the city’s mayor confirmed it was not for sale.

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United are struggling on and off the pitch[/caption]

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Fans are unhappy with the way the club is being run[/caption]

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Nasser Al-Khelaifi may see United as a new venture if he quits PSG[/caption]

OUR much-loved astrologer Meg sadly died in 2023 but her column will be kept alive by her friend and protégée Maggie Innes.

Read on to see what’s written in the stars for you today. 

ARIES

March 21 to April 20

You may feel the brakes of Saturn start to apply in a secrets-sharing session – but the rest of your chart gives you strength to carry on through.

So when you have something to say, it can be heard.

A familiar weekend face can look so different – this can be a passion prompt. Luck mixes old and new numbers.

 TAURUS

April 21 to May 21

How to deal with friends or community members who cling to the past is your star challenge.

If words are not working, it may be time for actions, trust yourself to select the right ones for the response.

Doubles of all kinds can have a Taurus luck-link – from sets of twins to two-part contests and duplicate documents.

GEMINI

If you feel a contract is being breached, you can take control and set up a new system – in everything from a love-bond to a property deal.

But do factor in how you feel about a situation, as well as your practical thoughts.

The approach is somewhere in the middle. Your name is climbing up a “D” shortlist.

CANCER

June 22 to July 22

However many times a personal journey has been chopped and changed, this can be your day to get it going.

Your chart combines smart tactics with emotional insight, and this time you focus less on where you are going, and more on how you’ll get there – a winning strategy.

Love wants more for you – do you?

Get all the latest Cancer horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

LEO

July 23 to August 23

Freedom all day can lead to commitment tonight – so use the earlier hours to research every element of a proposal, and work out if it’s for you.

Inner hesitation can go when you are honest about challenges, and solutions.

When you say “yes” you’ll know it’s the right answer. Number “8” carries special significance.

Get all the latest Leo horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

VIRGO

August 24 to September 22

Reinforcing rules at home need not be a serious process – you can make it fun.

But at the same time, be clear what you think needs to change.

In love, you may be expecting a partner to supply everything, and this creates pressure.

Do review the rest of your life, for sources of support and joy.

Get all the latest Virgo horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

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Old hobbies can have cash potential[/caption]

LIBRA

September 23 to October 23

If you feel your ambitions get shut down, every time you talk about a new working world, the key can be to withdraw and build yourself a solid structure.

When you have facts in place, you can talk from a position of knowledge.

Togetherness times do matter for love – make space for some today, no matter what.

Get all the latest Libra horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

SCORPIO

October 24 to November 22

Who and what you value drives your chart – as there are signs not everything in your life deserves your attention.

This can be diverting you from people who do.

Knowing the difference is the first step to making a change.

Saturn may stifle your attraction action, but passion is stronger when you meet an Aries.

Get all the latest Scorpio horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

SAGITTARIUS

November 23 to December 21

The way the moon helps you express your true feelings is a valuable asset.

Just admitting to yourself that something could work better for you is a major move.

You may stick to a tried and tested schedule, or team, out of loyalty, but a late-night communication strand can introduce a wild card contact.

Get all the latest Sagittarius horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

CAPRICORN

December 22 to January 20

It’s good to get a key message written – but it’s wise to check it through again before you send it.

A little distance can unlock so many effective ways to make your mark.

In weekend tasks, instead of going through the motions, think about what you’re doing – and how you can make this faster, or more fun.

Get all the latest Capricorn horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

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A sudden career U-turn can be one result[/caption]

AQUARIUS

January 21 to February 18

You may not often offer money advice – but if someone asks for this, be honest with them.

You may see a different outcome ahead, and it’s important to say so.

But do it in a caring way. Saturn may restrict your own spending, but this can be a bonus.

You can find other, free, ways to fill a gap in your daily life

Get all the latest Aquarius horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

PISCES

February 19 to March 20

That voice inside that always seems to stop you being your true self can seem louder – but you can silence it by ticking every box, making sure you have all the facts at your fingertips.

When you work from a basis of knowledge, not just hope, many paths open.

Love rewards patience with passion.

Get all the latest Pisces horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

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ROBOT housekeepers could be a reality within a decade, say experts.

Human-like machines will use artificial intelligence to learn how to clean, tidy and even prepare food.

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Robot housekeepers could be a reality within a decade, using AI to clean, tidy and even prepare food, experts say[/caption]

The first models are expected to cost the same as a family car — from around £16,000 to £40,000.

Engineers at the world-leading Massachusetts Institute of Technology believe humanoid machines would make sense as “homes have been built and arranged around the human body”.

Computer scientist Prof Pulkit Agrawal said: “In terms of things to do, it could be checking doors are locked, fetching a newspaper, putting laundry in and out of the machine.

“It could be arranging things in your kitchen and your bedroom, putting things in a dishwasher — maybe even chopping vegetables.

We need these physical tasks done but don’t like to do them.

“My guess is this could be available in the next five to ten years.”

Teams at the US institute are already working on pressure-sensitive fingers so robots can “feel” the force they apply and not crush everything they grab.

They are also developing AI brains that adapt to different ways of doing chores in changing situations, like dishes left in different places or put in different cupboards.

• Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme – Sun Club.

Hospitality bosses have slammed plans to introduce a tourist tax across England.

Andy Burnham, Greater Manchester Mayor, this week suggested that an existing optional fee in some Manchester city centre hotels should be replaced with a compulsory charge for visitors.

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Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, fears the Manchester mayor’s call for a tourist tax would be another blow to Britain’s battered tourism industry[/caption]

Mr Burnham said he was pushing for the Government to introduce a “proper levy”, as European hotspots such as Spain’s Barcelona and Italy’s Venice have done.

But Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, fears it would be another blow to Britain’s battered tourism industry.

She said: “This isn’t just about overseas visitors, it would mean extra charges for people staying in budget places including Travelodges, Premier Inns and seaside caravans.

“The risk is the industry is taxed out of existence.”

Manchester raised £2.8million last year from its city visitor charge of £1 in certain city centre hotels. Members of the Manchester Business Improvement District vote on how funds are used locally.

But a national levy would mean the Government would decide how funds are raised and spent.

Ms Nicholls told The Sun that last month James Murray, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, had written to confirm there were no plans for an England-wide levy.

But she fears the Treasury could row-back on that promise because of stretched public finances.

Food sales up

Retail sales stormed ahead of expectations in January, fuelled by Brits spending more on food.

Official figures showed volumes rose 1.7 per cent compared to a 0.6 per cent slip in December.

But sales at non-food stores fell 1.3 per cent as cautious consumers cut back on clothes and big-ticket items.

Original sold

Discount chain The Original Factory Shop has been sold to retail investors Modella Capital.

The firm, which also owns Hobbycraft, has snapped up the 180 shops and 1,800 employees after 17 years of being owned by private equity firm Duke Street. The latest accounts for TOFS showed it was making a £1.7million loss.

Good week

AFP

Boss Jeff Bezos after Amazon MGM took creative control of the long-running James Bond franchise this week.

Bad week

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Anglo American chief Duncan Wanblad, following a hefty $3.1billion (£2.4billion) write-down of De Beers.

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A reader names the five video games he thinks are almost entirely without fault and just as playable now as when they were first made.

WhistlinDiesel ripped a Rolls-Royce Phantom VIII to shreds after taking it for a destructible joy ride in a 17-minute YouTube video.