Aït Benhaddou, Morocco Nov. 9, 2024

Get ready for a starry Moroccan night! Stargazing here is truly magical, as the vast skies and minimal light pollution transform each evening into a dazzling display. Every star you see is part of our galaxy, the Milky Way, which gets its name from the way it appears as a creamy band of light in the darkest skies. In today"s image, you can see this cosmic beauty glowing over Aït Benhaddou, a historic ksar—a kind of fortified village—in the Ouarzazate province of Morocco. This site was first fortified in the 11th century. It was a key stop on the ancient caravan trade route connecting the Sahara and the city of Marrakesh.

© Cavan Images/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Look, but don’t touch
Nov. 9, 2023Birch trees, Drammen, Norway
Nov. 9, 2025Carl Sagan Day

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Pretty in pink
Aug. 2, 2025Petroglyphs near Fruita in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, United States
Amber waves of grain
A beach of many colours
Aug. 20, 2024Sunrise at Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, USA
Apr. 11, 2026Sakura Days Japan Fair
Oct. 24, 2024Bodie State Historic Park, California, United States
Apr. 10, 2024Siblings Day
A road not for the faint of heart
Oct. 21, 2024Cypress trees in George L. Smith State Park, Georgia, United States
Mar. 12, 2026Juvenile sunbittern displaying at nest, Ecuador
Jul. 18, 2025Orosei, Sardinia, Italy
A destination for all seasons
Apr. 9, 2026Sgwd yr Eira waterfall, Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, Wales
A breathtaking cave when it’s cold
Apr. 1, 2025National Frog Month
Dec. 15, 2025Spiegelgracht canal in Amsterdam, Netherlands
Feb. 1, 2024Polar bear, Churchill, Manitoba
Aug. 15, 2025The Canadian National Exhibition is here!
Oct. 1, 2024Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Apr. 6, 2024Japan Castle Day
Nov. 16, 2025A traboule in Lyon, France
Jan. 1, 2024Happy New Year!
Underwater underground
Apr. 16, 2026Blooming lupines in Newfoundland
Jan. 18, 2025Dunes at White Sands National Park, New Mexico
Mar. 9, 2025Daylight saving time begins
Tis the season for travel
An island park for everyone
Apr. 13, 2026International Dark Sky Week