Aït Benhaddou, Morocco 9 Nov 2024

Aït Benhaddou, Morocco

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. Perched on a hillside by the Ounila River, this village is a cluster of buildings encircled by a protective wall, complete with towers and a gate.

© Cavan Images/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

A prickly customer
9 Nov 2023Birch trees, Drammen, Norway
9 Nov 2025Remembrance Sunday

More Desktop Wallpapers:

1 May 2024Lei Day
1 Oct 2025Welcome to Black History Month
28 Feb 2024Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland, England
Back to the future
15 Aug 2026Ah‑Shi‑Sle‑Pah Wilderness, New Mexico, United States
3 Oct 2024National Poetry Day
Puffins pucker up
24 Sep 2023World Rivers Day
24 Aug 2025Notting Hill Carnival
23 Apr 2026Saint Georges Day
13 Jul 2026International Rock Day
7 Apr 2024International Beaver Day
Sep 5, 2023Mount Segla, Senja Island, Norway
Rocky Mountain run-off
20 Sep 2023Aqueduct, Arkadia Park, Poland
21 Dec 2025Winter solstice
A cantilevered window to the past
12 Jul 2024Mount Rainier National Park, Washington, USA
Surrounded by a sea of sand
29 Nov 2023Rockefeller Centre Christmas Tree lighting
18 Jun 2026The ruins of Sacsayhuamán, Cusco, Peru
10 Apr 2025Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff, Wales
The Riviera of India
9 Aug 2026International Day of the Worlds Indigenous Peoples
22 Jun 2026World Rainforest Day
Lighting up the Badlands
27 May 2024Hay Festival
18 Apr 2024International Day for Monuments and Sites
11 Jan 2026Blue walls of Chefchaouen, Morocco
10 Dec 2024Lands End, Cornwall, England