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:

Jan. 6, 2026Nuuk, Greenland
Feb. 12, 2024Volcán Alcedo giant tortoise, Isabela Island
Jan. 28, 2026Whanganui National Park, Retaruke, New Zealand
The largest gypsum dune field
Apr. 29, 2024Fujian Tulou, China
Lighting the world
Jan. 9, 2025Sossusvlei sand dunes, Namib desert, Namibia
Jan. 10, 2026The Matterhorn reflected in Lake Stellisee at sunrise, Zermatt, Switzerland
An old bridge in a new light
Feb. 12, 2025Celebrating Charles Darwin
Apr. 6, 2025Yellow warbler
Peek-a-boo, I see you!
Mar. 29, 2024South Stack Lighthouse, Holyhead, Wales, UK
Lest we forget
Sep. 1, 2025Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, United States
A day of swing and celebration
Oct. 27, 2023Sligachan Old Bridge, Isle of Skye, Scotland
When being in a rut is OK
Jan. 21, 2025Squirrel Appreciation Day
Feb. 23, 2025Mount Fuji Day
Mar. 13, 2025Holi celebration in Jaipur, India
Oct. 21, 2025Happy Diwali!
Aug. 18, 2024Huntington Beach Pier, California, USA
Freshwater diving capital
Oct. 24, 2024Bodie State Historic Park, California, United States
A smooth landing, feet first
A delightful day for donkeys
A glimpse of the grandest of canyons
Dec. 9, 2023Los Glaciares National Park, Patagonia, Argentina
Nov. 30, 2025Christmas market in Leipzig, Germany