Jesse Ryan

USA TODAY NETWORK

Technological advancements have enabled us to spend more time in the sky than ever before. In other ways they have disconnected us from our galaxy.

Seven stars make up the Big Dipper. They are so bright that they can even be seen in the middle of cities, where artificial lighting often obscures star visibility. It takes an extremely dark wilderness to appreciate the night sky in full. Enter the Alabama Hills – actually a region in California - that is a stargazing wonderland. Go there in VR with VRtually There in the video below.

Nestled under the eastern Sierra Nevada around 300 miles southwest of San Francisco, the region has been a long-time favorite for filmmakers.

During the day, the area resembles a maze of granite backdropped by 14,000 ft snowcapped peaks. Natural arches molded by millions of years of erosion frame the high desert landscape. At night when the sunlight dims, the stars are revealed in all their splendor.

Constellations abound over this protected California habitat. It’s a mesmerizing experience to see the brilliant skyscape spin above you.

Escape the city and explore the true dark sky in the video above.

For the ideal experience, view in 360 degrees on your mobile phone or in VR headsets such as Google cardboard or Daydream. Subscribe to VRtually There on YouTube and browse the “Virtual Reality” section of the USA TODAY app (iOS | Android) to catch three new episodes every week.

And whatever you do, don't forget to look around.