Not every special effect needs CGI, and that sci-fi sense of wonder can—guess what?—be found outside of sci-fi as well. Take the night sky, for example. It remains one of Earth's most awesome sights, and no special glasses are required!

Unfortunately, light pollution has really limited nighttime visibility, making it difficult for city dwellers to see the stars. So keeping our urban readers in mind (but don't worry, the rest of you can look, too), we've put together a gallery of 16 incredible images of the night sky.

Check them out below!