The Best Places To Go Stargazing In The United States
See the night sky as it was meant to be seen at one of the best stargazing spots in the US.
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When you step outside on a clear night and look up what do you see? Perhaps you see the moon’s illuminating hue? You might notice a few vibrant stars billowing their light from billions of lightyears away? Or perhaps you realize what you don’t see instead of what you do. The night sky is one that should be brimming with the illustrious light of all the celestial bodies in the Milky Way. Constellations should be abundant and, when stargazing, you shouldn’t have to squint just to try and make out what might be Orion’s belt. Unfortunately, in much of the United States, the beauty of the night sky is hampered by rampant light pollution. In fact, over 80% of Americans don’t get to experience the night sky as it truly is meant to be seen.
Thankfully, there are still places in the US where you can experience the full and true glory of the vast expanse of the space above. There are still prime stargazing sites where the celestial artwork that exists above our heads can be appreciated for the profound presence it exudes, a presence that has become shrouded by an ambiance inflicted by industrialization. For those looking to uncover the true splendor of the nighty sky, we have sought out the very best places to go stargazing in the United States.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK, COLORADO
Why It’s The Best – Rocky Mountain National Park has one major thing going for it which sets it apart from other stargazing locations in the United States – its elevation. The height of the scalable mountaintops in Rocky Mountain National Park, afford it the unique ability to be able to get you closer to the night sky than you can anywhere else in the United States. Getting up close and personal with the night sky from heights rarely reached is what separates this area from the ambient light being exuded by the cities of Denver and Boulder below.
The best part about this stargazing location is that there is a road that will take you to many of the prime spots. Trail Ridge Road runs through the park and holds the national record for being the highest paved road in the continental US with a top elevation measuring 10,758 feet. For the most pristine stargazing skies, visit the park in winter.
MAUNA KEA OBSERVATORY, HAWAII
Why It’s The Best – Mauna Kea is not only, perhaps, the best stargazing spot in the United States, but it is one of the best places in the entire world to see the stars. This is made possible by a trifecta of factors. First, because Hawaii is situated in the middle of the Pacific Ocean it is largely immune to the light pollution from the continents that surround it. Second, the observatory itself is located in an area that is not densely populated, which serves to cut down on local light pollution.
Lastly, the state of Hawaii has measures in places that strictly regulate the amount of ambient light being exuded from the islands that comprise it. All of these factors combine to make Mauna Kea an exceptional place to see the stars. Not to mention it’s home to a telescope sixty times larger than NASA’s Hubble.
CHERRY SPRINGS STATE PARK, PENNSYLVANIA
Why It’s The Best – Cherry Springs State Park is one of the prime stargazing sites on the east coast. The park itself is one of the only “dark sky” parks in the entire country A dark sky park is essentially one with very strict light regulations in place in order to protect the integrity of the natural darkness. For instance, at Cherry Springs, all flashlights must be equipped with red filters and any type of white light is absolutely prohibited.
In addition to the strict light regulations, there are a few other factors that make this park the perfect place for stargazing. First, it sits at an elevation of 2,300 feet in a rural area of Pennsylvania. Second, the park is situated at the ideal spot to view the very nebulous of the Milky Way Galaxy. Lastly, the unique location offers astronomers entirely unobstructed views. From amateur to professional, this park lures stargazers far and wide and even hosts official biannual stargazing parties.
VOYAGEURS NATIONAL PARK, MINNESOTA
Why It’s The Best – Voyageurs National Park is one of the most remote National Parks in the entire United States. Its seclusion is what makes it one of the premier spots to stargaze in the entire country. Not only does the Voyageurs, which is situated on the Canadian border in northernmost Minnesota, offer some of the finest stargazing one could wish for but it also presents a rare opportunity to behold the Northern Lights in the lower 48 states.
Moreover, the Voyageurs offers a type of stargazing seclusion that rivals many others. It is a national park that is characterized by a slew of unique ecosystems, and a large portion of the park is made up of wistful waterways. The reflection of the uninhibited night sky that emanates from the water’s rolling presence is one that will leave anyone spellbound in utter admiration. Kettle Falls Dam and Beaver Pond Outlook are both prime places to experience the splendor of this special stargazing site.
BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK, TEXAS
Why It’s The Best – If you are looking to experience what amounts to an otherworldly stargazing opportunity, then a visit to Big Bend National Park should be high on your list of stargazing priorities. Colloquially known as “Texas’ Gift To The Nation, “ Big Bend is one of the very few untouched areas in the United States. This unbridled characterization is what prevents it from being overcome by the permeating light pollution that has infected large swathes of the country.
It is comprised of over 800,000 acres and embraced by the Chisos Montañas, it lies peacefully on the border between the US and Mexico. This special place is so untouched and its stargazing conditions are so favorable that those wishing to glimpse at a “galaxy far, far away” can do so. Well not, quite far, far away, but at Big Bend, stargazers can take in a piece of the Milky Way’s neighboring Andromeda Galaxy.
THE CONCLUSION
Much of the contiguous United States may be burdened by rampant light pollution, however, there are still those remarkable places that have not been tarnished by artificial hues. There are still places where the sky exudes a fervency that for many, has long been lost to history. These are the places worth stargazing at. These are the places worth looking up and trying to contemplate our fleeting existence in what is the vast expanse of the entire universe.
