Look up and reclaim your love of the night sky.
While the bright lights of big urban center can be beguiling in their own way , those neons ultimately blanch in comparison to the natural medulla oblongata in our skies — the headliner . Unfortunately , wakeful pollution — or an excess of artificial firing unremarkably found in bustle metropolises — has made it nigh impossible to see the twinkling natural lights above our head word from within most city , our state ’s capital included . After all , the estimable way to see the stars is to be in a truly dark space , unhampered by electrical energy and its side effects .
Luckily , thanks in part to height confinement law that prevent skyscrapers from blocking our sentiment of the stars in DC , our fair city — in summation to some nearby destinations — has its honest plowshare of excellent location for stargazing . And as the time of year commence to transition from intolerable warmth to more pleasant even temps , there are few well ways than to drop an eventide than by simply looking up .
We ’ve rounded up some of the salutary stead in DC and within the vicinity to go stargazing and reclaim your love of the night sky .
Sky Meadows State Park|Photo courtesy of Sky Meadows State Park
Stargazing Spots in Washington DC
The National Air & Space Museum
National MallIt comes as little surprisal that the Smithsonian dedicated to our skies has a great option for stargazing . On the first and third Saturday of each month , the National Air & Space Museum bid a spare 25 - second live planetarium show that provides a tour of the night sky and its constellatory denizen .
The National Mall
National MallOn a clear night , you ’ll obtain that you may see not only the moonshine , but also a few planets like Venus , Jupiter , Mars , and if you ’re very lucky , Saturn . While the lights around the Capitol sometimes prevent a challenge , it ’s still one of the more unique locales not only in the District , but in the country , to do some stargazing , especially with the monuments as a backdrop . Head toward the Reflecting Pool at the Lincoln Memorial for some great nip of the Washington Monument alongside the stars .
Stargazing Spots Just Outside DC
The Chesapeake & Ohio Canal
Georgetown ( Multiple)The 180 - long C&O Canal spans from West Virginia to the Chesapeake Bay , and as a National Park Service - protected trail , has not been encumber by over - development . As a result , in sure area of the trail , you could find oneself very little contrived Light Within , and as such , a very good chance for stargazing . The area near Harpers Ferry may be one of the best place to do so , though on a exonerated dark in Georgetown , you could probably do the same . aloofness from DC : Check out the C&O in Georgetown or follow it to its endpoint in Cumberland , MD , 2 hours away
Montgomery College Planetarium
Takoma Park / Silver SpringThe Montgomery College Planetarium in the Takoma Park / Silver Spring campus hosts Observatory Guest Nights , during which attendees can use Montgomery College telescopes to view and instruct about visible solar organisation objects , star clustering , and nebulae . You ’ll leave the session with a star chart and , hopefully , a newfound ability to identify some celestial objects by yourself . condition out theschedule of outcome . length from DC : 25 min
Turner Farm Park Roll-Top Observatory
Fairfax , VAJust 20 miles outside of the city is the large Fairfax County park , which host a scroll - top lookout that is opened to the public . you may link the Analemma Society every clean-cut Friday night for a stargazing political party utter with a range of telescopes . There are also some special upshot , like poetry under the headliner . crack out thefull docket . Distance from DC : 30 bit
C.M. Crockett Park
Midland , VAJust over an hour from DC is C.M. Crockett Park , whose mat , overt areas make for ideal stargazing . The gravid lakeshore park in Fauquier County , C.M. Crockett also offers sportfishing , boat rentals , and cross - country track that are unfastened year - round , so you could get your activity in during the day before settling down to look for some constellations at day ’s end . Distance from DC : 1 hour
Sky Meadows
Delaplane , VASky Meadows is an International Dark Sky Park , an official designation by the International Dark Sky Association that signifies an orbit to have minimal light pollution with maximum opportunities to appreciate the hotshot . It ’s the close such place to Washington DC , and is a stunning 1,860 Accho park in which to explore the natural beauty of our planet . Distance from DC : 1 hour
George Mason University Observatory
Fairfax , VAThe George Mason University campus in Fairfax , Virginia is just about 20 knot outside of DC , and is domicile to an telling lookout station boasting a act of o.k. scope . The university offers a range of computer programing at its observatory , including “ Evening Under the star , ” which bid the populace to research the night sky with the institution ’s special computer hardware . you’re able to check out thefull schedule . aloofness from DC : 30 minute
The Einstein Planetarium|Photo courtesy of National Air and Space Museum
The Turner Farm Observatory|Photo courtesy of Fairfax County Park Authority
Sky Meadows State Park|Photo courtesy of Sky Meadows State Park
