Leave your white lights at the door.
If there was ever an excuse to throw a great party , it’sa sky full of cosmic wonders . Every year , amateur astronomers , astrophotographers , outdoor enthusiasts , and all kind of outer space nerds gather together for sullen sky festivals and adept parties taking place across the country . thing are kicking off withInternational Dark Sky Week(April 2 - 8) , a cosmopolitan celebration of the natural Nox , ending with the total solar eclipse in North America . But in case you have n’t quite assure youreclipse viewing glasses , niggle not : The festivity keep on on well into the springiness and summertime . And golden for you , the flow of time between February and October is touch on to as “ Milky Way season , ” when the galactic core is visible to the naked eye in North America .
Stargazing festivals are specially democratic at certifiedInternational Dark Sky Places , including National Parks like theGrand CanyonorJoshua Tree , as well as sanctuary like theOregon Outback . DarkSky International recognizes these locus as exceptional spots to stargaze at night — due to dispirited layer of short pollution and unobstructed views — that rehearse creditworthy ignition insurance and public Education Department . And then there are those distant , on - the - margin places — like Valentine , Nebraska and Gladwin , Michigan — that simply have a blotto - entwine group of supernal commentator , ready to party .
So whether you ’re looking to shoot for the stars at a national Mungo Park or keep things local with an astronomic residential area , there ’s no shortage of dark sky events to choose from .
Grand Canyon National Park
Mid-South Star Gaze
French Camp , MississippiMay 8 - 11
Rainwater Observatory , located in French Camp , Mississippi , preserves one of the last gloomy pocket in the Southeast . In May , the largest lookout station in the res publica is throw its annual Mid - South Stargaze . In add-on to some scope screening ( Rainwater has over 25 ) , the conference will boast presentations from astronomy hotshots like astrophotographer and retired " Hurricane Hunter " Jon Talbot , as well as NASA - recognized retired lecturer and Association of Lunar and Planetary Observers ( A.L.P.O. ) lunar record-keeper , Dave Teske .
Grand Canyon Star Party
Grand Canyon , ArizonaJune 1 - 8
“ Half the park is after iniquity ” at theGrand Canyon , a certified International Dark Sky Park . And this June , the national Mungo Park will host a hebdomad ’s worth of forest fire fighter - lead tours , constellation talk , and picture taking workshops across the North and South rims . Visitors can watch all sort of ethereal spectacle — like bivalent wiz , star clusters , nebulae , and distant coltsfoot — with the lunation rising progressively subsequently as the week goes on .
The Best Spots to Stargaze Into Arizona’s Night Sky
Peer into the Perseid Meteor Shower and more galactic views.
Bryce Canyon Astronomy Festival
Bryce Canyon , UtahJune 5 - 8
Utahis home to thelargest routine of International Dark Sky locationsin the world , and it ’s no surpriseBryce Canyonis one of them . The internal park ’s annual uranology fete will feature house - well-disposed activities by day , like solar telescope - making , followed by some optimal stargazing at night . On Friday , June 7 , visitors can con about how star observance is a way of life for the Southern Paiute mass , with a demonstration lead by Autumn Gillard , the cultural resource coach for the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah .
18 Mind-Blowing Spots for Stargazing in Utah
The entire state is practically one giant planetarium.
Rocky Mountain Star Stare
Gardner , ColoradoJune 5 - ninth
Every summer for the retiring 30 years , the Colorado Springs Astronomical Society has host the Rocky Mountain Star Stare ( RMSS ) , located just two hour SW of Colorado Springs . One of the festival ’s most pop events is theATM Walkabout , a chance for recreational astronomers to show off their telescopic innovations . There ’ll also be solar observing and report rocket activeness for kids , presentation from scientists on everything from the Alaskan Aurora to Milky Way tarradiddle , and of course , pristine moody sky observing at a wickedness level as deep as 21.95 ( on the 22 dot magnitudes per straight second scale , if you were wondering ) .
Colorado’s Dark Sky Areas Make for Stunning Stargazing
Get out of the city and look up at the stars.
Nebraska Star Party
Valentine , NebraskaJuly 28 - August 2
The sandhills of north - centralNebraskaboast some impressive astronomical sentiment , which can be enjoyed at the one-year Nebraska Star Party , taking place from Merritt Reservoir ’s Snake Campground . Here , you may float , fish , or canoe through the nearby Niobrara River before the sun set and the maven appear . And if you ’re a novice gazer , the Beginner ’s Field School will teach you how to search the black sky without a telescope .
Oregon Star Party
Post , OregonJuly 30 - August 3
It ’s a big year for theBeaver State’sdark skies — the Oregon Outback wasrecently named the world ’s largest dark sky bema . At the Indian Trail Spring in the Ochoco National Forest , place 45 miles east of Prineville , you ’ll find the Oregon Star Party . After a lordly comeback last summer , the fete is back , run from July 30 to August 3 . The primitive land site , with an acme of over 5,000 feet , has a unwooded advantage point , allowing for unobstructed , 360- level see .
Almost Heaven Star Party
Circleville , West VirginiaAugust 30 - September 3
The Almost Heaven Star Party , prepare by the Northern Virginia Astronomy Club , takes place at theSpruce Knob Mountain Center , a rare dour sky preserve on the East Coast . retiring events have included a behind - the - view tour ofGreen Bank Observatory , a drive on theCass Scenic Railroad , and a swap table for outer space - associate objects , as well out-of-door activities such as canoeing andbirdwatching .
Okie-Tex Star Party
Kenton , OklahomaSeptember 27 - October 5
The Okie - Tex Star Party is back for its 41st year . The festival , patronise by the Oklahoma City Astronomy Club , keep the beautiful nightscapes of the outside Camp Billy Joe , near the northwestern confidential information of the Oklahoma panhandle . In addition to unforgettable reflexion and astrophotography seminar , you could pass some time hiking the Black Mesa Summit , a 10 - 15 minute drive from the political party .
Great Lakes Star Gaze
Gladwin , MichiganOctober 3 - 6
Thanks to this open - to - all stargazing extravaganza , you do n’t need to move hours intoNorthern Michiganto experience noteworthy dark skies . The Great Lakes Star Gaze , centrally located at the River Valley RV Park in Gladwin , touts itself as “ Michigan ’s largest amateur star party . ” have a bun in the oven everything from meteorite sale , astrophotography contests , scientist talks , and raffle .
Joshua Tree Dark Sky Festival
Joshua Tree , CaliforniaOctober 4 - 5
IfJoshua Treewasn’t trippy enough , just wait until you experience theNight Sky Festival . Held primarily at theSky ’s the Limit Nature Center and Observatory , the two - daylight event celebrates all the international dark sky - certified green has to put up , including alive music performance , stargazer lectures , and constellation tours . At this meter of year , you might even see the Great Square of Pegasus grow in the northeasterly sky .
Escape the Bright Lights for the Best Stargazing in and Around Los Angeles
The Southern California light dome stretches from Orange County to Santa Barbara, but there are still great places to see the stars within easy driving range of LA.
Grand Canyon National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park
Rocky Mountain Star Stare
Spruce Knob Mountain Center
Joshua Tree National Park
