The state of Arizona dominated a new ranking of the best destinations for celestial happenings.

get ’s face it — once May amount around ( and that ’s going to happen in less than a couple of week ) , it ’s basically summertime . And with a whole summertime ahead , it is officially metre to lift your nose to the sky and marvel at themany showsthe space has to offer us .

It ’s a known fact — summer is the ultimate stargazing time of year , and witha myriad of ethereal eventscoming up , it is by all odds in a stargazer ’s right interests to know where to go for the best viewing experience . Vacation rental marketplaceHomeToGois fortunately here to aid . The political platform just released its annualStargazing Index , which ranked the top 24 Dark Sky communities ( and therefore stargazing destinations ) in the US .

To come up with the ranking , HomeToGo analyzed a variety of factors , admit weather forecasts and medium clear sky information , universe density to indicate how sequestrate an area is , and the accessibility of affordable accommodation in the locality , among others . to boot , it even await at HomeToGo internal requirement data to feel under - the - radiolocation area with the lowest lookup bulk .

Low angle view of trees against sky at night, Pinal County, Arizona

Gary Clack/500px/Getty Images

" Astrotourism has emerged as the defining change of location trend of 2024 so far , with April ’s total solar eclipse generating a notable uplift in requirement . Leading up to the consequence , the search requirement for vacation rental in towns along the path of aggregate rocket by 139 % week - over - calendar week on HomeToGo , with median nightly prices register increases of 40 % , " enounce Eleanor Moody , HomeToGo representative and locomotion expert , in a instruction shared with Thrillist . " We predict that this piqued sake in heavenly touristry will persist further into the year , and have curated HomeToGo ’s 2024 Stargazing Index with a new wave of eager astro - traveller in brain . "

The winning part for stargazing , according to the index , is the Southwest , which is home to the highest numeral of stargazing - well-disposed destinations . Within the region , two specific locations also flaunt the high number of clear sky days from April 12 through October 1 of this yr , namely Fountain Hills , Arizona and the town of Castle Valley , Utah . The latter was also named this twelvemonth ’s cover gem , with the highest " under - the - radio detection and ranging " score .

Take a look at the complete ranking of the top US destinations for stargazing below :

L

1 . Borrego Springs , California2 . Fountain Hills , Arizona3 . Flagstaff , Arizona4 . Dripping Springs - Wimberley , Texas5 . Cottonwood , Arizona6 . ( tie ) Big Park / Village of Oak Creek , Arizona6 . ( link ) Town of Castle Valley , Utah8 . Sedona , Arizona9 . Lakewood Village , Texas10 . Torrey , Utah11 . Westcliffe & Silver Cliff , Colorado12 . Crestone , Colorado13 . Julian , California14 . Horseshoe Bay , Texas15 . Ridgway , Colorado16 . Hawthorn Woods , Illinois17 . Blanco , Texas18 . Springdale , Utah19 . ( tie ) Groveland , Florida19 . ( tie ) Jonestown , Texas21 . Ketchum , Idaho22 . Bee Cave , Texas23 . Norwood , Colorado24 . Beverly Shores , Indiana

For more entropy and to understand the complete written report , you may visitthis website . If you ’re still feeling indecisive about where to start your stargazing journeying , you may confab our own templet tothe nation ’s top stargazing sites .

Ready to go stargazing?

Here are allthe best stargazing eventsthat you may get out and see this month or you could stay in andstream the northern lightsfrom home . If you ’re just getting started , check out ourguide to astronomy for beginnersoreasy stargazing route trips from grown US metropolis .