One of the simplest pleasures in life is to stare up at a spectacular starry night sky, admiring the twinkling universe in its humbling vastness. But with increased use of artificial light at night, light pollution is becoming more widespread – in fact, a third of Earth’s inhabitants cannot see the Milky Way, with 80 percent of the planet affected by light pollution.
For this reason, places with truly dark skies are rare treasures, and are now being recognised by the International Dark Sky Association for their efforts in proactively adopting policy to combat light pollution. And despite being a highly urbanised country, there are more than 60 dark sky parks, communities and reserves in the United States, places which come into their own as the sun sets and the night sky starts to sparkle.
Here are six incredible spots across the USA to go stargazing, places that are stunning by day but truly out of this world at night:
Bryce Canyon, Utah: With its otherworldly red rock hoodoos, spires and stone forests, Bryce Canyon National Park in southern Utah is a geological wonder that defies description. It’s equally beguiling at night, with the bizarre landscaped silhouetted against a dazzling starry sky. During the spring, summer and fall, Astronomy Rangers in one of the USA’s oldest stargazing programs offer night sky programs; or if you’re a planetary geek, visit during the annual Bryce Canyon Astronomy Festival in June for constellation tours and evening programs.
Chaco Culture National Historical Park, New Mexico: At this desert archaeological park, located 243 kilometres from Albuquerque, New Mexico, you can marvel at the brilliant night sky just as the site’s Ancestral Puebloan people did 1000 years ago. Many of the Chaco
civilisation’s stone buildings were constructed to align with solar and lunar cycles, giving the ruins an astronomical tie to the prehistoric past. Evening night sky programs – offered April through October on Friday and Saturday nights – include a peek through the small Chaco Observatory’s 635-millimetre telescope.
Denali National Park & Preserve, Alaska: Remote and wild, this 2.5-million hectares of untouched wilderness is a wonderful place to stargaze, particularly during long winter nights. But it’s Denali’s high latitude that earns it a well-deserved reputation as one of the best places in the US to view the aurora borealis – the northern lights. This colouful phenomenon – curtains of green, red, blue and violet light waving across the night sky – occurs when solar winds mingle with Earth’s magnetic field and atmosphere to put on a showstopping spectacle. Plan your visit between September and April, when darkness abounds and auroural activity is more frequent.
Death Valley National Park, California: Famed for its extreme heat and fantastic geology, Death Valley, near the border of California and Nevada, also boasts some of the country’s darkest skies, earning it the highest (Gold Tier) level by the International Dark Sky Association. Anywhere away from lodging and major roads will provide excellent stargazing opportunities – try Badwater Basin or Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes. Between October and April, join a park ranger-guided Moon & Star Program; while in February, join other enthusiasts at the Death Valley Dark Sky Festival.
Glacier National Park, Montana: With no major city lights polluting the sky, high elevation, and a dry atmosphere, the spectacular Glacier National Park in Montana is an epic place to stargaze. The National Park Service has collaborated with the Big Sky Astronomy Club to provide park-wide nighttime viewing events at the Apgar Visitor Centre Plaza and the Dusty Star Observatory in the St Mary Visitor Centre parking lot, providing participants the opportunity to use sophisticated telescopes. Check the park’s calendar for star parties held at Logan Pass, one of the Park’s most popular events.
Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve, Texas: At over nine million acres, the Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve is the world’s largest reserve and dark sky place, spanning from Fort Davis Texas into three protected areas of Mexico. Boasting the least amount of light pollution of any national park in the lower 48 states, people flock to Big Bend National Park to stargaze – on the clearest nights, you can see about 2000 sparkling stars with the naked eye. Park rangers offer a variety of free interpretive programs, from star parties to moonlight walks; while the Reserve’s core area is home to the McDonald Observatory, which runs exhibits in its visitor centre throughout the year.
