Gone are the days when most people can look up at the galaxy. Our night sky is disappearing. Now, 80% of the world by Light pollutionof which 99% live in the United States and Europe. This deprives many of us of the opportunity to experience one of the simple joys and wonders of life – a sky full of stars.
So if you missed the galaxy, or maybe you don't even have the chance to see it first, plan on heading to one of these remote areas of the western United States to experience some of the best Hoshino in the country.
8 awesome stargazing destinations where you can still see the Milky Way
1) Dinosaur National Monument
The Dinosaur National Monument is named after the dinosaur bones and fossils you expect to find there, but this is also a Designated Black Sky Park. Monuments are all over the northeast corner of Utah, the northwest corner of Colorado is between Salt Lake City and Denver, two cities National Park Service It is estimated that residents can see less than 500 stars on any given night.
But a few hours from these cities, the monument offers visitors a visual treat of about 4,500 stars visible from the Split Mountain Campground. If you are camping, take advantage of the Ranger-led Full Moon Hike to Echo Park, named by the great explorer John Wesley Powell. From there, you can summon objects and then listen to them echo back to your cry, downstream up to seven times. Or, for a truly memorable experience, take a multi-day rafting trip through the Dinosaur National Monument to admire the night sky from the river. Both Green and Yampa River Flowing through the heart of the park, it provides unrivalled access to this dark area.
According to the park's newsletterDinosaur National Monument There are some of the darkest night sky in the United States. This darkness allows us to enjoy the stars as people have been hundreds or even thousands of years ago. ”
2) Texas Big Bend National Park
Of course, everything in Texas is bigger. Big Bend is one of the largest and least popular national parks that keep you open and roaming while discovering a lot of loneliness. The park entrance is 330 miles from the nearest major airport in El Paso, which may have resulted in a limited number of visitors.
The distant park is a huge attraction that makes this place a star partner, in addition to being listed as a national park, in 48 years below 48 national parks. Located near the Mexican border, the park is also best to visit later in the winter and early spring, after the temperatures were incredible. There are three campgrounds to choose from, as well as a daily remote area permit for backpackers.
3) Joshua Tree National Park, California
Due to the large population in the city, the chances of seeing stars are limited in Southern California. Although Joshua Tree National Park is only 140 miles from one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United States, it is one of the best stargazing locations in the West.
The Joshua tree is located in the Mojave desert with almost no humidity, which greatly reduces the possibility of cloud blockage. The flat landscape of the desert offers 360 degrees of view, with only Dr. Seuss's Joshua trees and peculiar rock climbing boulders to hinder your view.
The calories in summer tend to put most visitors in trouble, but for the rest of the year, you may compete with the crowd. The area is a year-round destination for famous rock climbers and hikers.
4) Arizona Sky Island
Arizona's diverse landscape and unique climate allow people to have a good understanding of celestial bodies. This southwestern state is filled with quaint, forested, high-altitude communities called Sky Island, with little light at least pollution. These isolated mountains explode from the desert floor, giving you front seats for the bright sky at night.
The relatively arid climate allows for many cloudless nights, which are the main nights for cosmic viewing. town FlagstaffPatagonia and Bisby are ordinary tourist destinations that provide a wealth of amenities for traveling astrologers. If you really want to get rid of everything, consider a trip to the Alpine, a small town of about 150 people, located at a towering 8,000 feet.
5) Canyon
There is no mention of one of Utah's five powerful ones known for their arches, spires and unique geology, as well as some of the country's darkest skies. Canyon National Parkthis is LA short drive from Moab Often overlooked on nearby arches, the least of these five world-class parks. However, there are three different areas – Needle, Sky Island and Maze – Explore outdoor enthusiasts who are willing to give their extra effort to find rare national park loneliness.
Stargazers should note that the park was considered an international dark sky park in 2015. The Sky Zone is the most accessible star-gazing area in the park and the closest viewing location for overnight stays in Moab. Photographers often flock to the Mesa Arch for a chance to capture the iconic Arch on a clear night. Although, for remote areas, the remote maze area is where you find the darkest sky in the park. You will have to cross the Red Rock Country by passing the 4-wheel drive road at Hans Flat Ranger Station or choose multiple days Cataract Canyon Rafting Tour It floats in the heart of this isolated area.
6) Wintrop, Washington
Along with Washington State's densely populated I-5 Corridor, the mountain valleys of North Cascas National Park and the Methyl Valley are a fast mountain pass. Most visitors enjoy an active day of climbing, cycling or hiking, and never know what they are missing after the sun sets – a lifelong memory of Cassiopeia, Ursa Minor and other famous zodiac signs.
Like most places on this list, loans in the area are prone to limiting light pollution problems. The resort in northern Washington may offer you 48 other stargazing spots below, which is a great look for Aurora Borealis, which is the Northern Lights. If you are planning to travel in the summer, be aware of the potential of forest fires in the area as smoke can ruin your nights.
7) Northeastern Oregon
Mount Volova is considered one of the seven wonders of Oregon. Whether driving bypass beside the Hell Canyon scenery, backpacking in the lake basin in the Eagle Hat wilderness or flowing down The Snake River in Hell Canyonthe northeastern wilderness into Oregon is indeed there.
There are few places in the United States that give you the chance to gaze at the galaxy while you are being called by a hand table elk or how called wolf. One person can call here once a trip, but no one goes there once.
8) Montana High Line
This location on the map is usually passed on during a tour of the United States National Parks. Montana Hi-Line is a little-known area in the state, adjacent to U.S. Highway 2. The highway runs from Idaho to North Dakota, but once you leave Glacier National Park, the sidewalks hardly turn.
The highway cuts the Tagras Prairie and Montana’s famous “big sky” to give your vision almost limitless. Hi-Line Havre's largest population town is located at 2,536 feet, making the small population a problem in the prairie below.
On a canoe trip along the wild and scenic Missouri River, you will have the opportunity to see the stars in the same style and location as explorers like Lewis and Clarke. Choose a camp at the Buffalo Camp in the American Prairie Reserve and have the chance to see a shooting star strip above the outline of the wild bison.
9) Alaska
There isn't much darkness in Alaska's high latitudes during the summer, but avoiding summer mosquitoes should be a priority for your travel plan. As long as you pack the right gear to keep you warm and comfortable, the best stargazing in Alaska is in the fall, winter and spring.
To see the world-renowned Aurora Aurora (also known as the Northern Lights), you will have to guess best when it happens. They usually occur between late September and early April, reaching their peak in March. Currently, we have no technology to predict that the green wave will appear in the Alaska outback. Visit one of the northernmost national parks, Denali will provide you with lots of exploration while waiting to see the sun phenomenon.
Stargazing skills
You can read How to take your stargazing to the next level From Lars Haarr, a paddle-in-residence star expert, but here are some quick tips to remember:
- If visiting a national park, swing to their visitor center. Most parks offer a rich stargazing program led by park rangers to identify constellations and other cosmic highlights.
- Arrange your stargazing to within a few days before and after the new moon (the moon is invisible to the sky). This will reduce the amount of light in the sky and allow you to see more individual stars.
- Let your eyes 20-30 minutes to accommodate the darkness. Once your eyes have adjusted the best experience, avoid white lights such as headlights, headlights and flashlights.
- Use a red light setting on the headlights to reduce the impact on night vision.
- Download the Constellation Identification app on your smartphone, or buy a star chart and get familiar with it before you can set out on the advance task to make the most of your trip.
An earlier version of this article was released in 2014 and has been updated since then.
