Gazing at the stars twinkling above has inspired scientists, writers and artists throughout history. Yet today, light pollution means that many people can’t see the beauty of the night sky. Around 60 percent of Americans can’t see sights like the Milky Way, says Connie Walker of the National Optical Astronomy Observatory in Tucson, Ariz. The effects of light pollution mean that the best star-gazing locations are outside large urban areas. The National Park Service recommends that if you are going star-gazing you should wear warm clothing and a hat, and bring a blanket to lie on, binoculars, a star chart and a flashlight covered with red cellophane.
Located in southeastern Utah, Natural Bridges National Monument is the only Bortle class 2 location in the United States. The Bortle scale classifies skies from 1 to 10, with 1 and 2 being the darkest, so the designation means that Natural Bridges National Monument has some of the darkest skies in the country. The International Dark Sky Association designated it the world’s first International Dark Sky Park on the basis of this classification. The National Park Service (NPS) tries to minimize light pollution by modifying lights within the park to point downward and using 13-watt light bulbs. There are many clear nights for star-gazing in this dry desert area, and astronomers can view the Milky Way, planets and comets with relative ease.
Great Basin National Park in Nevada offers views of thousands of stars, five planets, meteorites, satellites and the Milky Way. The NPS says that one of the best places in the park for star-gazing is the parking lot at the end of Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive, although the view to the horizon can be obscured by trees. You can find panoramic views at the Mather Overlook and at the pullouts on the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive. The Baker archaeological site also has uninterrupted sky views. The NPS recommends going star-gazing on a clear night when the moon is new, since a bright full moon makes it more difficult to see other objects in the sky.
The International Dark Sky Association designated Flagstaff, Ariz. the world’s first International Dark Skies City in 2001. The award recognized the city’s efforts to reduce light pollution, beginning back in 1958 when the city council banned advertising search lights. The area around Flagstaff is home to three astronomical observatories: the Lowell Observatory, The National Undergraduate Research Observatory and the U.S. Naval Observatory’s Flagstaff station. The Navy Prototype Optical Interferometer is just 15 miles away, while the Discovery Channel Telescope is being built 40 miles to the southeast.
