Stargazing season is superb! Benefit from the evening skies at their brightest at Nationwide Parks stargazing festivals…
Nationwide parks are serving to guests profit from their darkish skies by internet hosting stargazing festivals. The festivals embody varied night-time occasions along with stargazing.
These occasions are proper across the nook, so bust out your stargazing kit and get going!
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Darkish Sky Nationwide Parks
Nationwide parks have gotten evening sky havens since they’ve much less publicity to mild air pollution. Dozens of nationwide parks are even designated Dark Sky Parks due to their “distinctive or distinguished high quality of starry nights…”
Some nationwide parks with the official “Darkish Sky Park” classification are:
- Arches Nationwide Park, Utah
- Massive Bend Nationwide Park, Texas
- Massive Cypress Nationwide Protect, Florida
- Bryce Canyon Nationwide Park, Utah
- Canyonlands Nationwide Park, Utah
- Capitol Reef Nationwide Park, Utah
- Capulin Volcano Nationwide Monument, New Mexico
- Cedar Breaks Nationwide Monument, Utah
- Dying Valley Nationwide Park, California
- Mesa Verde Nationwide Park, Colorado
- Petrified Forest Nationwide Park, Arizona
- Voyageurs Nationwide Park, Minnesota
- Zion Nationwide Park, Utah
You’ll discover Utah is a giant hitter relating to stargazing. There are such a lot of unimaginable locations to not solely see through the day but in addition to be mesmerized by at evening!
That is why it is no shock that our Southern Utah RV Adventure Guide is one among our hottest guides. We even have an article on the 5 Best Dark Sky Locations for Stargazing in U.S.
Nationwide Parks Stargazing Festivals (2024)
These annual occasions are held at related instances yearly, so in the event you’ve missed one, you can begin planning these for subsequent 12 months.
Nationwide parks usually host many stargazing actions and occasions all year long, so examine for these everytime you plan to go to.
*PRO TIP! If you happen to plan on going to a number of nationwide parks, it can save you some huge cash by getting an America the Beautiful Pass.
Alrighty, let’s check out the nationwide parks stargazing festivals 2024…
Dying Valley Darkish Sky Pageant, March 1-3
Dying Valley is understood for among the finest stargazing in America. It is even designated a Gold Tier Darkish Sky Park, the best ranking of darkness.
Through the Death Valley Dark Sky Festival, guests can benefit from the gorgeous evening sky in addition to particular occasions, just like the Exploration Truthful, auditorium talks, astrophotography meetups, and extra.
Grand Canyon Star Get together, June 1-8
Grand Canyon National Park is understood for its breathtakingly stunning rugged terrain. However do you know it additionally hosts among the most stunning evening skies round?
You possibly can soak up these skies this month at their annual Star Party. The occasion is free, however you should nonetheless pay to enter the park. The park fee is sweet for the North and South rims for seven days.
The occasion begins at sundown, and one of the best viewing time is after 9 pm. Most telescopes might be taken down at 11 pm, though some people nonetheless share theirs after that when the skies are crisp and clear.
Bryce Canyon Astronomy Pageant, June 5-8
Bryce Canyon Nationwide Park is situated in southern Utah. This park has such wonderful evening sky viewing that it earned its dark-sky designation in 2019!
Come view the reddish-colored “hoodoos” through the day, after which return for its spectacular nighttime views!
Their Annual Astronomy Festival contains lectures, star tales displays, and guided stargazing classes. Final 12 months, that they had a efficiency by an Arizona string quartet known as Dry Sky Quartet and different family-friendly actions.
Annual Badlands Astronomy Pageant, July 5-7
South Dakota is dwelling to Badlands National Park, which boasts thrilling fossil beds and distinctive geologic formations. You possibly can see issues like sod tables and clastic dikes through the day, then keep to reap the benefits of their darkish evening skies.
The Badlands Astronomy Festival companions with the NASA South Dakota Grant Consortium. Their pageant sometimes contains visitor audio system, telescopes, sky viewing, and a guided stroll via a scaled photo voltaic system mannequin!
Shenandoah Evening Sky Pageant, August (Dates TBA)
Shenandoah National Park is a beautiful gem within the Blue Ridge Mountains in north-central Virginia. In truth, this virtually 200,000-acre park is so breathtaking that we’ve got completed several posts about it!
You possibly can view its cascading waterfalls, wildflower fields, and quiet woods day by day, then keep for its spectacular nighttime views.
The opposite wonderful thing about this park is its location. It’s only a 75-mile drive from Washington, D.C. So, you are near many historic websites and museums as effectively.
Their annual stargazing event hosts public stargazing classes. They have not introduced the 2024 dates but, but it surely’s sometimes held across the second weekend of August. You possibly can click on that hyperlink to see in the event that they’ve up to date their web site with dates.
The occasion contains ranger talks, different lectures and displays, and family-friendly actions. The visitor displays embody a span of subjects, together with area journey, area climate, and our future in area.
The occasion is free with park admission.
Nice Basin Astronomy Pageant, September 5-7
The Nice Basin Nationwide Park could be for you in the event you want to keep away from crowds. It is among the least crowded nationwide parks!
The 77,000-acre park in jap Nevada additionally has a research-grade observatory!
This fall, you may attend their stargazing event. This 12 months’s pageant can have most of the similar occasions as 2023 with new visitor audio system, ranger packages, and artwork initiatives.
Joshua Tree Evening Sky Pageant, October (Dates TBA)
Joshua Tree National Park is designated as an International Dark Sky Park by the Worldwide Darkish-Sky Affiliation (IDA).
Yearly, the park and non-profit organizations Joshua Tree Instructional Expertise (JTREE) and Sky’s the Restrict Observatory and Nature Middle companion to deliver this unimaginable stargazing occasion.
The Night Sky Festival is a ticketed occasion and has a restricted capability. They have not introduced the 2024 dates but, but it surely’s sometimes held across the second weekend of October. You possibly can click on that hyperlink to see in the event that they’ve up to date their web site with dates and ticket data.
It’s often situated simply outdoors the park limits on the Sky’s The Limit Nature Observatory and Nature Center. Tickets go on sale in early summer time.
Be Ready with a Stargazing Equipment for Campers!
In fact, all it’s essential stargaze is a transparent sky and a craned neck. However to actually soak within the heavens and luxuriate in your time outdoors at evening, it helps to be comfy. It’s additionally good to know what you’re taking a look at and to see issues even higher.
So, we’ve compiled a listing of things that take stargazing for campers to the following degree.
YOGA MAT
Um, Mike, I need to take a look at stars, not do yoga. I hear ya! However this yoga mat is best than any picnic blanket you’ll discover. With its thick padding, you may lie down wherever and comfortably gaze up on the stars.
It’s mild and simple to hold with its strap. And it’s not an issue if it will get moist. Simply make sure you let it air dry earlier than you retailer it.
2. TRAVEL BLANKET AND PILLOW SET
This delicate blanket is made from microfiber fleece and comes with a small inflatable pillow. And I do imply comes with a small pillow. Not like different choices, the blanket does not fold up right into a pillow, which implies you need to use the pillow and blanket on the similar time.
Each the blanket and pillow zip up into somewhat bag. It’s light-weight, simple to hold, and, most significantly, very cozy!
GO TO THE COMPLETE STARGAZING KIT…
Our 7 Day RV Journey Information to Utah
Here is a brief evaluation about our Seven Day Journey Information to Utah. Right here is extra data…
Mike and Jennifer’s Southern Utah RV Journey Information
Utah, Utah, Utah. What extra is there to be stated? In only a few locations throughout the US is there such an incredible space with breathtaking vistas and variety of terrain.
This ebook is a seven-day guided exploration of the State and Nationwide Parks in Southern Utah. We offer a recommended route and itinerary, hyperlinks to a number of campgrounds and boondocking spots, and one of the best spots to see alongside the best way. Don’t plan your journey to Southern Utah with out it!
Final replace on 2023-12-29 / Affiliate hyperlinks / Photographs from Amazon Product Promoting API
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