Stargazing Guides
Everything you need to know about seeing the Milky Way, finding dark skies, and planning your perfect night under the stars.
Getting Started
Finding Dark Skies
- Best Dark Sky Parks in the USATop certified locations for stargazing across America
- Stargazing in TexasBig Bend, dark sky preserves, and the best spots in Texas
- Stargazing in CaliforniaFrom Death Valley to Joshua Tree and beyond
- Stargazing in UtahThe state with more dark sky parks than anywhere else
- Stargazing in ArizonaHome to the first dark sky city and world-class observatories
- Stargazing in ColoradoMountain views and 12 certified dark sky locations
Calendars & Events
- Milky Way Calendar 2026Moon-free windows and core times for every month of 2026
- New Moon Calendar 2026New moons, full moons, and the darkest nights of 2026
- Meteor Shower Calendar 2026Peak nights and moonlight for every major shower in 2026
- Milky Way Calendar 2027Moon-free windows and core times for every month of 2027
- New Moon Calendar 2027New moons, full moons, and the darkest nights of 2027
- Meteor Shower Calendar 2027Peak nights and moonlight for every major shower in 2027
- Milky Way Calendar 2025Best dates to see the galactic core this year
- New Moon Calendar 2025Plan your stargazing around the darkest nights
- Meteor Shower Calendar 2025When to catch the Perseids, Geminids, and more
Astrophotography
- Best Time to See the Milky WaySeasonal timing, best months, and optimal viewing hours
- Moon Phases for StargazingHow moonlight affects visibility and when to plan your sessions
- Cloud Cover & Stargazing WeatherUnderstanding weather forecasts for astronomy
- Milky Way Photography PlanningHow to plan the perfect Milky Way photo shoot
Forecasts for dark-sky places
Tonight's Milky Way forecast and the next dark stretch for the parks and towns in these guides.