Tips for Viewing the Night Sky

⋆ The Darker the Sky the Brighter the Stars-

- Light pollution from cities can washout starlight and make it difficult to observe the night sky. It is best to travel away from the city for your best chance at seeing the most stars.

⋆ Let Your Eyes Adjust-

- For best viewing results let your eyes adjust to the night sky for 20-30 minutes.

⋆ Check the Moon Phase

- Even the moon can cause light pollution that drowns out the stars. Going stargazing during a new moon ensures that the sky is at its darkest and you will have the best chance at seeing the most stars and other astronomical objects.

⋆ Check the Transparency

- In astronomy, transparency is the measure of how clear the atmosphere is. Dust,smoke,haze, humidity and light pollution all play a role in the transparency of the night sky. Transparency tends to gets better with altitude,because you're looking through less air. Transparent is also usually high after a rainstorm, after the storm has cleared out all the particles in the air. You can visit cleardarksky.com for more information about the transparency forecast near you.

⋆ Find a Clear Viewing Spot

- Be sure to travel away from tall buildings that can block your view of the night sky. Try moving to a higher location such as a mountain top or a lookout point for the best possible view.

2023 Full Moon Calender

Top Astronomy Events in 2023

⋆ January 4: Quadrantid Meteor Shower-

- 2023 will begin with the Quadrantids' The Quadrantid meteor shower can produce up to 120 meteors an hour. Your best chance at viewing the Quadrantids is any time after midnight and can appear anywhere in the night sky.

⋆ February 1: Comet C/2022 E3 will reaches maximum brightness-

- On February 1 comet C/2022 E3 will pass Earth at a distance of more than 26 million miles (42 million km). February 1 will be the best day to observe the comet becauseit will be at its brightest.By early February the comet will be bright enough to view with binoculars.

⋆ April 20: Hybrid Solar Eclipse-

- In April we will have the rare chance to see a hybrid total/annular eclipse. A hybrid solar eclipse is an eclipse that changes its appearance as the Moon's shadow moves across the Earth. Eclipses of this kind are infrequent.Astrophiles in Australia, Indonesia, and East Timor will be lucky enough to witness this rare sight.

⋆ August 31: The biggest Full Moon of 2023-

- On August 31 the Moon will come closer to the Earth than any other Full Moons of the year. Be sure to not miss this years brightest and most prominent Full Moon.

⋆ Oct 14: Ring of Fire - annual solar eclipse

- The Ring of Fire solar eclipse will be visible over the North and South American continents. During this solar eclpise a bright ring of sunshine will be visble around the Moon. The next solar eclipse of this kind wont happen until 2024 and will only be visible from Chile and Argentina.

Top 5 Places to Stargaze in the United States

5. Cherry Springs State Park, Pennsylvania
- Located in Potter County Pennsylvania, Cherry Springs State Park is a great place to view the Milky Way and other hard to see celestial objects. The park has an "Astronomy Field" that offers an unobstructed 360-degree view of the night sky. The park is available to visit all year round and 60-85 nights a year have conditions considered to be ideal for stargazing.
6. Death Valley National Park, California
- With a gold tier rating for stargazing Death Valley National Park is a destination that every avid stargazer should have on their bucket list. With a whopping 3.4 million acres of dark skies, you will be sure to have an epic stargazing experience.
7. Denali National Park, Alaska
- If seeing the Aurora Borealis along with the stars in the night sky is on your bucket list. Denali National Park is a must visit destination. With very little light pollution and long hours of darkness through the winter months, stargazers have the life changing chance to see the two breathtaking sites in action.
8. Mauna Kea, Hawaii
- If stargazing on top of a 14,000 foot tall volcano in the tropics sounds like an ideal night under the stars,this is the destination for you. Mauna Kea is the biggest observatory in the world. Due to the tropical inversion layer here, pollutants will not be a factor and conditions are always clear for viewing.
9. Cosmic Campground, New Mexico
- Coming in at number one on the list for the best stargazing destinations is Cosmic Campground located in the Gila National Forest. The nearest source of artificial light is more than 40 miles away, across the state line in Arizona. Named as the first International Dark Sky Sanctuary in America. The stars are so bright,that it is reported that you are able to see your shadow on the ground from the light of the stars alone.