Best place to see the milky way

10 World's Best Places to See the Milky Way in 2022!

Viewing our galaxy from Earth is one of the most mesmerizing experiences, but where can you see the Milky Way?

It doesn’t matter if your goal is to photograph the Milky Way or you simply want to enjoy a nice view of our galaxy. To maximize your chances, you have to find the best places to see the Milky Way.

To do so, you should consider two things: the best time to see the Milky Way and the best places where you can see the Milky Way in areas away from light pollution and preferably at high elevations.

Below, you’ll find a list of the best places on Earth to see the Milky Way at night. Also, if you’re wondering: where can I see the Milky Way tonight? Don’t worry, I’ll also provide the top tools and tips to find the best places to see the Milky Way near you.

GET THE CALENDAR WITH THE BEST DATES TO PHOTOGRAPH THE MILKY WAY IN 2022

You'll also receive our PDF guide to photographing the Milky Way!

In summary, these are the top 10 places to see the Milky Way:

Arches, United States
Banff, Canada
La Palma, Spain
The Dolomites, Italy
The Sahara desert, Tunisia
Mount Bromo, Indonesia
Namib Desert, Namibia
Atacama Desert, Chile
Wollemi, Australia
Tasman Glacier, New Zealand

After this, I’ll also show you how to find the best places to see the Milky Way!

1. Arches National Park, USA

Arches National Park is one of the best places to see the Milky Way in the United States.

Located in Utah, this high desert landscape on the Colorado Plateau offers two of the key factors you need to see the Milky Way; it’s away from the main sources of light pollution, and it’s located at a very high elevation (5,000+ ft).

The geological formations at Arches make you feel like you’re on another planet at night, and for many reasons, this is, in my opinion, the best place to photograph the Milky Way in the US.

The best locations to shoot the Milky Way in Arches NP are Delicate Arch, Turret Arch, and Balanced Rock.

1. Arches National Park, Utah – Dan Zafra

WHERE TO SEE THE MILKY WAY IN THE US

2. Banff, Canada

Banff National Park is, without a doubt, one of the best places to see the Milky Way in Canada.

Located in the Canadian Rockies, this huge area, formed by other National Parks like Kootenay and Jasper, offers some of the best places where you can see the Milky Way in North America.

The only source of light pollution to consider is the town of Banff, but this is surrounded by mountains, so as long as you leave town, you can enjoy amazing views of our galaxy.

The best places to photograph the Milky Way in Banff are around the Icefields Parkway, where you can find spots completely away from light pollution at elevations above 6,000 ft.

2. Banff National Park, Alberta – Dan Zafra

3. La Palma, spain

La Palma is part of the Spanish Canary Islands, and it’s one of the best places to see and photograph the Milky Way on our planet.

Astronomers from all over the world travel to La Palma for the same reason. The street lights are specially designed to avoid light pollution, and most of the inland peaks are located at an altitude over 5,000 ft.

The best place to photograph the Milky Way in La Palma is the “Roque de los Muchachos”. This is the highest peak on La Palma island where you can see the Milky Way above the clouds at an altitude of almost 8,000 ft. Here you can also find one of the most important observatories in the world: the “Roque de los Muchachos observatory.“

3. Roque de los Muchachos, La Palma – Antonio Solano

4. The Dolomites, ITaly

This old continent is one of the most light-polluted places on earth, so there aren’t many great places for stargazing or astrophotography. However, there are still places, like the Dolomites, where you can enjoy dark skies and see the Milky Way and the galactic center.

With just a few small villages and some peaks as high as 10,000 ft, the entire Dolomite mountain range is considered the best place to see the Milky Way on the European continent.

The best places to shoot the Milky Way in the Dolomites are around the “Tre Cime di Lavaredo”, “Cinque Torri”, and “Monte Pelmo”.

4. Dolomites, Italy – Giulio Cobianchi

5. The Sahara desert, Tunisia

The desert is one of the best places on Earth where you can see the Milky Way. Most of Earth’s deserts are isolated and sparsely-populated, so you can enjoy the silence and some of the best dark-skies.

There are many great deserts to see the Milky Way, but not many are as spectacular as the Sahara Desert. This massive desert is underpopulated and away from big epicenters of light pollution, and it’s widely known as one of the best places on Earth to see the Milky Way.

You can see the Milky Way in many different areas, but one of the best and most accessible is the Tunisian Sahara Desert.

5. Tunisian Sahara Desert – Marco Carotenuto

6. Mount Bromo, indonesia

Humidity and light pollution are star-killers in many areas of Asia, but the continent also has great places to see the Milky Way at night.

Indonesia has some of the most remote (and yet accessible) places to see our galaxy, and it’s considered the best place to see the Milky Way in Asia.

An incredible place where you can photograph the Milky Way in Asia is Mount Bromo on Java island. This location features an area of active volcanoes at 7,500+ ft where you can see an otherworldly view of the Milky Way over volcanoes sending explosions of ash and smoke in the background.

6. Mount Bromo, Java Island – Fabio Antenore

7. namib desert, Namibia

Talking again about deserts, Namibia offers the oldest desert on our planet and some of the clearest skies that you can find away from light pollution, making it the best place to see the Milky Way in Africa.

It’s becoming a more accessible and popular destination for astrophotography in recent years, not only for the dark skies but also for the long Milky Way season that you can enjoy at this latitude.

One of the top places to see the Milky Way here is the Namib desert, where you can photograph the Milky Way along with giant sand dunes, natural arches, and centennial dead trees.

7. Namib Desert – Stefan Liebermann

8. Atacama Desert, chile

The Atacama Desert is not only the best place to see the Milky Way in America, in the entire Southern Hemisphere.

The conditions in this desert are very special. It’s the driest nonpolar desert in the world with an average of 330 clear nights per year. This also makes life almost non-existent, which means skies free of light pollution. On top of that, it’s located on a high plateau at almost 8,000 ft.

All this creates an astronomer’s paradise with numerous scientific observatories like “ALMA”, “SPACE”, or “Cerro Tololo”.

As you can see, the Chilean Atacama desert is the best place to see the Milky Way in the Southern Hemisphere for good reason.

8. Atacama desert – Melanie Fritz

9. Wollemi, Australia

Australia is another one of the best places to see the Milky Way in the Southern Hemisphere with large extensions of underpopulated land.

The Australian outback is popular for its night skies, however, it’s not as accessible as other areas in the country.

One of the best places to see the Milky Way in Australia is Wollemi National Park, the wildest area in New South Wales. This park is in the Australian blue mountains, which are on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Wollemi is known for clear skies and minimal light pollution, making it one of the favorite spots to photograph the Milky Way for Australian photographers.

9. Wollemi National Park, Australia – Jose Luis Cantabrana

10. Tasman Glacier, New Zealand

Traveling further south, the islands of New Zealand have some of the best places to see the Milky Way in Oceania.

The South Island of New Zealand, in particular, is an area with a very low population density and features fjords, mountains, and scenery that make it perfect for seeing the Milky Way at night.

One of the best places to photograph the Milky Way in New Zealand is the Tasman Glacier; the largest glacier in New Zealand that flows from the Southern Alps.

This area is pretty accessible and, even though the glacier is retreating, the good news is that it’s still possible to enjoy super dark night skies at a high altitude in this fascinating place.

10. Tasman Glacier, New Zealand – Elena Pakhalyuk

If you are interested in learning and improving your photography while traveling to some of the best places to see the Milky Way in the world, I recommend checking our astrophotography workshops & tours!

Where can you see the Milky Way galaxy?

Speaking of local areas to see our galaxy, you might be wondering… Where can I see the Milky Way near me?

As we’ve seen throughout this article, the further from light pollution, the better to see the Milky Way. However, for different reasons, sometimes we can’t travel far, and that’s when you need to look into the best accessible places to see the Milly Way near you, away from light pollution.

There are two ways to assess the light pollution of a particular location:

Light Pollution map

The most popular and widely-used map to check where you can see the Milky Way is a light pollution map.

Using a light pollution map, you can quickly see the night sky’s brightness at a particular location and check whether seeing the Milky Way is visible or not.

Where to see the Milky Way – Light Pollution map

All light pollution maps are very straightforward; you can see in different colors the light pollution level:

Black/blue: Best places to see the Milky way
Green: You can see the Milky Way, but this it’s fainter and lacks detail
Yellow/orange: The Milky Way is weak and barely visible
Red: The Milky Way is totally invisible

You can use different light pollution maps. This is my favorite since it also shows the altitude, another key factor in determining where you can see the Milky Way.

The Bortle scale

This system uses a nine-level scale to evaluate the night sky visibility of a certain place. Using this, you can check the Bortle level (known as “class”) in your location to give you an idea of which astronomical objects you can see.

The Bortle scale goes from Class 1 (excellent dark-sky site) to Class 9 (inner-city sky). Below you can see The Milky Way visibility according to the Bortle Class level:

Class 1 – Class 4: You can see an impressive Milky Way.
Class 5 – Class 6: The Milky Way becomes weaker.
Class 7 – Class 9: The Milky Way is nearly or totally invisible.

You can check the Bortle class level at your location on the website Clearoutside.

Botle Class level – Clear Outside

Other tips to find where you can see the Milky Way

From my experience, I’d also like to add a couple of tips to find the best locations to see and photograph the Milky Way:

Don’t underestimate the elevation. Even in places that might seem affected by light pollution, when you’re at a high elevation, your night sky visibility can be great since you’ll be above the lower areas of the atmosphere that contain the most light pollution. A good example is a village in a mountain valley.

Check the direction of the Milky Way. Even if the spot looks dark on the light pollution map, if the Milky Way is moving in a direction where there’s a heavily-polluted area, the visibility will be highly affected. This is especially important when planning Milky Way panoramas.

You can check the direction of the Milky Way in different areas on Earth in our article about the best time to see the Milky Way.

Check the elevation and the direction of the Milky Way

Conclusion

Where you can see the Milky Way depends on one key factor: light pollution. The further you move from heavy-polluted areas, the greater chances of success you’ll have to see our galaxy. Altitude plays another important role in Milky Way visibility, and the higher you can go, the further you can be from low clouds and light pollution.

As we’ve seen in this article with the best places to see the Milky Way, there are many great places around the world to see our galaxy; from mountains and high plateaus to deserts and unpopulated areas where seeing and shooting the Milky Way is still possible.

If your goal in finding the best places to see the Milky Way near you is to take images of our galaxy, I highly recommend taking a look at my Milky Way photography guide and our 2022 Milky Way calendars where you’ll see, at a glance, the best days to see it in your location.

GET THE CALENDAR WITH THE BEST DATES TO PHOTOGRAPH THE MILKY WAY IN 2022

You'll also receive our PDF guide to photographing the Milky Way!

Happy Captures and clear skies!

P.S. You can check more incredible places to see the Milky Way on the map provided by the International Dark-Sky Association.

The Ultimate Guide to Viewing the Milky Way

Seeing the Milky Way in all its glory should be on everyone’s bucket list. In the ancient world—a world free from bright lights—it’s something you couldn’t help but marvel at.

Today, the light pollution in nearly any city makes the Milky Way all but invisible. When you do get to see it, on a moonless night and in its full splendor, it’s very hard not to be in complete awe. The sight is all at once humbling, inspiring, and for many, deeply spiritual. Totally bucket list-worthy!

In this article, we’ll answer all the questions you may have about viewing this wonder, including:

What is the Milky Way?
When can you see it?
Where can you go to see it?
How can you make the most of your viewing experience?

Buckle up!

What is the Milky Way?

In case you didn’t know, the Milky Way is a collection of between 100 and 400 billion stars, known as a galaxy. Our own sun is part of it, in the periphery, but not all the way out on the edge.

All the stars you can plainly see in the sky are part of our galaxy. When you see the visible Milky Way, you are looking toward the center of the galaxy. The light of those billions of stars, each indistinct on their own, collectively paints the sky with a soft white glow. At its very heart is a supermassive black hole that holds all the stars in sway.

When can you see the Milky Way?

First, you need the Milky Way to be in the sky above your part of the world at night. In North America, that’s during the summer months. In June through August, the Milky Way will be high in the night sky, making these the perfect viewing months. You can see it in the surrounding months earlier or later in the night, but it will be more on the horizon than straight overhead.

Secondly, you need the sky to be dark. The darker the better. Two things tend to cause problems: city lights and the moon.

To deal with city lights, you need to get out into a rural area, and the more remote the better. To find the darkest area near you, you can use the Dark Site Finder Map. You can scan every part of the world and check the light pollution levels. In the Eastern U.S., dark skies are pretty hard to come by, but in the west, they are quite abundant.

To minimize issues with the moon, you need to be able to track when the moon will rise and set. There are many tools for this. The Photographer’s Ephemeris is a pretty impressive site (and app) that will tell you everything you could want to know about light conditions at a particular location, at a particular time.

Finally, you need clear skies. You won’t see much of anything on a cloudy night. The ever-reliable weather.com can get you a forecast for any given location.

Light pollution in the US. Map from DarkSiteFinder.com

Where can you go to see the Milky Way?

The western interior national parks are probably the very best places to view the Milky Way. The southwest deserts are almost surefire winners too—if you can take the summer heat, that is. Not only are they incredibly dark, but there is almost never any cloud cover. They are also incredibly quiet, which makes the experience all the more magical.

Out east, it’s much much harder to find truly dark skies. There are a few, but you need to search a bit harder to find them and the weather is harder to predict. One resource you can look to is the International Dark-Sky Association, which keeps a list of officially recognized dark sky locations around the world as well as typical weather patterns for them.

Another possibility to consider is a night cruise. Many major port cities offer nighttime cruises specifically to get out of the city and look at the night sky. If you are on the east coast, that may be your best option.

10 of the Best Places in the U.S. to See the Milky Way

Here are ten of the best locations in the United States to see the Milky Way in all her splendor.

Bosque Del Apache Wildlife Preserve, New Mexico. In order to protect migrating birds, no lights are allowed in this park—which also makes for some fantastic stargazing.
Natural Bridges National Monument, Utah. Dark skies framed by huge stone arches make for awe-inspiring celestial viewing.
Big Bend National Park, Texas. The darkest skies in any national park in the U.S. = stargazing paradise.
Death Valley National Park, Nevada. The landscape here is breathtaking, and so are the night skies—just watch out for that summer heat!
Clayton Lake State Park, New Mexico. Look for dinosaur prints by day and planets by night in this wonderful wildlife refuge.
Cherry Springs State Park, Pennsylvania. An official dark skies park on the east coast. A rare find indeed!
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona. Perhaps the greatest natural wonder on earth with a side of incredible night skies. What more could you want?
Capital Reef National Park, Utah. One of America’s most underrated national parks and an incredible place to view the Milky Way.
Mauna Kea, Hawaii. OK, so it’s not a prime RV destination, but it is an incredibly unique place to look at the stars from atop a volcano.
Big Pine Key, Florida. It’s rare to find dark skies anywhere near the coast, but this spot is far enough away from the city lights to get the job done.

How to Make the Most of Your Milky Way Viewing Experience

Here are a few recommendations on how to make your Milky Way-viewing experience extra awesome.

Tip #1: Bring a reclining chair.

A portable chair that you can recline back in, like a beach chair, is a great way to enhance the experience. You can kick back, relax, and stare into the sky in comfort. Without this, your neck is going to get a bit stiff after a while.

Tip #2: Bring binoculars.

Just about any pair of binoculars is going to be a real eye-opener when viewing the milky way. The naked eye will see a fair number of stars, along with that milky glow, but look through the binoculars and you’ll start to see innumerable individual stars hiding in the glow.

Tip #3: Bring a blanket or jacket.

Even in the summer, it can get pretty chilly on a clear night. Bring along a jacket or a nice blanket to keep yourself from getting too chilled while stargazing. You’ll be very happy to have it.

Tip #4: Use red lights.

Lighting a fire or running around with a flashlight is going to annoy fellow stargazers and mess up your own vision for enjoying the Milky Way. Red-tinted lights are great for seeing what you need to see, but not messing up your night vision.

Tip #5: Attend a star party.

You can find star parties spread all across the country. These are events, generally open to the public, where you can hang out with amateur astronomers and ogle the night sky together. Hobbyists will have telescopes you can use to check out objects in the night sky. They will also be eager to answer any and all astronomy questions you might have. There are no great nationwide registries for them. Just Google “star party” and input the area you want to visit.

Tip #6: Bring along some listening material.

Even if you find looking at the Milky Way wondrous, you might find that long-term you want a bit more stimulation. I recommend bringing along some listening material for a longer trip. Any music you love will work wonders, though classical, or ambient is often especially great.

An astronomy podcast or a recording of Cosmos are winners if you want to learn about what exactly it is you’re looking at. A good book on tape, especially a space opera, is just the thing to spark your imagination. And of course, if you have company, stargazing is the perfect time for a great, in-depth conversation about life and the universe.

Tip #7: Read up and do your research.

The awesomeness that is the Milky Way is hard to wrap your head around. The scale of it is so far beyond our day-to-day experience. The more you know about it, the more amazing it is to look up at it and contemplate what you’re seeing. To get you started, this Space.com article gives you both a bit of history and a bevy of interesting facts.

Photo By: Yuri Beletsky

Who to See the Milky Way With

It can be a great thing to go look into the infinite in solitude. But it’s also a fantastic experience to share.

Tips for Taking Kids to View the Stars

If you have kids, bring them to see the Milky Way and spark their imagination. Just keep in mind their attention spans can be a bit short. Having some food or drink on hand goes a long way in keeping them from getting antsy. Also, priming them with videos about space and the stars is a good way to pique their interest. Binoculars are especially cool for kids so they can appreciate that they are looking at many stars, not just a light in the sky. Finally, remember to keep them engaged in conversation, bring facts to share or stories you think will keep them from getting bored.

Viewing the Milky Way with Significant Others and Friends

If you’re a couple, it doesn’t get much more romantic than gazing at the night sky together in a quiet place. It’s the perfect setting for intimate conversation and declarations of love. Just make sure you are more or less alone before you get too passionate!

The Milky Way is also great for viewing with friends. There’s something about viewing the grandness of the cosmos that can make us want to connect with other people. Sharing a profound moment with others brings you closer and creates bonds that can last a lifetime.

Hit the Road and See the Stars

Ready to check the Milky Way off your bucket list? Head over to Outdoorsy and rent an awesome RV for your next stellar adventure!

23 best places on the planet for stargazing

At all times people have been fascinated by space. In the era of Antiquity, in placers of stars, they tried to catch the will of the gods, the great minds of the Renaissance tried to comprehend the secrets of the universe. Not everyone is given the opportunity to conquer space and find out what is there, on the other side of the starry sky. However, everyone can take a look at least one eye. We have collected for you the best places on the planet for observing comets and the Milky Way.

In 2016, Science Advances published a study stating that most people in the US, Europe and the CIS cannot see stars due to light pollution. Fortunately, at 19In 88, astronomers founded the non-profit organization International Dark-Sky Association (IDA). It annually replenishes the list of places suitable for stargazing, and also fights against excessive light pollution in the sky. Another interest of the IDA is the organization of platforms for amateur astronomers. In this article, we used IDA data: all the places listed will be stellar!

1.

Westhavelland, Germany

Located about a hundred kilometers from Berlin, Westhavelland Park ( Westhavelland Nature Park ) in Germany is called Star Park. It is believed to be especially good for stargazing in autumn. The sky is clear, cloudless, the singing of migratory birds is heard all around, and the weather is perfect for night walks.

The director of the local planetarium, Andrea Hänel, is also a member of the IDA, and she often joins tourists at the telescope herself. Andrea went to great lengths to clear the sky of Westhavelland from the glare of artificial lighting, and the park itself was included in the IDA list. Henel supports the opinion that autumn is the best time of the year to feel the atmosphere of the wild nature and the romance of the stars.

Professional astronomers come to the reserve from mid-May to the end of July. At this time, the sky over Westhavelland is dark and clear. On the new moon, the stars are observed from midnight to dawn. There is a chance to see the zodiacal light and the counter-radiance phenomenon.

2. Kerry, Ireland

Kerry's Dark Sky National Park ( Kerry International Dark Sky Reserve ) is relatively recent. It covers an area of over seven hundred square kilometers on the Iver Peninsula. It is protected from light pollution by the Atlantic Ocean and the mountain range.

At night you can see the Milky Way, large star clusters, nebulae and even meteors. On clear nights, the Andromeda Galaxy is visible, located 2.5 million light-years from Earth. Andromeda is the nearest neighbor of the Milky Way. Seeing both galaxies at once is rare.

Another advantage of the Kerry National Park is the well-established infrastructure. About four thousand people live here, so any corner of the reserve is easily accessible by car. Roads are everywhere, there are shops and hotels. The map of the most star places is provided by the park's official website.

3.

Pic du Midi, Pyrenees, France

In the French Pyrenees, not far from the Italian border, there is a large-scale natural park Pic du Midi ( Pic du Midi International Dark Sky Reserve ). Its main attraction is the observatory on the top of Midi de Bigorre (2877 m). More than a hundred thousand tourists annually visit the reserve and the observatory to watch the clearest night sky.

Neither light pollution, nor smoky clouds or harmful emissions from factories reach here. The park covers about three thousand square kilometers, runs along a mountain range and includes the Pyrenees-Perdu, a limestone mountain listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The most popular place for stargazing is the observatory. It was built in 1881, expanded and restored several times. It was in this observatory that the first ever daytime observation of the occultation of stars by an asteroid was carried out. Inside there is professional equipment: refractors, telescopes, coronographs. And one of the "highest" museums in the world with exhibits on the history of astronomy.

From the platform of the observatory you can see the Milky Way, many constellations, the zodiacal light. You can watch the stars on your own or as part of excursions. The most popular excursion program is called "Night at the Summit": upon its completion, tourists are invited to take a look at the famous two-meter Bernard Lyot telescope - the largest telescope in France.

And since Pic du Midi is located on top of a snowy mountain, stargazing can be combined with winter sports. A cable car leads to the observatory, and some athletes use it for skiing and snowboarding. To attract tourists, the management of the observatory allows extreme astronomers to ride the slopes of the Midi de Bigorre for free.

4. Brecon Beacons, UK

Brecon Beacons National Park in South Wales ( Brecon Beacons National Park ) rightfully has the status of a dark sky reserve. Here you can see Mars and Jupiter with the naked eye, just walking on the prairies at night. The Galilean satellites: Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto are perfectly visible through the telescope. Galileo discovered them in 1609 with his first telescope.

The best view of the stars is from the top of Sugar Mountain (335 meters above sea level), which is easily accessible by car or on foot along the highway. From the top there is a stunning view of the valley, the Black Mountains and wooded hills. The silhouette of the ancient monastery of Llanthoni is visible on the horizon. Some of its ruins have been reconstructed, while others have been converted into a themed pub and tourist hotel.

5. Nambi Rand, Namibia

Nambi Rand Nature Reserve is located on the eastern border of the Namib Desert, the world's oldest desert. The low level of air humidity contributes to excellent visibility: the sky over the Namib is clear and dark. Astronomical objects contrast beautifully against the black sky, and many stars can be recognized with the naked eye.

Telescope at Nambi Rand sees the center of the Milky Way, the Magellanic Clouds, zodiacal light, planets and counter-radiance. Tourists come with their own equipment or rent it right in the reserve.

The local hotel complex "Sossusvlei Desert Lodge" provides its guests with not only comfortable rooms, but also a twelve-inch telescope. A professional astronomer helps to deal with the device; he works at the hotel. In the Wolwedans campsite, hidden in the very center of the reserve, there is a rental of portable telescopes, English-speaking guides help to adjust them.

6. Mackenzie Aoraki, New Zealand

Mackenzie Aoraki National Park ( Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve ) is rightfully considered one of the best places to observe the night sky, especially astronomical objects in the southern hemisphere. For example, here you can see the most picturesque Aurora Borealis (it is also Aurora Australis, characteristic of the south), the constellation Southern Cross and Sigma Octantus - the star closest to the south pole, which is easy to find in the sky even with the naked eye.

The national park occupies an impressive area: almost four and a half thousand square kilometers. It is located on the South Island of New Zealand, in the region of the local Alps. Among the routes popular with astronomers are Lake Tekapo and climbing Mount Cook, which offers spectacular views not only of the sky, but also of the surrounding nature.

The sky is best seen on moonless nights. When the full moon fades, the sky becomes bright and "transparent" almost like daytime. In such conditions, one has the opportunity to admire the Milky Way, stretching from one end of the horizon to the other.

7. Exmoor, UK

Exmoor National Park ( Exmoor National Park ) became the first dark sky reserve in Europe, having received its honorary title back in 2011. On clear nights, at least three thousand stars can be seen and identified here! Some astronomers seriously cherish the dream of looking out for some new celestial body here - the sky looks so starry. Maybe even get lucky?

The best time to visit Exmoor is from the beginning of March to the end of April. During this period, the sky over the UK is dark and transparent. At the end of summer, there is a chance to catch meteors - the combustion of various space objects, accompanied by bright multi-colored flashes.

Wimbleball Lake is an excellent vantage point. It is located on a hill: nothing blocks the view of the sky, residential areas and settlements are far away - no smog and light pollution. Around only pristine nature, the singing of birds and the noise of trees - beauty!

8. Mont-Mégantic, Canada

Mont-Mégantic International Sky Reserve ( Mont-Mégantic International Sky Reserve ) is the largest observatory in eastern Canada and its telescope is the largest in eastern North America. The observatory was founded in 1978. Gradually, it increased its technical capacity, and is now supervised by three Canadian universities.

About fifty thousand astronomers come here every year. Professionals and amateurs alike flock to Mont Megantic all year round, and for good reason: the Milky Way is visible to the naked eye. Even without additional equipment, shooting stars, planets, satellites, the Andromeda Galaxy and the Northern Lights are viewed.

With a telescope you can observe supernova explosions, lunar craters, planetary nebulae, star clusters of different scales, interstellar clouds. There is enough equipment on the territory of the observatory. Some telescopes are so powerful that they allow you to see the surface of the moon in detail.

9. Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA

One of the most famous national parks in the world Grand Canyon National Park annually receives more than five million tourists! Photos of the night sky over the Grand Canyon are striking in their clarity and spectacularity. It is not surprising that any fan of astronomy dreams of visiting Arizona and capturing their own experience of observing the local sky.

On February 19, the founding of the national park is celebrated, the holiday lasts eight days! During this period, many astronomers flock here, free events related to the observation of celestial bodies are organized. Tourists can listen to lectures about the stars, look through the eyepiece of a telescope, rent equipment or use a friendly barter system.

The Grand Canyon only joined the IDA in 2019. It took three years to upgrade the lighting and viewing platforms. Experts predict that at this rate, tourists will be able to see 90% of the canyon stars after a couple of years.

10. Mayland, North Carolina, USA

Mayland Earth to Sky Park & Bare Dark Sky Observatory . In 2017, a new retractable roof observatory was opened at Mayland State College. It is built at a height of about eight hundred meters and has a 360-degree view.

Visitors to the observatory are provided with a 34-inch telescope and other optical equipment. The Milky Way is perfectly visible from here, on clear nights some stars and objects are visible even without a telescope. Entrance to the observatory is free, you can watch the sky, take pictures, and if you are a professional, give lectures.

11. Northumberland, UK

In the Northumberland National Park there is a unique object in its architecture and design - the wooden Kielder Observatory ( Kielder Observatory ). It was erected in the middle of virgin nature, to the nearest settlement, the village of Bellingham, about 30 km.

There are two powerful telescopes at the base of the observatory: 20-inch and 14-inch models. Space is provided for portable equipment that amateur astronomers can bring with them. The facility is fully self-sufficient: it is supplied with electricity by a wind turbine, and solar panels are installed on the roof. Stationary telescopes are located on rotating towers to provide a 360-degree view.

Kielder is one of the world leaders in terms of the purity of the sky. In clear weather, more than seven thousand celestial objects are visible here. In winter, here you can see the luminaries far from the Earth even without a telescope. For example, the Andromeda Galaxy. In summer - the Milky Way, comets and meteors.

Thematic seminars, lectures and educational events are regularly held here. As a rule, admission to them is free or for a symbolic amount. Order at the station is maintained by volunteers, and all proceeds go to charity.

12. Chaco, New Mexico, USA

Chaco National Historical Park ( Chaco Culture National Historical Park ) is located in New Mexico between two large cities: Albuquerque and Farmington. The centerpiece of the reserve is a canyon surrounded by ancient Anasazi ruins. Chaco is the most important cultural and historical site, where archaeological excavations take place regularly. Therefore, astronomers who come to look at the New Mexico sky will kill two birds with one stone: they will watch the stars and enrich themselves culturally. If you are going to hire a guide, be prepared for a lecture on Anasazi customs.

Tourists should also keep in mind that 99% of the park is not illuminated in any way to keep the sky clear. Therefore, take care of a flashlight and strong shoes - you will stumble here, and more than once. However, this atmosphere adds romance. Meetings of archaeologists and astronomers are regularly held in the Chaco, midnight walks along Pueblo Bonito are organized, and camping is popular. And events like an eclipse or a meteor shower never go unnoticed - astronomers promptly organize excursions, which can be found on the official website of the park.

13. Death Valley, California, USA

The famous Death Valley National Park is the world's largest stargazing site. The length of Death Valley is almost fourteen thousand kilometers, and exactly the same is at the disposal of astronomers. The sky here is clear, and due to the arid climate, the view is not hindered by evaporation of moisture, fogs or high clouds.

Despite the relative proximity to metropolitan areas (190 km to Las Vegas and 460 km to Los Angeles), Death Valley does not suffer from light pollution in any way. Gatherings of astronomers are regularly held here, and from November to April, the park management organizes excursions and thematic lectures.

You can spend the night in the park or stay for a longer period. We recommend staying at the Mahogany Flat Campground. It is located at the top of Telescope Peak, the highest point in the valley (2,499 meters above sea level). An excellent view opens from here, there is a place for installing astronomical equipment.

14. Big Bend, Texas, USA

Separated from Mexico by the Rio Grande, this national park ( Big Bend National Park ) attracts tourists with picturesque scenery, cactus flowering season and, of course, the clearest sky. This is the southernmost IDA reserve in the Northern Hemisphere, an unspoken boundary where many interesting celestial objects can be seen.

From here you can see the stars of the Southern Cross and Sigma Octant, on a clear night - the Andromeda Galaxy. In total, the sky above the park has about two thousand visible stars, meteors and planets: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn. It is most convenient to observe this beauty from the territory of the Chisos Basin Campground. It is located at an altitude of 1,600 meters and offers breathtaking views of the Chisos mountain range.

15. Headlands, Michigan, USA

Headlands National Park ( Headlands International Dark Sky Park ) is 240 hectares of forest that reliably protect the reserve from light pollution and urban smog. Lectures and seminars on astronomy are organized monthly to attract tourists. And for those interested in culture and history, there is even a separate program: about the idea of stars among the indigenous peoples of North America.

All of these monthly gatherings are free of charge and are held regardless of weather conditions. The local level of purity of the sky allows you to watch the stars in any bad weather, even in snow, even in rain. The main events in the Headlands are the annual meteor showers. For example, the Quadrantids in January, the Perseids in August, the Geminids in December. Seeing the reflections of meteor showers in the waters of Lake Michigan is an experience of a lifetime!

16. Jigoa, Ohio, USA

The Jigoa County Observatory is a local landmark. The observation park covers only a thousand acres, but from here you can see the Milky Way, lunar craters, constellations and nebulae. The observatory and the planetarium have the necessary equipment, and platforms for portable telescopes are also provided. In 2017, the astronomical station was renovated, and its technical equipment was replenished with a 36-inch telescope.

17. Hortobagy, Hungary

Crystal clear skies over the Hortobágy National Park ( Hortobágy National Park ) have been preserved thanks to a local conservation campaign. The fact is that Hortobágy has become a haven for many rare insects and birds, so artificial lighting in the park is unacceptable. Lanterns frighten local animals, prevent them from orienting themselves, building dwellings, and, as a result, from breeding.

Other interesting features of the park include the Nine Arch Bridge, one of the longest bridges in Hungary. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Even on the territory of the reserve there are several museums dedicated to local life and culture.

By the way, the beauty of the sky above Hortobad is an integral part of the region's history. The lands of the park are partly owned by two hundred shepherd families. Their ancestors were guided by the stars, which showed them the way and the best places for pastures. The current shepherds have preserved the life of those times, and can tell a lot of interesting things about the stars and other phenomena of the night sky.

18. Clayton Lake, New Mexico, USA

Tours of dinosaur footprints are given during the day and telescopes are pointed at the dark sky at night. In Clayton Lake Park ( Clayton Lake State Park ) the sky is really black, one of the darkest in the country. Because of this, many constellations and objects can be seen without a telescope.

But if you still want to look through the eyepiece, the local observatory is at your service. She has at her disposal a computerized telescope, as well as an impressive monitor, which displays an image of recorded celestial objects.

Clayton Lake does not offer regular lectures and seminars. However, you should not be upset! You will often encounter groups of other visitors, tours and private guides. Local astronomy clubs like to visit here: if you are lucky to meet them, they will definitely tell you something interesting, also for free.

19. Goldendale, Washington, USA

The main feature of the observatory ( Goldendale Observatory State Park ) in the city and county of Goldendale is a large 24.5-inch telescope. It was designed by four amateur astronomers. As soon as the man-made unit was completed, the guys began to look for a place to install it. In the nearby cities of Washington, the sky was too polluted with light and exhaust, and as a result, astronomers decided to donate the telescope to Goldendale. But on one condition: the city authorities must build an observatory.

The telescope is now owned by the local college and can be used by anyone. Temporarily, it is located in the old building of the observatory - the Maryhill Stonehenge campus. A new observation deck is being built nearby. Its opening is scheduled for the end of 2019.

20. Zselik, Hungary

Zselik Park ( Zselic Starry Sky Park ), located in the southwest of the nature protection complex, is one of the best places in Europe to observe the zodiacal light. This amazing phenomenon appears in all its glory in spring and autumn. Although the rest of the time there is also something to do. For example, educational films are shown in the planetarium, lectures are given, excursions are taken around the park. There is also a museum collection of meteorites, and most importantly, a powerful telescope through which you can see the stars in any weather.

21. Galloway, UK

Scottish Park Scottish Dark Sky Observatory practically does not use artificial lighting on its territory, and the nearest settlement is several tens of kilometers away. All this provides the park with a high level of purity of the night sky: here you can see almost seven thousand stars!

The park's observatory has two powerful telescopes to observe the stars, the Northern Lights and numerous meteors can be seen with the naked eye. You can even see stellar nebulae! However, to consider them in more detail, it is better to use the equipment.

If there are no events planned at the observatory, admission is free. There are also observation platforms, a planetarium, tourist centers and rental of tourist equipment. You can freely walk around the reserve both on your own and with a guided tour.

22. Cherry Springs, Pennsylvania, USA

Cherry Springs National Park Authority ( Cherry Springs State Park ) never planned to make the reserve an attractive place for astrotourism. However, the first astronomer came here himself, without any advertising. Something in the night sky over Pennsylvania attracted him, and he persevered here with a telescope until he attracted the attention of other amateur astronomers. Cherry Springs soon became a popular spot for observing the night sky, and in 2009year became part of the IDA.

In summer every Saturday and Friday, and in winter and autumn every Saturday night tours take place in the park. Depending on the season, you can see the constellation Sagittarius or Cassiopeia among more than ten thousand stars. Sometimes the visibility is so high that the Milky Way casts shadows right on the ground - you don't see that every day!

23. Natural Bridges, Utah, USA

Sky above Natural Bridges National Monument ( Natural Bridges National Monument ) can be called unique. The DIA noted that nowhere else in the US has the sky been so dark and crowded with stars than here. The main attraction is the Owachomo sandstone bridge. A fantastic picture opens up through its arch, as if through a rift in the sky you observe millions of the brightest luminaries.

And although any astronomical object can be seen with the naked eye, a powerful 16. 5-inch Newtonian telescope is at the disposal of tourists. With it, you can see nebulae, galaxies, star clusters, planets, supernovae, meteorites - whatever your heart desires!

Bonus: Stargazing in the Maldives!

An observatory is located at the Soneva Fushi Resort in Baa Atoll. This is the only observatory in the world that is so close to the resort complex.

The observatory has a powerful telescope that will show you detailed images of the mountains and craters on the Moon, the moons of Jupiter, the rings of Saturn and the Cassini fissure, distant galaxies and many stars. Considering that the sky in the Maldives is clear and transparent, there is no light or man-made pollution for you, the visibility should be simply amazing!

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A third of the inhabitants of the Earth do not know where you can see the Milky Way

November 13, 2019
Travel Tips
Elena Sazhaeva

The ancient inhabitants of Babylon associated the accumulation of bright reflections in the night sky with the revered divine Tiamat. They claimed that it was the tail of their goddess. The ancient Greek communities believed that this luminous plume was the source of the divine power of Hercules. It was not until the 10th year of the 17th century that Galileo answered an intriguing question. He found the best place to see the Milky Way with a telescope. Having examined it, the thinker came to an unequivocal conclusion: all these are stars, only stars.

Milky Way in the night sky

According to scientists, the stellar Milky Way is a spiral galaxy with a bar. In the composition of the Galaxy:

Earth;
Solar system;
other stars (200-400 billion) visible to the naked eye.

The diameter of the Galaxy is about 100 thousand light years, the average thickness is one thousand light years. In shape, the star dance looks like a flat disk. In the structure of the Galaxy:

disk (diameter of the Galaxy), rotating faster than the halo, which gathered all the stars near the plane;
nucleus centered in the constellation Sagittarius and having a massive black hole;
arms are spiral, in one of them the system of the Sun is located, namely in the arm of Orion, inside, from the edge;
halo is a dark matter of spherical shape that goes beyond the limits of the Galaxy.

There are suggestions that the Magellanic clouds (small and large) in four billion years will be absorbed by the Milky Way, and in another billion years this great Milky Way will itself be in the power of Andromeda. This Nebula will engulf him. According to another verdict, our Galaxy is waiting for a devastating meeting with the Andromeda galaxy. But this is guesswork.

How not to lose the cosmic "Way"

Scientists have concluded that about a third of the inhabitants of the Earth do not know where the Milky Way can be seen. People simply do not have such an opportunity: in their places of residence, due to the increased brightness of the sky, it is impossible to see the bewitching spectacle of the stars in the night sky, the beauty of their own Galaxy. Researcher Chriss Elvidge complains that for two generations of human beings have been living in areas where space objects are not visible at all. A physicist is not indifferent to the fact that the population there is deprived of any connection with space. Along with the expansion of cities, an increase in population, more and more lighting is required. Artificially produced light hides celestial objects from astronomers, insufficiently dark skies hinder the ability to study the starry country. In addition, unnatural lighting has a bad effect on wildlife, and the species list of fauna that has been negatively affected by light pollution is increasing.

Night photographer set

The best assistants for a night sky photographer are a headlamp, a handy tripod and a camera with a lens. Long exposure shots are not possible without a tripod. Without a flashlight, it is difficult and unsafe to be in pitch darkness. In advance, you will need to think about where you can see the Milky Way. At the same time, it is better to stay away from cities where there is no artificial light, but there is clear air and cloudless weather. Although they say that nothing can be seen in the dark, it has its own aesthetics, because in the nighttime transparency one can see the majestic cosmos. What is seen in the night sky is beyond any human consciousness. Perhaps the alluring depth of space is connected with the past and future of each of the earthlings. The atoms of our bodies and the surrounding world are in eternal relationship with the great stellar universe.