North America offers a plethora of stunning natural landscapes that make it the perfect spot for stargazing enthusiasts. From wide desolate deserts to sprawling national parks and ice-topped peaks, North America offers some of the best spots for stargazing. Here are some of the best spots to see beautiful celestial scenery in North America.
Mauna Kea, Hawaii
Mauna Kea is one of the best spots in North America to see a beautiful star-filled sky. The high altitude and absence of light pollution offer an ideal location for stargazing. Being near the Equator means that you’ll be able to see both northern and southern hemisphere constellations. Mauna Kea is home to some of the world’s best telescopes and observatories, including the Keck Observatory, Subaru Telescope, and NASA’s Infrared Telescope Facility.
Cherry Springs State Park, Pennsylvania
Cherry Springs State Park in Pennsylvania is one of the best places for stargazing in the northeastern U.S. The park is located in a rural area with limited light pollution, offering the perfect dark sky for stargazing. This makes it easy to see the Milky Way, shooting stars, and even planets with the naked eye. The park also hosts a Dark Sky Viewing Area, which is specifically designed to provide an ideal location for stargazing.
Jasper National Park, Canada
Located in Alberta, Canada, Jasper National Park has been designated as a Dark Sky Preserve by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. This means the park has low levels of light pollution and provides an ideal viewing location for the stunning northern lights. The park also offers guided constellation tours and presentations from astronomers.
Death Valley National Park, California
Death Valley National Park in California is a desert region with some of the clearest night skies in North America. The park is well-known for its unique geological features and offers spectacular views of shooting stars, meteor showers, and the Milky Way. One of the best things about stargazing in Death Valley National Park is that you don’t need any special equipment to see the stars.
Big Bend National Park, Texas
Located in southwest Texas, Big Bend National Park is an ideal spot for stargazing. The park has been designated as an International Dark Sky Park by the International Dark-Sky Association. The park sees relatively few visitors which makes it a perfect spot for stargazing. Visitors can also attend Dark Sky Programs arranged by the National Park Service and watch the Milky Way in all its glory.
Conclusion
North America has numerous well-known spots for stargazing, offering stunning celestial shows to both seasoned astronomers and casual sky-watchers. These are just a few of the many fantastic stargazing spots in North America, and there are plenty of other places to explore for those keen on watching the stars in all their glory.
