[post_ads]In our hyper-plugged-in times it’s all too easy to forget how magical the night sky can be. (It doesn’t help that stoplights and 24-hour Rite Aid signs don’t exactly provide ideal viewing conditions.) But there are still plenty of great places to admire the cosmos. Whether you want to count meteors, spot constellations or just ponder existence, these eight spots are a brilliant (get it?) choice. So book your trip ASAP. And bonus: Most of them are just as awe-inspiring in daylight.
Cherry Springs State Park, Pennsylvania
Widely considered to be the best stargazing destination east of the Mississippi, this park’s remote location atop a plateau means an open, uninterrupted sky with almost no light pollution. Leave your flashlight behind: On the clearest nights, the Milky Way is bright enough to cast shadows.
Widely considered to be the best stargazing destination east of the Mississippi, this park’s remote location atop a plateau means an open, uninterrupted sky with almost no light pollution. Leave your flashlight behind: On the clearest nights, the Milky Way is bright enough to cast shadows.
The site of North America’s tallest peak is an incredible place to see stars (not to mention stunning landscapes), but you also have a good chance of spotting another skyward phenomenon: the Northern Lights. Due to the park’s high latitude, you won’t get much darkness in the summer; the best stargazing (and aurora-gazing) can be found in fall, winter and early spring. (Bring a parka.)
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Backpackers flock to Big Sky country for its breathtaking mountains and lakes, pristine ecosystem, wildlife sightings—keep an eye out for mountain goats and moose—and, yes, unreal celestial displays, thanks to a location far from any major cities. (And there are a handful of lodges and chalets for those who aren’t looking to go full Wild.)
This astronomical center in the Sonoran Desert houses the largest and most diverse collection of optical and radio telescopes not just in the country, but in the world. It’s an active research center, so you’ll need to book one of the nighttime tours to use the telescopes, but trust us, these high-tech instruments are leagues beyond that hobby ’scope you got for your ninth birthday.
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