Last updated: September 25, 2023
Article
Enjoy the View Like Jeremy White
How do you enjoy the view?
The Enjoy the View Like Us series invites National Park Service employees to share their stories about their favorite park views. The ways to enjoy the view are as unique as parks and their visitors. We hope these stories inspire you to enjoy the view! Learn more about scenic views in national parks.
NPS /Jeremy White
“Gazing up at a pristine night sky is a humbling and awe-inspiring experience. To view a star filled sky while surrounded by towering Organ Pipe and Saguaro cactus is unforgettable.”
This is how Jeremy White describes the view of the starry night sky from Pozo Nuevo Road in in Arizona's Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument.
Jeremy is a physical scientist with the National Park Service Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division. “Our team supports parks in the preservation and restoration of natural skies and soundscapes. We also advance scientific understanding and inspire public appreciation of natural sounds and night skies.”
NPS / Jeremy White
What makes this view so special?
The Sonoran Desert has always been one of Jeremy’s favorite environments with its “rich aromas, charismatic cacti, and incredible biodiversity. When immersed in this landscape on a clear moonless night with thousands upon thousands of stars overhead you feel a sense of timelessness, and gratitude that such a view exists. I enjoy any chance I have to observe our cosmos, whether I am alone with the stars or sharing the amazing view with friends and family.”
The first thing that stands out in a naturally dark place like Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is the sheer number of stars. Thousands of tiny lights stand out in the dark sky. Next is the ethereal band of light arching across the sky, our own Milky Way Galaxy. Jeremy says, “What is so unique about Organ Pipe at nighttime is the skyline. Tall black silhouettes of Saguaro and Organ Pipe cactus and spiky tendrils of Ocotillo rise up from the landscape toward the stars.”
What should visitors know?
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument works to preserve its night sky by using appropriate outdoor lighting to minimize light trespass and improve visitor experience. No wonder that Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument has some of the most pristine dark skies free of light pollution in the entire United States, making it a perfect place to stargaze. Visitors can enjoy the view of the night sky from almost anywhere in the park. The stars appear most numerous when the moon is new or in a Crecent phase. The Milky Way galaxy is best seen in the summer months, while winter boasts longer and cooler nights. Discover great ways to star gaze at the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument or learn more about dark skies in your national parks!