![]() NPS Photo Many of the darkest skies in the country are found at national park sites. Some visitors may come from places where light pollution hinders views of the night skies. Others may never have experienced an unobstructed view of a starry night sky or the Milky Way. Curecanti National Recreation Area was certified as an International Dark Sky Park in 2021. Astronomy and telescope viewing programs are offered in the summer. Throughout the year, visitors can experience and view night skies from land and water. ![]() NPS graphic Stargazing at CurecantiThe park does not close and allows for night sky viewing at all hours. Overlooks and campgrounds that are far from the road are better shielded from the light of passing cars. These locations are great for stargazing, using a personal telescope, or for astrophotography. Trails to the water level, such as Pine Creek Trail or Curecanti Creek Trail, are dark but have limited sky visibility. Visiting in the winter? Enjoy the unique experience of cross-country skiing or snowshoeing by moonlight or headlamp. Red light-equipped headlamps or flashlights are best to help preserve night vision and reduce light pollution. Viewing times and seasonsExperiencing moonlight in such a dark place can be extraordinary. However, bright light from the moon means faint stars and the Milky Way are not visible. The best time to view our galaxy is during the new moon phase, or at times when the moon rises late in the night. Check the moon phase, moonrise, sunrise, and sunset times for Curecanti. The Milky Way shines brighter in the summer than the winter. This is because we face the center of our galaxy on summer nights, while we face the edge of our galaxy on winter nights. As we look to the center, we look at the combined light of more stars than when we look toward the edge. In the summer, the Milky Way rises higher and higher throughout the night, resting directly overhead late in the evening. During the fall, the Milky Way appears directly overhead very early in the evening. ![]() NPS Photo/Kat Connelly Astronomy ProgramsPark rangers present evening programs at the Elk Creek Campground amphitheater on astronomy and telescope viewing. Check the park calendar for upcoming offerings. For KidsCheck out the Junior Ranger Night Explorer program, which encourages young park visitors to explore the starry side of their national parks. Activities include learning about stars and galaxies, writing creative mythology about constellations, and using all senses to explore the night environment at a national park. Pick up a free booklet from the visitor center or download online. 2024 Moon Phases
|
Last updated: August 20, 2024