Stargazing

 

Milky Way seen over Curecanti

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.

 

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.

NPS graphic

Stargazing at Curecanti

The 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 seasons

Experiencing 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.

 

Telescope viewing programs are offered at the Elk Creek Campground

NPS Photo/Kat Connelly

Astronomy Programs

Park rangers present evening programs at the Elk Creek Campground amphitheater on astronomy and telescope viewing. Check the park calendar for upcoming offerings.

The Gunnison Valley Observatory has a long history of partnership with Curecanti in providing astronomical experiences to visitors and residents. The observatory is located outside Gunnison, CO (east of the national recreation area) and hosts programs during the summer.

For Kids

Check 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

Month	Full Moon	New Moon
January	25	11
February	24	9
March	25	10
April	24	8
May	23	8
June	22	6
July	21	6
August	19	4
September	18	3
October	17	2
November	15	1
December	15	1, 30

2024 Major Meteor Showers

Dates listed are for predicted maximum viewing. Most of these showers are also active for a few nights before and after the predicted peak.

• Lyrids April 22
• Eta Aquarids May 5-6
• Delta Aquariids July 25-August 5
• Perseids August 12
• Orionids October 21-22
• Leonids November 18
• Geminids December 13-14
• Ursids December 22
• Quadrantids January 2-3, 2025