Stargazing

 

NPS/Will Pedro

 

The national parks and monuments of the Colorado Plateau have long been popular destinations for travelers. In addition to their stunning landscapes and rich cultural history, these areas share another resource: some of the darkest skies remaining in the contiguous 48 United States.

The darkness of a moonless night at Arches surprises many visitors. As few as one in ten Americans lives in an area where they can see the estimated 2,500 stars that should be visible under normal conditions. In many cities, the night sky is completely obscured by the glow of urban settlement. At Arches, the naked eye is sufficient to witness a wealth of stars. Under the right conditions, common binoculars may even reveal the rings of Saturn. Arches' relative isolation from the artificial light of urban areas makes it an ideal place for viewing the night sky. In 2019 Arches National Park became certified as an official International Dark Sky Park.

 

NPS/Kat Connelly

Stargazing Tips

Plan ahead & check conditions.
No two nights are alike at Arches so it's helpful to check conditions and moon phases before you head out to stargaze. You'll see the darkest skies during a new moon or when the moon is below the horizon. Even the light from a thin crescent moon can make it more difficult to see fainter stars or even the Milky Way. Keep track of sunrise and sunset times and moon phases at discovermoab.com.

Choose an ideal location.
A good stargazing location is key. Look for a high viewpoint or a wide open area with limited light interference (away from roads & buildings) to see the most stars.

Give yourself time.
It can take 20-30 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the dark. Spend enough time outside away from bright lights to allow your eyes to adjust.

Use a red light.
White lights from flashlights, cell phones, or vehicle headlights can harm your night vision. A red light won't impact your night vision as much. Many flashlights and headlamps have a red-light feature, or you can simply cover your white light with red cellophane.

Bring a star chart.
A star chart or planisphere can help you find the constellations and Milky Way. Check for star charts and other stargazing tips at park visitor centers.

 

Where to Stargaze

On a clear night, you can see great stars just about anywhere in the park. Areas off the main park road with few obstructions of the sky are best. The farther north you drive, away from the lights of Moab, the darker the sky will be.

Try stargazing at these areas:

• Balanced Rock Picnic Area
• The Windows Section
• Garden of Eden Viewpoint
• Panorama Point

 

2026 Night Sky Almanac

Moon Phases
	Full Moon	New Moon
January	3	18
February	1	17
March	3	18
April	2	17
May	1 & 31	16
June	29	14
July	29	14
August	28	12
September	26	10
October	26	10
November	24	9
December	24	8

 

Equinoxes and Solstices

• Spring Equinox March 20
• Summer Solstice June 21
• Autumnal Equinox September 23
• Winter Solstice December 21

Meteor Showers

• Quadrantids January 3-4
• Lyrids April 22-23
• Eta Aquarids May 5-6
• Perseids August 12-13
• Draconids October 8-9
• Orionids October 20-21
• Leonids November 17-18
• Geminids December 13-14
• Ursids December 22-23

Stargaze with a Ranger

Visit the page listed below for a calendar of stargazing events in southeast Utah.