Stargazing

 

The Milky Way over Grand View Point

NPS/Rhodes Smartt

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 utter dark of a moonless night in Canyonlands surprises many visitors. As few as one in ten Americans live in areas 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 Canyonlands, the naked eye is sufficient to witness a wealth of stars. Under the right conditions, common binoculars may even reveal the rings of Saturn. Canyonlands preserves a wealth of resources. Many, like natural darkness, have become more significant as they become increasingly rare outside the park.

Canyonlands National Park is a proud member of the Colorado Plateau Dark Sky Cooperative— a voluntary effort to link communities, Tribes, businesses, state and federal agencies, and citizens in a collaborative effort to celebrate the view of the cosmos, minimize the impact of outdoor lighting, and restore and preserve natural darkness on the Colorado Plateau.

 

Stargazing Tips

Plan ahead & check conditions.
No two nights are alike at Canyonlands so it's helpful to check conditions and moon phases before you head out to stargaze. For updates on cloud cover and other night sky conditions, use the Canyonlands National Park Clear Sky Chart.

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.

 

2024 Night Sky Almanac

Moon Phases
	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

Equinoxes and Solstices

Spring Equinox March 20

Summer Solstice June 20

Autumnal Equinox September 22

Winter Solstice December 21

Meteor Showers

Lyrids April 21-22

Eta Aquarids May 5-6

Perseids August 11-12

Draconids October 7-8

Orionids October 20-21

Leonids November 16-17

Geminids December 13-14

Ursids December 21-22

Quadrantids January 2-3, 2025

 

Visitors gather for a telescope program at Grand View Point.

NPS/Chris Wonderly

 

NPS/Veronica Verdin

Stargaze with a Ranger

Check out this year's Southeast Utah Astrofest!

Keep an eye out for regularly scheduled night sky and other ranger led programs throughout the season.

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

 

 

Spot the Station!

Did you know you can see the International Space Station fly overhead? If you're in the right place at the right time, you'll see a bright spot sail across the sky. Look for an open area with a clear view of the sky. Check below for the next sighting.