It was the silence that struck me the most. As my husband and I zipped down Interstate 10, heading fromLos AngelestoJoshua Tree, the IMAX scene before our rental car began to shift — the bright city lights faded in the distance, the streaming streak of cars tapered off one by one, th...
If your kids can get past the ominous name of this gorgeous expanse of Mohave Desert, they'll be ready to gaze upon one of the darkest skies in the country. Spanning 3.4 million acres of California near the Nevada border, this park is the largest national park outside Alaska. It is als...
Go in the summertime, preferably June or July, and walk over to Cap Rock to discover one of my favourite stargazing spots in the California national park. Read Next Stargazing in Joshua Tree: A Complete Guide Bare Dark Sky Observatory North Carolina is home to one of the best educational st...
The best way to get started in stargazing is to find your local astronomy club. These groups often host star parties, and bring a large telescope. Events like these help you learn more about the skies in your local area, and provide you with an opportunity to use equipment you may not w...
Camping in Joshua Tree Pitch a tent and escape the city lights in Joshua Tree National Park, home to several first-come, first-servecampsitesand some of the best dark night skies in the country. Nothing says chill like sleeping under a blanket of twinkling stars (s’mores, please!) surrou...
Joshua Tree National Park, the “nearest convenient place to go stargazing” for the 18 million people living in LA, hosts a night sky festival every fall. As luck would have it, this year’s dates overlap with a “ring of fire” solar eclipse. From Joshua Tree, the moon will appear ...
planned a West Coast road trip around a moonless night in Joshua Tree National Park. “Coming from a place where it’s mostly light polluted, it was essential for me to find a spot where I could see the stars or even the Milky Way.” Check out designated stargazing areas in Hidden Vall...
If you’re looking for the darkest skies on earth,International Dark Sky Parksare areas designated for their pristine night skies and protected for public access. Some of our favorite public parks—likeJoshua Tree(CA),Zion(UT), andCherry Springs(PA)—have earned this special protection. ...
the darkness is even more prominent - and lengthy. In December, sunset can start as early as 4:30pm with the sky going completely dark by 5pm. Just remember to bring layers when heading to the four designated stargazing areas in the park: temperatures in Joshua Tree tend to drop quickly ...
9. Joshua Tree National Park Photo credit: NPS/Brad Sutton Generally speaking,L.A.isn’t in great city for stargazing. However, a two-hour drive away liesJoshua Tree National Park, one of the best places for stargazing in California. An official International Dark Sky Park, Joshua Tree Nati...