Locations Around the World With Stunning Views for Stargazing
Living in or near a big city has its advantages, but one big disadvantage is the light pollution that hides the gorgeous night sky. The International Dark Sky Association has called locations around the world “dark sky parks,” which means they offer exceptional views of the stars.
The website explains:
The IDA International Dark Sky Park (IDSP) is a land of exceptional or outstanding quality starry nights and nighttime environments that are specially protected for its scientific, natural, educational, cultural heritage and / or public enjoyment. Land can be publicly or privately owned, provided that the landowner (s) agree to the right of permanent permanent public access to certain parcels included in the IDA definition.
They have a list for each location and you can also view their map here . Most of the locations are in the United States, but anyone can submit a park for review if it falls under certain rules . Some are obvious, like the Grand Canyon, but there are others:
- Cherry Springs National Park , Pennsylvania
- Big Bend National Park , Texas
- Hortobagy National Park , Hungary
- Kissimmee Prairie Conservation State Park , Florida
- Yeongyang Firefly Eco Park , South Korea
- Headlands , Michigan
- Death Valley National Park , California
- Oracle State Park , Arizona
- Goldendale Observatory, Washington
- Warrambungle National Park , Australia
For a complete list and more information on Dark Sky Parks, click on the link below.
Dark Sky International Parks | International Dark Sky Association