Who doesn’t want to see the Milky Way?
Since I was a kid, I have always loved to watch the sky at night.
In what states can you see the Milky Way?
If you want a nice view of the Milky Way, go to any national park located very far away from the urban cities.
You will see most of these national parks in the western half of America, from Arizona going up to Montana and Idaho.
It extends to the Rockies in the Far East.
These places are not less than two hundred miles away from the urban cities.
The near-zero low-light population in the desert areas of Arizona, Utah, and Nevada makes that region perfect locations for stargazing.
Most of the time, the night skies here are cloudless.
What states can you see the Milky Way?
You can view the Milky Way from any national park that is not close to any developed city.
Some of these ideal places can be found in the western half of the United States, starting from Arizona and stretching to Montana and Idaho.
Stargazing from National Parks gives you a wider view and the opportunity to view the remote areas of the sky.
Most National Parks are located a hundred miles away from the developed cities.
The closest habited places are small towns and villages.
The quantity of light from such places does not constitute light pollution.
All National Parks are among the protected areas.
So, authorities strictly regulate the erection of buildings on them.
This regulation stops it from being urbanized, and freeways will not be introduced in them.
The quantity of light that comes from National Parks because of this regulation is minimal.
This is why you can see all the stars in the night sky and the Milky Way galaxy from the National Parks.
What is an International Dark Sky Park?
A non-profit organization, the International Dark-Sky Association, designated most national parks in America as International Dark Sky Parks (IDSP).
The simplest description of International Dark Sky Parks is certified areas in which night skies are exceptional and continue to maintain a good nocturnal environment.
Their primary aim is to limit the sources of light in the park, to get all people coming to visit the park informed and educated on their aim and the gains of eradicating light pollution generally.
The International Dark-Sky Association lit the footpaths that lead to the visitor’s center plaza from the parking spaces with compliant lights.
The low level of light at the park goes a long way to help in stargazing and other astronomy activities.
For instance, one of the recognized IDSPs, the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, located in Colorado, uses artificial lighting only on necessary conditions, like when the safety of life is an issue.
The only time motion detectors are used to switch on lights is when a house or a particular small park area is in use.
Low-energy bulbs are used for all outdoor lights.
The Low-impact bulbs collect all light rays and direct them to the ground, preventing them from scattering in different directions.
US National Parks With The Best Views of the Milky Way?
Great Western Starry Way
Many American national parks are located in various places in this place.
They are collectively named The Great Western Starry Way.
Most national parks in America have now approved International Dark Sky Parks (IDSPs).
You will see most of them at the places we identified in our last paragraph.
You will have a spectacular view of the night sky from these parks.
The Canyonlands National Park is a nice place for stargazing.
The park is located in the southeastern region of Utah.
The level of light pollution in the park is very low because it is located in a remote desert area.
There are no farms or ranches near the park.
The only things located near it are small towns that are located within a radius of 100-mile to Canyonlands.
The nearest urban city to it is about 200 miles away.
So you will have a clear view of the Milky Way from this park, and a lot of details about it.
Another good stargazing spot is The Great Basin, National Park.
It is located very far from the closest urban city to it.
The park has large acres of land that are not habited around it.
A good part of the park is at the height of above 8,000 feet above sea level.
The highest peak measures about 11,000 feet.
This protects the pick of the park from any minimal light pollution that may be coming from below it.
However, the pick of this park has less atmosphere than many other American national parks.
You will see the stars clearer from the Great Basin National Park than you will see them from parks that are at low altitudes.
Another certified International Dark Sky Parks (IDSPs) national park I think is the best for stargazing is Bryce Canyon national park.
Bryce Canyon national park is located in the southern region of Utah.
It is in the heart of the United States’ dark sky area.
Few people are living around it, and the area’s climate is always dry and cloudless.
Bryce Canyon national park has a place of high altitudes, like Great Basin National Park, which is 8,000 feet above sea level.
Any night the sky is clear, and there is no moon, you will see stars in their thousands.
You will see the Milky Way moving about in the night sky from horizon to horizon.
Milky Way Seasonality
During the spring, you will see the Milky Way rising from the northern hemisphere.
From mid-March, you will see the galaxy rising a few hours before you see the sun in the morning from all the national parks in America.
You will have a clearer view of the Milky Way during summer.
This is the time you will see the center very clearly at sunset.
You will see less Milky Way’s galactic core during the fall months.
This is when you start seeing them in the early hours of the evening.
During the winter months, you will not see the core of the Milky Way from the northern hemisphere.
FAQs
Where is the Milky Way most visible in the US?
You will have the best view of the Milky Way from the following parks; Death Valley National Park, California, Arches National Park, Utah, Vermillion Cliffs National Monument, Arizona, Acadia National Park, Maine, Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, Arizona, Adirondack Mountains, New York, and Waimea Canyon, Kauai.
When can I see the Milky Way in the US?
Between March and September, you will see the Milky Way from the Northern Hemisphere, but between February and October is the Milky Way season.
What months can you see the Milky Way?
Spring months are between March and May.
This is when you will see the Milky Way a few hours before sunrise.
In June you will see it some hours before midnight.
You will have the best view of the galaxy at night during the summer months between June and August.
