In the divided society we currently live in, you might wonder, what does anyone truly have in common? Though we all have differences, there’s one commonality that has prevailed for all of humanity: we are all floating on a rock, flying through outer space at over a million miles an hour.
Thanks to the rapid advancement of technology in the past century, we can observe much more of the universe than we ever thought possible.
The scale and sheer size of the universe make it impossible to truly learn everything, but it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try.
Humanity has been fascinated by he cosmos for centuries. Gazing up at the night sky and counting the seemingly infinite number of stars is something we've all done once in our life.
However, the amount of stars we see in our skies seems to be dwindling, or at least our view of them. According to the "World Atlas of Artificial Night Sky Brightness," 80% of the world's population now lives under 'skyglow', making it nearly impossible to see the night sky in its true glory.
Less than a century ago, Americans could step outside and see a fascinating stellar light show with countless constellations. Now, you have to travel to a few select places in the United States to get that same view. Here are five of the darkest spots in the country to go stargazing.
Big Bend National Park, Texas
Our stellar search begins in the state of Texas. Big Bend National Park is located in southwest Texas. Known for its natural resources, the park covers an area of over 1,000 square miles. Big Bend is one of the most sought after places in North America for stargazers, and has the least light pollution of any national park in the whole country.
Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park, Florida
Our next stop is another dark sky location in the state of Florida. Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park is one of Florida's largest state parks, boasting more than 54,000 acres of grassland. It offers one of the darkest views of the night sky in the southeast region of the United States. It was recognized in 2016 by the International Dark Sky Association as Florida's first Dark Sky Park.
Cherry springs state park, pennsylvania
In the northeast, stargazers can trek to Cherry Springs State Park located deep in the Susquehannock State Forest. Open all year-round, the park features a 360-degree view of the unobstructed sky atop their "Astronomy Field." The park also hosts 2 star parties each year for those looking to see the Milky Way.
Great sand dunes national park, Colorado
Great Sand Dunes National Park spans over 30 miles of land in Colorado. The park offers spectacular views of the nation's largest dunes with hardly any vegetation. Things get even more beautiful when the sun goes down. Thanks to the lack of artificial light, Great Sand Dunes is the perfect place to view a starlit sky with minimal skyglow.
a cruise ship
Last on the list is a bit of a wild card. While it isn't guaranteed that you'll be able to see a truly dark sky on a cruise, if you are able to, it will take your breath away. In the middle of the ocean, you'll have one of the darkest sky views on the entire planet. With no excess light pollution to impede your view, you can see more of the Milky Way than anywhere on land. That is, of course, if the cruise ship itself isn't causing too much light pollution. Some cruise lines host star parties where they intentionally dim the lights on the ship to give cruisers a stellar view of the cosmos.
These are only a few places in the United States to view a truly dark night sky. To view a full list and a map of light pollution in the US, click here.
Related
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Tell your Smart Speaker to "PLAY 1080 KRLD"
Sign Up and Follow NewsRadio 1080 KRLD