United States & Canada

Find your way to real dark sky

A field guide to dark-sky parks, meteor showers, aurora and eclipses, built for families, road-trippers and lifelong stargazers alike.

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Next Up In The Sky

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2026-09-24 to 2028-12-31

Aurora Outlook: Solar Cycle 25 Decline

NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center places Solar Cycle 25 maximum around July 2025 (plus or minus eight months), meaning elevated solar activity and a good chance of aurora-producing storms continues into 2026 and 2027 before gradually declining through 2028.

In days
2026-10-04

Saturn at Opposition

Saturn is opposite the Sun in our sky and at its closest and brightest for the year, rising at sunset and visible all night.

In days
2026-10-21

Orionids Meteor Shower Peak 2026

The Orionids, debris from Halley's Comet, typically produce 10-20 meteors per hour at their peak, though a waxing gibbous Moon (about five days from full) will wash out fainter meteors this year.

In days

Where The Sky Is Still Dark

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park

AMC Maine Woods

ME

AMC manages the lands for multiple uses, including biological conservation, sustainable forestry, backcountry recreation, and environmental education.

lodging

Antelope Basecamp

OR

Antelope Basecamp is open year-round and welcomes both overnight guests and small groups seeking guided stargazing experiences.

park

Antelope Island State Park

UT

The largest in the Great Salt Lake, the island’s land area fluctuates according to the rise and fall of the lake level.

Tonight’s Moon

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The Moon is calculating tonight

Worked out the way an almanac would, straight from today’s date. Want rise and set times for your city? Visit the moon tool.

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Laws By State

Outdoor lighting rules vary a lot from place to place, from statewide lighting codes to small towns with their own shielding rules. We track all 50 US states, DC, and every Canadian province.

ArizonaColoradoMainePennsylvaniaTexasUtah+ 58 more
Look up your state’s laws

How we score each jurisdiction

Every guide covers statewide lighting statutes, municipal shielding rules, and nearby certified dark-sky places.

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More To Explore

For kids and beginners

Your first night under a truly dark sky

Simple star-hopping guides, printable constellation cards and a packing list, no telescope required.

Start here →
The research desk

Primary sources, cited in full

Every fact on this site links back to NASA, NOAA, USNO, DarkSky International or the original statute.

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