National and state parks offer unique opportunities for visitors to learn about and experience astronomy. Many parks have dark skies, far from the light pollution of urban areas, making them ideal locations for stargazing and astronomical observation.
Several national parks have been designated as International Dark Sky Parks by the International Dark-Sky Association, which recognizes parks for their exceptional or distinguished quality of starry nights and for their efforts to preserve night skies for present and future generations. Examples of these include Big Bend National Park in Texas, and Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument in Arizona.
Many national and state parks also offer ranger-led star talks, telescope viewing, and astronomy programs that educate visitors about the night sky, the stars, planets, and galaxies. Some parks also have observatories or telescopes available for public use.
Additionally, many national and state parks also offer special events such as astronomy festivals, stargazing parties and meteor showers viewing events, which are popular among visitors and provide an opportunity to learn about astronomy and enjoy the night sky with experts.
It’s worth noting that some parks may have restrictions on the use of lights, flashlights and other sources of light, during stargazing and astronomy events. Visitors should always be aware of the park’s regulations and follow them to protect the dark skies and the experience of observing the night sky.