Last year was a dream for astronomy enthusiasts like me, with brilliant low-latitude auroras, a total solar eclipse, and a bright comet that was easily visible to the naked eye. The good news is I’m just as excited for stargazing in 2025.

North America will enjoy an exceptional cadence of astronomical sights every season, starting with a buzzed-about planet parade on show now through late February, with a total lunar eclipse to follow in mid-March.

This is also a great year to be an aurora chaser. Now that the sun has entered solar maximum, we’ll enjoy heightened northern- and southern-lights activity. This phenomenon occurs roughly once every 11 years, and it could continue until at least this fall, and potentially into 2026. So now is the time to plan a trip to see the auroras; here are the destinations I recommend to do just that.

As an astrophotographer, I travel the world seeking dark skies free from light pollution, but I also love watching interstellar magic from my backyard in Cleveland, Ohio. This year, backyard astronomers across the U.S. can enjoy all kinds of night-sky events, most visible even through city lights.

Here are the astronomical sights and events I’m most excited about in 2025, with tips on where, when, and how to make the most of them.

February

Prime Milky Way Season Begins

Under dark skies, you can technically see the Milky Way all year long, but not all sightings are equally astounding. This month the view improves as the dynamic and photogenic galactic center of our spiral galaxy, known as the Milky Way core, reappears in the southeast at night.

Here’s why: Earth is located on a spiral arm of the Milky Way galaxy, roughly two-thirds from its center. Between November and late January, Earth’s orbit puts the sun between us and the Milky Way core. So instead of seeing its center, which is always found within the Sagittarius constellation, we only spot thin wisps of the galaxy’s outer fringes. It’s still a beautiful band of stars, but not the same. See below:

Come February, we’ve transited far enough around the sun to once again start seeing that luminous core, which consists of dense gas, stars, and dust. You can admire it a few hours before dawn this month; the farther south you are, the earlier it rises. The sight will only improve as the year goes on. Summer, when the galactic center is visible most of the night, is my favorite time to photograph it.

Tips and Tricks: Location is critical. You’ll need a dark sky and dim moon to fully appreciate the galactic center, which is apparent to the naked eye and especially dazzling in photographs. Give your eyes at least 20 minutes to adjust to the dark to see it best. And don’t travel too far north; the galactic center is only visible below 55 degrees latitude—roughly Edmonton, Canada. Dark-sky destinations farther south, like those in New Mexico, Texas, or Arizona, provide the best views in the contiguous U.S.

Extra! Extra!: Start your pre-dawn core-watching with some evening awe. Just after sunset in late February, stargazers can admire a planet parade, with all seven of our neighboring planetary bodies. Here’s how to watch this rare alignment.

March 13-14

Total Lunar Eclipse

If there’s one stargazing sight you absolutely should not miss this year, it’s the total lunar eclipse above North America. Overnight from March 13 to 14, Earth will slide between the sun and full moon, casting a shadow that dims the latter. The indirect sunlight will turn the moon a haunting tangerine hue, which is why it’s known as a blood moon.

Tips and Tricks: The entire event will occur over six hours, starting just before midnight Eastern Time on Thursday, March 13. But the full eclipse—when Earth’s shadow covers the entirety of the moon—will run from around 2:30 to 3:30 A.M. Eastern Time on Friday, March 14. (Exact timing depends on your viewing location; download a stargazing app to determine your local watch time.)

Lunar eclipses are not only visible to the naked eye; they’re observable from light-polluted cities. I watched last year’s partial lunar eclipse from my front porch in Cleveland and used to zoom in on the action.

Extra! Extra!: The moon may get all the attention this month, but keep an eye out for auroras, too. The northern lights are said to be especially powerful around the equinoxes, due to our planet’s tilt, and this year’s spring equinox happens on March 20. Here’s my step-by-step guide to catching auroras in the lower 48 states.

June 21–28

Grand Canyon Star Party

While you can spot many sights on this list from home, there’s nothing like admiring the cosmos with an expert. That’s why the —the National Park Service’s largest night-sky gathering—is on this list. The annual summer event, set in the DarkSky-certified Grand Canyon National Park, draws hundreds of astronomy enthusiasts and thousands of visitors for a week of laser-guided stargazing, astrophotography workshops, and telescope sessions to check out everything from Jupiter’s great red spot to star clusters and nebulae. Volunteers set up around 50 telescopes each night.

This year’s free festival will be spread across two locations: on the South Rim outside the visitor center, run in partnership with the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association, and on the North Rim at the Grand Canyon Lodge’s porch, with the Saguaro Astronomy Club of Phoenix.

Tips and Tricks: The full festival schedule will be released in March—check the for the latest news—but it’s a good idea to book your stay at the Grand Canyon now, due to the event’s popularity, combined with the fact it’s held in the high season. And if you’re after a real red-rock treat—stargazing from the floor of the Grand Canyon—don’t miss my guide to snagging a reservation at the iconic Phantom Ranch.

Extra! Extra!: While the Grand Canyon hosts the Park Service’s largest night-sky bonanza, many other national parks also put on star parties throughout the year. Those to consider include the , in Utah, which runs from June 25 to 28; the , in Nevada, from September 18 to 20; and Theodore Roosevelt National Park’s , in North Dakota, from September 19 to 21.

August 12–13

Perseid Meteor Shower

The most popular and prolific meteor shower of the year, the Perseids, will peak the night of August 12, with some potential for interstellar fireworks early on the mornings of August 11 and 12, too. This powerful shower can produce up to 100 soaring meteors per hour at its peak, but sadly 2025 isn’t the best year for it—that night in particular, the moon is quite full (85 percent), so it’ll wash out all but the brightest of them. That said, don’t skip this year’s Perseids, but do optimize your viewing.

Tips and Tricks: Head to a DarkSky-certified park, or better yet, book a night at a stargazing retreat and plan to stay up late. The best viewing typically happens after midnight and into the wee hours of the morning. That’s when the meteor shower’s point of origin, located in the Perseus constellation, is at its highest point in the sky. Plus, the Perseids are known to generate bright and colorful fireballs, often vivid enough to shine through moonlight and light pollution.

Extra! Extra!: There’s plenty to admire while you await those shooting stars. Approximately three hours before sunrise on both August 12 and 13, bright Venus and Jupiter will appear close together above the eastern horizon, not far below Perseus. The moon and Saturn will also travel near each other the nights of August 11 and 12, rising in the east roughly two hours after sunset.

August 19–20

Fall Planet Parade

We’ll have a pause in planet parades after February 2025’s seven-planet gathering, but the fun returns mid-August—and I’ll have my camera ready for this one, because it promises to be quite photogenic. In the pre-dawn hours of both August 19 and 20, roughly an hour before sunrise, Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter will appear in a diagonal line above the east horizon, with the waning crescent moon just to their left.

This autumn planet parade will be particularly spectacular because elusive Mercury, often obscured due to its proximity to the sun, will be visible. (It’s at its farthest distance from the sun from August 19 to 20.) That means we’ll have almost an hour of solid planet-parade watching before dawn.

Tips and Tricks: Continue to follow the diagonal line up the sky, above the northeast horizon, to see Uranus near the Pleiades star cluster. While Uranus typically requires a telescope for viewing, you can spot around six of the Pleiades stars unaided as well. Saturn is also easily visible atop the southwest horizon. Neptune is beside the ringed planet, too, but you’ll need a telescope to spot it.

October 6

A Supermoon Trio Starts

In October, supermoon season will finally be upon us, and it kicks off a string of three consecutive, brighter than average full moons to close out the year. The first supermoon is the�� October 6 Hunter’s Moon, which will appear larger and more vivid than normal.

The full Beaver Moon on November 5 will be the largest of the year, and the Cold Moon on December 4 will be the last full supermoon until December 2026.

A full supermoon doesn’t differ all that much from your average full moon; it appears about 7 percent bigger and 15 percent more luminous, according to . The phenomenon occurs when the moon reaches its closest point to Earth during its full-moon stage.

Tips and Tricks: I like to photograph supermoons in the evening hours when they rise above the horizon just before sunset. That’s when something NASA calls the “” makes it�� appear larger on the horizon than it is when it’s higher in the sky. For photographers, objects on the horizon (like skyscrapers, animals, or trees) can also add scale to make the moon look exceptionally dramatic. Another great reason to watch a supermoon above the eastern horizon just before dusk: it turns a gold hue.

Extra! Extra!: Adding to the awe is Saturn, which rises just to the right of the moon on October 6. The November and December supermoons will rise above the northeast horizon before sunset, too.

October 9

The Moon Covers Pleiades

Here’s another marvel that even city dwellers can enjoy. On this night, the nearly full moon will cross in front of the Pleiades star cluster—one of the brightest objects we can see outside of our solar system, with around six stars visible to the naked eye.

Watching a bright moon slide in front of any distinguishable space sight is thrilling—and many U.S. stargazers learned this firsthand with last month’s . The U.S. won’t see the moon cover another planet until 2026, but this lunar occultation of Pleiades, a deep-space object known for its cobalt-blue stars, will put on quite the show, and you need not travel far to see it.

The Pleiades cluster boasts over 1,000 stars, and you can spot the brightest of them even amid light pollution. So get out and enjoy this event from right outside your door—no gear required. In fact, the Pleiades star cluster is one of my favorite sights when stargazing at home in Cleveland.

Tips and Tricks: During this event, the moon will begin to travel in front of the Pleiades stars around 11 P.M. Eastern Time, concealing several of the blueish flecks as the night goes on. The stars will reappear as the moon reaches the other side roughly three hours later. (Use a stargazing app to determine exact timing.)

You can catch the show in the northeast sky; those on the West Coast will need clear views to the horizon since it will happen soon after the moon rises.

November 7–9

Aurora Summit

The boom in northern lights will continue through much of 2025, and you can hone your auroral hunting, and learn more about those dreamy sky swirls, at the annual Aurora Summit, this year in Red Cliff, Wisconsin. Now in its eighth year, the festival brings together night-sky enthusiasts for a weekend of seminars, photography workshops and forecasting tutorials by day, and, of course, guided aurora chasing by night.

This gathering takes place in my favorite region in the contiguous U.S. for aurora hunting—the Great Lakes—with the picturesque backdrop of Lake Superior and the scenic Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. While star parties abound in the U.S., this is one of the nation’s only festivals dedicated entirely to the northern lights.

Tips and Tricks: Bookings open on the in June. Consider the pre-event’s astrophotography boot camp if you want to elevate your night-sky photgraphy skills.

December 13–14

Geminid Meteor Shower

If there’s one meteor shower you should witness in 2025, it’s the Geminids. Under pristine skies free of light pollution, this year-end spectacle can produce upward of 150 meteors per hour when it peaks overnight between December 13 and 14. The best viewing starts after 10 P.M. and continues through the night. The waning crescent moon won’t rise until 2 A.M. local time, so you’ll have several hours of prime meteor-shower watching sans moonlight.

Tips and Tricks: Stargazing from a DarkSky-certified destination will improve your viewing. And I recommend using a light-pollution map, like , to locate a nearby stargazing perch that’s spared from city lights. Look for a spot with clear views to the eastern sky, where the shower’s origin point, located near the Castor star in the Gemini constellation, rises. Bright Jupiter, located right within Gemini the night of December 13, can aid your viewing.

I’m a big fan of the Geminids, not just for the abundance of meteors but their striking beauty. These interstellar fireworks are vivid and speedy, and can come in all sorts of colors—notably white, yellow, and green—due to the remnants of metal. In December 2023, I even watched a bright-red Geminid streak through the sky above my house, creating a trail of shimmery scarlet as it traveled.

5 Ways to Enhance Your Stargazing Experiences

1. Download a Stargazing App

A night-sky app like ($20 for the Pro subscription, which I use) or (free) can do wonders for your stargazing. These apps use live night-sky simulations to help you navigate the heavens and locate both obvious space objects, like planets, as well as more obscure stars, galaxies, or star clusters.

2. Use Red Lights

It can take our eyes 20 to 30 minutes to adjust to the dark after exposure to bright white lights. Red lights, on the other hand, are much less disruptive. Use a —or cover your white light in red cellophane—to preserve your night vision in the field. I also use to turn my iPhone light red so I can still use it when needed.

3. Learn to Photograph with Your Smartphone

The cameras built into today’s smartphones are astounding, especially for astrophotography. If you’re interested in snapping pics of the night sky but don’t want to invest thousands of dollars in an astrophotography kit, learn to use your smartphone to take night photos. I wrote this guide to photographing the northern lights with your smartphone, and you can use many of the lessons in that piece to shoot the stars with your phone as well.

4. Visit Your Stargazing Perch by Day

If you’re stargazing in a new destination, stop by the site in the daytime so you’re familiar with the parking situation, any safety hazards, and the best place for sky-viewing. When hiking at night, remember to stick to the trail and follow Leave No Trace principles—pack out all that you bring in, let wildlife be, and don’t veer off the established route.

5. Stargaze with a Buddy—or Better Yet, a Guide

While I’ve spent many a night stargazing solo, I’m more at ease when I’m with a friend—and even more so with a local guide, especially if I’m in a new locale. If you’re heading out alone at night, tell someone where you’re going, and pack extra safety items, like a portable charger for your phone, a headlamp with spare batteries, and a satellite communicator for emergencies.

Stephanie Vermillion is ���ܳٲ������’s astrotourism columnist and author of National Geographic’s , which was published in December 2024. She’s planning her 2025 travels around many attractions on this list, from chasing the auroras in Yukon and Norway to photographing the Milky Way core in the Southwest. You can follow her adventures on .

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It’s a great year for planet-watching. In addition to this week’s stellar views of Mars, stargazers can admire multiple “planet parades”—the simultaneous appearance of several planets in the night sky—in 2025. Arguably the best parade of the year commences on January 18, with Venus and Saturn appearing within 2.2 degrees, or roughly two pinky-widths, of each other. The parade will continue into mid-February, with two additional planet gatherings to follow later in 2025.

Planet parades “aren’t super rare,” according to , “but they don’t happen every year” either.

Here’s how to make the most of 2025’s celestial shows.

How to View a Planet Parade

First, let’s talk planet-watching basics. You can generally see Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and Mercury with the naked eye. Uranus is sometimes naked-eye visible, but only under the darkest skies. Neptune is too small and dim for us to see unaided. A telescope can significantly enhance your view; if you don’t have one, check out the public stargazing nights at your .

I use the stargazing app ($12.99 for the “plus” version) to navigate the night sky. And another astro hack: You can tell the difference between a planet and a star because the former glows steadily while the latter flickers. Some planets, like Mars, even have a noticeably pale-orange tinge.

The great thing about viewing planets is you don’t have to travel far. Unlike fainter interstellar sights such as the northern lights, the brightest planets are visible even in light-polluted cities. That means you could catch this year’s planet parades by stargazing from your own backyard.

Here are dates of the year’s major planet parades, with tips on where and when to look, plus recommendations for a handful of national parks with surreal cosmic views.

The Best Times to See the Planet Parade��

Technically, this month’s planet parade is already on show. Six planets—Venus, Saturn, Neptune, Uranus, Jupiter, and Mars—have been visible up in the sky throughout January. The parade will continue into mid-February. That said, peak observing begins this weekend, as Venus and Saturn will appear exceptionally close in the southwest sky soon after sunset on January 18, according to .

On January 21, Jupiter and Venus will become even more radiant as they climb high in the evening sky with the moon staying below the horizon until after midnight. The lack of lunar light will make it easier to spot the planets and see more stars.

Another highlight of the year’s first planet parade: after sunset on February 1, Venus and the crescent moon will appear close together in the southwest sky for several hours before plummeting beneath the western horizon.

This month’s spectacle will be visible each night, weather permitting, from mid-January to mid-February between sunset and 9 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. local time. You can use a stargazing app to determine exact timing for your location.

More 2025 Planet Parades to Watch for

Late February

January’s interstellar gathering will be the easiest to watch—and therefore the one not to miss this year—but a late-February parade, which will be best viewed around February 28, introduces a new twist. Mercury will join the party, creating a rare gathering of all seven of our neighboring planets in the sky at once.

But the late-February viewing will be much trickier than this week. At the end of February, all planets technically will be up at the same time at dusk, but Saturn will set soon after the sun does. It will also largely get washed out by the sun’s glow, which illuminates the western horizon for up to 90 minutes after sunset. Given its close distance to the sun, Neptune, which will hang near Saturn, will also be close to impossible to spot, even through a telescope.

To see this late-February planet parade, watch the western horizon right after sunset on February 28. That’s when Mercury is most visible, with the luminous planet Venus above it. Jupiter, Mars, and Uranus will be high in the south-southeast sky that night, too.

Mid-August

After February, we’ll have a lull in major planet gatherings until mid-August, when Jupiter, Venus, Uranus, Saturn, Neptune, and Mercury will simultaneously parade in the pre-dawn sky. Mercury will reach its farthest distance from the sun—the period when it’s most visible—from August 19 to 20. Look for it in the pre-dawn sky on August 20.

Mercury will rise over the east horizon, with Venus, Jupiter, and the crescent moon nearly aligned over it. Saturn and Neptune will also be close together, above the western horizon, with Uranus overhead.

Best Places to View the 2025 Planet Parades

Video of skywatching in Loreto, Mexico, on January 12 by Stephanie Vermillion. This timelapse has views of Venus, which is very bright and distinguishable, and Saturn just above it and harder to distinguish from stars. The video was taken the day before the full moon, so its bright glow is washing out most stars.��

The planets will be spread across the sky for most of 2025’s planet parades, meaning they will not be in a straight line, but appear from east to west. For best viewing, seek a wide-open vista with minimal obstructions to the horizon; a hilltop or large field would work well. Again, since the brightest planets can be seen even in cities, you don’t have to travel to see them.

If you want to take your observation to the next level, however, these five national parks offer stargazing events and wide-open viewing areas for enjoying the show. See more locations and tips on what to bring here.

SOUTH: Everglades National Park

Spot the planets from the highest viewing deck in Florida’s Everglades National Park. The park’s 70-foot Shark Valley Observation Tower overlooks up to 20 miles of the Everglades, with open 360-degree vistas. The tower stays open 24 hours a day.

The safest way to visit this gator-country attraction at night is via the park’s free ranger-led , which runs January 13, 19, 21, and February 4, 5, 18, 19, 26, and 27.

SOUTHWEST: Canyonlands National Park

Grand View Point in Canyonlands National Park made our list of best scenic viewpoints for a reason. This perch looks out upon a sweeping panorama of water-carved sandstone, and, as a Dark Sky-certified park, Canyonlands remains open 24 hours a day. The lookout lies at the southern end of Island in the Sky drive, just off the road on a paved path, with a second perch a one-mile trail away. Be careful in the winter; it can get icy. from $30 per private vehicle

WEST: Death Valley National Park

Death Valley National Park is one of the best places in the country for stargazing and planet-watching, with lookouts open 24 hours like the panoramic promising sparkly nightscapes above. Add to your astronomical awe by attending one of several night-sky events: a free on January 18 or 25, a with telescopes on January 24, or the park’s from February 21 to 23. from $15

EAST: New River Gorge National Park

In the eastern U.S., try the New River Gorge, which is also open around the clock. The recommends a handful of stargazing spots, including the New River Gorge Bridge Overlook at the Canyon Rim Visitor Center, or take the Sandstone Falls Boardwalk, among other options. The main overlook at the Grandview Visitor Center is especially promising in winter, with minimal overhead foliage and expansive vistas. The park is free to enter.

MIDWEST: Theodore Roosevelt National Park

in North Dakota has all the conditions for picturesque planet-gazing: wide-open views, awestriking scenery, and minimal light pollution. The park, again open throughout the night, includes several starry-sky viewpoints. Try Riverbend Overlook to watch the constellations and planets float above the Missouri River, or hit up Painted Canyon Visitor Center to marvel at the shimmery nightscapes above the badlands. While you’re here, keep an eye to the north—when conditions align, this is a great national park to spot the northern lights.

Stephanie Vermillion is ���ϳԹ���’s astrotourism columnist. Recent articles for ���ϳԹ��� include this account of her three top nighttime adventures, an excerpt from her new book, 100 Nights of a Lifetime: The World’s Ultimate ���ϳԹ���s After Dark; the scoop on where to find the darkest skies in North America for aurora hunting and stargazing; and nine places to see the most dazzling northern lights in decades. She is based in Cleveland.

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Keep your eyes on Mars in our night sky this week. Our neighboring planet—the fourth from the sun in our solar system and approximately half the size of Earth—will look larger and brighter in our heavens than it has for the past two years, particularly Wednesday night. That’s when Earth will pass directly between Mars and the sun, putting us within 60 million miles of the Red Planet, roughly 42 percent closer than average.

Astronomers call this phenomenon opposition, and it affords prime sky-watching conditions. During opposition, a planet is closer to Earth, and we benefit from seeing the celestial body with the sun’s full glare, which makes it appear exceptionally vivid.

While we can enjoy the opposition of distant planets like Jupiter and Saturn almost every year, Mars is only in opposition once every 27 months because our orbits are closer, according to . And this week marks its long-awaited moment in the sun.

Here’s when and how to best observe Mars during opposition. It won’t be this radiant again for us until 2027.

The Best Nights to View Mars During Opposition

Mars technically reaches opposition between January 15 to 16, but even now it’s already more luminous than usual. If you go outside tonight—or any night until Wednesday—the Red Planet will look spectacular and only get brighter as we near opposition.

Here’s a video of Mars next to the moon during the 2022 opposition, as viewed via a Nikon P1000 camera:

On January 13, we’ll see another interesting Martian sight: , which occurs when this month’s full Wolf Moon slides in front of Mars. According to , this will begin over the contiguous U.S. at 8:45 P.M. EST and will be visible to the naked eye above most of North America. (Exact timing and duration will vary by location.)

Throughout opposition week, if the sky is clear in your location, Mars will shine as vividly as Sirius, the night sky’s brightest star. But if you can only stay up late one night, I recommend the January 15 opposition, when the planet will be more dazzling to us on Earth than any time since December 2022.

Where to Spot Mars in the Sky During Opposition Week

Mars will rise in the east at dusk and set above the western horizon around sunrise. Seek out the planet’s tangerine tinge in the Gemini constellation (the hue will become bolder closer to opposition). Peak viewing begins around midnight, when Mars is highest in the sky.

Even in light-polluted cities, Mars is visible to the naked eye. I shot the following photo on January 7 while I was in San Diego, and visibility was still quite remarkable.

That said, a pair of binoculars—or better yet a telescope—will show off the planet’s surface details, including a vast canyon system and Olympus Mons, a volcano three times as high as Mount Everest.

If you’re new to planet-watching, download a stargazing app to navigate the heavens and to locate other prominent nearby celestial sights, like Jupiter and Sirius.

Regional Astronomy Events Celebrating Mars That Are Worth Traveling To

Consider attending a community astronomy night, where night-sky experts will show you the stars and planets via telescope. I found a half dozen excellent stargazing events across the country that will focus on the Mars opposition this week, but it’s always worth reaching out to your to see if it’s hosting any get-togethers for planet-gazing, too. (Note: all events below are weather permitting.)

The East

Chester, Pennsylvania

The astronomy and physics faculty at Widener University, just south of Philadelphia, are running a public at its observatory starting at 7 P.M. on January 15. . As of publication, this event is at full capacity, but you can join the waitlist. Free

The South

Conway, Arkansas

At 6 P.M. on January 15, the , located north of Little Rock, will open its observatory to the public for night-sky observations through a powerful Meade 14-inch-aperture LX200R telescope. Free

The Midwest

Jeff Davis County, Texas

The McDonald Observatory, located in West Texas but part of the University of Texas at Austin, will host a star party at 7 P.M. on January 14. Come for the amphitheater tour and stay for the telescope viewing. is required. From $25

Kenosha, Wisconsin

Heide Observatory’s aligns perfectly with the Mars opposition. The January 15 event begins at 6 P.M. at the Hawthorn Hollow Nature Sanctuary and Arboretum. Guides will lead guests through a tour of the night sky via laser pointer. $12

The West

Divide, Colorado

The Colorado Springs Astronomical Society is hosting a at Mueller State Park, 33 miles west of Colorado Springs, starting at 7 P.M on January 17. The event will take place at the park’s visitor center; no registration is required, but you will need a (from $10).

Sunriver, Oregon

The , roughly 20 miles south of Bend, is giving the public a prime view of Mars on January 15 starting at 7 P.M. The observatory has one of the largest collections of publicly accessible telescopes in the country, with staff astronomers at the ready to help visitors learn to use them. Registration is required. $28 for nonmembers; free for members

Stephanie Vermillion is ���ϳԹ��� Online’s astrotourism columnist. She’s the author of the new National Geographic book, , and she plans to watch Mars’s opposition on a stargazing getaway to Loreto, Mexico.

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In 2010, a camping trip to the Sahara opened my eyes to the magic of the night sky. I was a college junior spending the summer abroad in Morocco, and until then I’d never seen the Milky Way, let alone a meteor shower, due to light pollution back in my suburban hometown of Dayton, Ohio. But that night, tucked into a sleeping bag beneath the African desert’s real-life planetarium, I saw them both. The experience opened me up to all the unfathomable marvels of the universe.

In the years since, I’ve built a travel-writing career around my fascination with the moonlit world. Recently, my noctural adventures have included: watching nesting sea turtles with Indigenous guides in Panama, pitching a tent on the Greenland ice sheet in a snowstorm, chasing the northern lights in Iceland, and searching for fluorescent rocks on the shores of Lake Superior—among many other sleepless excursions.

These trips, and many more such outings, fill the pages of my upcoming book, , published by National Geographic and available on December 3. I hope the following three adapted excerpts—some of my favorite experiences—inspire you to skip sleep and soak up the night’s wonders, too.

The ���ϳԹ���: Ice-Sheet Camping in Greenland

Spend an icy night camping above the Arctic Circle, following in the crampon-carved footsteps of polar explorers on the Greenland ice sheet. It’s a rare and immersive way to admire the world’s second largest expanse of ice, a blustery behemoth that blankets nearly 80 percent of Greenland’s landmass with icy mountains, teal lakes, and a minefield of crevasses and moulins (deep shafts in the ice).

Given the harrowing surroundings, most overnight ice-sheet jaunts are reserved for professional exploration or scientific research teams. But makes the dream possible for more amateur, yet still intrepid, guests. The outfitter’s two-day, one-night camping trip offers a taste of expedition life—but don’t let the short duration fool you. A sleep on the unforgiving 656,000-square-mile sheet of white—an expanse roughly the size of Alaska—is no walk in the park.

On the trip, you and a team of trekkers haul tents, sleeping bags, and fuel for roughly one hour of hiking into the ivory abyss. Once you reach your overnight accommodations—an open patch of ice—it’s time to build camp from the ground up. You’ll crank ice stakes, sort gear, pitch tents, and collect snow to boil for water.��It’s grueling work, but the sweat’s worth it for quality time with this rare wonder.

Once camp is set, you’ll have the opportunity to hike among ice mounds and pristine cerulean water bodies, aurora hunt (in the spring or fall), and admire the midnight sun come summer. Just as memorable are the deep conversations shared over freeze-dried dinners in Camp Ice Cap’s orange globe mess tent. One topic that’s sure to arise among these fragile landscapes: climate change.

As the news headlines show, Greenland’s ice sheet is ground zero of earth’s shifting climate. The white mass is expected to lose up to 110 trillion tons of ice by 2100—a change that could raise sea levels by a foot. To do its part protecting this natural resource, Camp Ice Cap tour operator Albatros Arctic Circle has a strict Leave No Trace policy. That means everything you bring with you must be carried out.

Each season introduces a different flavor of adventure. Come in the calmer summer months for ice hikes with endless hours of daylight and, on the warmest days, even short dips in meltwater “lakes” (water temperaturess hover slightly above freezing this time of year, but a warm sun can make the quick swim surprisingly refreshing). Visit in the shoulder seasons—spring or fall—for a chance to see auroras. But be prepared for particularly unpredictable and unforgiving weather that time of year. You could have a snowstorm, clear aurora-streaked skies, or both in the same night.

Weather is all part of the Camp Ice Cap adventure, as is the journey to get there in the first place. The trip begins in Kangerlussuaq, located inland in central-west Greenland. This town, home to one of the island’s main international airports, has the only road in Greenland that connects to the ice sheet. It’s a potholed 15.5-mile route, with potential reindeer and musk ox sightings along the way.

A good base level of fitness is required for a Camp Ice Cap visit, as the hiking can be strenuous and requires a bit of agility on the ice. Albatros Arctic Circle provides tents, sleeping bags, trekking poles, crampons, and food, but it’s up to you to pack warm-weather essentials: coats, gloves, hats, wool layers, headlamps, and, by all means, an extra pair of socks.

While You’re in Greenland

If a night at Camp Ice Cap whets your backcountry Greenland appetite, Kangerlussuaq has more where that came from. The town is connected to the island’s famed , a 100-mile thru-hike that runs from inland Kangerlussuaq to Sisimiut on the west coast. Expect unspoiled tundra sprinkled with musk oxen and reindeer on this roughly ten-day trek.

Other Greenland Marvels

A quick 45-minute flight north from Kangerlussuaq will drop you in Ilulissat, home to the Unesco World Heritage site . This 34-mile patchwork of icebergs, some 10 to 20 stories tall, stems from the Sermeq Kujalleq (also known as Jakobshavn Glacier), which runs from the Greenland ice sheet. It’s one of the world’s fastest-moving glaciers, and scientists believe it produced the fateful iceberg that struck the Titanic in 1912.

The ���ϳԹ���: Riding the Star Train in Nevada’s Great Basin Desert

In the early 1900s, the Nevada Northern Railway put the remote town of Ely on the copper-mining map. More than a century later, the railway’s historic locomotives still tote riders into Nevada’s ��piñon- and juniper-dotted Steptoe Valley—although visitors now come seeking a different sparkly prize: clear, bedazzled nightscapes. They’ll find this rare bounty aboard the special-edition , which runs deep into the Great Basin Desert.

Up to 80 percent of Americans can’t see the Milky Way due to light pollution. The same can’t be said for those at the far-flung Great Basin, which covers much of Nevada. This 190,000-square-mile high-desert patchwork of sagebrush grasslands, rolling mountains, and broad valleys boasts some of the country’s darkest nightscapes. The Nevada Northern Railway, now a national historic landmark in Ely, roughly four hours north of Las Vegas by car, makes the most of the celestial entertainment via the Star Train, which departs around sunset on select Fridays between May and September.

As the desert transitions from honey-hued golden hour to coal black night, onboard rangers from nearby Great Basin National Park and railway staff share tidbits about the night-sky attractions that await. Once you’ve reached your final destination—a private Great Basin viewing pad with high-powered telescopes—rangers narrate the universe’s marvels, from Saturn’s iridescent rings to any stargazer’s beloved treasure, the glowing Milky Way.

The ���ϳԹ���: Hunting the Southern Lights in Australia

You’ve heard of the northern lights, but did you know you can chase those sky fluorescents in the Southern Hemisphere, too? Spotting these elusive green and violet streaks, known as the southern lights, or aurora australis, requires a bit of luck. Like the northern lights in the Arctic, southern-lights sightings are most frequent over Antarctica. But the Antarctica travel season—summer—coincides with the all-hours midnight sun. What’s an aurora hunter to do?

Head to Tasmania, a landmass better positioned for aurora sightings than virtually anywhere else in the Southern Hemisphere, excluding the White Continent. Its aurora potential has to do with its geographic position and the mechanism through which auroras occur.

During solar storms, the sun flings charged particles into space. When the protons and electrons reach earth, they congregate near the north and south geomagnetic poles, then react with the atmosphere to create ribbons of green, purple, red, or blue. Typically, the lights appear over far north or far south stretches of earth such as Iceland or Antarctica, but when a solar storm is strong enough, you can catch them farther in toward the equator. Tasmania, situated close to the south geomagnetic pole, is one of the hemisphere’s most reliable perches.

“We have no landmass in the Southern Ocean that corresponds with Norway or Iceland,” says Tasmania-based Margaret Sonnemann, author of . In the Arctic or Antarctica, where the charged particles collide with the atmosphere in the skies above, you can see the reaction—the auroras—straight overhead. In Tasmania, you’ll typically admire the show from a distance, roughly between 45 to 60 degrees on the horizon.

This vantage point offers a unique perspective. When the lights are overhead, green colors are the most noticeable, says Sonnemann. “Side on, you see the layers of color.”

Given Tasmania’s pristine night skies, you can spot these colorful night swirls all over the island. Look for a panorama with minimal obstructions to the southern horizon; the northern banks of a large lake looking south, or the island’s southern coast looking out to sea, are ideal.

Some tried-and-true Tasmania aurora spots include Goat Bluff Lookout on the South Arm Peninsula, Carlton Beach, Tinderbox Bay, and the . For a southern lights–friendly hotel, try , which has minimal light pollution and unobstructed south-facing views across Lake Pedder. Hit Taroona Beach, south of Hobart, during the warmer months to catch a thrilling after-dark duo: auroras snaking across the sky as electric blue bioluminescence pulses across the water.

One advantage of Tasmania aurora hunting: you can catch the lights year-round. Tasmania experiences nighttime darkness in every season. Though you’ll have more hours of potential aurora displays in the darker winter, you could snag a stellar show on a warm summer night.

Fast Aurora Facts

The hue of an aurora depends on where the sun’s charged particles collide with earth’s atmosphere. Red auroras hit at the ionosphere, around 150 miles high. Green streaks occur in a mildly dense stretch of the atmosphere, roughly 60 to 150 miles from the ground. The rarer purple hues appear when the reaction strikes in our thick lower atmosphere, about 60 miles above earth’s surface.

Stephanie Vermillion is a travel and adventure journalist with a particular interest in after-dark adventures, from the wonders of the night sky to the nocturnal happenings on planet earth. She recently wrote about how to take great aurora photos on an iPhone.

100 Nights of a Lifetime: The World’s Ultimate ���ϳԹ���s After Dark, by Stephanie Vermillion

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The only thing better than waking up in a mountain town is overnighting within minutes of the destination’s best trails, waterways, and ski runs—and I learned this firsthand on a June 2024 Alaskan getaway. I’d spent several weeks hopping between national parks, including bear watching in Lake Clark and . I wasn’t ready for the adventure to end, and a stay at the new Chugach State Park-adjacent instead of downtown Anchorage, meant it didn’t have to.

I spent the 48 hours before my homebound flight strolling the property’s trails, hiking the Chugach-view loop around nearby Eklutna Lake, and crossing off an exciting wildlife spotting: the trip’s first black bear.

That’s just the start of this list’s adventure-centered digs. I scoured Airbnb for other incredible stays in the nation’s beloved mountain towns, from a waterfront abode in my lucky lower 48 aurora-hunting perch—Michigan’s Upper Peninsula—to a postcard-worthy A-frame in my favorite fall hiking spot, the Adirondacks. Here are 12 can’t-miss mountain-town Airbnb homes to add to your bucket list.

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Watch Stars Shimmer Above the Chisos in Terlingua, Texas

From this dramatic Stardust Big Bend Luxury A-frame, you’ll be within minutes of Terlingua’s old-western ghost town, not to mention the Maverick entrance to Big Bend National Park. But the cabin’s dramatic Chihuahuan desert surroundings, and the floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook it, make it hard to leave the property. Watch from bed as the rising sun paints the Chisos peaks hues of pink and peach, or relax on the spacious deck or hammock as the desert transitions from golden hour to star-speckled night—a signature of the region’s enormous Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve. Your hangout is one of 11 cabins on the property, and it feels like a home away from home with a full kitchen, one bedroom, two beds, and one bathroom, for up to four guests. Meet your neighbors in the community game room, but note, pets are not allowed.

Squeeze in Ample ���ϳԹ��� Within One Hour of Anchorage Airport, Alaska

This handicap-accessible cabin is part of BlueWater Basecamp, a new collection of eight Scandinavian-style abodes set near Alaska’s Chugach State Park and roughly one hour from the Anchorage International Airport. With this proximity, you can spend your final days in Alaska hiking, biking, and wildlife watching instead of bopping between Anchorage gift shops. Teal-tinged Eklutna Lake, for example, is mere minutes from the property, with guided paddle trips and a 12-mile dirt loop around the water for biking and hiking. Wildlife such as moose and black bears are known to inhabit the area, and they may even stop by BlueWater BaseCamp for a porch safari. The pet-friendly property has three styles of abodes, including the handicap-accessible deluxe mountain cabin with room for up to six guests with two bedrooms, three beds, and one bathroom, as well as a full kitchen—a necessity given that the nearest main towns, Palmer and Eagle River, are 30 minutes away.��

Stay in a Taos Earthship Within Minutes of Stunning, Uncrowded Trails in New Mexico

This eye-popping Taos Mesa Studio Earthship is more than a place to rest your head. It’s a lesson in sustainable housing, with an off-grid design built to catch rainwater and generate its own electricity—all while staying 72 degrees throughout the year, even on chilly desert nights. The Earthship lies 10 minutes from the , an eight-mile out-and-back route that overlooks the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument’s plains and peaks, with parallel views of the 800-feet-deep Taos gorge. Your one-bedroom, one-bathroom Earthship can welcome up to four guests thanks to a cozy, convertible daybed. Pets are welcome with a $50 fee, and the home comes with a full kitchen.

Snooze in a Snow Globe After Hitting the Breckenridge, Colorado Slopes

Enjoy endless fresh air among the Pike National Forest pines at The Deck at Quandary Peak, which allows for up to three guests. This backcountry Breckenridge home, which becomes its own glorified snow globe each winter, overlooks the Tenmile range’s highest peak, Mount Quandary. You’ll have quick access to the Breck ski lift and town center within 15 minutes. The cabin, with its hygge-inspired aesthetic, includes one bedroom with two beds, one bathroom, and a full kitchen. Relax among the conifers on the fairy-light-adorned deck, or nap by the cozy indoor fireplace after a long day on the slopes. You’ll need a 4WD vehicle to reach the home, and tire chains are required for winter visit. Pets are not allowed.

Overnight Beside a New York Adirondacks Lake—Kayaks Included

New York’s Adirondack Park is a four-season getaway, and few overnights immerse you in the changing landscape like this picturesque Lakefront A-frame Cabin on Stoner Lakes. Enjoy the mirror-still water from the fire ring, or hop aboard the kayaks that come with the property for a scenic paddle. The mountain town of Caroga Lake, set in the Adirondack foothills, is a 15-minute drive south. Head there for , fishing, or snowmobiling. Or, travel 10 minutes north of your cabin to tackle the steep 3.5-mile out-and-back up Good Luck Mountain. Royal Mountain Ski Area’s 13 trails are a short 20 minutes south of you, too. Up to six guests (and pets) can enjoy this two-bedroom, three-bed, and one-bath getaway. (Note: this is a three-night minimum stay.)

Catch Shut-Eye in a Treehouse Near Park City, Utah’s Best Runs

Park City’s Dreamy Living Cabin puts the “tree” in treehouse, with a 200-year-old fir jutting up through its airy wood-paneled interior. The getaway, which glows with natural light from the 270-degree glass windows, sits at 8,000 feet elevation. It’s just north of the protected woodlands, where hiking trails give travelers the chance to spot moose, porcupines, and eagles. Park City downtown and its many ski hangouts, such as , lie roughly 30 minutes south of your stay. The property is also less than one hour from the Salt Lake City Airport. It’s a great getaway for two, with one bedroom, one bathroom, a full kitchen, and a large deck that overlooks the soaring Uintas. Pets are not allowed. (Note: this is a two-night minimum stay.)

Doze Beneath the Tetons in Jackson, Wyoming’s Dreamy Geodesic Domes

A sprinkling of 11 heated geodesic dwellings, known as Tammah Jackson Hole Domes, plunge guests into Wyoming’s jaw-dropping wilderness, with views of the jagged Tetons best enjoyed from your cozy king-sized bed. Overnights at this Airbnb include free breakfast, in-dome telescopes, and ensuite bathrooms. The property also has a shared sauna and firepit—the perfect way to share stories after a in Grand Teton National Park; its Granite Canyon entrance is five minutes north by car. For skiing and snowboarding, is also a five-minute drive away. Each 540-square-foot dome fits two guests maximum; pets are welcome.

Overnight in a Grain Silo in Kalispell, Montana

Add some farm feels to your mountain-town escape by sleeping in a converted grain silo with views of Montana’s peak-laden Flathead Valley. These metal accommodations have it all: a kitchenette, loft bedroom, two beds, and one bathroom, not to mention an outdoor fire pit for watching the Rocky Mountain landscape change from blue-sky day to gold-tinged dusk. Don’t head to sleep early on the star-splashed night skies, either. Start the day with a stroll along the 80-acre farm’s walking trails, or, when the powder hits, try snowshoeing or cross-country skiing the farm routes. Glacier National Park is a 30-minute drive north, while 3,000 skiable acres are around 50 minutes northwest. Downtown Kalispell’s delicious breweries are a 10-minute drive from your silo. Pets are not allowed.

Crash Beside the Tennessee River in This Cozy Chattanooga Cabin with a Watchtower

Soak up the Tennessee River Gorge’s grandeur from a pet-friendly waterfront cabin in the heart of this dramatic river canyon. The two-bedroom, five-bed, and one-bathroom Chattanooga-adjacent house can welcome up to eight guests with plenty of water adventures onsite, from angling on the Tennessee riverbank to paddling with the property’s rentable kayaks. Climb the cabin’s scenic watchtower to scout for wildlife like ospreys, bald eagles, and deer, or catch more flora and fauna from the nearby hiking jaunts, including six-mile out-and-back Snoopers Rock Trail, roughly a 30-minute drive away. Snag a view of the 100-foot-tall Julia Falls roughly 20 minutes to the east; it’s among the most scenic stops on the over 300-mile .

Bunk-Up Near Trailheads and Slopes in Picturesque Stowe, Vermont

Sleep within steps of your hiking path at the Cady Hill Trail House, a one-bedroom, one-bathroom guesthouse in the quintessential New England town of Stowe, Vermont. The two-guest home, complete with a full kitchen, is surrounded by the charming , home to over 11 miles of trails—and a profusion of color when the leaves change each fall. Stowe’s many breweries, cafes, and restaurants are just five minutes away; the 116 ski trails at are within 10 minutes driving, too. Guest have ample outdoor space to store gear like bikes, skis, and snowshoes. In addition to ambles, the Cady Hill trail network welcomes skiers, snowshoers, and mountain bikers depending on the season. Pets are not allowed. (Note: this is a two-night minimum stay.)

Sleep in a South Dakota Firetower Near Mount Rushmore

Play fire lookout for a night—or week—from this firetower-inspired getaway within minutes of South Dakota’s Custer State Park, where bison now abound. An array of park trails are within a 25-minute drive of your tower, including , which weaves by dramatic van-sized boulders for three miles, or the take the route up , South Dakota’s highest point. Cross Mount Rushmore off your bucket list while you’re here; it’s 30 minutes northeast by car. This one-bedroom, 1.5-bath tower, built for two guests, comes with a full kitchen, wrap-around deck, and a common area with a firepit and yard games. Pets are not allowed.

Catch Zzzs After Watching for Northern Lights Near Michigan’s Porcupine Mountains

One of Michigan’s best-kept secrets, the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park (better known as the Porkies), lies within 15 minutes of this Lake Superior Beach House—a two-bedroom and two-bath abode with a full kitchen and sweeping turquoise water views. The Porkies offer all sorts of Great Lakes adventures: ascending the world’s tallest artificial ski jump, ; fishing or taking a dip in the photogenic Lake of the Clouds; or schlepping up the steep half-mile route to the , which offers views as far as Isle Royale National Park on a clear day. Back at the cabin, relax by the indoor fireplace or hang outside after dusk to watch for one of the Upper Peninsula’s greatest treats: the aurora borealis. Select pets are allowed upon request. (Note: this is a four-night minimum stay.)

Want more of ���ܳٲ������’s travel stories? .

When she’s not staying in cool places around the world, adventure and astrotourism writer Stephanie Vermillion chases comets and northern lights, and hunts the best stargazing in dark sky zones. Her upcoming book will be out December 3.

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Joe Buffalo Child grew up beneath the northern lights, but one starry winter night in particular remains etched in his memory. He was six years old and camping with his grandparents to monitor the family trapline, a 50-mile stretch of snares set for rabbits and muskrats in the snowy boreal forest outside Yellowknife, the capital of Canada’s Northwest Territories. Slipping out of the cozy tent, his breath fogging as he gazed skyward, it wasn’t long before Buffalo Child found what he was seeking: “It was stars, stars, stars, then—boom! The aurora’s there,” he told me, his eyes sparkling at the flashback.

On trapline trips like these, learned about the many ways nature was tied to the traditions of his people, the , who have inhabited central and northwest Canada for over 30,000 years. By day, his grandfather took him hunting or fishing—outings that came with important lessons, like how to predict an approaching storm by studying the movement of the clouds or the height of a seagull’s flight. Come dusk, bathed in the gas lamp’s honey glow, his grandmother shared spiritual beliefs, like how Buffalo Child’s beloved tie-dyed sky dance, known in the Denesuline language as ya’ke ngas (“the sky is stirring”), carried messages from his ancestors.

“I was on the land under the aurora even as a baby,” he said. “The aurora’s always been part of our life.”

This deep knowledge of nature and cultural connection to the night sky were foundational to his future as a professional northern-lights chaser and guide for his company . Now 60 years old, Buffalo Child has spent nearly two decades sharing his aurora-tracking abilities with those willing to make the journey up to Yellowknife. He is considered one of the most well-known aurora hunters in North America.

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From strong northern lights to a historic total solar eclipse, 2024 has been quite a year for sky watchers—and it’s not over. Starting Friday evening, a bright comet predicted to be visible to the naked eye will treat stargazers across the northern hemisphere. It was last seen 80,000 years ago, during the time of Neanderthals, and it likely won’t swing by earth again for another�� 80,000 years.

According to space scientists, Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, or Comet C/2023 A3, is the most impressive space sight of its kind to dazzle our skies since comet Neowise in 2020. That it also might be visible to the naked eye is “quite rare,” says Matt Hjelle, spokesperson for the stargazing app . “On average, you get a comet of this brightness roughly once in a decade.”

I’ve already scouted numerous viewpoints to watch and capture this spectacle with friends when it reaches its brightest point in the U.S. this weekend. Since it should remain easily visible through mid-October—and even later into the month with a telescope or binoculars—I’m hoping to admire it from multiple vantage points over the next few weeks. Read on for tips on how and when to find comet A3 in your part of the country, plus picturesque perches to admire it.

When to See Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, or C/2023 A3, from the U.S.

This massive heap of dust, frozen gases, and rock, which calls a “cosmic snowball,” is blasting toward earth from the edge of our solar system, and on October 11 it will reappear in the early-evening sky. It will be closest to earth—passing by our planet at a distance of some 44 million miles—on October 12. So on Saturday, look to the western horizon right after sunset to spot it. Don’t dilly-dally: because the comet’s location is so low, it will “set” about 30 minutes after the sun.

Fortunately, A3 will continue to climb in the sky throughout the month and into early November, setting around 20 minutes later each night, according to . From October 13 to 19, A3 is expected to remain brilliant, resulting in optimal viewing if clear-weather conditions hold where you are. In the days that follow, it will increasingly fade and you’ll need binoculars or a telescope to best admire it.

Comets are tough to predict—they’re light-years away, and therefore we know little about their composition, which affects brightness— so we won’t know exactly how intense A3 will be until it reappears in our sky. Optimistic astronomy buffs it could be as luminous as Jupiter. Others its radiance will be more in line with 2020’s comet Neowise, which was also visible to the naked eye and had a glow similar to the North Star. One feature to look for is its sweeping dust tail.

But even by modest predictions, signs look promising for A3 to become the comet of the year, if not decade. In fact, you likely won’t need to travel far, if at all, from a city to see it, says Hjelle. “Light pollution will play a factor, but if the brightness estimates play out, even many light-polluted areas are going to get a reasonably good view.”

Incredibly, on September 27, astronomers in Hawaii discovered that another comet, known as Comet C/2024 S1 (ATLAS), could be visible to northern-hemisphere stargazers at the end of October—and it may outshine A3 if it survives its passage by the sun. “If all goes as well as the most optimistic estimates, this comet could be visible to the naked eye during the daytime around [October] 28th,” Hjelle says. That’s big news, because only nine comets have been bright enough for daytime visibility in the past 300 years.

For now, let’s keep our sights on A3. Here’s where I suggest viewing it from the various regions of the U.S.

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The Best Places to Watch Comet A3 in Your Region

First and foremost: find a lookout with clear, unobstructed views of the western horizon, particularly during the comet’s initial streak across our sky this weekend, when A3 will be hovering just above it.

I spent hours scouting Google Earth and thinking about my favorite sunset viewpoints from my own past travels to find the most scenic, geographically dispersed, unobstructed west-facing comet A3 viewpoints in every region to ensure you don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime show.

New England

Head Here: The Colchester Causeway near Burlington, Vermont

The 2.5-mile crosses Lake Champlain to link Causeway Park (nine miles north of Burlington) to the town of South Hero. The gravel route, enjoyed via bike or on foot, offers sweeping panoramas, including near perfect west-facing views with only distant Adirondack peaks on the horizon. The farther north you head on the causeway, the better and more unobstructed the west-facing scenery. Note that the route terminates just before South Hero, and the seasonal across the water and into town is only available in the daytime, so you’ll have to head back the way you came.

Or Here: Cape Cod National Seashore in Provincetown, Massachusetts

The western stretch of , a 40-mile swath of sandy beaches, heather-dotted dunes, and quiet marshes will also offer fantastic views of the comet. Try Duck Harbor Beach in Wellfleet or Herring Cove Beach near Provincetown’s West End. Since October is outside of high season, parking and entry to most national seashore beaches is free. Even better: the national seashore’s beaches are open from 6 A.M. to midnight, which means you can catch the comet, then peer southwest into the Milky Way’s vibrant core, also best viewed in .

Mid-Atlantic

Head Here: West Cape May in Cape May, New Jersey

New Jersey’s southernmost tip allures summer shore-goers with its rainbow of colorful Victorian homes and powdery sands. This month, its western side will offer some of the region’s best comet views, too. Try Pearl Beach or Sunset Beach for unobstructed western-horizon overlooks. During the day, don’t miss the —the return of the migrating raptors—which runs through November 30. It’s best enjoyed at Hawk Watch Observation Platform. Entrance is free.

Or Here: The Edge in New York City

The majority of west-facing waterfront parks and perches in New York State close at sunset, but in city that never sleeps, sky watchers will have excellent views from on the West Side of Midtown Manhattan, especially if brightness predictions hold. Located on the 100th floor of 30 Hudson Yards, The Edge is the western hemisphere’s highest outdoor observation deck, with glass-walled 360-degree views of the metro area. It’s open daily until 9 P.M. Imagine watching A3 soar above the Hudson River and New Jersey. I suggest getting there with enough time to watch the sun set and the comet appear; since golden hour is prime visiting time, get your tickets in advance. From $40

The South

Head Here: Mount Magazine State Park in Paris, Arkansas

Western Arkansas’s is a popular rock-climbing destination. And this month, the soaring crag delivers top-notch comet watching, too. Vistas atop 2,753-foot Mount Magazine, the state’s highest point, may be obstructed by trees, but its Cameron Bluff Amphitheater offers a clear western-horizon vantage point, as do a few portions of the Cameron Bluff Recreation Area. Drive up solely for sunset and comet watching—the park closes at 10 P.M.—or make an evening of it with an early feast of Southern fare at , which overlooks the Petit Jean River Valley. It’s part of the Mount Magazine Lodge and just a mile stroll from the amphitheater (from $153). Entrance to the state park is free.

Or Here: Lake Pontchartrain in New Orleans

If you’re headed here Saturday, why not spend the entire day outdoors making the most of Lake Pontchartrain, perhaps fishing for bass and catfish (both a basic and saltwater fishing license are required) or watching for larger wildlife, such as sharks and manatees. When dusk descends, head to the 2,800-acre , which remains open to the public until 9 P.M. Or elevate your interstellar fun with a stay in the park’s lakefront cabins; the west-facing abodes reopened this fall after years of repairs following Hurricane Ida (from $150). is also available less than a mile from the waterfront (from $18). And if you’re planning on ending the day with stargazing before heading home, your best bet might be at , 28 miles south, where you can admire the cosmos until 11 P.M.

The Midwest

Head Here: Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Glen Arbor and Empire, Michigan

Unobstructed west-facing comet views abound along the world’s largest freshwater dune system, . The national lakeshore boasts 65 shorefront miles, with , dune climbs, and scenic drives—and it’s all open well past dark. (In fact, the park starlit visits.) Try the 1.5-mile round-trip for pristine Lake Michigan lookout points, or make a workout out of it with the 3.5-mile round-trip , which climbs up and over the steep sand mounds to reach another waterfront comet vista. is a more accessible option, with numerous scenic stop-offs. While the comet is the main act, keep your eyes peeled north for a glimpse of lower 48 northern lights, which could make a surprise appearance. Park entrance is $25, or use your America the Beautiful Pass.

Or Here: Badlands National Park in Wall, South Dakota

View this month’s magical space sighting from a lookout that’s equally otherworldly: Badlands National Park. A handful of its west-facing vantage points provide the chance to watch the comet above a patchwork of surreal buttes, spires, and pinnacles. Try the sweeping , where the striated rhyolite sprawls to the western horizon. Just south of that is the , where you can gaze across a patchwork of yellow and blush-tinged badlands. The park is open 24 hours. Admission starts at $15 or use your America the Beautiful Pass.

The Southwest

Head Here: Antelope Island State Park in Layton, Utah

wows by day with hundreds of free-ranging bison, millions of birds, and that take in the Great Salt Lake. Nighttime turns the 28,240-acre island—a DarkSky International–certified park—into a starry oasis, with a host of west-looking posts to admire the comet of the year. the half-mile out-and-back Lady Finger Point Trail for quick access to a lovely viewpoint, or meander along the largely west-facing and six-mile-roundt-rip Lakeside Trail. You can also catch A3 with the experts during the with the Ogden Astronomical Society, which begins at 6 P.M. at the White Rock Bay event area. The state park is open from 6 A.M. to 10 P.M. daily, with multiple (from $20). Admission from $15

Or Here: Monahans Sandhills State Park in Monahans, Texas

Enjoy a sea of sand dunes, and some of Texas’s least obstructed west-facing lookouts, at , not far from the Texas–New Mexico border. The park sprawls across 3,840 acres, with dunes soaring up to 70 feet and no marked trails. To see the comet, climb up a tall dune and look west as the sun paints the expanse sherbet-like shades of pink and peach—a gorgeous opening act for the luminous comet. The park remains open until 10 P.M., but given its popularity, are recommended (from $4). are available near the park entrance from $15 per night.

The West

Head Here: Newport Beach, California

If you live on the Pacific coast, you’ve got the pick of the litter when it comes to west-facing views. The only issue could be the coast’s signature clouds and fog. So try sunny Newport Beach, in Orange County, which enjoys some of SoCal’s clearest skies, plus shorelines and piers that stay . The city’s namesake beach, for example, offers west-facing lookouts with a waterfront open until 10 P.M. The piers that bookend the shore, Newport Beach Pier and Balboa Pier, both look straight toward the comet and remain open until midnight. Another option is the 30-acre Corona del mar State Beach Park, which is free and open until 10 P.M.

Or Here: Lake Butte Overlook in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming

It’s trickier to find unobstructed views for comet watching in the country’s peak-laden Mountain West—but not impossible. Try the in less-trodden eastern Yellowstone, 70 miles west of Cody. Set above the enormous Yellowstone Lake, you’ll have open views toward the direction of the comet, with the distant Teton peaks to the southwest. Yellowstone welcomes guests around the clock, and the east entrance from Cody is scheduled to remain until October 31. Admission starts at $20 or use your America the Beautiful Pass.

���ϳԹ��� and astrotourism writer Stephanie Vermillion chased 2020’s comet Neowise in Voyageurs National Park, and hopes to get another national-park sighting under her belt by catching comet A3 in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio, this month. Her upcoming book will be out December 3.

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My iPhone has always been my aurora-hunting sidekick. For over five years, I’ve used it to monitor northern-lights activity around the globe, from fjords in Greenland to my local lakefront park in Cleveland. I’ve been blown away by its capabilities.

Heightened aurora visibility in the lower 48 is expected to continue through 2025—a phenomenon that we have the current solar maximum to thank—and my info will help you capture dazzling iPhone images the next time the northern lights appear. To increase your aurora-sighting odds, check out my guide to northern-lights watching in the U.S. first; once you’re in the best location, start shooting the skies with my step-by-step tips below.

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What Makes the Newer iPhones Great for Nighttime Photography

My history of photographing nightscapes with the iPhone camera has evolved since my early aurora-hunting days. Initially, I used it to follow space-weather apps and log test pics to determine the likelihood of a strong aurora display—a great trick. Cameras on even the older iPhone models are more sensitive to light than our eyes; they can pick up faint green hues, a sign that I’ve found means stronger displays could be on the horizon.

Once I caught sight of the lights, I’d stash my phone and turn to my professional Sony Alpha cameras to capture the show. That changed once I upgraded to the iPhone 15 Pro Max (from $1,100) for its powerful camera, impressive video specs, and low-light capabilities.��The powerful new iPhone 16 Pro Max camera��looks even more promising.

To be clear, the latest iPhones won’t capture northern-lights photos as well as, say, my . Yet built-in features like night mode let hobbyist aurora photographers log sharp and colorful night images once reserved for DSLRs and mirrorless cameras. Additionally, my iPhone aurora snaps are great for sharing in-the-moment sightings on social media.

When Apple introduced night mode in 2019, it was a game changer. The feature, available on iPhone 11 models and other newer iterations, enables long-exposure photography in low-light conditions. I noticed a major jump in the quality of nighttime images with the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

With these iPhone versions, night mode automatically activates and slows the shutter speed to anywhere from three to ten seconds in dark settings. Shutter-speed versatility is key. A longer shutter speed lets in more light to properly expose nighttime or minimally illuminated scenes. There is a catch, though: even the slightest handshake during those exposure seconds can blur the image. So I’m going to recommend a few pieces of inexpensive gear to invest in if you’re planning to spend time and energy in this pursuit.

Gear That Will Enhance Night Shots

Buy a tripod or some sort of steadying device to stabilize your iPhone when snapping long exposures. I use a smartphone tripod, either a if you’re not traveling far and suitcase space isn’t an issue, or a more portable one like the above if I’m only packing carry-ons.

That said, I love to make my own backcountry tripod, whether it’s propping my camera up in the heel of a shoe for a vertical aurora photo or tilting it up against a water bottle for a better angle.

Another worthy addition to your iPhone aurora-photography kit is a portable power bank. I like this handy one from . Long-exposure photos, cold temperatures, and refreshing aurora apps like can quickly wipe your phone’s built-in battery. While I don’t need a power bank on shorter chases, it’s a must-have during six- or seven-hour sessions. I usually plug into it about halfway through a long aurora night. Note: Per , you’ll need to pack this power bank in your carry-on since it contains lithium batteries.

Where to Chase the Northern Lights for the Most Incredible Shots

For the best odds, head north—either to a high-latitude locale like Iceland and Alaska or states along the Canada border, such as Michigan, Minnesota, and Montana.

Also important: look for a dark-sky setting with minimal light pollution and relatively open skies toward the northern horizon, where the colors tend to appear.

How to Get the Best Photograph of the Northern Lights with an iPhone

You have two options for capturing auroras with an iPhone: either use the built-in camera or download an astrophotography app. In this guide, I’ll focus on the former, but I do recommend a versatile night-photography app like ($3) for those who crave more experimentation or for those with smartphones lacking the manual settings featured below.

Step 1: Take Test Shots

I kick off my aurora hunts by intermittently photographing the sky with my iPhone, which is more sensitive to light and auroras than the naked eye, to see if and where the lights may appear. In my experience, the ribbons start faintly, then pick up in intensity after anywhere from a few minutes to a half-hour or longer (or sometimes not at all—each show is different). I monitor the movements of those first few streaks and then angle my gear accordingly.

Generally, northern lights dance from east to west, according to the , although on particularly powerful nights, the ribbons may sashay in all directions, including overhead.

Step 2: Use a Tripod

If it’s not already set up, mount your iPhone to a tripod and point it in the direction of the swirls. Make sure your stand is somewhere sturdy and steady; with long-exposure photos, even a light vibration (such as the roof of a running car) can make the shot blurry.

While a tall tripod provides the most flexibility for preparing your shot, you can still make that short, more portable tripod option work if you get creative. I typically prop it on something stationary and out of the way of other aurora hunters, including a park bench, a sign, or a (closed-lid) trash can.

Step 3: Compose Your Photo

While scene setting isn’t essential, composition is among the quickest and easiest ways to level up your aurora photography. Instead of simply photographing skyward, try to get some foreground interest in your shots. I like to include my surroundings, such as the auroras above my rental car for road-trip vibes, or the lights above a grove of pines to illustrate a northern-forest backdrop. This works particularly well with bodies of water for that reflective glow, too.

Step 4: Photograph with the 1x Lens

The iPhone’s ultrawide-angle and telephoto lenses may work well by day, but the default 1x “photo” lens has the best night-sky capabilities. You can technically use night mode with the portrait option, but this is better reserved for street scenes or nights out on the town, not aurora landscape images.

Step 5: Adjust Your Shutter Speed in Night Mode

As previously mentioned, when your iPhone recognizes you’re about to shoot in the dark, night mode will automatically activate. Look for the crescent-moon icon on the top left of your screen to confirm it’s on.

Stick with the recommended shutter speed or, better yet, adjust it yourself. To change it, tap the small center-screen arrow to the right of the crescent-moon icon; this opens a menu at the bottom of the screen where you can change settings like shutter speed (via the matching crsecent-moon icon in the bottom menu).

I recommend manually setting your shutter to around ten seconds, then taking a test shot and making small adjustments up or down. Generally, when the northern lights are fainter, you want a longer exposure to let in more light and auroral movement.

When the iPhone detects it’s on a stabilized tripod, you can even set your shutter to 30 seconds to capture more light. (But note that these longer 30-second shutters can make stars appear streaky, due to the earth’s rotation.)

If the lights are powerful and moving quickly, aim for a faster shutter speed, like three to five seconds. If you leave the shutter open too long during powerful storms, you’ll end up with a big green blob instead of distinct pillars and ribbons.

Step 6: Fine-Tune Exposure

You won’t always need to play with exposure, but it can improve trickier lighting situations, such as a sidewalk with strong street lights or a snowy field reflecting moonlight. To control exposure, click that same top arrow beside the crescent-moond icon to access exposure settings (marked by a circle with plus and minus symbols).

Go left into the negative numbers when the scene is too bright; go right into the positive numbers when you need to lighten the shot. Continue to take test snaps and play around with your settings to find the right formula. Since exposure needs depend more on your surroundings than aurora activity, you can make these tweaks while waiting for the northern lights to appear.

Step 7: Turn Off Your Flash

Your flash should automatically turn off in night mode, but if it activates for some reason, click the lightning symbol on the top left of your screen to ensure the circle is slashed (signaling that it’s off).

Step 8: Enable RAW Mode

RAW images record more detail than JPEGs; this image format (just as the name implies, raw and unprocessed) lets you adjust exposure and pull out colors when it’s time to edit.

According to Apple, devices with iOS 14.3 or later, and the iPhone 12 Pro and newer models, come with ProRAW format (Apple’s version of RAW). You can edit these images directly in your iPhone’s photo app or in a more professional-level mobile-editing software like my go-to, the (which is free to download and use on JPEG images, but costs $10 and up for the subscription required for RAW editing). To enable RAW when photographing, tap the “RAW MAX” white letters on the top right of your screen.

Step 9: Set a Self-Timer

When taking a long-exposure shot, any sort of movement, even hitting the shutter button, can introduce shake that will blur the photo. To avoid this, I use the three-second self-timer option to ensure my touch doesn’t introduce unwanted motion.

You can access self-timer mode the same way you find exposure and shutter-speed options: hit the top-menu arrow to the right of the crescent-moon icon, then peruse the bottom menu for a timer icon.

Step 10: Test, Adjust, Then Preserve Your Settings

Play around with your adjustments to determine what works best for your specific scene, then save your settings so you don’t lose all your fine-tuning when you click out of the camera app to monitor aurora apps or forecasts.

To save your adjustments, head to settings, then camera, then preserve settings. Click the slider button to save adjustments like camera selection, exposure, and night mode so your iPhone’s ready to log more dreamy northern-lights shots when you click back into the photo app.

���ϳԹ��� and astrotourism writer Stephanie Vermillion has spent many sleepless nights chasing the northern lights and in remote far-flung locales, including Greenland sheep farms. Her upcoming book will be out December 3.

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I never expected to destress from double-postponing my wedding by staring into space, yet there I was, spying on the heavens from my backyard in light-polluted Cleveland for the umpteenth night in a row.

“That one’s Jupiter,” I whispered to my dog, Harry, who’d come to expect this backyard astronomy ritual. We were months into the pandemic and my now-husband, Frank, and I had spent the evening finalizing an email to alert friends and family that, yet again, we’d delayed our wedding due to spiking COVID-19 transmissions. Pairing this stress with the questionable status of my career—how can I be a travel writer without, well, traveling?—plus Frank’s front-line emergency physician job had my stomach in neverending knots. But the tension slackened each night as I sprawled beneath the stars, letting my mind recall those old Astronomy 101 lessons from college—particularly the vastness of the universe, and just how tiny my problems felt within it.

While life has returned to normal, I still turn to the cosmos for stress relief today—and I’m not the only one. Mindful stargazing, an activity that harnesses the mental health benefits of watching the night sky, is an emerging wellness practice. For instance, the Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD), a facet of the International Astronomical Union that furthers the use of astronomy for sustainable development, mental health, and cultural preservation, funds numerous projects to bring astronomy’s therapeutic effects to vulnerable groups, such as refugees. In tourism, hotels from Iceland to the Maldives have adopted programming that harnesses these same benefits for wellness travelers.

“When we feel stressed and anxious, physically our vision narrows; we get caught in our own problems, and they can feel very big,” says Mark Westmoquette, an astrophysicist and Zen teacher who leads mindful stargazing retreats and in partnership with OAD.

Our pupils actually get wider when we look at the dark night sky. “When we look with wide eyes and connect with the stars, this gives you a broader perspective which helps us both physically and mentally relax,” Westmoquette says.

As a self-identified “astrotourist,” my idea of stargazing has long involved traveling to international dark sky places where a jewelry box of constellations, planets, and nebulae gives dramatic perspective on my small place in the universe. While these experiences, from scouting auroras from sheep farms in South Greenland to navigating grief�� beneath the Milky Way while climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, will always be my favorite night-sky adventures, the pandemic opened my eyes to the healing power of mindful stargazing from my home city—even if light pollution obscures all but a handful of stars and planets each night.

“Seeing just one star and appreciating that��its light has traveled across the vastness of space for centuries just to meet your eye and be seen and known in this moment is magical,” says Westmoquette. “Bathing in the light of the moon and considering our relationship to it is something anyone can do.”

How to Get into Backyard Astronomy

While some stargazers have created enviable at-home observatories, I keep my backyard astronomy simple. I grab a pair of binoculars, a towel, my iPhone, and (of course) my dog, then lie on the grass and stare at the sky—sometimes in search of curious space sights, other times to simply unwind beneath the stars. Here’s how to partake, too.

Find Bright Night-Sky Objects

If you live in or near a dark-sky place, consider yourself lucky. Light pollution plagues the majority of us; nearly of Northern Americans (like me) can’t see the Milky Way from their home. That said, we can see some objects, even in light-polluted skies. That’s where I focus my backyard astronomy sessions.

According to Matt Hjelle, marketing director for stargazing app Sky Safari, we can spot nearby planets and major stars, as well as deep-sky objects—those outside the bounds of our solar system—with the naked eye. This includes the Andromeda galaxy, Orion nebula, and Pleiades star cluster, depending on the season.

Download a Stargazing App

Locating these space marvels can take a bit of know-how, especially for beginners. I use Sky Safari, one of several sophisticated stargazing apps, with augmented reality to navigate what’s overhead. I also look to the future to bookmark exciting night-sky events—like the conjunction of two planets, or a planetary parade (when multiple planets dot the sky on the same night).

Beyond navigating the night sky, I also use my stargazing app to learn more about the observable objects. For example, a deep dive into the visible Andromeda galaxy shares that this spiral wonder may collide with our home galaxy, the Milky Way, in several billion years. Clicking on Jupiter in my stargazing app tells me its diameter is 11 times larger than Earth’s. Said differently: if we’re a nickel, this gas giant would be a basketball. It’s hard not to find grounding in this perspective.

Let Your Eyes Adjust to the Dark

The better your eyes are adjusted to the dark, which can take 20 to 30 minutes, the better you’ll see the night sky. To stay tuned into the night, turn off your phone—or use —and shutter your outdoor lights. Many stargazing apps also offer a red-light mode, so you can learn about the sky wonders without compromising vision.

Unplug, Then Unwind

During some backyard astronomy nights, I use either the stargazing apps or NASA’s website (with red-light mode activated) to binge perspective-shifting intel—like the fact our solar system is just one of the Milky Way galaxy’s nearly 4,000 known planetary systems. Other nights, particularly after stressful days, I ditch my phone and binoculars and let myself bathe in the magic overhead.

According to Westmoquette, this is the best way to enjoy stargazing’s mental health benefits. “We need to put down the tech and put aside all the theories and concepts that wind us up and actually disconnect us from the present-moment experience,” he says. “Immersing ourselves in the moment helps us let go of the whir of thoughts and to-do lists and start appreciating the beauty and wonder of the night sky. That’s what supports good mental health.”

Stephanie Vermillion��is an adventure and astrotourism writer and author of the upcoming National Geographic book��, out December 3.

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Some people book hotels for high-quality gyms; others prioritize al fresco bathtubs. For me, an astrophotographer, accommodation selection comes down to one thing: stargazing potential.

With the recent astrotourism boom, due in part to the amazing northern-lights viewing in the U.S. this year, many lodges have bolstered their night-sky offerings. But not all dark-sky retreats are created equally. Simply having a view of constellations or being located near a low-light-pollution park doesn’t necessarily make for a stellar stargazing hotel.

A true dark-sky retreat makes the nightscape a main attraction. I’ve traveled to my fair share of properties that fit this bill, and others I can’t wait to check into for a night of cosmos-watching. Here are the ones I recommend in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

Sky Village at Canyon of the Ancients Guest Ranch

Cortez, Colorado

Hidden among the mesas and grassy valleys of the arid Colorado Plateau lies one of my favorite Milky Way–watching lookouts on the continent: . The southwestern Colorado getaway, bookended between its namesake monument and the Ute Mountain Reserve, enjoys pristine night views best enjoyed from the new Star Tower, a two-story structure with views of Sleeping Ute Mountain that opened in 2023.

Its architecture is reminiscent of the Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings found at nearby Mesa Verde National Park, located 30 miles east. You can spend days here bouncing between parks, hiking the nearby trails, and meeting the ranch’s farm animals. Come nightfall, all eyes are on the sky—particularly if you’re relaxing on the tower’s star-view deck. From $515

oTentik

Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan

As our northern neighbor’s inkiest dark-sky preserve, certified by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, nightscapes are about as star-speckled as they were when the dinosaurs tromped here—a history that draws fossil hunters and astrotourists alike.

Few accommodations exist in this 280-square-mile swath of mixed-grass prairie, but you can book Parks Canada’s , a collection of 12 cozy safari-style accommodations in the Frenchman Valley and Rock Creek campgrounds, designed with both sleeping and living-room spaces for up to six people. Based here, you can scour for fossils and admire the resident buffalo by day and gaze across 360 degrees of starry skies from your tent perch come dusk.

It’s worth mentioning that the park is ideally situated near the remote Saskatchewan-Montana border, a spot known for aurora sightings. Like many of our favorite contiguous U.S. aurora-hunting spots, lights viewing can occur here year-round. From $115

Under Canvas Bryce Canyon

Widtsoe, Utah

, lauded for its upscale, national-park-adjacent glamp sites, made an astrotourism splash in 2023 when it partnered with global light-pollution authority DarkSky International to turn a into the first DarkSky-certified resorts. At this especially incredible 50-tent outpost, located just 15 miles north of Bryce Canyon, an International DarkSky Park, the skies turn particularly dusky each night.

According to the nine-level Bortle Scale of , the property’s skies have the darkest rating: Class 1. Admire constellations from your private porch, join guided stargazing sessions, try meditative star bathing, or get hands on with community telescopes. The crème de la crème for space enthusiasts is the Stargazer tent, which features a large skylight to admire starry skies as as you doze off.

Under Canvas Bryce Canyon, is open from May through September. From $472

Fresh Coast Cabins

Eagle Harbor, Michigan

While I’ve enjoyed northern lights sightings around the world, few places have been as lucky for me as , ten trendy, family-owned cabins on Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula. It ticks every box on my lower 48 aurora-hunting checklist: a clear, north-facing view across Lake Superior—essential for catching the swirls since they appear closer to the horizon in lower latitudes—and virtually no light pollution.

Its spacious campfire-gathering space draws guests outdoors at night for a few hours of star- and aurora-gazing, but I recommend that avid sky-watchers book Cabin Nine or the slightly pricier Aurora Major Suite. Both boast private porches with sweeping lake views. After a dose of astronomical awe, pop into the property’s new , a traditional Finnish construction, then trot the path down to the lake for a reinvigorating dip in its waters. Repeat as needed. From $300

Four Seasons Resort Lanai

Lanai City, Hawaii

The 213-room may be a five-star splurge, but for night-sky buffs interested in stargazing as well as authentic Native culture, it’s worth it. The resort, set on this small, palm-fringed island roughly an hour via ferry from Maui, runs that spotlights both the stars and the stories of the Indigenous Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders that long relied on them for navigation. The observatory is also open to residents during special community events and for STEM internship programs for local students.

Expert-led star talks delve into celestial navigation history, and you can peer through a 3.2-foot telescope for a closer look at the skies. Other evening activities at the resort include full-moon themed dinners and guided starlit meditations overlooking Holopoe Bay, where the crashing waves add a splash of sound therapy. From $1,500

Pleasant Acres Reindeer Ranch

Pleasant Valley, Alaska

Aurora hunting from , a new getaway some 30 miles east of Fairbanks, is like sky-watching from a holiday snow globe. The 18-acre property is about as North Pole as U.S. travel gets. There are four igloo-style domes, named after caribou herds in Alaska, and each with a private deck positioned just above a bustling reindeer hangout. That means endless nights of watching for the northern lights with Santa’s helpers lazing nearby. Another thoughtful perk is a kitchenette equipped with a microwave—perfect for warming cocoa during long nights awake.

Worried about dozing through the show? Sign up for the ranch’s complimentary aurora alerts so you don’t miss a second of the colorful swirls. Daytime adventures include reindeer hikes and dogsled rides. And if you visit during the summer, the ranch has room-darkening shades for snoozing despite the all-hours midnight sun. From $280

The Oasis at Death Valley

Death Valley National Park, California

There’s a reason stargazers flock to this national park. Its remote and arid landscape, named a Gold Tier Dark Sky Park by DarkSky International, delights with obsidian skies across its 3.4 million acres of salt flats, sand dunes, and rainbow-hued hills. Even on bright-moon nights at the , I could spy countless stars. That said, it’s best to visit around a new moon, particularly in the less toasty months of October to February, for after-dark festivities that spotlight the park’s spellbinding skies.

The Oasis, included in DarkSky International’s certification of the park in 2013, offers two hotels: the higher-end , with 66 rooms and 22 casitas, and the , with 275 rooms. You’ll enjoy the park’s signature nightscapes from either landing pad, particularly during the annual in early March. Another great post-sunset adventure is the s offered by Furnace Creek Stables ($120 for one hour). Ranch rooms from $170; inn rooms from $356

Rancho La Concepción

Los Manzanos, Mexico

A heaven full of stars awaits travelers willing to go off-grid to this small, sustainable, and Wi-Fi-free ranch in the wilderness of Baja California, some 115 miles southeast of Ensenada. offers three rustic-chic cabins near the mountainous Parque Nacional Sierra de San Pedro Mártir, an area so dark that astronomers decided to situate the country’s second-largest telescope here. You can visit , a 23-mile drive east, during select public events, including presentations the first Friday of each month.

That said, Rancho La Concepción’s Bortle Class 1 skies make it hard to leave—particularly when the owners run space-sighting sessions with hot chocolate on hand. If there’s just one or two of you, book to watch the sparkly skies from bed. From $130

Thorny Mountain Fire Tower

Seneca State Forest, West Virginia

On the eastern side of West Virginia, a half-day’s drive from Washington, D.C., Seneca State Forest draws anglers and hikers eager to trek the area’s strech of the 330-mile Allegheny Trail. Come nightfall, there’s no better vantage point than the forest’s 65-foot-high��, a refurbished accommodation and picturesque dark-sky retreat that juts well above the pines.

The two-bed tower can sleep up to four people and retains the rustic, low-frills aesthetic of its 1935 beginnings, with 360-degree windows and a wrap-around balcony that lets Mother Nature do the decorating. The digs, reached via 69 steps, are only available from April through October and get scooped up almost a year in advance. Once you’re there, staring up in wonder at the bright cosmos, it’s not hard to see why it’s so special. From $150

Compass Rose Lodge

Huntsville, Utah

The Ogden Valley isn’t solely for ski buffs. The eclectic 15-room illustrates the region’s astrotourism allure, starting with the on-site . The stargazing haven, roughly 45 miles north of Salt Lake City, is open to guests and the local community, with telescopes to peer into space and nightly guided observations.

Also worthy of your time is the , just 2.5 miles north of the Compass Rose.�� A 13-mile-long model of our solar system, the project includes sculptures and artistic renderings of the planets, best enjoyed on a ride along the (bike rentals are available at the lodge). From $279

Summit at Big Bend

Terlingua, Texas

At nine million acres, southern Texas’s Greater Big Bend International Dark Sky Reserve is the largest dark sky reserve in the world. It encompasses not only Big Bend National Park but the ghost town of Terlingua and its nearby astro hub, the . Its glamping accommodations, from domes to cave dwellings, offer jet-black Bortle Class 1 nightscapes across 1,000 private desert acres.

For astronomy fans, it’s tough to beat—or catch any shut-eye in—the property’s stargazing domes, where clear ceilings and front walls are optimal for watching the shrub-dotted desert transition from blue-sky day to shimmery polka-dotted twilight. Catch the cosmos from your dome or your own�� fire pit, or enjoy the reserve’s numerous other , including astro programming in nearby —its Maverick Junction entrance is 17 miles to the east. From $159

���ϳԹ��� and astrotourism writer Stephanie Vermillion travels the globe in search of the best night-sky views, from stargazing-themed hotels to aurora-hunting campsites. Her upcoming book 100 Nights of a Lifetime: The World’s Ultimate ���ϳԹ���s After Dark will be out December 3.

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