By Brittany Anas
Do your tour-goers want to see the stars? Not of the Hollywood variety; we’re talking the ones that twinkle bright in an unobscured night sky.
In a big city, people can spot 500 or so stars on a good, clear night. But at a designated “dark sky” park or community and visitors can bear witness to three times as many, according to the National Park Service.
In fact, astrotourism is gaining popularity—and not just for travelers who want to get a glimpse of a rare eclipse or chase the Northern Lights in a Nordic country. In the United States, several parks and communities are putting in place measures to reduce light pollution and preserve their view of the night sky to ensure residents and visitors alike get clear views of the Milky Way and constellations. Catering to the growing interest in stargazing are guided astronomy tours and star parties.
These star-studded locales will put on a show of galactic proportions for your tour-goers.
Utah: Star parties in a national monument
Utah shines bright when it comes to dark sky designations. Roughly 100 parks and communities worldwide have earned Dark Sky Designations by limiting excessive artificial lighting and protecting the night sky from light pollution. Of those, the highest concentration is in Utah, with several parks and national monuments securing the esteemed designation.
A spectacular spot to take travelers is Cedar Breaks National Monument, located in Brian Head in southern Utah. Thanks in part to its elevation 10,000 feet above sea level, it boasts an impressive dark sky. To celebrate, the park holds free star parties throughout the year. Dark Sky park rangers and astronomers host the parties at Point Supreme Overlooking, starting just before sunset. On good nights, visitors might see craters and mountain ranges on the moon and the rings of Saturn, in addition to star clusters. Once the skies are completely dark, rangers lead laser-powered constellation tours to discuss the mythology of the heavens. The star parties are held every Saturday from Memorial Day to Labor Day and on a less-frequent basis in the winter, with the dates updated on the National Park Service’s events calendar. Star parties are free of charge and last two to three hours. No reservations are needed.
More information here: nps.gov/cebr/star-parties.htm
Borrego Springs: Astronomy tours for smaller groups
Borrego Springs, which is in the middle of the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, is the only certified Dark Sky Community in California. In late winter and early spring, your tour-goers will also see wildflowers carpeting the desert. Residents in this oasis restricted and modified lights on public streets, businesses and front porches to achieve optimum darkness. A high mountain range also helps shields bright city lights from Southern California.
Borrego Springs is an ideal stargazing spot for smaller tours as astronomer Dennis Mammana leads personalized tours. Private group tours are $499 for up to 15 people, and $30 per person beyond 15. Mammana likes to keep the groups small so he can interact with people and allow folks to see through the telescope as much as they can.
Find more information here: borregonightskytours.com
Headlands in Emmet County, Michigan: Get a glimpse of the Northern Lights
Headlands is a park with star power in Emmet County at the northern tip of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. On some clear nights, visitors might even be able to see the Aurora Borealis. Boasting 500 acres of woodlands and more than two miles of undeveloped Lake Michigan shoreline, Headlands achieved an International Dark Sky Park designation in 2011.
The park, which is west of Mackinaw City, is open 24/7 and free for visitors. For an informal star party, point tour-goers to the “Designated Dark Sky Viewing Area” along the lakefront. (Bring red-filtered flashlights, not regular ones, to help preserve the night sky,) Or, rent out the Waterfront Event Center and Observatory, which can accommodate 278 people. Reservations can be made up to 18 months in advance.
Find more information here: midarkskypark.org
