Dark Sky Photography Information
Below are a few different resources you can use to locate the following location for your dark sky photography adventure. The essential part of Milky Way photography is finding the darkest skies. Please take a look at the dark sky map below. The darker the skies, the more you will see the Milky Way in your image. The week before the new moon, the moon rises very late, or early the following day, so the moon is not out, and this is when you want to do your Milky Way photography.
When to See the Milky Way
November, December, and January are not the best months for observing the Milky Way’s most brilliant core. During this time, the dense part of the galaxy sinks below the horizon and won’t reemerge until March, when it becomes visible again in the early morning hours. In the Northern Hemisphere, summer offers the best conditions for viewing, although shorter nights, humidity, and storms can create challenges. Even with these hurdles, there are still plenty of chances to see the Milky Way at its finest. A planisphere tool can be invaluable for finding the right time to see the dense portion of the galaxy.
The Milky Way becomes visible in the pre-dawn hours during March, April, and May. By June, it rises around 10:30 p.m., remaining visible throughout the night. From mid-August through October, the ideal viewing time is just after sunset, when the sky has fully darkened, typically about an hour after the sun has dipped below the horizon.
Go to the International Dark-Sky Places Map.
Sky at a Glance – Some good info to check out current information.
Go to the Dark Sky Finder Map. The first part of doing night sky or Milky Way photography is to find a dark location. These maps are all a little slow, but you will find your Milky Way photography spot using them.
Certified International Dark Sky Parks
Natural Bridges National Monument – Utah, USA
Cherry Springs State Park – Pennsylvania, USA
Galloway Forest Park – Scotland, UK
Zselic National Landscape Protection Area – Hungary
Goldendale Observatory Park – Washington, USA
Clayton Lake State Park – New Mexico, USA
Hortobagy National Park – Hungary
Observatory Park – Ohio, USA
The Headlands – Michigan, USA
Big Bend National Park – Texas, USA 2012
Death Valley National Park – California, USA 2013
Chaco Culture National Historical Park – New Mexico, USA 2013
Northumberland National Park and Kielder Water Forest Park – Northumberland, England.
Eifel International Dark Sky Park – North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany 2014 Provisional
Mayland Community College Blue Ridge Observatory and Star Park
Parashant International Night Sky Province – Arizona, USA 2014
Hovenweep National Monument – Utah-Colorado, USA 2014
Copper Breaks State Park – Texas, USA 2014
Enchanted Rock State Natural Area – Texas, USA 2014
Oracle State Park – Arizona, USA 2014
Weber County North Fork Park – Utah, USA 2015
Capitol Reef National Park – Utah, USA 2015
International Dark-Sky Parks Links
International Dark-Sky Parks continued.
Quebec Canada – A Silver-tier International Dark Sky Reserve in Quebec, Canada, established in 2008.
