Valerie Stimac
Valerie is the founder and editor of Space Tourism Guide. She grew up in Alaska, has lived across the U.S., and traveled around the world to enjoy the night sky from many different perspectives. Join her on this journey to explore space right here on earth.
How to See the 2023 Lyrids Meteor Shower
After several slow months of meteoric activity, it's finally here: the first major meteor shower of the year, the Lyrids! It's the first good opportunity of the calendar year when you can see shooting stars streak across the night sky burning up as they enter earth’s atmosphere. That’s right: it’s almost time for the peak of the 2022 Lyrids meteor shower!...
10 Spectacular Spots for Stargazing in South Carolina
Whether you're craving great barbeque, time on the beach, or the perfect glass of sweet tea, South Carolina has it for you. But did you know that South Carolina (like all states) has some good spots for stargazing, especially if you can get away from the big cities...
How to Plan a Crater Lake National Park Stargazing Trip in 2023
I'm pretty sure we can all agree that the national parks across the U.S. are some of the most fantastic places to visit – and many of them are as special after dark as they are during the day. Thanks to the foresight and continued efforts of politicians and ordinary people, our national parks protect wide swaths of natural land from development and pollution – including light pollution...
7 National Parks in the Path of the 2023 Solar Eclipse
They may call us "eclipse chasers" or maybe even "umbraphiles" (those who love the sun's umbra or shadow) – but we don't care. We know there's nothing more impressive on our planet than watching the shadow of the moon slide over the landscape, dimming the sun and reminding us of our place in the great celestial dance of our solar system...
The 11 Best Spots for Stargazing in Detroit
When you think of Detroit, what comes to mind? Maybe it's sports teams or automobile manufacturing. If you're a fan of good food, you might remember that Anthony Bourdain visited Detroit, as have many other television food stars. You might instead think of negative headlines – economic and infrastructure issues –, of which there have been an unfortunate amount...
How to Plan a Grand Teton National Park Stargazing Trip in 2023
Across the United States, there are some incredible places for stargazing; our national parks are among the best – especially out west where there's less light pollution, lower humidity, higher elevation, and, often, clearer skies. I've covered many national parks over the years and provided tips on stargazing in them, including places like Great Basin, Arches, and even Jasper, north of the border...
17 Captivating Spots for Stargazing in Kansas
For a place called the Sunflower State, Kansas is actually a pretty great destination for those who love the night sky. Perhaps it's because the Cosmodrome is home to the Apollo 13 command module, or maybe it's because Kansas' current tourism campaign is "to the stars" – whatever the reason, Kansas is feelin' the love for the night sky too – and there are some great places for stargazing in Kansas...
The 8 Best Spots for Stargazing in Oklahoma City (& Nearby)
From coast to coast, and everywhere in between, there are some incredible spots for stargazing all across the U.S. However, as in most things, the middle of the country – whether you call it the Heartland, the Flyover States, or just the good ol' Midwest – gets overlooked when it comes to stargazing...
How to Plan a Great Basin National Park Stargazing Trip in 2023
Some states have all the luck – they have several national parks and pristine night skies above. A few that come to mind are Utah, Arizona, and Colorado. But don't overlook Nevada, the neighbor to the west! Nevada is home to just one national park, Great Basin, and it too is an epic stargazing location...
9 Must-See Astronomy Events in the April Night Sky (2023)
Let’s hope those notorious ‘April Showers’ stay far away! April is going to be a great month to get out and go stargazing, planet-gazing, asteroid-viewing, and much more. . From close encounters between various planets and our moon to a whole spate of solar system viewing opportunities, there are plenty of April night sky events to mark on your calendar. Don’t forget too that the Milky Way is rising for the northern hemisphere, so other nights are good too even if one of these events isn’t happening...
