17 Outstanding Spots for Stargazing in Oregon
The Pacific Northwest has a reputation of clouds and rain – don't believe it. While Washington and Oregon certainly get their share of rainy days (and nights), there are plenty of days (and nights) when it doesn't rain and you can enjoy some incredible stargazing opportunities. Across the state you can enjoy the stars...
How to Plan a Mount Rainier Stargazing Trip
Towering above the landscape, Mount Rainier is the most dramatic and arguably most beautiful of the Cascade volcanoes. This mountain range stretches from northern California to southern British Columbia in Canada – and is dotted by old, sleeping volcanoes including Mount Rainier. Of the extinct volcanoes that draw hikers, mountaineers, and outdoors-folk...
14 Must-See Astronomical Events in the July Night Sky (2021)
Some months are astronomically quiet – others are bursting with a variety of interesting events to try and see, keeping in mind the moon phases and weather. July 2021 is another exciting month, like last July and the past few months; the July night sky will be full of different objects moving through the celestial dance...
13 Fascinating Summer Solstice Celebrations Around the World
At 03:32 GMT on June 21, 2021, the earth will experience the June solstice. This is the point of greatest daylight for those of us who live in the upper hemisphere. While many people let the summer solstice pass without note, those of us who pay attention to astronomic events know it's an exciting day...
How to See the 2021 Annular Solar Eclipse on June 10
Seeing a solar eclipse is one of the most impressive and rare space tourism experiences on earth. Following the 2017 solar eclipse across the U.S., traveling to see an eclipse is an increasingly popular activity for those of us who love space here on earth. Luckily, there are two solar eclipses in 2021 – the first one on June 10th....
7 Terrific Spots for Stargazing near Toronto
As Canada's largest city, Toronto is home to more than 5.5 million Canadians. It's a big city – and we all know what that means: it's really hard to go stargazing due to urban light pollution and development. While there are small areas to go stargazing in Toronto where you might get a decent view of the night sky...
9 Must-See Astronomical Events in the June Night Sky (2021)
Some months may not seem particularly exciting for stargazing when you first glance – like this month – and then you dig into the astronomical events to realize how much is actually going on. This is one of those months: the June night sky is full of interesting sights, and some of the June days are too!...
How to Plan a Badlands National Park Stargazing Trip
They call it flyover country – the Great Plains. For the most part, they’re sweeping, rolling plains of agricultural land with little beyond rivers and roads to punctuate them. But in the heart of South Dakota, there’s a special geologic area that has drawn travelers for thousands of years. It’s called the Badlands, for the harshness of the landscape – but they’re definitely not bad. And a portion of this area is protected as Badlands National Park, one of the best national parks for stargazing in the U.S. Badlands National Park is a special stargazing destination for a number of reasons, including its remote location far from light pollution and major…
11 Great Telescopes Under $300 – Perfect for Beginners
While stargazing is great, there’s nothing like unlocking the wonders of the night sky with a telescope. And while I’ve shared a few other posts about telescopes at different price points (from $200 to $2000, and the best options under $1000), it helps to know multiple options at given lower price points. In this post, I’m covering the best telescopes under $300. This price point is a good option for either getting a really nice starter telescope or investing in a second telescope of a different type than you currently own. These 11 telescopes under $300 represent a wide range, including reflector, refractor, and catadioptric types. They also represent a…
9 Must-See Astronomy Events in the May Night Sky (2021)
As the weather warms in the northern hemisphere, there's nothing quite like a night of stargazing. While many of us are unable to travel for astronomy meetups and star parties, we can still set up in our backyards and local parks to enjoy the May night sky. This month, we'll receive a series of astronomical treats...
