Visit the Darks Sky Parks of Arizona to explore the night sky.
NPS Photo compliments of Mike Quinn
The summer of 2022 has been a great summer for meteor watching. While the Northern Hemisphere touts the best visibility for the Northern Lights, Arizona touts Dark Sky Parks. Dark Sky Parks are where people gather to view awe-inspiring twinkling little stars and shooting stars. The Delta Aquarid and Perseid are the top views of the summer, while the Northern Hemisphere had views of stunning aurora borealis due to the recent sun storm.
THE DARK SKY PARKS OF ARIZONA
Arizona has the most – dark sky parks in the world with over 16 IDA-certified viewing areas. It has been loved by astronomers for sky watching since the early 1900s. The reasons? Great weather, tall mountains, and a clean atmosphere.
1. GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK
We have to start with Grand Canyon National Park. “Half the park is after dark” is located in some of the most remote lands in the United States. The park encompasses 1, 217, 262 acres, and 277 miles of the Colorado River Gorge. In 2016 the Grand Canyons earned IDA’s Dark Sky Park status.
2. FLAGSTAFF AREA NATIONAL MONUMENTS
Only hours away from the Grand Canyon are the Flagstaff Area National Monuments. The national monument area was created to protect nature and archeology. The three sites include Wupatki Canyon, Walnut Canyon, and the Sunset Crater Volcano. All of which are worth the day’s trip. All three parks fall under the IDA’s dark sky designation.
Photo compliments of Piqsels
3. WHEN IN DOUBT CHECK THE ARIZONA BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
For those who don’t wish to spend vacation dollars on state and national parks, the Arizona Bureau of Land Management manages over 12 million acres of public land. This land is available for off-grid camping. My personal favorite is the BLM land in the Hualapai Mountain Range. Probably because it’s home.
Photo compliments of Almanac.com
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