Wyoming is the optimal place to stargaze for a variety of reasons. Between the raised altitude of several regions and the reduced amount of light pollution, the state’s night sky is truly a sight to behold. If you’re looking to enjoy the night sky this spring, we’ve compiled a list of the best places for stargazing in Wyoming for you to check out.
Jackson Hole
By day, the Jackson Hole area is a skier and rodeo-lover’s paradise. By night, it’s the perfect spot to see a variety of star clusters, constellations, and even other galaxies. In the warmer months, the sky is often clear enough to give you a view of Saturn’s rings, and if the sky is dark you will get a chance to see the Ring of Nebula and the Cigar Galaxy. If you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of a shooting star or two.
Devil’s Tower
With Devil’s Tower spiking up in such a contrast to the surrounding terrain, the National Monument is just as breathtaking at night as it is during the day. Surrounded by bright stars, you may even forget that the tower is present. This area is particularly sacred to the area’s native tribes such as the Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho, and holds religious as well as historic value.
Half Moon Lake
It’s widely known in the scientific community that the higher up your viewing site is, the better sights you get of the night sky. Pinedale, Wyoming, with a mountain elevation of 7185 feet, is an example of these optimal sites. Half Moon Lake in particular, just 10 miles from Pinedale, is one of the area’s premium stargazing sites. With summer fishing, boating, camping, and hiking, the lake offers a multitude of angles at which you can enjoy the stars.
Grand Teton National Park
Not only known for its starry skies, but for its legendary sunsets as well, Grand Teton is an area free of light pollution. Its stars pop against the dark sky and give you the chance to see millions of ones that often go unseen in lighter areas. The nights in the park offer breathtaking views of the Milky Way and various constellations with options for you to camp underneath those same marvels.
If you want to take your stargazing experience one step further, Wyoming Stargazing offers year-round programs that you can sign up for. These excursions are meant to educate and point out various space phenomena that you could miss without the proper equipment.
