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Hello, hello! Welcome to The Hot List by Hotala!
In today’s issue, you’ll check out some of the best spots in the US for an out-of-this-world stargazing experience. If you’ve ever observed your local night sky during the winter, you may have noticed that the stars look
much brighter and clearer at that time of year. That’s not just your imagination fooling you; stargazing in the winter really is better than doing so in the summer. This is due to the winter nights being longer and darker, and the crisp wintry air is drier and less hazy than the humid air of summer.
What’s great about winter stargazing is that prime locations like state parks are nearly empty at this time of year. Indeed, the winter season offers an incredible roster of astronomical events for brave adventurers to enjoy if the weather permits. So, what are you waiting for? Learn all about these top picks and prepare for your trip to catch these breathtaking celestial shows!
The top spots for winter stargazing (Photo Credit: @stefanhwelch, @christy_d77, and @nextgreatadventureblog)
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Glacier National Park (Montana, USA)
Explore the “After Dark” park at St. Mary’s Observatory!
Glacier National Park in Montana, USA, is the first destination on our stargazing Hot List. This 1583-square-mile national park is situated along the spine of Montana’s Rocky Mountains and runs right into the Canadian border. You can access the park and cross its entire length via its famous Going-to-the-Sun Road.
Glacier Park has a rich cultural heritage that can be traced back nearly 10,000 years. Its earliest inhabitants were several Native American tribes, with the Blackfeet Indians residing toward the east and the Salish and Kootenai Indians to the West. In 1910, President Taft signed a bill that established Glacier as the 10th national U.S. park, and its carved peaks and valleys have welcomed visitors ever since.
Glacier Park is a delight for astronomers in particular because it offers up unusually dark skies that make it perfect for stargazing and astrophotography. In fact, the park takes great pains to monitor light pollution levels within the park to maintain certification from the International Dark Sky Association. The park has also collaborated with the Big Sky Astronomy Club to offer several astronomy programs under the banner “Half the Park Happens After Dark.”
Here are some of the exciting sites at Glacier National Park:
St. Mary Lake, Glacier National Park (Photo Credit: @amys.travelpics)
Logan Pass, Glacier National Park (Photo Credit: @wilsonmitchell.photo)
Lake McDonald, Glacier National Park (Photo Credit: @chuck_senn)
Discover more about Glacier National Park
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Lake Powell (Arizona/Utah border, USA)
Catch the sunset at Horseshoe Bend!
Deep within the rocky outcrop of Glen Canyon National Park sits Lake Powell, one of Arizona’s most popular lakes. This 186-mile-long body of water is the perfect destination for fishing, water sports, outdoor photography, and more! Lake Powell was created when the Glen Canyon Dam was constructed in the early 1960s. Water levels in the lake have steadily risen since its construction; however, they now tend to fluctuate with the seasons.
What puts Lake Powell squarely in second place is its enchanting geography. Unlike most other lakes, Lake Powell is not a single-round pool of water. Instead, it is an artificial lake resembling a “flooded Grand Canyon” of sorts. With 2000 miles of shoreline, every stop along the way offers an entirely new vista or experience.
You will love Lake Powell’s smooth, glassy waters. Though its major channels may get a bit choppy from the wind or rush, most other channels tend to stay smooth well into the afternoon, providing gorgeous reflections of the stunning geography. As was mentioned previously with Lake McDonald, lakes can be an excellent site for stargazing precisely due to this reflective ability. And just as with Glacier Park, Glen Canyon Park is committed to minimizing light pollution, with skies certified by the International Dark Sky Association.
Spots that you cannot miss at Lake Powell include:
Rainbow Bridge National Mountain (Photo Credit: @surfandturfgirl)
Horseshoe Bend (Photo Credit: elie.islam)
Antelope Canyon (Photo Credit: @christy_d77)
Discover more about Lake Powell
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Mauna Kea (The Big Island, Hawaii, USA)
Take the Mauna Kea Stargazing Tour for an experience out of this world!
There is a saying in Hawaiian: “Maunakea kuahiwi ku ha’o ika malie,” which means “Maunakea is the astonishing mountain that stands in the calm.” The name Mauna Kea translates to “White Mountain,” so called because of its perennially snowy peak. In Ancient Hawaiian mythology, Mauna Kea is the first-born mountain son of Wakea (the god of light and the heavens) and Papa (goddess of the Earth and the underworld). To the Ancient Hawaiians, Mauna Kea was where the Earth met the glories of the universe.
Who can blame them? Mauna Kea’s impressive peak sits right in the center of Hawaii Island. Its snowy summit stands tall at over 14,000 feet above sea level and provides gorgeous, unobstructed, panoramic views of the horizon. This view and the mountain’s famous dark, clear skies and dry, crisp air create the perfect conditions for some truly stunning scenery.
How’s that for stargazing?
According to our sources, there are two reasons why you should visit Mauna Kea with a tour company. Firstly, you will need a 4-wheel drive vehicle to get to the summit, and most rentals will not allow you to go past a certain altitude. The drive to the top can also be quite rough, and there is a danger of skidding on snow or ice during the winter months. Secondly, the summit of Mauna Kea has 40% less oxygen than ground level, so it’s always a good idea to travel with a guide who knows how to spot and care for altitude sickness.
Here are our top spots to visit for Mauna Kea!
Volcanoes national Park, Mauna Kea (Photo Credit: @stefanhwelch)
Mauna Kea Observatory (Photo Credit: @nicole.wee)
Sunset and Stargazing Tour (Photo Credit: @lilypoling)
More Featured Photos
(Photo Credit: @ktt.pho)
(Photo Credit: @pursuitglacierpark)
(Photo Credit: @ranger.cass)
(Photo Credit: @therobbradford)
(Photo Credit: @hikingwithsticks)
(Photo Credit: @aufgehts)
(Photo Credit: @markscottadventures)
(Photo Credit: @crysloves78)
(Photo Credit: @cindychoifoen)
(Photo Credit: @huntercripesd)
(Photo Credit: @stefanwelch)[Hottest]
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And that were our Top 3 Spots for Spectacular Stargazing!
We hope this week’s Hot List had something special for you! If you read anything that caught your fancy this week, please consider forwarding this newsletter to friends and family. After all, dreams are always better when they are shared.
Until next week, enjoy and safe travels,
Team Hotala
Steer me to an autumn path to travel all alone—fall leaves the finest company, rustling in my heart like home.
Angie Weiland Crosby
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