Places
Dark Sky Parks in the US and Canada: Full Guide
September 23, 2026
Find the best dark sky parks across the US and Canada by region, plus the Bortle scale and how DarkSky International and RASC certify dark skies.
Articles
Every long-form guide on the site, each one linked to its primary sources.
Dark Sky Guides
Events
Where to See the Northern Lights in the US and Canada
September 23, 2026
See the northern lights in the US and Canada: best states, the Kp index, NOAA forecasts, best months, and phone camera tips for aurora photos.
Events
Next Solar Eclipse in North America: 2026 to 2045
September 23, 2026
See every solar and lunar eclipse visible from the US and Canada through 2045, the 2033 and 2044/2045 total eclipses, eye safety, and eclipse travel tips.
Events
Meteor Shower Calendar 2026-2027: Every Peak Date
September 23, 2026
Every major meteor shower, October 2026 to 2027: peak dates, ZHR, moon conditions, radiants explained, and the best US and Canada dark-sky spots to watch.
Laws
Dark Sky Laws by State: US Outdoor Lighting Rules
September 23, 2026
Only Arizona and New Mexico have broad statewide dark sky laws; 21 more states have limited rules. See every state, D.C. and province, with citations.
Lighting
Dark-Sky Friendly Outdoor Lighting: A Homeowner's Guide
September 23, 2026
DarkSky International's five lighting principles, what "full cutoff" and color temperature mean, and how to pick fixtures that cut glare, save energy, and meet local dark sky laws.
Moon
Moon Phases, Moonrise and Moonset Explained
September 23, 2026
The eight moon phases explained, why moonrise shifts 50 minutes a day, how moon phase affects stargazing and meteors, and full moons through 2027.
Kids
Stargazing for Kids and Beginners: Your First Night Out
September 23, 2026
A warm, no-telescope-required guide to your first stargazing night: what to bring, red lights, finding the Big Dipper, and picking a dark sky spot.
Learn
Famous Constellations and When to See Them
September 23, 2026
A season-by-season guide to Orion, the Big Dipper, Cassiopeia, Cygnus and more, calibrated for US and Canada latitudes, with star and myth notes.
Culture
10 Best Space Movies About Eclipses, Comets and Meteors
September 23, 2026
The 10 best space movies built on a real eclipse, comet, meteor or night sky, with each film's year, director and a sourced real-science accuracy check.
Places
Dark Sky Preserves in Canada: A Province-by-Province Guide
September 28, 2026
Every RASC and DarkSky International dark sky preserve in Canada, by province, from Torrance Barrens to Wood Buffalo, plus Mont-Mégantic's lighting rules.
Seasonal Sky Guides
Events
Orionid Meteor Shower 2026: Peak Dates and Where to Watch
September 28, 2026
The Orionid meteor shower peaks October 21 to 22, 2026, with a 74 percent moon. Radiant, rates, the Halley's Comet link, and top US and Canada spots.
Events
Leonid Meteor Shower 2026: When and Where to Watch
September 28, 2026
The Leonids peak November 17 to 18, 2026 under a nearly moon-free sky: peak times, the Leo radiant, parent comet, and top US and Canada dark-sky spots.
Events
Geminids 2026: Peak Night Guide for the US and Canada
September 28, 2026
The Geminids peak December 13 to 14, 2026, almost moon-free. When to watch, why kids can see it before bedtime, and the best US and Canada spots.
Events
Night Sky December 2026: What to See in the US and Canada
October 29, 2026
Night sky December 2026: Geminids peak Dec 13 to 14, new moon Dec 8, solstice Dec 21, and the Cold Moon supermoon on Dec 23 in the US and Canada.
Events
Night Sky November 2026: What to See in the US and Canada
October 29, 2026
Night sky November 2026: Leonids peak Nov 17 to 18, new moon Nov 9, Beaver Moon Nov 24, Venus back at dawn, and Mars passing Jupiter in Leo.
Events
Night Sky October 2026: What to See in the US and Canada
September 28, 2026
October 2026's moon phases, Draconids and Orionids, Saturn's opposition afterglow, a Jupiter occultation and the best new-moon weekend for a dark-sky trip.
Explainers
Learn
UFOs and UAPs: What Official Investigations Have Found
September 28, 2026
What AARO, NASA, and Congress have actually found on UFOs and UAPs, why most sightings turn out to be satellites, planes, or Venus, and how to report one.
Learn
Starlink and the Night Sky: Satellites and Stargazing
September 28, 2026
Starlink has passed 11,000 satellites in orbit. See how satellite constellations affect professional astronomy, backyard stargazing, and astrophotography.
Culture
NASA's Budget Explained: Where the Money Goes
September 28, 2026
NASA's FY2026 budget, the FY2027 request, and what proposed cuts to Hubble, Webb and Chandra mean for sky-watchers, plus a Canada budget note.
More Guides
Events
Mars Opposition 2027 Viewing Guide: How to See Mars at Its Best
October 1, 2026
When Mars reaches opposition in February 2027, what to expect, and where to see it from a dark sky.
Events
Saturn Opposition 2026: How to See It (October 4)
October 1, 2026
When Saturn reaches opposition on October 4, 2026, what you will see, the best time to look, and dark-sky places to go.