Park · NE, US
Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area
Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area, about 26 miles southwest of Valentine, Nebraska, became the state's first certified Dark Sky Park in 2022. Campsites range from basic to electric, with water, showers and a dump station, and half the sites at Beeds Landing, Boardman and Cedar Bay take reservations. A park entry permit is required, and the Nebraska Star Party meets here each summer.
Official site (opens in new tab) View on OpenStreetMap (opens in new tab) Source (opens in new tab)
| Type | Park |
| State / Province | NE |
| Country | United States |
| Nearest town | Valentine |
| Certified | 2022 |
| Coordinates | 42.6025, -100.8949 |
| Source | https://darksky.org/places/merritt-reservoir-dark-sky-park/ (opens in new tab) |
Plan Your Night
Tonight’s moon
New Moon
1% illuminated. Rises 7:04 AM CST. Sets 4:52 PM CST. Times are local to the park.
Next new moon
November 9, 2026
The darkest, best-for-stargazing night in the current lunar cycle. See the full trip planner for the next 12 months of new-moon windows.
Upcoming meteor showers
- Leonids Meteor Shower Peak 2026, November 17, 2026
- Geminids Meteor Shower Peak 2026, December 13, 2026
- Ursids Meteor Shower Peak 2026, December 22, 2026
5 nearest dark sky places
- Badlands National Park · 153 km (95 mi)
- Jackson Lake State Park · 362 km (225 mi)
- Medicine Rocks State Park · 477 km (296 mi)
- Golden Gate Canyon State Park · 488 km (303 mi)
- Frisco, Colorado · 551 km (342 mi)