If you are planning a summer vacation, will it take you to dark-sky territory?
Bright lights and big city appeal to some people on vacation, but others prefer the quiet solitude that will actually allow us to relax.
There are many places in the United States that still have extraordinarily dark skies. And they are easy to find. Just look at a map of the US to see where the artificial city lights are and are not. Maps for Europe and other parts of the world also reveal these locations.
In the US, your best bet is to head west of the Mississippi River. The northwest corner of Nevada or southeast corner of Oregon seems so dark that you wonder if you could see your hand in front of your face on a moonless night.
Another great state for darkness is Big Sky Country itself, Montana. This is where I will be headed for summer vacation. From space, it must appear as if someone forget to pay the electric bill in this part of the country.
While I will be staying in a lodge, campers and backpackers are the ones who have the best opportunity to truly get away from it all, including manmade lighting.
Are you planning a vacation into the wilderness this year? Don't forget to step outside before bedtime and check out the glittering sky above you.
