Where to stargaze in Colorado during Dark Sky Month
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A star-filled sky above the San Juan Mountains in southwest Colorado. Photo: Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty Images
June marks Dark Sky Month in Colorado, and star party reservations are now live.
Why it matters: Light pollution is ecologically hazardous, especially to birds that use the moon and stars to navigate but are attracted to city lights instead.
- The Centennial State's celestial views also draw tourists.
State of play: The state has 15 officially-designated "Dark Sky Places," including national parks, state parks and entire towns.
- Lucky for us, we don't have to go far to reach them — unlike many residents east of the Mississippi River, who have to travel more than 100 miles to reach a dark sky area.
Zoom in: Some of the closest, least light-polluted skies to Denver can be found in:
Flashback: Gov. Jared Polis signed a bill in 2022 directing a one-time transfer of $35,000 from the state's general fund to create a tourism program supporting Dark Sky communities.