Best spots for stargazing in Western Pa.

• The International Dark Sky park, nestled in the Pennsylvania Wilds, joined heavyweights like France's Morvan Regional Park and Arizona's Grand Canyon.

Threat level: Despite our galaxy's billions of stars, its brilliance is increasingly lost to light pollution. The brightness of the night sky climbed 10% on average each year from 2011-22, per a 2023 study.

Zoom in: Cherry Springs is renowned for its dark skies, offering panoramic views that attract stargazers and astrophotographers from all over. See our guide here.

• The best time to view the Milky Way north of the equator is June to September, per NASA.

Zoom out: Geauga Observatory Park outside of Cleveland, about two hours from Pittsburgh, also made the Forbes list.

If you're hoping to catch a glimpse of the Milky Way or other celestial events without venturing too far from home, Adam Benko, a hobbyist stargazer from Westmoreland County, shares his favorite viewing spots.

What they're saying: Benko, who has traveled the world chasing solar eclipses and northern lights, tells Axios that some of the best places to view the night sky in Western Pennsylvania are state parks.

• He said Ohiopyle (Fayette County), Raccoon Creek (Beaver County), Moraine (Butler County), and Pymatuning (Crawford County) are the darkest regionally.
• "Urban density in the area leads to a lot of light pollution, so state parks are your best bet," Benko says. "Watch the weather and book a campsite."

The bottom line: For the best stargazing, use a light pollution map or visit a Dark Sky Place.

• Always use red light filters, and consider joining a local star party.