"The night sky is a glittering dome peppered with stars, planets, and passing meteors—but most people no longer get to see it. In urban and suburban settings, artificial lighting and atmospheric pollutants wash out the light of the stars. This is a serious loss. For millennia, our ancestors experienced a dark night sky. Cultures around the world told stories about the constellations and used the stars as a calendar. Only for the past few generations have humans been denied the chance to stand in awe of the heavens.

Even at night, under a dark sky and brilliant stars, you can see some of the geology, "twenty-three rock layers [of which] are exposed at the monument.

"Most of Yellowstone is free of artificial light. However, in developed areas throughout the park there are more than 5,000 light fixtures. In the past, visitors often encountered bright light fixtures illuminating streets and buildings in the park making it difficult to view the natural night sky. Now, light fixtures are being replaced with low wattage, energy efficient, fully shielded fixtures that direct light only downward. Currently, only 46% of light fixtures are on at night and 75% those are fully shielded; helping to further preserve nighttime wilderness."

"Cape Royal and Angel's Window are some of the only spots with views of the Colorado River from the North Rim." It's also a great spot for stargazing.

"Here, just 200 years ago stood the snout of a 100-mile long glacier. Though icebergs no longer dot the waters of Bartlett Cove, the animals, plants, and landscape continue to change after the recession of this great glacier. There are many ways to explore Bartlett Cove. You may wish to investigate the area on your own, with a small group, or as part of a Ranger Naturalist guided hike or talk. Whatever the method, the beauty of Bartlett Cove and the events that took place here are well worth discovering.  Wondering how to get here?

"Emigrants of the California Trail describe the rocks here in vivid detail as "a city of tall spires,” “steeple rocks," and "the silent city." Today, this backcountry byway attracts rock climbers, campers, hikers, hunters," and stargazers.

The Sunrise area of Mount Rainier National Park is a busy place from early morning to far into the night. Yet, even with the lights from vehicles and hikers, the stars are still bright in the sky and sometimes stargazers get lucky and catch a meteor zipping through the atmosphere.

On August 19, 2013 Chaco Culture was officially designated an International Dark Sky Park, and you can see why with this image. "Chaco has long been considered by many night sky enthusiasts to be one of the best places in America to stargaze. Today, amidst this ancient landscape, visitors can experience the same dark sky that the Chacoans observed a thousand years ago. The protection of dark night skies is a priority at Chaco not only for the enjoyment of star-gazing visitors, but for the natural environment as well.

Kayaking in the Great Lakes can be a fantastic experience, expecially on a bright sunny day. It pays, however, to be safety conscious while out on the water, as conditions can change at any given moment. To read more about kayak safety at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, click here.

"Mesa Arch is one of most photographed arches in southeast Utah. This location is especially popular at sunrise, when groups of photographers often lay in wait for the glow of sunrise on the bottom of the arch." To learn more about this arch, click here.