Colorado offers spectacular opportunities to view the Milky Way, thanks to its geographical features. The state’s high altitudes, expansive landscapes, and areas with minimal light pollution create conditions for observing our home galaxy.
Key Factors for Milky Way Visibility
Seeing the Milky Way clearly depends on several environmental factors, with light pollution being primary. Artificial light from cities and towns scatters in the atmosphere, creating a glow that obscures fainter celestial objects, including the Milky Way. This is why about 80% of Americans cannot see the Milky Way from their homes. Stargazers seek out “dark sky” locations, which are areas with low levels of artificial light.
The phase of the moon also influences Milky Way visibility; a new moon phase is ideal as there is no moonlight to outshine the galaxy. Clear skies are also fundamental, requiring an absence of clouds or haze. Colorado’s typically dry climate and high elevations contribute to clearer air, reducing atmospheric interference and enhancing visibility.
The position of the Milky Way in the sky changes with the seasons and time of night. For observers in the Northern Hemisphere, the galactic core is best viewed from mid-summer through early fall. During spring, the Milky Way is more visible in the early morning hours, while from mid-summer to early fall, it appears in the evening.
Top Stargazing Locations in Colorado
Colorado is home to many designated International Dark Sky Places, offering clear night skies for Milky Way observation. Westcliffe and Silver Cliff were the first communities in Colorado to receive International Dark Sky Community certification and are among the highest altitude dark sky communities globally.
National parks and monuments across the state also provide stargazing opportunities. Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is a certified International Dark Sky Park where the Milky Way appears against towering dunes. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, another International Dark Sky Park, is known for its deep gorge and views of the galaxy.
Other notable locations include Jackson Lake State Park, the first state park in Colorado to be designated an International Dark Sky Park, where the lake’s surface can reflect the Milky Way. Curecanti National Recreation Area and Hovenweep National Monument are also certified International Dark Sky Parks. Remote areas like Grand Mesa, Vega State Park, and Molas Lake near the Million Dollar Highway are also known for their dark skies.
Maximizing Your Milky Way Viewing
The best time of year to see the galactic core in Colorado is from mid-summer to early autumn. Plan your outing for a night around the new moon to avoid lunar interference. The hours just after astronomical twilight and before dawn typically offer the darkest skies, often between 11 PM and 3 AM during peak season.
Allowing your eyes to fully adapt to the darkness is important for seeing the subtle details of the Milky Way. This process can take 20 to 30 minutes, so avoid looking at bright lights, including phone screens. Using a red-light flashlight can help preserve your night vision if you need to move around. The human eye is less sensitive to red light, which minimizes its impact on dark adaptation.
While the Milky Way is often visible to the naked eye under dark skies, binoculars can enhance the experience by revealing more stars and denser regions within the galactic band. A pair of 7×50 or 10×50 binoculars can provide a wider field of view than a telescope, making them suitable for observing the Milky Way. Telescopes are better suited for viewing planets or specific deep-sky objects.