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Did you know that Colorado has some of the best stargazing conditions in the country? Well, that’s right, and fall happens to be the best season to view them! Here you can read why and where to go for the best view.
The US Air Force Academy is home to the largest research telescope in Colorado. I spoke with their research team about the intersection of weather and space science, which makes this a great place to view the stars. For good stargazing we need three things: clear and dark skies, good transparency and good visibility. Let’s go through them all.
Clear sky
A clear sky is free of clouds… soot… dust… and smoke. The plains of Colorado experience a large number of cloudless nights… with the highest percentage of clear nights in the fall. However, urban areas have many small particles in the air, including from cars and power stations. These particles cause city lights to reflect off them and make the sky brighter. This means that Colorado Springs… Pueblo… Denver… and other Front Range cities are difficult to stargaze.
What is atmospheric transparency?
Transparency is a weather term used by astronomers to describe how wet or dry the air is. Think of it as humidity. It also takes into account other ‘things’ that may be in the sky and scatter light between us, observers on the ground, and in space. This is where Colorado shines. Our high altitude (low air pressure) and generally dry air ensure excellent transparency. This is why the sky looks so bright and dark in the mountains and eastern plains compared to other places in the country. Fall and winter are best for transparency. Cold air cannot hold as much water as warm air.
What is atmospheric vision?
Vision is a measurement of how our view of the stars becomes distorted and blurred due to turbulence – the same kind that causes you to bounce around in an airplane. When air of different temperatures mixes, it causes blurry images. Have you ever seen a glint from the sky above a road on a very hot day? That’s what seeing measures mean. Front Range cities can have a hard time here because of the way air flows east of the mountains. It’s best when we have light winds and stable air… which is common after a storm system.
Why autumn is ideal:
Fall is an ideal time for stargazing because we typically have clearer skies… colder air… and less air turbulence. While it can be difficult to get a good view of the sky in our cities, you don’t have to travel far for Colorado’s fall weather to work its magic. The Florissant Fossil Beds…Mueller State Park…and Paint Mines Interpretive Park are all Dark Sky sites within an hour’s drive of Colorado Springs.
Tips for good viewing:
If you choose to take advantage of this time of year to spend some time looking at the night sky, here are a few tips. First…
- Let your eyes adjust: Give your eyes 20 to 30 minutes to adjust to the darkness and avoid looking at bright screens.
- Bring binoculars or a telescope if you have them: If you don’t…check out the public dark sky parties hosted by the Colorado Springs Astronomical Society. Their next event is on Friday, November 1 from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Mueller State Park. They will have telescopes.
- Make it easy for you: Bring a chair or blanket to sit on.
Of course, while colder air does lead to better stargazing… you’ll also need to bundle up to take advantage of it, so don’t forget your jacket, hat, and gloves… especially if you’re out and about seeing things. Keep looking up!____
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