To Infinity and Beyond: The Best Stargazing Spots in the Potomac River Region
/We’ve got the scoop on where to stargaze and enjoy the celestial wonders of the Potomac River Region.
Milky Way seen from Sky Meadows State Park. Photo Credit: Rex Robichaux on Flickr, CC BY 2.0.
For a new perspective and a healthy dose of awe, check out the Potomac River region’s stunning night skies. Along with the river’s beautiful waters and lands, luminous nighttime views are an inspiring aspect of its natural splendor!
Crescent moon. Photo credit: Analemma Society member Bill Burton.
When we enjoy the nature around us, we are inspired to protect the local environment. Supporting environmental protection efforts like the Potomac Conservancy’s Clean Water Healthy Communities campaign safeguards our beloved natural areas. Stargazing plays a vibrant role in this important cycle of local appreciation and stewardship.
While light pollution is common east of the Mississippi River, there are multiple nearby opportunities for star-viewing, astronomy groups to get you started, and celestial sites to see, from theCopernicus lunar crater to the Andromeda Galaxy.
If you’re a newbie, consider that, as the National Capital Astronomers (NCA) like to say, “Everyone who looks up to the sky with wonder is an astronomer.”
1. Sky Meadows State Park, VA
Helix Nebula and Pinwheel Galaxy, taken with a Unistellar Equinox telescope at Sky Meadows State Park. Photo Credit: Paul Derby.
This state park, just over an hour’s drive from DC, is a favorite of local star lovers. Sky Meadows is one of Virginia’s International Dark Sky Parks, which means it works to preserve spaces for stargazing (reducing light pollution benefits wildlife, too). Sky Meadows partners with the Northern Virginia Astronomy Club (NOVAC) to host regular “Astronomy for Everyone” events.
“The foothills to the east of the park block part of the DC light pollution so that stars, planets, and the Milky Way are visible to the eye,” NOVAC Vice President Paul Derby said.
A visitor views Mars through a refractor telescope at Observatory Park. The red planet and nearby Pleiades star cluster, also known as the Seven Sisters, is visible overhead. Photo credit: Christina Tyler Wenks.
2. Observatory Park, Turner Farm, VA
One of the darkest local spots within 30 minutes of DC is the Observatory Park at Turner Farm in Great Falls, Virginia. The Analemma Society leads popular astronomy events there throughout the year, including on many Fridays.
“Do stars have color? We can show you Aldebaran, in the constellation of Taurus, which is a red giant forty-four times larger than our sun,” Analemma Society Webmaster Bob Kellogg said. The George Mason Observatory, Montgomery College Observatory, and Georgetown Heyden Observatory are a few other observatories to check out nearby.
3. Rock Creek Park, DC
Star gazers flock to Rock Creek Park in DC for its open areas and planetarium. The Rock Creek Nature Center has partnered with NCA to host “Exploring the Sky” programs since 1948 in the field at the corner of Glover and Military Roads.
Also, NCA President Guy Brandenburg said, “Inside DC, I think the best place [to stargaze] is the Rock Creek National Park Golf Course, just off 16th Street.”
“My favorite DC site is at the corner of Glover Rd. and Western Ave., part of Rock Creek Park,” said Milt Roney, a DarkSky DC board member. Rock Creek Park has a planetarium – you can also visit the National Air and Space Museum’s Albert Einstein Planetarium and Arlington’s David M. Brown Planetarium.
Public astronomy programs in DC presented by the National Capital Astronomers. Photos courtesy of Guy Brandenburg.
4. Cunningham Falls State Park, MD
Left Photo: Cunningham Falls State Park sign, Credit: Virginia Hill on Flickr, CC BY-ND 2.0, Right Photo: Cunningham Falls
Cunningham Falls State Park is around an hour and a half from D.C. in Maryland’s Catoctin Mountains. The Westminster Astronomical Society (WASI) hosts astronomical events at the dam overlook and the Bear Branch Nature Center planetarium and observatory.
For Maryland stargazing, you can also visit Greenridge State Forest, about two hours from DC. According to Bortle maps, which show light pollution, and local astronomy tips, this 49,000-acre forest is one of the darkest places in the state.
5. Lost River State Park, WV
View from Cranny Crow overlook. Photo Credit: Ethan Gruber on Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0
A little over two hours from DC, Lost River is one of the most remote state parks in West Virginia, boasting the Cranny Crow overlook, where you can see the Milky Way rise over five counties in two states. Other good West Virginia stargazing spots include the C&O Canal in Harpers Ferry and the Cave Mountain Observatory Retreat in Upper Tract.
SkySafari, NightSky, and Stellarium are helpful apps to guide you in your astronomical journey.
As for telescopes and other gear, many local clubs will demonstrate, lend, and advise the best options. Many use handy Electronically Assisted Astronomy (EAA) telescopes, which have a camera and viewing screen, instead of an eyepiece.
