8 Ways to Explore Montana’s Dark Skies

Abundant public lands and low light pollution create the perfect setting for star-gazing
The Montana Learning Center has an incredible view of the Milky Way. (photo by Shane Mayer-Gawlik)
The Montana Learning Center has an incredible view of the Milky Way. (photo by Shane Mayer-Gawlik)
Category: Community | | 4 min read

By Ryan Hannahoe, Executive Director of the Montana Learning Center

April 15-22 is International Dark Sky Week. This annual celebration was created by the International Dark-Sky Association to recognize and protect the night sky.

The night sky is our shared heritage, but as towns and cities grow, we’re losing our view of the night sky. More than 99% of the United States population can’t see the Milky Way due to light pollution. That’s a really sad statistic.

Here in Montana, most people can still see a star-filled sky at night. It’s humbling and peaceful to view something that is literally out of this world. Fortunately, star-gazing is an easy activity for all ages. Here’s your guide to a front-row seat at Montana’s biggest show.

1. Trust your eyes

You don’t need a telescope or even binoculars to view the night sky. Get a lounge chair and a blanket and sit outside under the stars. You can view aurora, meteor showers, and planets with your naked eye, and all at no cost.

2. Make or buy a planisphere

If you want to identify the objects you see in the night sky, then a planisphere is essential. This is a handheld star chart. Turn the wheel to see which stars are visible in your sky at different times of the year. You can build your own, or pick up a kid-friendly laminated version that will last for years. To keep your eyes dark-adjusted, use a red flashlight or cover a white flashlight with red cellophane. (I don’t recommend using apps because then you’re looking at your phone when your eyes should be dark-adapted.)

3. Visit public lands with dark skies

Montana has abundant dark skies. You can check out this interactive light pollution map to find a dark sky near you, or plan a visit to public lands with notably dark skies. Montana has two designated Dark Sky Sanctuaries – Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge and Medicine Rocks State Park. Waterton and Glacier National Parks are an International Dark Sky Park. For the best star-gazing, plan your visit when the moon is in the third to first quarter.

4. Take part in the Starry Sky Survey

The Montana Learning Center has partnered with libraries across Montana to help young scientists and their families monitor light pollution in Big Sky Country. Contact your local library to see if they’re participating, and check out a Starry Sky Survey kit.

5. Learn about the night sky from an Indigenous perspective

Montana’s Native people have studied our night sky for thousands of years, and every tribe has a rich oral history that includes the stars and other objects in the night sky. Make a visit to your local library to look for resources about the oral traditions of Assiniboine, Blackfeet, Chippewa, Cree, Crow, Gros Ventre, Kootenai, Little Shell Chippewa, Northern Cheyenne, Pend d’Oreille, Salish and Sioux. One of my favorite books is “The Stars We Know: Crow Indian Astronomy and Lifeways” by Timothy McCleary.

6. Visit a planetarium or observatory or borrow a telescope

A planetarium is a theater built specifically for shows about astronomy. We have two in Montana, one at the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman and the other at the University of Montana in Missoula. Our observatory at Montana Learning Center is open to the public, and so is the Dusty Star Observatory in Glacier National Park. Some public libraries have telescopes to loan around the state! Visit your local library and check out a telescope for free before your next night of star-gazing.

7. Connect with your local astronomy club.

It’s easy to get active in astronomy thanks to local astronomy clubs. Clubs host star parties and other educational events, and they may have binoculars and telescopes to share.

8. Join a Wild Montana adventure!

My friends at Wild Montana have a year-round education program that includes astronomy-themed adventures and educational experiences.

  • On June 30, we’ll co-host a star party at the Montana Learning Center. You can stare into the cosmos through our state-of-the-art telescopes and see nebulae and galaxies with the help of our expert guides. We’ll also learn about the importance of wild public lands in sustaining our dark skies. Registration for this event opens on May 30.
  • On July 15, Wild Montana and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will host a star party at Medicine Rocks State Park, one of two Dark Sky Sanctuaries in the entire state. Enjoy a short hike and experience Big Sky stargazing from a truly unique place in eastern Montana. Registration for this event opens on June 15.

We’re fortunate to have dark skies in most of Montana. At Montana Learning Center near Helena our sky is dark enough this time of year to see the Milky Way, Andromeda galaxy, and the Orion nebula at the observatory. I feel lucky every time I see the night sky because mentors encouraged my interest in astronomy, and now I can do the same for youth and adults from all over Montana. I hope these eight tips start a lifetime interest in astronomy for you too!

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