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Stargazing in Virginia

Blue Ridge Highlands, Central Virginia, Coastal Virginia - Hampton Roads, Northern Virginia, Outdoors, Travel Ideas / September 29, 2020 by Danielle Emerson / 8 Comments

Virginia has some of the best stargazing on the East Coast, with many wide-open spaces free of light pollution and high-tech observatories open to the public. Plan a Virginia stargazing trip near you and channel your inner astronomer. 

Know Before You Go: Be sure to check the forecast before you go as stargazing activities are weather dependent. 

DARK SKY PARKS & DESTINATIONS

Shenandoah National Park

Photo Credit: Gordon Lau, @gordonklau

Free of light pollution and development, Shenandoah National Park is a premier destination for stargazing in Virginia. The park offers Exploring The Skies astronomy presentations, Night Skies programs with amateur astronomers on select Fridays from April-October, and Twilight Hiking with Shenandoah Mountain Guides. 

Dark Sky State Parks

SV21041303P_001.JPGPhoto Credit: Kara Asboth

Virginia has the most Dark Sky Parks east of the Mississippi with Shenandoah National Park and four state parks officially designated International Dark Sky Parks by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA). Staunton River State Park, James River State Park, Natural Bridge State Park, and Sky Meadows State Park have strict outdoor lighting policies to ensure exceptionally dark skies, which draw stargazers to astronomy programs throughout the year. 

Assateague Island National Seashore  

ES18011009V_054.JPGPhoto Credit: Trevor Mahlmann, @tmahlmann

Assateague Island National Seashore, a non-developed beach, offers completely dark skies perfect for admiring stars, meteor showers, and comets. Add a visit to Chincoteague’s NASA Wallops Flight Facility to see NASA’s primary facility for launching suborbital missions, including sounding rockets and scientific balloons. Tours of the facility are available for organized groups with reservations.

Meadows of Dan & Primland Resort 

BR20011404P_121.JPGPhoto Courtesy of Primland, Auberge Resorts Collection

Meadows of Dan in Patrick County, a rural Virginia county with little light pollution, is perfect for stargazing. Try Fairy Stone State Park’s campgrounds, cabins, yurts, and lodges and step just outside and enjoy the dark skies. 

Meadows of Dan is home to Primland Resort, a LEED-certified luxury boutique resort set on 12,000 acres of the pristine Blue Ridge Mountains. The resort’s high altitude, remote location, on-site Observatory Dome, and nightly Come Starwalk at Primland programs using a Celestron CGE Pro 1400 telescope make it an ideal place for stargazing. The tour starts with an outside demonstration of constellations and planets, then moves to topics like star formation and star death, galaxy formation, and the grand scale of the Universe. 

Nelson County

Nelson County’s rural yet central location provides an accessible destination for stargazing in Virginia. In addition to seasonal star parties at the Rockfish Valley Community Center, stargazers and astronomy enthusiasts can find dozens of Dark Sky events and destinations throughout the county with the new Dark Skies of Nelson initiative. From June 21 through December 31, 2022, 49 local hospitality businesses are promoting places that preserve and protect our Dark Skies with specials, packages, and events for viewing astronomical wonders.

Grayson County 

BR15102803V_052.TIFPhoto Credit: Scott K Brown

Visit Grayson County, home of Virginia’s highest mountain and plenty of parks, cabins, cottages, and campgrounds with spectacular stargazing due to low light pollution. Visit Grayson Highlands State Park to hike among wild ponies during the day and enjoy a front-row view of the stars at night. 

Highland County

Highland County is one of the premier dark sky areas in the eastern United States. Check out the Highland County Stargazers Facebook page for information on upcoming astronomical events, including an annual Fall star party sponsored by the Highland County Stargazers in conjunction with amateur astronomers from other astronomy clubs. Note: star parties are open to the public.

Lake Anna State Park

With its clear skies and ample camping and glamping accommodations, Lake Anna State Park is a wonderful place to enjoy the night sky while enjoying park amenities like hiking trails, beach access, and dock sitting during the day. 

Natural Chimneys Park & Campground

SV19032803V_002.TIFPhoto Credit: Erin Harrigan, @erinharrigan

Natural Chimneys Park & Campground lies at the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains in Augusta County, far from major light pollution. Although the stray lightning bug may drift by, a clear night reveals a dazzling array of stars in the shadow of the chimneys. 

OBSERVATORIES

Abbitt Observatory 

The Abbitt Observatory at the Virginia Living Museum offers daytime observations of the Sun, as well as periodic nighttime views of the stars, planets, nebulae, galaxies, and other celestial wonders through various professional astronomy tools like a ten-inch Meade telescope. Star parties with portable telescopes are held on the second Saturday of each month and during special events, depending on the weather. 

Keeble Observatory 

“The Center of the Universe,” as locals refer to Ashland, is home to the Keeble Observatory at Randolph-Macon College. The Observatory houses a state-of-the-art Ritchey-Chretien telescope with a forty-centimeter primary mirror. The Observatory is open to the public weekly when school is in session. Admission is free. 

Brinton Observatory  

Meadowkirk at Delta Farm’s Brinton Observatory features a 12-inch Meade telescope offering stunning views of the Solar System, stars, and some deep space objects during the one to one-and-a-half-hour Stargazing Nights programs led by experts from the Northern Virginia Astronomy Club (NOVAC). Topics range from novice to advance and are reserved ahead of time. 

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Whitney

    June 28, 2020 at 12:59 am

    I live near knotts island. Is the milky way visible from here.??

    Reply
    • Betsy

      February 4, 2021 at 1:47 am

      Yes. I’ve taken photos of it at various locations near Knotts Island. Every night in the summer, it rises over Pungo Ferry Bridge.

      Reply
      • Whitney

        December 1, 2022 at 11:38 pm

        Thank you. I just saw this. Happy stargazing. Mars is super bright tonight. Happy holidays.
        Whitney

        Reply
  2. Rachel

    December 8, 2018 at 11:52 pm

    WHERE DO I SEE STARS!!! THERE ARE TOO MANY WORDS HERE

    Reply
    • Amelia

      January 25, 2019 at 7:57 pm

      lol! Right?? Can we just get a simple place to chill and see the stars?? And free??

      Reply
  3. Tom

    April 1, 2017 at 10:32 pm

    Love Shenandoah, gonna take a week long camping trip there, once it warms up a bit. Can’t wait!

    Reply
  4. Laura Greenleaf, co-leader Virginia chapter of International Dark-Sky Association

    September 24, 2016 at 11:17 am

    James River State Park is working toward IDA Dark Sky Park certification and is a great, centrally located stargazing location. Their lighting is fantastic: no overhead mast lights in the park at all, the only lights on continually overnight are at the bathhouse (and are full cut off), and all lighting is shielded or full cut off and of warm Color Correlated Temperature. Lighting at Visitors Center (where astronomy club-supported sky watch programs are held) is on motion sensor. They’ve even switched out the interior lights there. https://www.roanoke.com/opinion/editorials/our-view-james-river-state-park-hopes-to-become-virginia/article_5e78493f-fe3c-5f66-bf3a-4c9d317b1f47.html

    Reply
  5. bocephus

    August 5, 2016 at 9:09 am

    great stuff… so stoked to be a virginian 4❤️ers
    rlg

    Reply

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