Dark sky parks in Maine
Two certified places protect Maine's night, with 6 stays listed nearby.
At a glance
- Darkest
- Very dark, at both placesAMC Maine Woods and Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. Bortle 2–3, some estimated, some measured.
- Next moonless nights
- Nov 6–12
- Dec 5–11
- Jan 3–9Dark at both places on these nights. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- Jan 3–10The earliest. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- Feb 1–8
- Mar 2–9
- Mar 31–Apr 7
- Apr 30–May 7
- May 31–Jun 6Dark at both places on these nights. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- Jul 1–8Dark at both places on these nights. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- Jul 1–9The earliest. Each place's own dates are in the table.
- Jul 31–Aug 7
- Aug 29–Sep 5
- Sep 27–Oct 4
- Stays nearby
- 6 listedThree near each place.
- Milky Way core season
- Mid Mar to mid SepLongest at AMC Maine Woods; shortest at Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, mid Mar to early Sep.
Compare the 2 parks
Sorted darkest first; places with the same rating are A to Z. The numbers match the map.
| Number | Place | How dark | Nearest town | Stays | Next moonless nights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AMC Maine Woods | Very darkMilky Way across the sky on clear nightsBortle 3 · estimate | Greenvilleabout 10 mi | 3 stays | Nov 6–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–9Feb 1–8Mar 2–9Mar 31–Apr 7Apr 30–May 7May 31–Jun 6Jul 1–8Jul 31–Aug 7Aug 29–Sep 5Sep 27–Oct 4 |
| 2 | Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument | Very darkMilky Way across the sky on clear nightsBortle 2 · measured | Pattenabout 20 mi | 3 stays | Nov 6–12Dec 5–11Jan 3–10Feb 1–8Mar 2–9Mar 31–Apr 7Apr 30–May 7May 30–Jun 6Jul 1–9Jul 31–Aug 7Aug 29–Sep 5Sep 27–Oct 4 |
Darkness ratings are estimates from satellite data unless marked measured (how we rate darkness). Moonless nights are computed for each place's coordinates; weather isn't included (how). A town has at least 250 people and a grocery store on the map; distances are straight lines, so the drive is longer (how). Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.