Rockport State Recreation Area
Dark · Milky Way overhead, hazy lower down
3 stays nearby →State designated
Negwegon State Park, a State Dark Sky Preserve
- How dark?
- Dark · Milky Way overhead, hazy lower down
- Food & town
- Alpena · about 15 mi
- State designated
- Dark Sky Preserve · 2016
How dark is it, really?
Dark enough to see the Milky Way overhead on a clear night, though glow from nearby towns washes out the sky near the horizon. (For the detail-minded: Bortle class 4, an estimate.)
When should I go?
Pick a night when the moon is down. The next stretch of moonless evenings is Nov 6–12.
| Best nights | Moonlight | Worth staying up for |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 6–12 | None · darkest skies | A sky full of stars, and extra shooting stars (Leonids) |
| Dec 5–11 | None · darkest skies | A sky full of stars, and extra shooting stars (Geminids) |
| Jan 3–9 | None · darkest skies | A sky full of stars, and a meteor shower peak (Quadrantids) |
More dark windows, through Oct 2027
| Best nights | Moonlight | Worth staying up for |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 1–8 | Thin crescent, sets early | A sky full of stars |
| Mar 2–9 | Thin crescent, rises late | A sky full of stars |
| Mar 31–Apr 7 | Crescent, rises late | The Milky Way core |
| Apr 30–May 7 | Crescent, rises late | The Milky Way core, and a meteor shower peak (Eta Aquariids) |
| May 31–Jun 6 | None · darkest skies | The Milky Way core |
| Jul 1–8 | None · darkest skies | The Milky Way core |
| Jul 30–Aug 7 | Thin crescent, rises late | The Milky Way core, and a meteor shower peak (Southern Delta Aquariids) |
| Aug 29–Sep 5 | None · darkest skies | The Milky Way core |
| Sep 27–Oct 4 | Crescent, sets early | A sky full of stars |
Computed from public astronomical data for this location. Updated monthly. How it's computed
Milky Way season here: Mid Mar to mid Sep. Out of season until mid Mar. In season now, through mid Sep. Out of season until mid Mar.
Meteor showers ahead: Leonids on Nov 17–18 (half moon, sets around midnight), Geminids on Dec 13–14 (thin crescent, sets early), Ursids on Dec 22–23 (full moon, up all night), and Quadrantids on Jan 3–4 (none · darkest skies)Lyrids on Apr 22–23 (bright moon for most of the night)Eta Aquariids on May 5–6 (none · darkest skies)Southern Delta Aquariids on Jul 30–31 (thin crescent, rises late)Perseids on Aug 12–13 (bright moon for most of the night).
Email me before the next dark window at Negwegon State Park.
About one email a month, a few days before the moon goes dark: the dates here, the moonlight, and what's worth staying up for. Unsubscribe in one click.
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Food, fuel, and supplies
Alpena, MI is about 15 mi away in a straight line, with groceries (Gordon Food Service Store, Save-A-Lot, Meijer and 3 more), 12 gas stations, and 20+ places to eat on the map. The nearest gas is closer: a gas station, about 4 mi away. Nearest places to eat on the map: The Mountain Bar & Grill (about 3 mi), Connie's Cafe (about 7 mi, in Ossineke, MI), and Stone Bar and Grill (about 15 mi).
Distances are straight-line and approximate. Places on the map may not be open. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
✓ Designation verified Sep 2026 against Michigan Legislature: “Dark Sky Preserve”, designated 2016 · darkness: Bortle 4, estimated · nearest town from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)
Dark sky places near Negwegon State Park
For a trip with more than one dark night: the closest within 150 miles, nearest first. Distances are straight-line, not driving.
State Dark Sky Preserve State Dark Sky Preserve Thompson's Harbor State Park
Very dark · Milky Way across the sky on clear nights
3 stays nearby →State Dark Sky Preserve Port Crescent State Park
Dark · Milky Way overhead, hazy lower down
3 stays nearby →Dark Sky Park Headlands
Dark · Milky Way overhead, hazy lower down
3 stays nearby →