Timpanogos Cave National Monument
Some light pollution · Constellations, not much Milky Way
3 stays nearby →Helper, Utah Dark Sky Community
A small mining and railroad town on the Price River in Carbon County, and the second International Dark Sky Community in Utah.
- How dark?
- Dark · Milky Way overhead, hazy lower down
- Food & town
- Helper · in town
- Certified
- Dark Sky Community · 2020
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 5–12.
| Best nights | Moonlight | Worth staying up for |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 5–12 | Mostly none · thin crescent on the edge nights | A sky full of stars, and extra shooting stars (Leonids) |
| Dec 5–11 | Thin crescent, sets early | A sky full of stars, and extra shooting stars (Geminids) |
| Jan 3–9 | Thin crescent, rises late | 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 | Mostly none · thin crescent on the edge nights | A sky full of stars |
| Mar 2–9 | Thin crescent, rises late | The Milky Way core |
| Apr 1–7 | Thin crescent, rises late | The Milky Way core |
| May 1–7 | Mostly none · thin crescent on the edge nights | The Milky Way core, and a meteor shower peak (Eta Aquariids) |
| Jun 1–6 | Thin crescent, sets early | The Milky Way core |
| Jul 1–7 | Thin crescent, sets early | The Milky Way core |
| Jul 30–Aug 6 | Mostly none · crescent on the edge nights | The Milky Way core, and a meteor shower peak (Southern Delta Aquariids) |
| Aug 29–Sep 4 | None · darkest skies | The Milky Way core |
| Sep 27–Oct 3 | None · darkest skies | The Milky Way core |
Computed from public astronomical data for this location. Updated monthly. How it's computed
Milky Way season here: Late Feb to early Oct. Out of season until late Feb. In season now, through early Oct.
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 (thin crescent, rises late)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 Helper, Utah.
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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What it's like
Helper sits along the Price River in Carbon County, on the eastern side of the Wasatch Plateau, about 120 miles southeast of Salt Lake City. It's a small town proud of its mining and railroading past, and it counts art, architecture, and cultural events among the things that make it worth a visit.
In 2020 Helper became an International Dark Sky Community, the second in Utah and the 25th in the world. It took more than two years of work, and the town describes the certification as a commitment to protecting the night sky and sharing it, with more energy-efficient, sustainable lighting and public education about the dark.
The easiest way to see Helper's sky with company is through the local Dark Sky Observers, who have led regular astronomy programs and special events in the area. The town hopes the certification will help those programs grow and bring astronomy visitors to neighboring communities too. If you're planning a night on your own, DarkSky International suggests timing your trip around the new moon.
Food, fuel, and supplies
Helper, UT is right here, with groceries (Pick & Rail), 3 gas stations, and 3 places to eat on the map. Nearest places to eat on the map: Balanced Rock Eatery (under 1 mi), Happiness Within (under 1 mi), and Angel’s Craving (under 1 mi).
Distances are straight-line and approximate. Places on the map may not be open. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
✓ Certification verified Jun 2026 against DarkSky International registry (Internet Archive capture) · darkness: Bortle 4, estimated (Sep 2026) · nearest town from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) (Sep 2026)
Dark sky places near Helper, Utah
For a trip with more than one dark night: the closest within 150 miles, nearest first. Distances are straight-line, not driving.
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