Sky Meadows State Park
Some light pollution · Constellations, not much Milky Way
3 stays nearby →Observatory Park at Turner Farm Urban Night Sky Place
- How dark?
- Bright sky · Only the brightest stars
- Entry
- After sunset with a Night Viewing Permit
- Food & town
- Great Falls · in town
- Certified
- Urban Night Sky Place · 2024
How dark is it, really?
Town and city glow hides all but the brightest stars and planets, and the Milky Way is not visible. (For the detail-minded: Bortle class 7–9, 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 | Thin crescent, sets early | 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 3–9 | None · darkest skies | The Milky Way core |
| Apr 1–8 | Mostly none · thin crescent on the edge nights | The Milky Way core |
| May 1–7 | Thin crescent, rises late | The Milky Way core, and a meteor shower peak (Eta Aquariids) |
| Jun 1–6 | Thin crescent, sets early | The Milky Way core |
| Jul 1–6 | None · darkest skies | The Milky Way core |
| Jul 31–Aug 6 | Crescent, sets early | The Milky Way core, and extra shooting stars (Southern Delta Aquariids and Perseids) |
| 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: Mid Feb to mid Oct. Out of season until mid Feb. In season now, through mid 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 Observatory Park at Turner Farm.
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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Getting in after dark
The park is open sunrise to sunset. A Night Viewing Permit lets holders stay in the designated parking lot after hours for stargazing; a permit is needed for each adult 18 and over, valid through December 31. After-hours stargazing needs a Night Viewing Permit for each visitor 18 and older; it covers the designated parking lot only, not the observatory area.
Food, fuel, and supplies
Great Falls, VA is right here, with groceries (Safeway), 2 gas stations, and 20+ places to eat on the map. Nearest places to eat on the map: Piu Piu Pollo (about 1 mi), Katie's Coffee House (about 1 mi), and Deli Italiano (about 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) · after-dark access and night permits from Fairfax County Park Authority (Sep 2026) · darkness: Bortle 7–9, estimated (Sep 2026) · nearest town from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) (Sep 2026)
Dark sky places near Observatory Park at Turner Farm
For a trip with more than one dark night: the closest within 150 miles, nearest first. Distances are straight-line, not driving.
Dark Sky Park Dark Sky Park Rappahannock County Park
Some light pollution · Constellations, not much Milky Way
3 stays nearby →Dark Sky Park James River State Park
Dark · Milky Way overhead, hazy lower down
3 stays nearby →