🌟 2026 Long Weekend Stargazing Guide
Plan your perfect dark-sky adventure at Death Valley and other premier stargazing locations
Select Year
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
⭐ Excellent
January 17 -
January 19, 2026
🌑 Best Night: Monday, January 19, 2026
Moon Illumination: 0.2%
Sat, Jan 17
New Moon (2.9%)
Sun, Jan 18
New Moon (0.4%)
Mon, Jan 19
New Moon (0.2%)
Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples' Day
⭐ Excellent
October 10 -
October 12, 2026
🌑 Best Night: Sunday, October 11, 2026
Moon Illumination: 0.2%
Sat, Oct 10
New Moon (2.2%)
Sun, Oct 11
New Moon (0.2%)
Mon, Oct 12
New Moon (0.4%)
Presidents' Day
⭐ Excellent
February 14 -
February 16, 2026
🌑 Best Night: Monday, February 16, 2026
Moon Illumination: 1.5%
Sat, Feb 14
Waxing Crescent (10.7%)
Sun, Feb 15
Waxing Crescent (5.1%)
Mon, Feb 16
New Moon (1.5%)
Juneteenth
✨ Good
June 19 -
June 21, 2026
🌑 Best Night: Friday, June 19, 2026
Moon Illumination: 15%
Fri, Jun 19
Waxing Crescent (15%)
Sat, Jun 20
Waxing Crescent (23.3%)
Sun, Jun 21
First Quarter (32.9%)
Labor Day
✨ Good
September 5 -
September 7, 2026
🌑 Best Night: Monday, September 7, 2026
Moon Illumination: 24.4%
Sat, Sep 5
First Quarter (44.4%)
Sun, Sep 6
First Quarter (34%)
Mon, Sep 7
Waxing Crescent (24.4%)
Memorial Day
🌙 Fair
May 23 -
May 25, 2026
🌑 Best Night: Saturday, May 23, 2026
Moon Illumination: 38.3%
Sat, May 23
First Quarter (38.3%)
Sun, May 24
Waxing Gibbous (48.8%)
Mon, May 25
Full Moon (59.4%)
Thanksgiving
🌕 Poor
November 26 -
November 29, 2026
🌑 Best Night: Sunday, November 29, 2026
Moon Illumination: 80.3%
Thu, Nov 26
Waning Crescent (98%)
Fri, Nov 27
Last Quarter (94%)
Sat, Nov 28
Last Quarter (88%)
Sun, Nov 29
Waning Gibbous (80.3%)
New Year's Day Weekend
🌕 Poor
January 1 -
January 4, 2026
🌑 Best Night: Thursday, January 1, 2026
Moon Illumination: 91.1%
Thu, Jan 1
Last Quarter (91.1%)
Fri, Jan 2
Waning Crescent (96.2%)
Sat, Jan 3
Waning Crescent (99.2%)
Sun, Jan 4
Waning Crescent (100%)
Christmas
🌕 Poor
December 25 -
December 27, 2026
🌑 Best Night: Sunday, December 27, 2026
Moon Illumination: 91.5%
Fri, Dec 25
Waning Crescent (99.3%)
Sat, Dec 26
Waning Crescent (96.4%)
Sun, Dec 27
Last Quarter (91.5%)
📖 Understanding Stargazing Conditions
The best stargazing happens during new moon phases when the sky is darkest. Moon illumination below 20% is ideal for observing deep-sky objects, the Milky Way, and meteor showers. Plan your trips during these optimal windows for the most spectacular views.
Excellent (0-10%): Perfect dark skies, new moon
Good (10-30%): Great for stargazing, thin crescent
Fair (30-60%): Decent conditions, quarter moon
Poor (60%+): Bright moon present, full moon
🏞️ Premier Stargazing Locations in the USA:
- Death Valley National Park, CA: One of the darkest skies in the US, minimal light pollution
- Cherry Springs State Park, PA: Gold-tier International Dark Sky Park
- Big Bend National Park, TX: Remote location with exceptional darkness
- Natural Bridges National Monument, UT: First International Dark Sky Park
- Mauna Kea, HI: High altitude observing at 13,796 feet
- Great Basin National Park, NV: Far from city lights, pristine skies
💡 Tips for Planning Your Stargazing Trip:
- Book accommodations and campsites early for popular long weekends
- Check weather forecasts closer to your trip date for clear skies
- Bring red flashlights to preserve night vision
- Allow 20-30 minutes for your eyes to adjust to darkness
- Download stargazing apps like SkySafari or Star Walk for real-time sky maps
- Consider attending ranger-led astronomy programs at national parks
- Pack warm layers - desert nights can get very cold even in summer
- Bring a reclining chair or blanket for comfortable sky viewing