🌟 2027 Long Weekend Stargazing Guide
Plan your perfect dark-sky adventure at Death Valley and other premier stargazing locations
Select Year
Thanksgiving
⭐ Excellent
November 25 -
November 28, 2027
🌑 Best Night: Sunday, November 28, 2027
Moon Illumination: 0.7%
Thu, Nov 25
Waxing Crescent (15.6%)
Fri, Nov 26
Waxing Crescent (8.7%)
Sat, Nov 27
New Moon (3.7%)
Sun, Nov 28
New Moon (0.7%)
Labor Day
⭐ Excellent
September 4 -
September 6, 2027
🌑 Best Night: Saturday, September 4, 2027
Moon Illumination: 8.5%
Sat, Sep 4
Waxing Crescent (8.5%)
Sun, Sep 5
Waxing Crescent (15.3%)
Mon, Sep 6
Waxing Crescent (23.7%)
Memorial Day
✨ Good
May 29 -
May 31, 2027
🌑 Best Night: Monday, May 31, 2027
Moon Illumination: 22.4%
Sat, May 29
First Quarter (42%)
Sun, May 30
First Quarter (31.8%)
Mon, May 31
Waxing Crescent (22.4%)
New Year's Day Weekend
✨ Good
January 1 -
January 3, 2027
🌑 Best Night: Sunday, January 3, 2027
Moon Illumination: 25.5%
Fri, Jan 1
Waxing Gibbous (45.7%)
Sat, Jan 2
First Quarter (35.3%)
Sun, Jan 3
First Quarter (25.5%)
Presidents' Day
🌙 Fair
February 13 -
February 15, 2027
🌑 Best Night: Saturday, February 13, 2027
Moon Illumination: 40.6%
Sat, Feb 13
First Quarter (40.6%)
Sun, Feb 14
Waxing Gibbous (51.2%)
Mon, Feb 15
Full Moon (61.7%)
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
🌙 Fair
January 16 -
January 18, 2027
🌑 Best Night: Saturday, January 16, 2027
Moon Illumination: 56.8%
Sat, Jan 16
Full Moon (56.8%)
Sun, Jan 17
Full Moon (67.1%)
Mon, Jan 18
Waning Gibbous (76.6%)
Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples' Day
🌙 Fair
October 9 -
October 11, 2027
🌑 Best Night: Saturday, October 9, 2027
Moon Illumination: 59.2%
Sat, Oct 9
Full Moon (59.2%)
Sun, Oct 10
Full Moon (69.3%)
Mon, Oct 11
Waning Gibbous (78.6%)
📖 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