🌟 2028 Long Weekend Stargazing Guide
Plan your perfect dark-sky adventure at Death Valley and other premier stargazing locations
Select Year
Memorial Day
⭐ Excellent
May 27 -
May 29, 2028
🌑 Best Night: Saturday, May 27, 2028
Moon Illumination: 9.9%
Sat, May 27
Waxing Crescent (9.9%)
Sun, May 28
Waxing Crescent (17.1%)
Mon, May 29
First Quarter (25.8%)
Juneteenth
✨ Good
June 17 -
June 19, 2028
🌑 Best Night: Monday, June 19, 2028
Moon Illumination: 13.4%
Sat, Jun 17
First Quarter (30.8%)
Sun, Jun 18
Waxing Crescent (21.5%)
Mon, Jun 19
Waxing Crescent (13.4%)
Presidents' Day
✨ Good
February 19 -
February 21, 2028
🌑 Best Night: Monday, February 21, 2028
Moon Illumination: 20.4%
Sat, Feb 19
First Quarter (39.7%)
Sun, Feb 20
First Quarter (29.6%)
Mon, Feb 21
Waxing Crescent (20.4%)
Thanksgiving
🌙 Fair
November 23 -
November 26, 2028
🌑 Best Night: Thursday, November 23, 2028
Moon Illumination: 33.7%
Thu, Nov 23
First Quarter (33.7%)
Fri, Nov 24
First Quarter (44%)
Sat, Nov 25
Waxing Gibbous (54.6%)
Sun, Nov 26
Full Moon (65.1%)
Christmas
🌙 Fair
December 23 -
December 25, 2028
🌑 Best Night: Saturday, December 23, 2028
Moon Illumination: 38.5%
Sat, Dec 23
First Quarter (38.5%)
Sun, Dec 24
Waxing Gibbous (49%)
Mon, Dec 25
Full Moon (59.6%)
Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples' Day
🌕 Poor
October 7 -
October 9, 2028
🌑 Best Night: Monday, October 9, 2028
Moon Illumination: 73.2%
Sat, Oct 7
Last Quarter (89.4%)
Sun, Oct 8
Waning Gibbous (82%)
Mon, Oct 9
Full Moon (73.2%)
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
🌕 Poor
January 15 -
January 17, 2028
🌑 Best Night: Monday, January 17, 2028
Moon Illumination: 75.3%
Sat, Jan 15
Last Quarter (90.8%)
Sun, Jan 16
Waning Gibbous (83.8%)
Mon, Jan 17
Waning Gibbous (75.3%)
Labor Day
🌕 Poor
September 2 -
September 4, 2028
🌑 Best Night: Saturday, September 2, 2028
Moon Illumination: 93.9%
Sat, Sep 2
Last Quarter (93.9%)
Sun, Sep 3
Waning Crescent (97.9%)
Mon, Sep 4
Waning Crescent (99.9%)
📖 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