🌟 2029 Long Weekend Stargazing Guide
Plan your perfect dark-sky adventure at Death Valley and other premier stargazing locations
Select Year
Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples' Day
⭐ Excellent
October 6 -
October 8, 2029
🌑 Best Night: Monday, October 8, 2029
Moon Illumination: 0%
Sat, Oct 6
New Moon (4.5%)
Sun, Oct 7
New Moon (1.2%)
Mon, Oct 8
New Moon (0%)
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
⭐ Excellent
January 13 -
January 15, 2029
🌑 Best Night: Monday, January 15, 2029
Moon Illumination: 0.1%
Sat, Jan 13
Waxing Crescent (5.6%)
Sun, Jan 14
New Moon (1.7%)
Mon, Jan 15
New Moon (0.1%)
Presidents' Day
✨ Good
February 17 -
February 19, 2029
🌑 Best Night: Saturday, February 17, 2029
Moon Illumination: 11.3%
Sat, Feb 17
Waxing Crescent (11.3%)
Sun, Feb 18
Waxing Crescent (18.9%)
Mon, Feb 19
First Quarter (27.9%)
Labor Day
🌙 Fair
September 1 -
September 3, 2029
🌑 Best Night: Monday, September 3, 2029
Moon Illumination: 30.4%
Sat, Sep 1
Waxing Gibbous (51.1%)
Sun, Sep 2
First Quarter (40.5%)
Mon, Sep 3
First Quarter (30.4%)
Christmas
🌕 Poor
December 22 -
December 25, 2029
🌑 Best Night: Tuesday, December 25, 2029
Moon Illumination: 81.7%
Sat, Dec 22
Waning Crescent (98.5%)
Sun, Dec 23
Last Quarter (94.8%)
Mon, Dec 24
Last Quarter (89.1%)
Tue, Dec 25
Waning Gibbous (81.7%)
Thanksgiving
🌕 Poor
November 22 -
November 25, 2029
🌑 Best Night: Sunday, November 25, 2029
Moon Illumination: 85.4%
Thu, Nov 22
Waning Crescent (99.5%)
Fri, Nov 23
Waning Crescent (96.8%)
Sat, Nov 24
Last Quarter (92%)
Sun, Nov 25
Last Quarter (85.4%)
Memorial Day
🌕 Poor
May 26 -
May 28, 2029
🌑 Best Night: Saturday, May 26, 2029
Moon Illumination: 95%
Sat, May 26
Waning Crescent (95%)
Sun, May 27
Waning Crescent (98.6%)
Mon, May 28
Waning Crescent (100%)
New Year's Day Weekend
🌕 Poor
December 30 -
January 1, 2029
🌑 Best Night: Saturday, December 30, 2028
Moon Illumination: 97.6%
Sat, Dec 30
Waning Crescent (97.6%)
Sun, Dec 31
Waning Crescent (99.7%)
Mon, Jan 1
Waning Crescent (99.7%)
📖 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