🌟 2030 Long Weekend Stargazing Guide
Plan your perfect dark-sky adventure at Death Valley and other premier stargazing locations
Select Year
Labor Day
⭐ Excellent
August 31 -
September 2, 2030
🌑 Best Night: Saturday, August 31, 2030
Moon Illumination: 5.1%
Sat, Aug 31
Waxing Crescent (5.1%)
Sun, Sep 1
Waxing Crescent (10.8%)
Mon, Sep 2
Waxing Crescent (18.2%)
Thanksgiving
⭐ Excellent
November 28 -
December 1, 2030
🌑 Best Night: Thursday, November 28, 2030
Moon Illumination: 7.2%
Thu, Nov 28
Waxing Crescent (7.2%)
Fri, Nov 29
Waxing Crescent (13.6%)
Sat, Nov 30
Waxing Crescent (21.7%)
Sun, Dec 1
First Quarter (31%)
Independence Day
✨ Good
July 4 -
July 6, 2030
🌑 Best Night: Thursday, July 4, 2030
Moon Illumination: 11.2%
Thu, Jul 4
Waxing Crescent (11.2%)
Fri, Jul 5
Waxing Crescent (18.7%)
Sat, Jul 6
First Quarter (27.7%)
Memorial Day
✨ Good
May 25 -
May 27, 2030
🌑 Best Night: Monday, May 27, 2030
Moon Illumination: 28.2%
Sat, May 25
Waxing Gibbous (48.7%)
Sun, May 26
First Quarter (38.2%)
Mon, May 27
First Quarter (28.2%)
Presidents' Day
🌕 Poor
February 16 -
February 18, 2030
🌑 Best Night: Saturday, February 16, 2030
Moon Illumination: 96%
Sat, Feb 16
Waning Crescent (96%)
Sun, Feb 17
Waning Crescent (99.1%)
Mon, Feb 18
Waning Crescent (100%)
Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples' Day
🌕 Poor
October 12 -
October 14, 2030
🌑 Best Night: Monday, October 14, 2030
Moon Illumination: 96.2%
Sat, Oct 12
Waning Crescent (100%)
Sun, Oct 13
Waning Crescent (99.2%)
Mon, Oct 14
Waning Crescent (96.2%)
Veterans Day
🌕 Poor
November 9 -
November 11, 2030
🌑 Best Night: Saturday, November 9, 2030
Moon Illumination: 96.8%
Sat, Nov 9
Waning Crescent (96.8%)
Sun, Nov 10
Waning Crescent (99.5%)
Mon, Nov 11
Waning Crescent (99.9%)
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
🌕 Poor
January 19 -
January 21, 2030
🌑 Best Night: Monday, January 21, 2030
Moon Illumination: 97%
Sat, Jan 19
Waning Crescent (99.8%)
Sun, Jan 20
Waning Crescent (99.6%)
Mon, Jan 21
Waning Crescent (97%)
📖 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