🌟 2031 Long Weekend Stargazing Guide
Plan your perfect dark-sky adventure at Death Valley and other premier stargazing locations
Select Year
Memorial Day
⭐ Excellent
May 24 -
May 26, 2031
🌑 Best Night: Saturday, May 24, 2031
Moon Illumination: 6.2%
Sat, May 24
Waxing Crescent (6.2%)
Sun, May 25
Waxing Crescent (12.3%)
Mon, May 26
Waxing Crescent (20.1%)
Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples' Day
✨ Good
October 11 -
October 13, 2031
🌑 Best Night: Monday, October 13, 2031
Moon Illumination: 11.7%
Sat, Oct 11
First Quarter (28.4%)
Sun, Oct 12
Waxing Crescent (19.3%)
Mon, Oct 13
Waxing Crescent (11.7%)
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
✨ Good
January 18 -
January 20, 2031
🌑 Best Night: Monday, January 20, 2031
Moon Illumination: 13.3%
Sat, Jan 18
First Quarter (30.6%)
Sun, Jan 19
Waxing Crescent (21.3%)
Mon, Jan 20
Waxing Crescent (13.3%)
Presidents' Day
✨ Good
February 15 -
February 17, 2031
🌑 Best Night: Monday, February 17, 2031
Moon Illumination: 26.1%
Sat, Feb 15
Waxing Gibbous (46.3%)
Sun, Feb 16
First Quarter (35.9%)
Mon, Feb 17
First Quarter (26.1%)
Christmas
🌕 Poor
December 25 -
December 28, 2031
🌑 Best Night: Thursday, December 25, 2031
Moon Illumination: 82.1%
Thu, Dec 25
Waning Gibbous (82.1%)
Fri, Dec 26
Last Quarter (89.5%)
Sat, Dec 27
Waning Crescent (95.1%)
Sun, Dec 28
Waning Crescent (98.6%)
Labor Day
🌕 Poor
August 30 -
September 1, 2031
🌑 Best Night: Saturday, August 30, 2031
Moon Illumination: 90.2%
Sat, Aug 30
Last Quarter (90.2%)
Sun, Aug 31
Waning Crescent (95.6%)
Mon, Sep 1
Waning Crescent (98.9%)
Thanksgiving
🌕 Poor
November 27 -
November 30, 2031
🌑 Best Night: Thursday, November 27, 2031
Moon Illumination: 92.7%
Thu, Nov 27
Last Quarter (92.7%)
Fri, Nov 28
Waning Crescent (97.2%)
Sat, Nov 29
Waning Crescent (99.6%)
Sun, Nov 30
Waning Crescent (99.8%)
Independence Day
🌕 Poor
July 4 -
July 6, 2031
🌑 Best Night: Sunday, July 6, 2031
Moon Illumination: 98.7%
Fri, Jul 4
Waning Crescent (99%)
Sat, Jul 5
Waning Crescent (100%)
Sun, Jul 6
Waning Crescent (98.7%)
📖 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