Dark Skies/Milky Way
 

Fully, 80% of Americans can't see the Milky Way at night due to light pollution. The International Dark-Sky Association has a map of International Dark Sky Places. A large majority of these are in the Rocky Mts. region. But there are some in Maine, Virginia, and Penn. Whenever I leave city lights behind and go to a dark sky area, I am in awe and in wonder at the vastness of the Milky Way.

We saw the Milky Way from the north rim of the Grand Canyon. So amazing!

I’ve seen the Milky Way in the Australian Outback, at Whatekauhau near Palliser Bay in New Zealand and while on Safari in Africa. It’s one of the most spectacular views I’ve ever observed - simply incredible!

We have seen it in Utah near Escalante.

The great positive of the August 2020 derecho in Iowa were the widespread, long-lasting power outages that totally eliminated light pollution and allowed us to see the Milky Way from our driveway! Spectacular!

I have also seen the Milky Way in other places, but never expected to see it in town!

Many nights this summer (and other summers) I could clearly see the milky way when I was working and sleeping at central Oregon fire towers. From my perch at Spring Butte I could see the light pollution of Bend several degrees above the top of Paulina Peak (7980' ASL)

When I was a kid in Florida living on Key Biscayne and later on the then-edge of the developed area, we could see it at night. I wonder if that is even possible any more.

I can see it from my beach house in Rhode Island. I'm not too far from an observatory, in fact. Dark skies may be closer than you think!

Lots of dark skies in Montana!

Lots of dark skies in the prairie-covered Flint Hills of Kansas, esp. the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. Unfortunately, I live in a city two hours away.