The stargazer’s guide to Florida’s designated Dark Sky spots

Get ready to stargaze with this guide to the Sunshine State’s designated dark sky places.

“For my part, I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream.” 

This is what the famous Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh—whose Starry Night depicts stars as giant magical swirls of light—said centuries ago about the beauty of the night sky. 

It is true that the evening sky has fascinated humankind for thousands of years. Since ancient times, humans from every corner of the Earth have been seeing the outlines of people and animals and making up stories about them. 

The brightest star in the sky, for example, is Serius, the Dog Star in the constellation Canis Major. And we’re sure you’ll be enchanted to know that Sirius is orbited by a dwarf white star known as Pup. 

The famous astronomer Carl Sagan said there are more stars in the heavens than all the grains of sand covering the world’s beaches. For its part, the Yale Bright Star Catalog claims there are more than 9,000 stars we can see with the naked eye. Some of them, however, fall below the horizon, and daylight and haze also impede our vision.

But this should not keep anyone from enjoying the beauty of the night sky. Here is your guide to some of the best spots for stargazing in the Sunshine State due to their “dark sky” designation.

Note: If the place you choose to stargaze is a state park, remember that all Florida State Parks close at sunset. Visit the park’s website to learn how to gain after-hours access to enjoy the dark skies.

1. Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park

Many rare, threatened and endangered species inhabit this place, and the wide-open landscape means that bird-watchers have ample opportunity to catch sight of a grasshopper sparrow, crested caracara or burrowing owl. But it is at night when the park truly shines with the light of thousands upon thousands of stars. 

Recognized by the International Dark Sky Association in 2016 as Florida’s first Dark Sky Park, this outdoor gem is known for its lack of light pollution, which allows for a breathtaking view of the night sky. 

Thanks to its ink-black sky, stargazers can see not only stars but planets like Jupiter and Saturn and other celestial bodies in all their brilliance. Visitors may even be able to witness the International Space Station as it orbits around Earth!

For location, times of operation, activities, and other information, visit HERE. 

2. Chiefland Astronomy Village 

Imagine an entire community dedicated to stargazing! Chiefland, a small town in North Central Florida, is home to Chiefland Astronomy Village, a group equipped with permanent telescopes that host regular star parties for those who take inspiration from the beauty of celestial bodies. 

Located on the west coast of Florida, one hour west of Gainesville and two hours northwest of Orlando, this magical place enjoys very dark skies, providing an excellent view of deep-sky objects. 

The good news is that visitors are welcome. However, to maintain the village’s dark sky environment, it is important to follow the village’s light protocol.  

For location, times of operation, activities, and other information, visit HERE. 

3. St. George Island State Park

Located on a barrier island on Florida’s Forgotten Coast, this enchanting place is tucked away from major city lights. This affords visitors spectacular views of a vast, dark sky sprinkled with thousands of stars.  

This unique place also boasts an observation platform built by volunteers that provides the perfect perch for visitors to see stars, planets, and other celestial bodies in what is poetically described as “incomprehensible numbers and unforgettable brilliance.”

For location, times of operation, activities, and other information, visit HERE. 

4. Bahia Honda State Park

This is one of those magical places in the Florida Keys that has everything a visitor needs to connect with Mother Nature in all her glory. Visitors can enjoy a fabulous “only-in-the-Keys” view from the top of the Old Bahia Honda Bridge or go for a refreshing swim in the azure waters of Florida Bay.  

But as the sun starts to set and the stars begin to fill the night sky, the island of Bahia Honda transforms into a place like no other. That’s because this enchanting place is the darkest location for stargazing in the Florida Keys.

And you know what that means: Under cover of the night, campers and overnight marina guests lay back in their lounge chairs to take in the night sky, a dark canvas filled with thousands of brilliant stars and celestial bodies. 

However, the park closes at sundown, so this opportunity is available only to overnight guests.

For location, times of operation, activities, and other information, visit HERE.

5. Big Cypress National Preserve

Big Cypress National Preserve is a center of biodiversity, hosting a variety of species, including orchids, cypresses, mangroves, venomous snakes (yes, we did say venomous), birds, the Florida black bear, and the Florida panther. 

The park, which consists of 290,000 acres of U.S. federal lands in southern Florida, has been designated an International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) International Dark Sky Place. 

This is great news for stargazers because, with the extent of urbanization in the eastern United States, it has become nearly impossible to experience the night with little interference from artificial light. 

South Florida’s Big Cypress National Preserve has one of the last protected night skies where visitors can still enjoy the spectacular beauty of the Milky Way and see thousands of stars with only the naked eye.

For location, times of operation, activities, and other information, visit HERE. 

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.