Stargazing This Summer? Try A Michigan State Park

MICHIGAN — Ask people what they enjoy about Michigan state parks in the hotter months, and many will talk about lazy days at the beach, fun family reunions and time spent exploring trails and forests. There’s another aspect of a state park trip that could make your visit even more memorable: night sky viewing.

“If you live in a big city or immediate suburb, it’s nearly impossible to get a good look at the night sky. There’s just too much competing light, but if you go into one of our state parks, the view changes dramatically,” said Ami Van Antwerp, a DNR communications specialist.

A big draw is the annual Perseid meteor shower, peaking this year Aug. 9-13. Several state parks – not just those in the Upper Peninsula or northern Lower Peninsula – will stay open late for “Meteors & S’mores” programs (with complimentary s’mores around the campfire) to mark the occasion, but every park offers great opportunities to camp under the stars.

READ MORE: Delta Aquarid: How To See It In Michigan

According to Space.com, air pollution has made Earth’s atmosphere less transparent and more reflective, and an increase in light on the ground has created “a bright background light resembling a perpetual twilight” that makes it tough to see stars.

That’s where state parks – 103 locations from Detroit to Ontonagon, offering more than 352,000 acres of public land – can really steal the show.

“When you’re in a state park at night, definitely look up!” said Van Antwerp. “My family was at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park last summer around the same time as the meteor showers. Every night felt like our own private light show, whenever we stepped outside the tent.”

No special equipment is needed to view these meteor showers. The Perseids are among the brightest showers of the year and can easily be seen with the naked eye.

Dark Sky Preserves in Michigan

Dark Sky Preserves are protected against light pollution and are ideal locations for watching shows in the sky. Michigan is home to state-designated Dark Sky Preserves located within six state parks. There also are plenty of excellent night-sky viewing opportunities across more than 15,000 square miles in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

The Headlands Dark Sky Park (Emmet County park) is the only internationally designated Dark Sky Park in the state and offers additional opportunities for viewing the night sky.
Dark Sky Preserves are located in the following state parks:

• Lake Hudson Recreation Area
• Negwegon State Park
• Port Crescent State Park
• Rockport Recreation Area
• Thompson's Harbor State Park
• Wilderness State Park

Designated viewing areas and times are specified at each park. Event dates are available at michigan.gov/darksky. Make camping reservations at midnrreservations.com or call 1-800-44PARKS.

Image via Shutterstock

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