Idyllic stargazing destinations across North America By Kristan
Schiller Paul Bogard, author of Let There Be Night, an anthology
celebrating the gifts of darkness, recently observed that the
prime tool for astronomers is no longer the telescope but the
car. “Most of us live in cities and suburbs where you can’t see
the stars as they should be seen,” says Bogard, “so you have to
get in your car and drive.” So as you hit the road in your
Traverse, prepare for a luminous patchwork of cross-country
constellations at these outstanding stargazing spots. Mauna Kea,
Hawaii, is home to one of the most famous observatories on the
planet. Here, 13 telescopes from 11 nations are located on top
of a massive 13,796-foot volcano. Mauna Kea is particularly
conducive to stargazing as its dry atmosphere is one of the most
cloud-free in the world and it draws minimal light pollution. If
that’s not enough, free stargazing tours are held nightly atop
the volcano for beginners and non-professionals. While smog-
filled L.A. may be t