Kenmore
Stargazing Guide.
Discover why the Kenmore area serves as a strategic corridor for WA observers. We combine community-vetted spots like Paramount School Park with professional NPS sky reports at Obstruction Point for a complete astronomical perspective.
Stargazing Logistics for Kenmore
- STEP 1. Primary Staging Area: Paramount School Park. This is your most reliable community-vetted hub within a ~4.4 mile radius.
- STEP 2. Sky Quality Baseline: Classified as Class B (Rural). Use the instrumented 4 rating from Obstruction Point as your technical benchmark for the region.
- STEP 3. Local Support: Contact Seattle Astronomical Society for updated site access and group observation schedules.
- STEP 4. Observation Density: There are 5 recognized sites near Kenmore offering varied horizons and atmospheric stability levels.
Kenmore acts as a primary gateway to the Paramount School Park zone. This proximity allows for scientific-grade viewing (Class 4) at Obstruction Point just a short 15-minute drive from the city center, making it a rare 'Hub' for serious observers.
The Best Times for Stargazing in Kenmore
Observation in Kenmore is most rewarding during the Summer months. During this time, the colder air masses over the Pacific region often result in significantly higher transparency, allowing you to see objects like the Andromeda Galaxy or Orion Nebula with much more definition.
Expert Tips for Kenmore Observers
If you're visiting Paramount School Park, bring a pack of chemical hand-warmers and rubber-band them to your eyepiece or camera lens. This acts as a 'budget' dew heater, which is essential for the humid nights often found in WA during the peak viewing seasons. Scientific Context: While local conditions vary, the instrumented reading of Bortle 4 at Obstruction Point (53.8 miles away) remains the benchmark for regional sky quality.
Best Spots for Stargazing in Kenmore
The most accessible and reliable viewing locations in the region, ranked by local observer feedback. Pro Tip: Always bring a red-light flashlight to these Kenmore spots to preserve your night vision.
Paramount School Park
" Practically in Kenmore's backyard, we recommend this for spontaneous nights. 'Dress warmly. Redlight flashlights only. "
Big Rock Park
" Just a quick dash for Kenmore residents, this location offers great convenience. Park in the lower lot near the street. If that lot is full please park in the lot as far from the middle field as you can with your headlights facing away from the fields. "
Snoqualmie Point Park
" Heading out from Kenmore toward this location will reward you with steady horizons. Please, no white lights. Any cell phones and flashlights need to be tinted deep red. "
Rattlesnake Mountain Trailhead
" Kenmore observers often find this mid-distance site perfect for a full session. Veteran Pro-Tip: Avoid using your phone's white screen. Even with low brightness, it resets your eye's Rhodopsin levels instantly. "
Covington Community Park
" Kenmore observers often find this mid-distance site perfect for a full session. Dress more warmly than you think necessay. Please be careful walking around after dark. "
2026 Celestial Roadmap for Kenmore
Rural conditions near Kenmore provide excellent contrast for the Milky Way and bright star clusters.
Sky Quality Reports for Kenmore
Access high-precision SQM readings from the National Park Service, providing the definitive baseline for regional darkness quality. Discover which telescopes can best cut through the remaining regional skyglow to see these scientific targets by viewing our gear recommendations.
Obstruction Point
Olympic NP
Local Relevance
Kenmore enthusiasts typically use the instrumented readings from Obstruction Point to calibrate their deep-sky expectations for the area.
"Transparency remarkably good after yesterday's fire smoke, seeing very good. Few high clouds to the west and north, remnants of fire smoke to the northeast. Direct glare from many very bright lights on Vancouver Island and a few Port Angeles lights, otherwise the high ridges of the Olympic Mountains effectively block any other glare from the Puget Sound area. After moon sets, the zenith is quite dark with the Cygnus Milky Way very detailed, but a broad and fairly bright light dome toward Seattle and Puget Sound dominates the eastern sky. Excellent site for monitoring. Perhaps an area 30 degrees in diameter near the zenith offers reasonable visual observations. Otherwise the sky is very modified by light pollution. ZLM 6.9 with difficulty, the eastern sky must be shielded by the ridgetop to achieve this as it definitely affects scotopic vision. The treeless ridge is easy to navigate by the light of the sky. Milky Way easily seen near the zenith,but loses its character rapidly approaching the horizon. Fog appears to move in in early morning through the Strait of Juan de Fuca into the northern Puget Sound area, suppressing light pollution and significantly improving the sky quality."
Redoubt - American Camp
San Juan Island NHP
Local Relevance
The scientific findings at Redoubt - American Camp provide Kenmore residents with the most reliable data on regional atmospheric stability.
"Class 4. Hazy, fog to the south, high humidity, seeing very good, transparency fair. Sky at 30 degrees altitude and lower much poorer than other parts, airglow cannot be discerned because of light domes and haze. No Zodiacal light, even in AM. Evening hours better, Cygnus milky way at Zenith well displayed but later the entire band looks washed out. Dark adaptation difficult. Port Angeles and Port Townsend visible in early evening, lost in fog late. Puget Sound light dome subdued, Victoria light dome bright but cut off vertically to the south, presumably because of fog. Data sets 1-3 OK, 4th has problem with wire pulling out of camera, no good."
Dark Sky Oasis near Kenmore
Elite viewing locations officially recognized by DarkSky International for their pristine celestial environments. Experience the full, pristine depth of these IDA certified skies with the precision stargazing gear we recommend for Kenmore residents.
Cottonwood Canyon State Park
As one of the closest certified environments to Kenmore, Cottonwood Canyon State Park offers a rare window into the true depth of the Milky Way.
99989 Highway 206
Antelope, Oregon
The protected skies at Antelope, Oregon represent a vital astronomical asset for the Kenmore observing community.
94237 McGreer St. Antelope, OR 97001
Astronomy Clubs for Kenmore
Join the local community of observers for group viewing events, equipment swaps, and technical workshops. Local astronomy clubs are great for testing gear; see what we suggest for Kenmore residents to bring to your first meet-up.
Gearing Up for Kenmore Nights
"With such a short hop from Kenmore to the stars, your gear kit should prioritize "setup speed." Use a stable Alt-Az mount that lets you start viewing the moment you park."
The Kenmore Field Kit
Designing a field kit for Kenmore requires understanding the specific transition from urban skyglow to the regional pristine benchmarks. With Paramount School Park sitting at a ~4-mile benchmark, your gear selection should mirror your willingness to travel. The following levels represent a logical path for growing your observatory without over-complicating your local field sessions.