State Research Hub

The Darkest Skies
in Arkansas

We've analyzed scientific data across 70 locations in Arkansas to find the ultimate destinations for deep-space observation.

National Park Service Champions

Scientific Rankings
1

Astro Program Hill

Tallgrass Prairie NPres

21.59 SQM
Bortle Class 3

"Emporia is brightest light dome on the horizon. Clear night, no clouds. Fair transparency"

Observation Date
5/4/2010
Elevation
452m
Zenith Brightness
21.86
2

Buckhorn Parking Lot

Chickasaw NRA

20.86 SQM
Bortle Class 4

"Sky looks hazy during the day. At night, sky right above the horizon looks bright in all direction. Light pollution extends to about 60 degrees above the horizon. Milky Way was still impressive right overhead but becomes invisible at about 20 degrees from the horizon."

Observation Date
7/26/2019
Elevation
280m
Zenith Brightness
21.29
3

Houchin's Field

Mammoth Cave NP

20.69 SQM
Bortle Class 4

"A very calm, humid and clear night. Dewfall occurred during data collection, however dew heater prevented lens fog. Multiple light domes evident from site, as well as a continuous glow along horizon in all directions. Airglow was present. Andromeda galaxy easily visible, Beehive (Pegasus) visible with medium effort. Prominent dust lanes in Milky Way visible at zenith, but not below ~50 degrees. Limiting magnitude found in Pegasus."

Observation Date
10/25/2008
Elevation
245m
Zenith Brightness
20.99
4

Lance Rosier Unit

Big Thicket N PRES

20.53 SQM
Bortle Class 5

"Lots of trees blocking the horizon. Clear sky. There is an oil and gas field at the end of the road. Sky looks brightest towards WSW. The light dome extends all the way to zenith. Milky Way looks faint overhead."

Observation Date
10/27/2019
Elevation
27m
Zenith Brightness
20.86
5

Horn Island

Gulf Islands NS

20.41 SQM
Bortle Class 5

"Mosly clear night, with a bank of clouds to the south/southeast. Clearing. Visible haze on the southern horizon over the Gulf as well as east and west. Above horizon transparency is moderate/good. One major light dome from Pascagoula dominates the northern horizon. This is part of the military ship yard. Out on the gulf there are several discrete lights from oil ships waitng to come into port. To the west is an elongated light dome, less intense than to the North. Milky Way is visible, especially early in the night when it is over the Gulf. Dust lanes visible overhead in Cygnus, moderate detial. However Milky Way loses contrast as it moves to the northern horizon and into the light dome, and Saggitarius sets."

Observation Date
10/21/2014
Elevation
0m
Zenith Brightness
20.65
6

Log Cabins

Fort Donelson NB

20.38 SQM
Bortle Class 6

"SQM of 20.47 at 2035 local time. Only fair transparency and seeing. Some fast moving clouds. High humidity. Milky Way visible from 20 degrees above north horizon. Great rift visible, Saggitarius cloud not easily visible, Scutum cloud not visible. Milky Way about 10-12 degrees wide, but faint and no fine details. To the NW a blue white light dome easily seen. Due East is the Clarksville lightdome almost 25 degrees high and 15 degrees wide. Core is bright. Adjacent to the light dome is a spotlight (which we determined was coming from the cemetary here in FODO park). To the West and Southwest is another lightdome fainter than Clarksville, but brighter than the Milky Way"

Observation Date
9/27/2013
Elevation
128m
Zenith Brightness
20.56
7

Veterans Lake

Chickasaw NRA

20.37 SQM
Bortle Class 4

"Clear sky. The area right above the horizon appears bright from all the directions. Milky Way is impressive overhead but lasks the details of the bright/dark structure. Light dome extends up to about 60 degrees above the horizon."

Observation Date
7/25/2019
Elevation
295m
Zenith Brightness
20.52

Certified Dark Sky Parks

IDA Registered

Buffalo National River

International Dark Sky Park

The Buffalo National River is a free-flowing stream passing through towering picturesque bluffs, forests, and fields in North Central Arkansas in the Ozark…

Official Details →

Lakewood Village, Texas

International Dark Sky Community

On April 26, 1977, Lakewood Village was officially incorporated as The Town of Lakewood Village, Texas. Located in the northern part of the Dallas/Ft.

Official Details →

Pickett CCC Memorial State Park & Pogue Creek Canyon State Natural Area

Dark Sky Park

Pickett-Pogue International Dark Sky Park is composed of 1,618 hectares of land jointly managed by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and…

Official Details →

Stacy Park

Urban Night Sky Place

Stacy Park is a 35-acre park located in Olivette, Missouri and is approximately 10 miles west of St. Louis City. Established in 1926, Stacy Park is one of five…

Official Details →
Observer's Log

Browse Cities in Arkansas

Need hyper-local data? We have detailed scientific reports for 70 unique locations across the state.