The Darkest Skies
in Georgia
Access the definitive rankings of the top 10 National Park Service Champions and International Dark Sky Parks in Georgia. Explore our comprehensive directory of 169 Georgia cities to find the perfect dark sky spot with verified scientific data.
National Park Service Reports
The darkest verified spots in the state. Pro Tip: Dark sky reports reveal their best details through precision optics.
Apollo #5
Canaveral NS
Local Relevance
For observers in Georgia, Apollo #5 serves as the definitive baseline for high-altitude transparency and localized skyglow data.
"Set up in the middle of parking area at Apollo #5. Lots of fire smoke during the day and into the evening from wildfire to the SW towards Orlando. Smoke visible throughout the evening along the horizon from the north to the west and south. The worst of it was over Kennedy Space Center. This location provides a nice option for relatively dark skies, given its more remote location from developed areas. There were constant airplanes visible, probably going in and out of Orlando."
Clingmans Dome
Great Smoky Mountains NP
Local Relevance
Georgia enthusiasts typically use the instrumented readings from Clingmans Dome to calibrate their deep-sky expectations for the area.
"Limiting magnitude found in Pegasus. Andromeda galaxy visible, M15 requires much effort. Milky Way detail easily detectable near zenith. Sky appeared noticeably brighter than previous nights, possibly due to some airglow. I also think it may have to do with the atmospheric clarity. All other nights contained some amount of possible light absorbing clouds. The second set of images from this night do contain some clouds, but the first set is clear."
Cades Cove
Great Smoky Mountains NP
Local Relevance
Georgia enthusiasts typically use the instrumented readings from Cades Cove to calibrate their deep-sky expectations for the area.
"LZM found in Pegasus. Moderate Milky Way detail was visible. M31 easily visible, M33 a difficult averted vision object. Airglow likely strong."
Stafford Air Strip
Cumberland Island NS
Local Relevance
For observers in Georgia, Stafford Air Strip serves as the definitive baseline for high-altitude transparency and localized skyglow data.
"For the nearby campground, this is an excellent area for visitors to enjoy the night sky. The light dome from Jacksonville is very prominent to the south and the Naval Submarine base also brightens the sky to the SW. The smoke from the previous days burning at the Navy base had subsided and the skies were very clear. SQM reading of 20.77."
Opal Beach
Gulf Islands NS
Local Relevance
The scientific findings at Opal Beach provide Georgia residents with the most reliable data on regional atmospheric stability.
"Clouds to the north caused image 14 to misalign at first, but Jeremy manually placed it and processing was smooth after that. Pensacola light dome dominant to the west with the combined Destin/Fort Walton light dome to the east. Clouds moved in later. Only one set is usable."
Certified Dark Sky Parks
International Dark Sky Association certified locations. Visiting a park? Don't forget a red-light flashlight to preserve the dark.
Cataloochee Ranch
Originally founded in 1933 and celebrating over 90 years of hosting guests as the first commercial tourism establishment in the Great Smoky Mountains, Cataloochee Ranch…
Official Details →Groveland, Florida
The City of Groveland is located in Lake County, Florida, about 30 miles west of Orlando. Groveland covers roughly 28 square miles and has a population of over…
Official Details →Obed Wild and Scenic River
Obed Wild and Scenic River consists of about 2,020 hectares of land within roughly 400 meters on either side of the Obed River in Tennessee, U.S.
Official Details →Pickett CCC Memorial State Park & Pogue Creek Canyon State Natural Area
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 →Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute
Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute (PARI) is nestled in the Pisgah National Forest at a former historic NASA facility. They provide a variety of activities…
Official Details →Stephen C. Foster State Park
Stephen C. Foster State Park is a small (32-hectare; 80-acre) property in the vast 1,627 km2 (402,000-acre) expanse of the surrounding Okefenokee National…
Official Details →Gearing Up for Georgia Nights
"Staging for Georgia nights requires a versatile kit that can handle anything from high-altitude thinning air to the humid coastal gradients found across the state."
The Georgia Field Kit
Across the breadth of Georgia, the transition from major light domes to protected scientific zones creates a unique challenge for the modern observer.
Browse Cities
Find detailed scientific reports for 169 unique locations across Georgia.