< dark sky directory

CT dark sky places

List of darkest parks and places in Connecticut for stargazing, astrophotography, astrotourism, star parties, and astronomy club events. Often these are national and state parks and forests that are either remote or "protected" against light pollution.

National and state parks often let you stay overnight under the stars, hence their motto - "Half the park is after dark".

Bortle scale for sites is given where known. Also ask your local astronomy club for guidance as they will know the darkest places.

DARK PARK BORTLE
Beckley Furnace State Park 4
Campbell Falls State Park 4
Dennis Hill State Park 4
Grace Farms 4
Haystack Mountain State Park 4
Housatonic Meadows State Park 4
Kent Falls State Park 4
Macedonia Brook State Park 4
Mohawk Mountain State Park 4
Mount Riga State Park 4
Talcott Mountain 4
White Memorial 4
Wyantenock State Forest 4


Light pollution map w/ Bortle

On the left is a 2023 satellite image of CT showing light pollution from the NOAA National Geophysical Data Center. On the right is a 2015 light pollution map showing sky brightness at the zenith from World Atlas data. Colors correspond approximately to the Bortle scale. Use as a guide to find the darkest sky locations near you.

CT night sky light pollution map