Arizona State Parks and Trails invites residents and visitors to experience the beauty of our night skies during International Dark Sky Week, April 21-28, 2025. This annual global event raises awareness about the value of the dark and natural night and encourages everyone to take simple, meaningful actions to reduce light pollution.

Stargazing in Arizona is exceptionally rewarding, thanks to our clear skies, mountainous terrain, and generally favorable weather conditions. In an area free from light pollution, roughly 2,000-2,500 stars can be seen in the night sky. However, dark skies like these are growing increasingly rare, with 80% of the global population living beneath light-polluted skies, according to Dark Sky International.

"Arizona's state parks offer some of the most pristine night skies in the country," said Bob Broscheid, Executive Director of Arizona State Parks and Trails. "International Dark Sky Week reminds us all to protect this natural resource. When visitors look up and see the Milky Way or peer through a telescope at objects millions of miles away in space, they're witnessing something profound that we must conserve for future generations."

Dark Sky Week highlights how excessive artificial light disrupts nocturnal wildlife habitats, diminishes our view of the stars, and can even impact human health. To learn more about the negative effects of light pollution and individual actions that can help, visit the International Dark Sky Week website. Simple changes like switching to low-level, warm-colored outdoor lighting that is shielded, downward-facing, and on a timer can make a big difference.

There's no better way to appreciate the magic of Arizona's dark skies than to get out and explore our state parks. On April 18 and 19, 2025, stargazing events will be held at Catalina State Park and Homolovi State Park, respectively. On April 26, 2025, star parties will be held at Kartchner Caverns State Park and Oracle State Park—both certified as Dark Sky Parks for their exceptional quality of starry nights and protected nocturnal environments. See the details of these astronomy events and plan a state park visit to appreciate Arizona's dark skies at AZStateParks.com/Stars.