The name Milky Way means two things: the star-packed photogenic river of stars across sky for one. It also refers to the hundreds of billions of stars that make up our galaxy. No matter where you look in the Western Slope sky, every star is part of our galaxy.

Comets, once considered portents of doom, have long puzzled us. They move rapidly against the starry background. They grow tails, which may explain why the ancient Greeks called them “hairy stars.” Their brightness and even their exact paths can be hard to predict. So, what are these mysterious visitors that sometimes appear in our sky?

In the very early hours of November 8, the second total lunar eclipse of 2022 will be visible from Western Colorado.

This month is a great time to view Jupiter, because this 86,000 mile-wide, giant planet is visible nearly all night long.

Over 80% of people living in the United States cannot see the Milky Way from where they live because of too much artificial light at night.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park celebrates dark skies and the Autumnal Equinox at Astrofest 2022

Our solar system has over 200 confirmed moons, with some that show the potential to harbor life.

Astrobiologists study extreme environments preserved within National Parks to learn how life might exist in similar niches on other worlds.

Twilight each morning & evening is divided into three phases - civil, nautical and astronomical.

Observing the night sky, we can see light finally reaching us after traveling large distances and spans of time, letting us step back in the history of Earth and the universe.