Night Sky Tonight in Bryce Canyon

The live score above pulls today's forecast and runs it through StarCast's scoring model, which factors in cloud cover, moon illumination, Bortle class, humidity, and atmospheric transparency. Above 70 is an excellent night. Below 40, conditions are poor. The score updates daily.

Bryce Canyon holds Gold Tier International Dark Sky Park status and sits at 8,000 to 9,000 feet on the Paunsaugunt Plateau — high enough to escape most atmospheric haze. The hoodoo formations create one of the most distinctive night sky foregrounds in the American West, with limestone spires rising from the amphitheater floor under a fully starred sky. The park runs regular astronomy programs and has dark sky viewing areas specifically designed for stargazers. On the best nights, the Milky Way casts visible shadows among the hoodoos.

The galactic core is visible at Bryce Canyon from March through October. The park's annual Astronomy Festival in late June is one of the premier dark sky events in the country, with ranger-led programs and public telescope viewing. Inspiration Point and Bryce Point face south toward the galactic center and are the best positions for Milky Way photography.