Frequently asked
Is tonight good for stargazing at Devils Lake?
The live score above pulls today's forecast and runs it through StarCast's scoring model, factoring 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.
What makes Devils Lake good for astrophotography?
Devils Lake State Park in the Baraboo Hills of central Wisconsin is one of the most visited state parks in the Midwest, but its dark sky quality is surprisingly good for its location. The lake sits inside a glacial gorge flanked by 500-foot quartzite bluffs, and the bowl topography blocks considerable ambient light from surrounding towns. Madison is about 45 miles to the south but produces a modest dome rather than a wall of light. The quartzite rock faces and dense hardwood forest create foreground contrast that's unusual for Great Plains-adjacent locations. The south bluff overlook faces south for core compositions.
When is the Milky Way visible at Devils Lake?
The galactic core is visible from mid-March through October. Wisconsin's Milky Way season is shorter than the Southwest due to latitude: the core doesn't rise very high in the sky, but it's visible from 10 p.m. onward in June and July. The lake surface reflects stars well on calm nights, and the north shore beach gives a wide southern horizon for core compositions above the water. Humidity and cloud cover are more common here than at western sites, so checking the forecast closely is more important.
