Night Sky Tonight in Durango

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.

Durango itself produces moderate light pollution, but the surrounding San Juan National Forest is vast and dark. Driving 20 minutes in nearly any direction gets you to Bortle 3-4 skies. Vallecito Reservoir to the northeast, Weminuche Wilderness trailheads, and the Animas River canyon all offer accessible dark locations. The area's high elevation and southwestern Colorado climate keep transparency high most of the year.

The galactic core is visible from late March through October. Southwest Colorado is drier than the central mountains, and monsoon disruption is less severe than at higher elevations. The core arcs high to the south in summer, aligning with the open terrain toward New Mexico. Spring and fall often produce the clearest nights of the year.