Frequently asked
Is tonight good for stargazing at Eleven Mile State Park?
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.
What makes Eleven Mile State Park good for astrophotography?
Eleven Mile Reservoir sits at 8,600 feet in the South Park basin, surrounded by open rangeland with the Tarryall Mountains to the east and Pikes Peak visible to the southeast. The reservoir's large surface creates still-water reflection opportunities, and the park's dark sky designation makes it one of the most deliberately managed stargazing locations on the Front Range side of the mountains. Denver's glow stays low on the northeast horizon 90 miles away.
When is the Milky Way visible at Eleven Mile State Park?
The galactic core is visible from late March through October. June through August are peak months, when the core rises in the southeast over the Tarryall Mountains and arcs across the open basin sky. The north shore campground positions you directly under the darkest part of the sky.