Frequently asked
Is tonight good for stargazing at Flagstaff?
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 Flagstaff good for astrophotography?
Flagstaff was the world's first International Dark Sky City, designated in 2001, and enforces strict outdoor lighting ordinances that have kept sky glow remarkably low for a city of 75,000. It sits at 7,000 feet on the Colorado Plateau with dry, high-altitude air and excellent atmospheric transparency. Lowell Observatory, where Pluto was discovered, is located within city limits. The Coconino National Forest surrounding the city has Bortle 2 conditions within minutes of downtown. The San Francisco Peaks and ponderosa pine forests provide distinctive foreground options.
When is the Milky Way visible at Flagstaff?
The galactic core is visible from March through October. The high elevation and dry air make spring and fall shoulder seasons especially good, with stable, transparent nights before monsoon season arrives in July. Schultz Pass and the meadows north of town give wide open southern exposures away from city glow. The Grand Canyon's South Rim is 90 minutes north and has Bortle 1 conditions.
