Frequently asked
Is tonight good for stargazing at Kodachrome Basin?
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 Kodachrome Basin good for astrophotography?
Kodachrome Basin State Park is named after the Kodak film used to photograph it in the 1940s, and the vivid sediment columns, called sand pipes, are unlike anything else in the Colorado Plateau. The park sits in a natural bowl surrounded by slickrock, about 10 miles south of Cannonville and well removed from any town light. Bortle Class 2 conditions are typical on clear nights. The campground puts you inside the basin, and many of the 67 sand pipe formations are accessible on foot within minutes of camp, making it easy to frame shots without a long approach in the dark.
When is the Milky Way visible at Kodachrome Basin?
The galactic core is visible from mid-March through late October. Late April through June is often the most reliable window: skies are dry, temperatures are mild overnight, and the core clears the southern horizon by midnight. The basin is sheltered enough that wind is rarely a problem, which is useful for long exposures. Fall evenings in September and October can be exceptional, with the core low in the southwest and clear stable air moving in after monsoon season ends.
