Night Sky Tonight in Natural Bridges

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.

Natural Bridges National Monument was the world's first International Dark Sky Park, designated in 2007. It sits in the remote canyon country of southeastern Utah, far from any significant city, with Bortle 1 ratings across the monument. The three natural sandstone bridges — Sipapu, Kachina, and Owachomo — provide dramatic natural arch foreground for Milky Way photography. Kachina Bridge is the most accessible for night shooting and frames the galactic core beautifully from the canyon overlook. The remote location means you'll often have the overlooks entirely to yourself even on peak new moon weekends.

The galactic core is visible at Natural Bridges from March through October. Spring and fall are ideal: comfortable temperatures, reliable clear nights, and the core at a good height in the southern sky. The monument is small and the loop road gives you access to all three bridges in a single night if conditions hold.