Frequently asked
Is tonight good for stargazing at Notch Peak?
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 for astrophotography. Below 40, conditions are poor. The score updates daily.
What makes Notch Peak good for astrophotography?
Notch Peak sits in the House Range, part of Utah's West Desert, one of the emptiest stretches of the continental US and hours from the nearest town of any size. The peak holds one of the tallest limestone cliff faces in North America, dropping more than 2,000 feet on its northwest face, which gives photographers a dramatic silhouette against the sky. With almost no artificial light for a hundred miles in most directions, skies here typically measure Bortle Class 1 to 2, among the darkest available anywhere in the country.
When is the Milky Way visible at Notch Peak?
The core is visible from March through October. Summer, June through August, is the most practical window since the high desert access roads can hold snow or mud well into spring and the area sits above 6,000 feet in places. Because of the extreme remoteness, plan fuel, water, and a full tank before heading out, cell service is unreliable and the nearest services are far away.
