Frequently asked
Is tonight good for stargazing at Zion?
Is tonight good for stargazing in the Palouse?
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 the Palouse good for astrophotography?
The Palouse is a 3,000-square-mile agricultural region of rolling wheat hills in eastern Washington and northern Idaho, one of the most distinctive landscapes in the Pacific Northwest. The region has Bortle 2 to 3 conditions away from Pullman and Moscow, with the undulating hill forms creating natural foreground compositions under the Milky Way. Steptoe Butte State Park rises 1,000 feet above the surrounding farmland, giving 360-degree elevated views of the hills and sky. The area is best known for spring and summer golden hour photography, but the same open terrain and low population density make it excellent for night sky work.
When is the Milky Way visible in the Palouse?
The galactic core is visible from March through October at this latitude. The Pacific Northwest's reputation for clouds means clear nights are worth planning around — checking conditions several days out is worthwhile. July and August tend to have the most stable, clear nights. Steptoe Butte and the surrounding back roads give the widest sky exposure and the most foreground variety.
