Night Sky Tonight in Fairplay

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.

South Park is a high intermontane basin at 9,000-10,000 feet, completely encircled by mountain ranges. The open grassland is one of the flattest and darkest locations reachable by paved road from Denver, about 90 minutes away. The Mosquito Range, Tarryall Mountains, and Tenmile Range form a 360-degree wall of peaks above the treeless valley floor. Spinney Mountain State Park and Eleven Mile Reservoir sit within the basin and offer managed dark-sky access.

The galactic core is visible from late March through October. The high elevation and dry climate make South Park one of the clearest basins in Colorado. The open sightlines let you watch the core rise in the southeast and arc fully overhead, which is rare at locations with significant terrain. Nights cool quickly even in summer, so come layered.