Night Sky Tonight in Telluride

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.

Telluride sits in a box canyon at 8,750 feet with a dramatic flat-topped mesa wall closing off the east end of town. The surrounding 13,000-foot peaks create one of the most compositionally rich night sky environments in Colorado. The gondola to Mountain Village operates until late evening, giving access to above-treeline shooting positions without a strenuous hike. The valley's remoteness from major cities keeps Bortle class low.

The galactic core is visible from late March through October. Summer storms typically clear by 10pm, and the gondola allows high-elevation access for July and August shooting. The core rises in the southeast framed by canyon walls. Imogene Pass and Black Bear Pass offer extreme high-altitude positions for photographers with 4WD vehicles.