Milky Way Season in Zion: The Best Place to See the Milky Way in Utah

Happy Milky Way season stargazers! Our home galaxy, and part of our cosmic address, is home

to 100s of billions of stars, our sun included. Most galaxies, including our own barred spiral, are

shaped like pancakes or flattened discs. When we look out into space the plane of our pancake,

we see a high concentration of stars. The combination of an abundance of stars and dust

reflecting starlight in our galactic plane appears as a milky, cloudy band in the night sky.

This Milky Way band is only visible under dark skies with little sky glow from light pollution. Over

80% of human beings never get to experience this beautiful view of our home. If you are lucky

enough to venture towards darker areas this summer, you can catch the band of our galaxy for

the next couple months. Its path travels through the summer triangle and appears most defined

when peering towards the center of the Milky Way in the constellation Sagittarius. This zodiac

constellation is easily identified by the asterism, or collection of stars, resembling a teapot.

Looking Southeast on August 15th, Image credit: Stellarium

Mercury, Venus, and Mars are visible in July’s western sky. Look for them closest to the horizon

shortly after sunset. Each night Venus and Mercury travel closer to the sun, and by the end of

this month, both will be lost in its glare. This will end Venus’ months-long stint as our evening

‘star,’ and it will soon transition to dominating our morning eastern skies.

July also marks the return of Saturn in our evening skies. Rising before 11 pm, look for the god

of wealth and time in the east, the brightest object in Aquarius, the water bearer. On August 1st,

he can be seen very close to the star Sigma Aquarii, the left thigh of Aquarius.

Looking southeast (left) and west (right) shortly after sunset on August 1st, Image Credit: Stellarium

These mid-summer months are fantastic for meteor observing. The Southern delta Aquariids

and alpha Capricornids are active until the middle of August. The highlight of meteor shower

season, the Perseids, begins mid-July and persists through September. Peaking on August 15th

under a moonless sky, this will be the best chance to catch a ‘shooting star’ this summer.

The name ‘shooting star’ is a misnomer, as what we see are not stars flying across the sky.

Instead, the streak of fire we observe is caused by small pieces of debris (rock, dust). Entering

Earth’s atmosphere and coming into contact with the molecules of gas in our air, the friction

causes this debris to burn up and slash across the night sky.

Milky Way Season in Zion: The Best Place to See the Milky Way in Utah

The best place to see the Milky Way in Utah is without a doubt in Zion National Park! Zion National Park is one of the best places to see the Milky Way due to its pristine dark skies, minimal light pollution, and breathtaking landscapes that create the perfect backdrop for celestial viewing. As a certified Dark Sky Park, Zion offers unparalleled opportunities for Milky Way stargazing in Utah, with top spots like Kolob Canyons, Lava Point Overlook, and Canyon Junction Bridge providing crystal-clear views of the galactic core.

Whether you're looking for the best Milky Way photography locations in Zion, planning a stargazing tour in Zion, or simply searching for what to do in Zion at night, witnessing the Milky Way stretch across the sky is an awe-inspiring experience. With peak visibility during the summer months, stargazing in Zion offers a front-row seat to the wonders of the universe, making it a bucket-list destination for astronomers, photographers, and adventure seekers alike.

Book a stargazing tour with Stargazing Zion for the best place to see the Milky Way in Zion this season! Learn more about the best places to stay in Zion during your trip and the best stargazing spots in Zion and where to find the darkest skies.