Cameron County is blessed with many beautiful open spaces, steep forested mountains, clean flowing waterways, and dark skies that offer exceptional starry nights, perfect for stargazing.
What is the purpose of star gazing? Skygazing, or more literally gazing at the sky, is a relaxing nighttime activity. Stargazing can ease your mind and rejuvenate your spirit. If you find yourself searching for peace, calm, and relaxation, stargazing might be just what you need.
When planning a stargazing adventure, it is important to give your eyes 15 to 20 minutes to adjust to the darkness. Using red flashlights to navigate will help your eyes adjust. The longer you can go without looking at artificial lighting or headlights, the better your night vision will be.
From major constellations to shooting stars and the International Space Station, there are plenty of fascinating objects in the night sky visible without any special equipment. A pair of binoculars can help you explore the surface of the moon and even see the rings around Saturn. The best time to look at the moon is when it is waxing or waning because the light from the sun is hitting it indirectly.
This helps the moon’s craters cast better shadows on its surface than during the full moon stage. Keep an eye one on the weather when planning on going stargazing. Cool and windless nights offer the best viewing conditions. Hot and windy days means more motion in the atmosphere, which distorts the light from stars.
Smartphone apps like Stellarium and Google Sky can be useful. Just point your phone skyward to see the names of major stars, planets, and constellations appear on your screen. Make sure to set your phone’s display as dim as possible to preserve your night vision.
Just about anywhere in Cameron County where you are away from artificial lighting is good place for stargazing. A great place to start your stargazing adventure is Ridge Road in the Elk State Forest. Visitors can enjoy breathtaking views from six world-class vistas along a 3 mile stretch of road.
“Ridge Road in the Elk State Forest is the most scenic State Forest road in Pennsylvania!”- PABucketList.com.
Here are directions to experience the breathtaking vistas along Ridge Road: From Route 872 turn onto Brooks Run Road, directly across the road from Sinnemahoning State Park’s 40 Maples Day Use Area, then right onto Ridge Road.
Some more popular spots to see the night sky include Bucktail Overlook, also known at Top of the World and Mason Hill Overlook, George B. Stevenson Dam at Sinnemahoning State Park, open spaces in the Quehanna Wild Area, Hick’s Run and Hoover Farms Elk Viewing Area, Miller Run Wildlife Viewing Area, and pull-offs along scenic Route 120 from Emporium to the county line at Keating along the Driftwood Branch and Sinnemahoning Creek.
The county is working on dark skies designation and developing a Stargazing Park to offer visitors a place built to enjoy the amazing night sky over Cameron County.
Find more fun things to do, see, and experience in Pennsylvania’s Great Outdoors region online at VisitPAGO.com.
