National Parks Milky Way Posters

The following are reproductions of the park service "See the Milky Way" International Year of Astronomy Posters on display in many parks. These posters were used during 2009's International Year of Astronomy to promote astronomy programs within the parks.

Big Bend's poster is on sale in their giftshop as a large 13 x 19 inch print. Other posters will go on sale in summer 2010.


Acadia National Park

Located along the gulf of Maine on Mount Desert Island, Acadia National Park is one of the darkest easily accessible locations along the east coast. For a dark starry sky east of the Mississippi River, there is no better than Acadia National Park.

Big Bend National Park

Down in west Texas along the Rio Grande, Big Bend is arguably the darkest park in the continental United States. Standing alone south of the Chisos Mountains, there is not a single sign to the naked-eye of any light to compete with that of the stars overhead.

On sale now.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park

Astronomy is an extremely popular activity at Black Canyon of the Gunnison. The dark, clear skies in southwestern Colorado make this an excellent location to "See the Milky Way." This was the first poster in what became a series for the rest of the National Park Service.

Bryce Canyon National Park

Each year the Bryce Canyon Astronomy Festival brings stargazers from all over the world to this wonderful starry sky park in central Utah. Astronomical activities for all ages take place night and day.

Canyonlands National Park

Adventurers to Canyonlands National Park come to get lost within the maze of canyons, mesas and buttes by day. At night another wilderness is revealed overhead. Come here to get pleasantly lost in both.

Chaco Canyon National Park

Astronomers have inhabited this canyon for over a thousand years. An awerness of the night sky is recorded in rock art and building alignments throughout this isolated canyon in northwestern New Mexico. The park hosts the only privately donated permanent observatory in any national park. Come see the sky the way our ancestors did.

Death Valley National Park

In one of the remotest places in North America, visitors can see the Milky Way stretch from horizon to horizon. What may be blindingly bright under a noonday sun, by night is illuminated by the cool light of distant stars.

Glacier National Park

Standing along the Continental Divide, "The Backbone of the World" in Glacier National Park, visitors can gaze overhead at the band of the Milky Way, "The Backbone of Night."

Grand Canyon National Park

Come see the night sky in the middle of magnificent natural night. From one star-lit canyon wall the Milky Way spreads its light clear across Grand Canyon's chasm. Evening astronomy programs are one of the park's most popular and amateur clubs hold an astronomy star partyhere every summer.

Natural Bridges National Monument

Deep in the heart of southern Utah's red rock and dark sky country, Natural Bridges was declared the world's first International Night Sky Park in 2007. Journey to a place where the brightest light in view is the heart of our own Galaxy.

Rocky Mountain National Park

On clear moonless summer nights in Rocky Mountain National Park, astronoemrs and rangers treat crowds to stunning views of the evening sky. If you have a telescope, RMNP has several permanent piers set up and polar-aligned in popular picnic spots for your use.

Yellowstone National Park

By day, hundreds of people crowd around to see the geysers erupt. By night you can see the same sight by star light with nothing but a few bison and elk anywhere in view. Yellowstone is a wonderfully dark park, far away from any major city lights.

Yosemite National Park

Every year, all summer long, local astronomy clubs take turns treating visitors to views of the majestic Milky Way from high atop Yosemite's Glacier Point. Down below twinkle the lights of sleeping campers while overhead blazes the light of innumerable stars.

National Park Service

The national parks that protect our views of the wildlife and landscape by day, also protect our views of the starry sky above. Half the park happens after dark; come to the parks this year and see the Milky Way.

Stars Above, Earth Below: A guide to astronomy in the national parks

by Dr. Tyler Nordgren

Coming in February 2010, a popular book describing the world of astronomy on view to everyone who travels to the national parks. Available online and in many major national park bookstores in Summer 2010.

Return to Dr. Nordgren's homepage.