Dark Skies

Light pollution, the Bortle scale, site scouting, and dark-sky travel.

Dark Skies · Sep 5, 2026 · 10 min

How to Find and Use Dark Sky Sites: Maps, Bortle, Etiquette, Packing

Finding a darker sky beats buying a bigger telescope. How to read light-pollution maps correctly, judge Bortle class by eye when you arrive, choose a site you are allowed to use, observe without ruining anyone's night, and pack so you stay out.

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Dark Skies · Jul 13, 2026 · 9 min
The Bortle Scale, Explained: How Dark Is Your Sky?
John Bortle's nine-class scale turns a vague impression into a number you can read and record. Here is what each class looks like overhead, from a pristine Class 1 to an inner-city Class 9, and how to reach darker skies within a night's drive.

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