Dark Sky Camping in Montana | Lost Moose Meadows

Stargazing

On a clear night, pull a chair away from the campfire, give your eyes time to adjust and look up. You don’t need a telescope to enjoy an evening under the stars. Many of our guests tell us the night sky was a highlight of their trip.

Local tips from Matt and Nichole, owners of Lost Moose Meadows.

Quick facts

Best nights: Clear skies with little moonlight
Milky Way: Summer and fall evenings
Meteor shower highlight: Perseids, mid August
Bring: A chair, a warm layer and a dim red flashlight

What you can see

The Milky Way: On dark, moonless nights, look for a faint band of light across the sky. Summer evenings are a good time to find its brighter central region. A sky map can help you know where to look.
The Andromeda Galaxy: In late summer and fall, look for a faint smudge of light. At about 2.5 million light years away, it’s remarkable that you can see it without a telescope.
Planets: Which planets are visible changes with the date and time. An astronomy app can help you identify what’s above the horizon during your stay.
Satellites and the space station: Watch for steady points of light moving across the sky. Satellites reflect sunlight, and a pass prediction app can tell you when the International Space Station may be visible.

Meteor showers during our season

Peak dates shift a little each year, and moonlight affects how many you’ll see.

Lyrids

Around April 22

Typically 10 to 20 meteors an hour at peak, with viewing best late at night and before dawn. A reason to bring a blanket during an early season stay.

Perseids

Around August 12 and 13

One of the year’s most popular showers, with around 50 to 100 meteors an hour at peak on a dark night. Late night and the hours before dawn are usually best.

Draconids

Around October 8

Unlike many showers, this one is best watched in the early evening. Activity is usually modest, but it gives our late season guests another reason to look up.

NASA Perseids viewing guide

Northern lights over the campground, taken by a guest.

Northern lights

We’ve been lucky enough to see the northern lights from the campground. When a strong aurora is forecast, it’s worth stepping outside and looking north after dark. NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center provides current forecasts and viewing tips.

NOAA aurora forecasts · Aurora viewing tips

Tips for a good night

Check the moon: Bright moonlight washes out faint stars. For the Milky Way and meteor watching, choose a night near the new moon or a time when the moon is below the horizon.
Let your eyes adjust: Allow 20 to 30 minutes away from bright lights. Use a dim red flashlight when needed and keep your phone screen low.
Get comfortable: Bring a chair, a warm layer and a blanket. Montana evenings can get cool, even in summer.
Be a good neighbor: Keep unnecessary outdoor lights low and avoid shining flashlights toward other sites.

Through a guest’s lens

The Whirlpool Galaxy photo at the top of this page was taken by a guest from their RV site. Camera exposures and processing reveal details beyond what the eye can see.

The northern lights photograph was also taken by a guest at the campground. We’d love to see what you capture during your stay.

Keep exploring