Missouri Is Home To One Of The Best Dark Sky Parks In The World

Were you one of those kids who used to lie down on the grass and gaze up at the sky on a starry night? Maybe you were hoping for a shooting star? Or perhaps you wondered if life existed beyond what we could see? Stargazing has always been popular in Missouri and for good reason. We have a lot of dark skies, from Echo Bluff State Park to Thousand Hills State Park, to spend an evening watching the stars. If you’ve never been to this park in Missouri, you might find it quickly becomes a favorite.

Broemmelsiek Park in Defiance draws visitors for its many amenities - hiking trails, a dog park, and picnic tables, to name a few.

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However, it’s also home to an astronomy viewing area that attracts both amateur and professional astronomers.

Google/Debbie Hoag

The astronomy viewing area is open 24 hours a day, all year around, although you’ll have to get there early if you want to score one of the viewing stations.

Google/Kumar Challa

Each of the concrete viewing stations has electricity, a huge selling point for those with the most modern astronomy equipment.

Google/Johnny Hozer

Because it’s so remote, the park in Missouri is predominately free of light pollution, which offers a one-of-a-kind stargazing experience.

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If you’d like to get together with other stargazers, join the Friday Night Open House, hosted by the Astronomical Society of Eastern Missouri.

Google/Crystal Wright

Every Friday night, when the weather allows, stargazers gather to view the nighttime sky, using the club’s telescopes.

Google/Michael Pusatera

Learn more on the St. Charles County, Missouri website. Or, stop by its Facebook page.

Google/Daniel Du

Have you been to this park in Missouri for stargazing? What did you think? Share your experience in the comments! For an adventure of a different kind, visit this little-known nature preserve in Missouri.