Sunset isn't darkness.
The sky you drove out for doesn't show up until the sun is 18° below the horizon — astronomers call it astronomical twilight, and out here it ends at — tonight. That's when the Milky Way clocks in.
The obstacle
The moon, tonight
- Phase
- —
- Lit
- —
- Rises
- —
- Sets
- —
The plan
Your window
—
Cloud cover over the window: —
Bonus material
Falling rocks
- Loading the calendar…
The destination
Where to stand
Before you go
Field notes
- Your eyes need about 20 minutes in the dark to really open up. One glance at a phone screen resets the clock — turn the brightness all the way down, or better, use a red light.
- The desert doesn't hold the day's heat. Even after a 100° afternoon, bring a real layer — you'll be standing still, at elevation, at midnight.
- Joshua Tree National Park never closes — the gates are open 24/7 and you can drive in or out at any hour. Entry is $30 per vehicle, good for 7 days. Note that some day-use areas close dusk to dawn; the stargazing lots listed above stay open.
- Let someone know where you're headed. Cell coverage inside the park is patchy to nonexistent.