The Milky Way stretches over Everglades National Park in May 2022. Photo by Anthony Sleiman.
Discover the Milky Way
Believe it or not, you can see comets, shooting stars and even the Milky Way in South Florida. This is one of many natural benefits Everglades National Park provides us. With 1.5 million acres of undeveloped land, the park is a haven for darkness and a chance to escape from all-consuming light pollution.
We just celebrated International Dark Sky Week (April 15-22), and this week’s cooler weather provides an enticing excuse to visit Everglades National Park to experience the wonders of the night. (Note: The Shark Valley park entrance is closed May 6-23 for maintenance.)
Here are some tips for stargazing in the Everglades:
- Check the forecast to avoid cloud coverage.
- Go around a New Moon to experience a darker sky.
- Have plenty of gas before you descend into the depths of the park.
- Don’t forget to use bug spray, especially in the summer months.
- Use a flashlight to get to your destination, then turn it off and allow time for your eyes to adjust to darkness.
- If photographing the sky, a stable tripod is a must to create the long-exposure image necessary to capture the stars.
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