Western Montana’s night skies are just as captivating as its daylight views. With minimal light pollution, high elevations and wide-open landscapes, Glacier Country is one of the best places in the lower 48 to take in the stars. From spotting the Milky Way to catching a glimpse of the northern lights, the cosmos puts on a show here. Whether you’re camping under the stars, visiting an observatory or planning your trip around a celestial event, this is the year to look up.
NORTHERN LIGHTS
Western Montana is well-positioned for viewing one of nature’s most mesmerizing shows—the northern lights. And now’s the time. We’re in the midst of a solar maximum, a peak in the sun’s activity that brings more frequent and vivid displays of the aurora borealis. This cycle won’t peak again for another 11 years, so if catching the lights is on your bucket list, 2025 is the year.
Prime viewing areas include Glacier National Park, Lost Trail National Wildlife Refuge (a Dark Sky Sanctuary), the Northwest Corridor, the Seeley Swan Corridor and the East Glacier Corridor. While the aurora is unpredictable, here are a few tips to help increase your chances:
- Download the Aurora Forecast app from the App Store to track visibility in real time.
- Get as far away from city light pollution as possible, find a wide-open spot and choose a clear, cold night.
- The brighter the moon, the harder it will be to see the northern lights. Check the lunar cycles and look for them during a new moon.
- The northern lights are best seen when the K-index—the level of geomagnetic activity—is high, so monitor K-index levels online.
- If you know the Aurora should be visible but can’t see it, try looking through your phone or taking a picture. A camera collects more light and is not limited by our eye’s color perception in low light.
- The northern lights are most active between September and March.
2025 CELESTIAL HIGHLIGHTS
From planetary alignments to meteor showers, 2025 offers a lineup of can’t-miss celestial events. Mark your calendar—we’ll see you under the stars.
June 26: The moon and Mercury meet up, providing a glimpse of the elusive innermost planet. Mercury will be low on the western horizon after sunset; you will need binoculars or a telescope to view it.
August 12: Venus and Jupiter, two of the brightest planets, appear side by side before dawn. They may even resemble a “double planet” to the naked eye.
August 12 – 13: The Perseid meteor shower peaks. While this is one of the most anticipated showers of the year, a bright moon may limit visibility.
September 7: A total lunar eclipse—also known as a blood moon—will darken the night sky.
September 19: Moon, Venus and Regulus (the brightest star in Leo) form a celestial triangle. Look to the eastern sky just before dawn.
November 5: A supermoon known as the Beaver moon—the closest of the year—will light up the sky.
November 8: Saturn’s rings appear to vanish in an optical illusion as the planet tilts edge-on to Earth. Best viewed with a telescope in the evening sky.
December 13 – 14: The Geminid meteor shower peaks, delivering bright, frequent meteors. The best viewing is after midnight until dawn.
GLACIER NATIONAL PARK + ST. MARY STAR DOME
Glacier National Park is one of 26 internationally recognized Dark Sky Parks and the first to span an international border into Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. With minimal light and air pollution, it’s an ideal spot for stargazing.
From June through September, join a ranger-led viewing event, “Half the Park Happens After Dark,” at the St. Mary, Logan Pass or Apgar visitor centers. If you’re more interested in an independent star viewing experience, you can simply camp next to a glacial lake or cozy up by a campfire and take in a sky full of stars.
Located at the park’s east entrance, the Dusty Star Observatory in St. Mary houses Montana’s largest telescope—a 20-inch scope offering high-resolution views of planets, galaxies and nebulae. Can’t make it to an in-person astronomy program? Check out the Dusty Sky Observatory’s “all-sky camera” online for a 360-degree view of the sky in real time.
BLUE MOUNTAIN OBSERVATORY
Just 45 minutes from downtown Missoula, Blue Mountain Observatory offers incredible stargazing at 6,300 feet with minimal light pollution. Join a public observation night to view planets, star clusters, distant galaxies and nebulae through the observatory’s 16-inch telescope. Additional telescopes are set up outside the dome, operated by volunteer astronomers and student staff who are on hand to guide the experience. You’ll also learn how to spot celestial objects using binoculars (please bring your own) or with the naked eye. Don’t forget a blanket and warm layers—clear skies and deep space discoveries await.
STAR GAZING ROOM: PAYNE FAMILY NATIVE AMERICAN CENTER
For a year-round indoor stargazing experience, head to the University of Montana campus in Missoula. The Star Gazing Room at the Payne Family Native American Center offers public shows that explore constellations, planets and upcoming celestial events, along with unique topics from star lore to the evolution of our universe.
ASTRONOMY CLUBS IN WESTERN MONTANA
Big Sky Astronomy Club in Kalispell hosts public events and offers stargazing information and online tools. Western Montana Astronomical Association in Missoula provides a Clear Sky Chart of the area and other helpful stargazing resources.
Please note: We ask that all our visitors and residents Recreate Responsibly by being mindful of the following: know before you go; plan ahead; play it safe; leave no trace; tread lightly; and help build an inclusive outdoors.
May 5, 2025
Related: East Glacier Corridor, Glacier National Park, GNP Surrounding Area, Missoula, Montana, Northwest Corridor, Outdoor Fun, Seeley-Swan Corridor, Vacation
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