Stargazing in Montana

True astronomical darkness runs from 2:30 AM to 11:49 AM (9.3 hours) at Montana's central latitude — this is the real window when the sky is darkest.

Cloud cover decides whether you can see anything at all, so check a local forecast before you go. In Montana, skies are usually clearest after a cold front passes, and higher, drier sites tend to beat valleys and coasts. Hourly cloud outlook →

The Moon is Waning Crescent at 9% illumination. Moonlight shouldn't significantly interfere with deep-sky observing tonight. Full Moon details →

• Jupiter — visible in Leo, toward the East (up to 29° altitude).
• Saturn — visible in Cetus, toward the South (up to 45° altitude).
• Mars — visible in Cancer, toward the East-Southeast (up to 42° altitude).

Draconids is active tonight. A minor, unpredictable shower best watched right after nightfall, unlike most showers which peak before dawn. Full calendar →

Next visible pass: Invalid Date. Live ISS tracker →

Current planetary Kp is 2.7; Montana's central latitude needs roughly Kp 6.6 for aurora to become visible. Aurora is unlikely from most of the state tonight at current activity levels. Full Aurora forecast →

Planetary Kp is 2.7 right now. Full space weather conditions →

Darkness and Moon conditions tonight favor deep-sky and Milky Way viewing, assuming clear skies and distance from city lights. This doesn't account for light pollution at your specific spot — a real light-pollution measurement isn't currently available for this location, so use distance from city lights as a practical guide instead. Check Milky Way visibility →

Moonlight is low tonight, which favours the Milky Way and fainter deep-sky objects. 3 planets are realistically observable. Pick a dark site away from city lights and confirm the local cloud forecast before you go.

Glacier National Park is part of the Waterton-Glacier International Dark Sky Park shared with Canada. Medicine Rocks State Park in eastern Montana is also a certified International Dark Sky Park.

• Glacier National Park — Part of the Waterton-Glacier International Dark Sky Park.
• Medicine Rocks State Park — International Dark Sky Park on the eastern plains.

The Rocky Mountain west (Missoula, Glacier) and the vast eastern plains.

Billings, Missoula and Bozeman glow locally; most of the state is very dark.

Visible from dark sites roughly May through September.

The Perseids are popular; summer wildfire smoke can reduce clarity in some years.

July through September; winter nights are long and clear but bitterly cold.

Good on clear nights; planets sit lower than from southern states.

Montana sees aurora more often than most lower-48 states. Moderate storms can bring displays to the northern half; strong storms can reach the whole state.

Glacier's lakes and peaks and the eastern sandstone formations make strong foregrounds.

Major meteor showers (Quadrantids, Lyrids, Perseids, Geminids), Milky Way core season and any eclipses apply here as they do nationally -- dates shift each year, so check the current calendar.

Carry bear spray in Glacier. Check road status -- Going-to-the-Sun Road closes much of the year.