Seattle Stargazing
Looking for stars in Seattle? The further you can get from streetlights, the better. Darkness is what you need for the best stargazing.* If you’d like to join other astronomy enthusiasts, try one of these local events!
Good City Parks:
Solstice Park: West Seattle – 7400 Fauntleroy Way SW in Seattle: This city park is open from 4am-11:30pm (as of June 2009) and has good views from south southwest to north northwest and a very open sky. The eastern horizon is blocked to about 35 degrees up. You have to stay back from the edge of the overlook to avoid being overpowered by the tennis court lights, but the trails themselves are relatively open and completely unlit. Official website
Green Lake Park: North Seattle – 7201 E Green Lake Dr. N: Green Lake has the distinct advantage of being open 24 hours, but there is more lighting on the trails, and it is more centrally located within the city, so cutting off skyglow can be difficult. Official website
4am-11:30pm is one of the standard sets of operating hours for Seattle parks. Here’s the February 2009 Operating Hours proposal, which has some explanations of why.
I’m looking for more 24-hour parks in Seattle, so far I’ve found:
Atlantic City Boat Ramp, 8702 Seward Park Ave. S
Green Lake Park, 7201 E Green Lake Dr. N
Kerry Park (Franklin Place), 211 W Highland Dr.
Myrtle Edwards Park, 3130 Alaskan Way W
Stan Sayres Memorial Park, 3808 Lake Washington Blvd. S
Eddie Vine Boat Ramp, 8001 Seaview Ave. NW
Lake Washington Boulevard, Washington Park to Seward Park
Wallingford Steps, Wallingford Ave. N Street End at N 34th St.
Queen Anne Boulevard, Encircles Queen Anne Hill
Sunnyside Ave N Boat Ramp, 2301 NE Northlake Way
I’m going to spend a little time looking into those, to see if the skies are any good, and if the darkness works out. Let me know what you think of the stargazing at these sites.
Star Parties and Observatories:
The Seattle Astronomical Society hosts stargazing parties in two locations in Seattle. http://www.seattleastro.org
Green Lake Star Party: Green Lake star parties are on the north shore at a grassy area west of the Bathhouse Theater, near the fishing piers on the lake. July 25 and August 29 at 7pm
Paramount Park Star Party: The park address is NE 155th and 8th NE in Shoreline. July 25 and August 29 at 7pm
The University of Washington Observatory has two open houses each month. Look through the UW’s 110-year-old refracting telescope, and listen to a short talk. The observatory is located in the northwest corner of the campus. http://www.astro.washington.edu/groups/outreach/tjo/
Summer 2009 open house nights:
July 1 and 15 from 9pm-11pm
August 5 and 19 from 9pm-11pm
The Battle Point Astronomical Association on Bainbridge Island has a number of star parties and observatory open houses. http://www.bpastro.org
Summer 2009 star parties:
July 18 8:30pm
August 15 8pm
Further Afield
Getting out of the city makes for even better views of the sky. Here are some of my favorite stargazing locations within a few hours of Seattle. Most of these are fee-based public areas.
Campground on Lake Kachess: In the Cascades just off I-90. The boat ramp has a good view towards the Northeast (perfect for Perseid viewing). Be sure to talk to the ranger beforehand though, the boat ramp is in the “Day Use Only” section of the park. Info: www.reserveamerica.com
Lake Ozette in Olympic National Park: Near the tip of the Olympic Peninsula, has a good reputation. Stay near the water (out of the trees) for the best sights. Info: www.nps.gov , Brochure
Bowman Bay Campground: The Boeing Employee’s Astronomical Society recommends Bowman Bay Campground in Deception Pass State Park on Whidbey Island. Info: www.parks.wa.gov
Staircase Campground: My favorite stargazing location, Staircase Campground in Olympic National Park. When you get there, sit on the bridge for the best open-sky views. Info: www.nps.gov , Brochure
View Stargazing in Washington State in a larger map
The Perseid Meteor Shower
If you spend any time stargazing this summer, be sure not to miss the Perseid meteor shower.
Dates 2009: July 23-August 22 after midnight
Peak 2009: August 12, 12am-3am
To see the Perseids, turn to face the constellation Perseus, which will be rising in the Northeast a bit before midnight during the month of August
Pacific Science Center’s Starmap for July and August
*Please use caution walking in the city in the dark. Also, be aware that many of Seattle’s Parks close at sunset.
Katherine just asked about the hours of the parks recommended above.
For the Seattle & Shoreline city parks:
Greenlake is in fact a 24 hour park, so you’re welcome there any time of day or night. Do take any precautions you feel necessary to keep yourself safe at night in a city.
Paramount Park is “generally open from dawn to dusk” according to the Shoreline Parks Department webpage
For the State and National Parks:
The ones I have listed are all campgrounds, so they are “open” 24 hours, but that tends to be only for campers. If you plan to only stay part of the evening, and not camp you may need to be creative and share your stargazing with the rangers. (I have found that people-of-authority are often just as interested in the beauty of the sky as you are, and if you explain what you’re doing and share it with them, they are less likely to suspect nefarious activity and are more likely to let you stay.)
Star Parties:
Although you can enjoy the Seattle parks’ stargazing on any date, the next star parties by the Seattle Astronomical Society are:
June 27th, 2009 at 7pm
July 25th, 2009 at 7pm
and
August 29th, 2009 at 7pm.
Lastly, I plan to update this page again this year, I just haven’t done it yet!
-Alice
May be a bit of a ride for Seattleites, but closer and with better skies is the Battle Point Astronomical Association on Bainbridge Island. We have a fixed building and dome with a 24″ Newtonian, plus grassy areas for member’s and visitor’s scopes. Membership is not required, and BPAA is a 501(C3) with a charter for public education. Star parties monthly plus many other activities.
http://www.bpastro.org
Oh good point Gray!