[ Learn more about the Upper Peninsula Dark Sky Festival ]
Keweenaw Dark Sky Park
[ An International Dark Sky Park, read the application ]
Property is accessible 7pm – 7am to the general public for stargazing.
For best viewing locations see the map below.
The Keweenaw is fortunate to have dark skies, where one can look up and easily see a multitude of bright stars in the sky. There is very little artificial light around the Keweenaw. This is especially the case at the tip of the Keweenaw, where the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge is located.
There are many nights which provide prime opportunities for stargazing, where you can look see the following at or around the resort:
- Constellations [ download the current month’s evening sky map from skymaps.com ]
- Meteor Showers
- Northern Lights
- Moonlit Snowshoe Hikes
The Lodge’s Stargazing Event Calendar
Upcoming Stargazing Events
Stargazing: Night Sky Photography Workshop
December 28 @ 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm ESTMoonlit Snowshoe Hike
January 13, 2025 @ 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm ESTStargazing: Night Sky Photography Workshop
January 29, 2025 @ 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm ESTMoonlit Snowshoe Hike
February 12, 2025 @ 8:00 pm - 10:30 pm ESTStargazing: Night Sky Photography Workshop
February 28, 2025 @ 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm EST
Past Stargazing Events
Moonlit Snowshoe Hike
December 15 @ 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm ESTLights Out!
November 28 - December 4Stargazing: Northern Lights Photography Workshop
November 1 @ 7:00 pm - 9:30 pm EDTLights Out!
October 28 - November 3Stargazing: Northern Lights Photography Workshop
October 2 @ 7:30 pm - 10:00 pm EDT
Telescope Lending Program
KML lodging guests are welcome to borrow a telescope from the Outdoors Activity Center (OAC). Using a telescope to view stars enhances the experience of, as one can get closer to what you are seeing above you at night. [ Learn more about the Telescope Lending Program ]
Night Sky Viewing Locations and Map
Below are maps of desired areas where you can venture around the property and at the top of the Keweenaw — with the Lodge complex (main building and Outdoor Activity Center) being the stargazing headquarters.
[ Click on the above image to download PDF version of the map ]
[ Click on the above image to download a PDF version of the map ]
You can walk around the golf course at night (as long as you stay off the greens and tees) and look up at the stars.
Flashlights: It is useful to take a flashlight with you when you are walking around the property so you watch where you are stepping. To be considerate of others, a red flashlight is preferred. If you do not have one, inquire at the OAC about borrowing one. If using a flashlight that uses standard colored bulb, be respective of others while viewing the night sky by making sure to shine it downwards and turn it off when not needed.
Northern Lights at the Lodge
The top of the Keweenaw is well known for being able to see the aurora borealis, also called Northern Lights. Looking from the shores of Lake Superior and from atop Brockway Mountain, you have a good opportunity to look north and see “the result of disturbances in the magnetosphere caused by solar wind”.
The best times to view the Northern Lights is between October and April, but do remember, there isn’t a light switch which turns on the lights. One is at the whim of nature on when they are viewable.
[ Learn more about viewing the Northern Lights at the Lodge ]
[ We are also working on a “Northern Lights” camera setup that will allow you to view the stars and the Northern Lights from our web site, like our webcams for the Lodge and Hole 1 / Brockway Mountain. Learn More ]
Surrounding Areas
At the top of the Keweenaw, there are not very many areas that are developed. This offers stargazers multiple locations to look up and see the stars. This includes places along the Lake Superior lake front (on M-26 and US Hwy 41), in multiple county and state parks, and up Brockway Mountain; all of which are just a short jaunt away from the Lodge. Below is a map of several vantage points in surrounding areas.
Clear Sky Chart for Copper Harbor, Michigan
This chart shows how clear the skies are predicted to be over the next several days.
To see what the constellations look like currently over Copper Harbor, via the Heaven’s Above site:
Aurora Forecast, from NOAA
The image above is from NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center, and is updated automatically from NOAA’s web site.
New Moon
The stages of the moon offers different viewing experiences of the stars. A new moon is when the sun and the moon are aligned, and the moon is invisible from earth. Thus, the sky is darker during a new moon, and the stars are brighter.
Below is the current year (2024) New Moon Calendar.
January 11 | July 5 |
February 9 | August 4 |
March 8 | September 2 |
April 10 | October 2 |
May 7 | November 1 |
June 6 | December 1 |
2024 Full and New Moon Calendar
Moon Calendar for December 2024
Night Sky Photography
Photo shooting the night sky and the northern lights can be a technically difficult shot to take. So when you are able to capture the beauty of the dark sky, it becomes an accomplishment. We have several team members on staff that have this skill, which lead several night-sky photo workshops throughout the year. View our calendar of events to find an upcoming workshop.
Stargazing Apps
Night Sky App [ iPhone ]
Skyview Lite App [ Android | iPhone ]
Stellarium [ Android | iPhone ]
Stargazing in Michigan
Here are articles about locations in the state of Michigan which offer vantage points to see the stars, along with various tips to see the dark skies:
- 10 Tips For Enjoying Michigan’s Dark Skies (Pure Michigan)
- The Most Stellar Places for Stargazing in Michigan (Pure Michigan)
- Magical Destinations to Chase the Northern Lights in Pure Michigan (Pure Michigan)
- Inside Secrets for Viewing the Northern Lights in Michigan (Pure Michigan)
- 5 Best Places to See the Northern Lights in Michigan (MTNScoop)
- Stargazing in the Midwest doesn’t get any better than in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (Chicago Tribune)
- 5 Expert Tips for the Most Spectacular Summer Stargazing (Thrillist)
Supporting the Dark Skies
Stargazing is made possible in the Keweenaw by having dark skies, and we continue to foster dark skies with our activities (e.g. educational workshops, lighting management) and being a part of the International Dark-Sky Association.
Each year, the world celebrates International Dark Sky Week in April. This year, it was April 2-8, 2024. The State of Michigan also issued a proclamation this year stating it was International Dark Sky Week in the state. [ Read the State of Michigan Proclamations: 2024 | 2023 | 2022 ]
The benefits of dark skies are:
- Improve one’s circadian clock (or rhythm) — sleep patterns, hormone release, eating habits and digestion, and body temperature; for good health, we need sunshine as well as darkness [ i.e. better circadian clock means a better sleep, which contributes to better overall health ]
- Improving ecological integrity — many plants, wildlife, and insects rely on darkness to forage, breed and navigate, thus dark skies help them survive. [ e.g. many birds migrate at night, and the top of the Keweenaw is one of their byways ]
- Ensuring the full enjoyment of a wilderness experience
To learn more about our Lighting Management Plan, see: