There's No Better Time To Stargaze In Arkansas Than During This Upcoming Black Moon
By Carol Ann Carson|Published July 15, 2019
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Carol Ann Carson
Author
Arkansas native, Carol Ann Carson, has written for OnlyInYourState for three years now. She resides in Western Arkansas' Mountain Frontier but calls NWA home as well. The graduate of University of Arkansas - Fort Smith, Carol Ann earned her B.A. in English and will soon be pursing her M.A. in Library Science. She loves exploring the trails around the Buffalo National River and has yet to find a waterfall that wasn't her favorite.
At the end of July 2019 a unique astronomical event will occur. A black moon will give us the perfect excuse to pitch a tent in Arkansas! Let’s learn more about this ominous sounding moon and find out where we can camp out to see the stars this summer.
No matter what time of the year, Arkansas certainly has some of the best stargazing around.
You don't need much more than a blanket and a decent pair of eyes - no telescopes required! You may catch yourself looking up at the moon and sky even in our bigger cities.
The end of this month will be a particularly perfect time to look up at the night sky.
Arkansas, and everywhere west of the Eastern Time Zone, will be able to see the black moon. This lunar phenomenon is the opposite of a blue moon. Instead of a month having two full moons, a black moon occurs when the month has two new moons. The name sounds rather ominous but this black moon is good news if you're a stargazer!
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Although there isn't any astronomical significance to the black moon, this is the perfect time to get outside.
If you're the superstitious type, a black moon means having a second chance or the opportunity to reset. Superstitious or not, we're definitely using this black moon as an excuse to plan another camping trip this summer.
Take advantage of the many places that don't require camping reservations by checking out this list. Or just take the kids for some backyard camping if you have access to a tree-free space.
This will also be the perfect time to visit a state park or even Arkansas' first dark sky park.
You really can't go wrong with any of Arkansas' state parks for a clear night of camping! Earlier this year, Arkansas' beloved Buffalo National River became the first dark sky park in the south. Dark sky parks are known for their limited light pollution and there's less than 100 in the world. You can read more about the details in this article.
Wherever you decide to spend the night, the end of this month will be a starry show for sure!
The best time to look up in Arkansas will be around 10 pm on July 31st, 2019. Two different meteor showers will be wrapping up on the same night as well so you should be able to catch some shooting stars from the Southern Delta Aquarids and the Alpha Capricornids showers.
Where will you camp out at the end of the month? Share your favorite camping spots with us in the comments below! We would love to see your stellar star photos in our Facebook Group, Arkansas Nature Lovers! You should join for your chance to be featured and to discover why there’s nothing better than Arkansas’ stunning nature.
