See Colorado’s Brightest Stars on an Overnight Rafting Trip
Back in time, before electricity, the world turned dark at night and became lit by stars so bright and numerous that the sky became its own form of entertainment. Billions of stars shone, along with the Milky Way, and it was natural to see so many that they littered the sky with light.
However, due to modern light pollution, 80 percent of Americans can no longer see the Milky Way. This means that most Americans no longer benefit from the health and mental benefits of living under a truly dark sky.
If you’ve ever been with someone who sees real stars in a truly dark sky for the first time—or remember that experience for yourself—you know the power of those dark skies and the stars that accompany them. It is always a jaw-dropping moment of amazement as the scope of the universe comes into view.
To see the stars like this, it’s imperative to get far away from a city or even a town. This is especially true if you want to be able to see the Milky Way. The reason for this is light pollution—stray light from urban areas scattered into the night sky. Light pollution is stray light from parking lots, sport complexes, street lights, and other human activity. It’s a combined effect of scattered light from these things that manifests as a glow in the night sky. The larger and more developed a city is, the more light pollution it tends to produce.
Colorado, with its swath of National Forests and rural mountain towns, is an ideal location for stargazing because of its lack of light pollution. In addition to this, many of Colorado’s prime stargazing locations are at higher altitudes, and this is key to an even better stargazing experience. At high altitudes, the air is thinner and drier, creating less air between you and the stars, which means better seeing conditions, or rather, less atmospheric distortion.
So, here’s what you need for optimal stargazing—zero light pollution and high altitude. And, what better place than alongside a remote river in the Colorado mountains!
Book an overnight rafting trip with Wilderness Aware and get a light show like never before. The stars visible from our rivers shine as though electricity has never been invented. On a crisp, cloudless night, you’ll ooh and aww over the stars and make memories to last a lifetime.
Give you and your loved ones the gift of a truly amazing stargazing experience on a Wilderness Aware overnight rafting trip. Book your trip today!
