Crater Lake National Park is in the Cascade Mountains of southern Oregon, about 180 miles (290 km) away from Portland. It’s known for its namesake Crater Lake, formed by the now-collapsed volcano, Mount Mazama. Crater Lake has been listed by the U.S. National Park Service’s Dark Sky Team as among the top 10 dark-sky locations in the National Park System, and the location was regularly visited by the renowned California telescope maker John Dobson. While there is no designated astronomy area, anyone can set up along the stops in the road. The park is open year-round to visitors and stargazers, 24 hours a day, but some facilities may close seasonally due to snow. “Far away from light pollution, and at a high elevation,” a stargazer told EarthSky.
Deborah Byrd
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About the Author:
Deborah Byrd created the EarthSky radio series in 1991 and founded EarthSky.org in 1994. Prior to that, she had worked for the University of Texas McDonald Observatory since 1976, and created and produced their Star Date radio series. Today, she serves as Editor-in-Chief of this website. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named 3505 Byrd in her honor. In 2020, she won the Education Prize from the American Astronomical Society, the largest organization of professional astronomers in North America. A science communicator and educator since 1976, Byrd believes in science as a force for good in the world and a vital tool for the 21st century. "Being an EarthSky editor is like hosting a big global party for cool nature-lovers," she says.