Acadia National Park, just 40 miles (64 km) southeast of Bangor, Maine, is one of the best national parks for stargazing in the country. The park has earned the Dark Sky Defender Award and acknowledgement by the International Dark Sky Association, and connects astro-tourism efforts, lighting ordinances in the surrounding townships, and lighting retrofit projects, and hosts the Annual Acadia Night Sky Festival. Please note that while camping is allowed, there are four different campgrounds to choose from, and public access otherwise is only available between 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. For reservations, visit online or call 207-288-3338 between 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday to Friday.
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.