Harriman State Park is a New York state park consisting of mountaintops and valleys, just 46 miles (74 km) north of New York City. Please note that while there are no designated stargazing areas, the park is accessible by the public year-round and offers secluded hiking trails, lakes, streams, and more, with wide open night skies suited for gazing; one EarthSky reader says “there are several good stargazing places along the Hudson River, well away from city lights and less then an hour from Manhattan.” The park’s Nature Centers offers environmental education programs designed to teach campers about the woods as well. Camping is also available from a selection of campgrounds within the park. For more information, please visit online or call 845-947-2444.
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.