Stargazing in Atlanta 2023-2024
Observatories and stargazing spots in northern Georgia
Best time: all year round (best September–February)
Planning to go stargazing in northern Georgia? Try to get as far as possible from Atlanta. Big city lights cause considerable light pollution. However, in less than a two-hour drive, you can find plenty of wide-open spaces with dark skies, which are perfect for stargazing.
Spring and summer seasons promise good weather and decent conditions for stargazing, however, the best time to look at the stars in Georgia is usually fall and winter. During the colder season—skies are clearer, nights are darker and longer.
A.H. Stephens Historic Park and Deerlick Astronomy Village
Located west of Augusta, A. H. Stephens State Park can be reached in about a 1.5-hour drive from Atlanta. The park has plenty of spots for stargazing. It also offers camping, boating on the lake, and other outdoor activities.
If you drive a bit further east from the park, you'll get to Deerlick Astronomy Village, known as the darkest spot closest to Atlanta. The gated community with strict laws on light pollution allows only red lights and headlamps. Visitors can camp on Grier's Field and enjoy the endless skies. To get into the village you have to be invited by one of the members. However, Deerlick Astronomy Village also hosts a public viewing night on the first Saturday of each month.
Fort Mountain State Park
Fort Mountain State Park is located near Ellijay, less than a two-hour drive from Atlanta. Boasting 3,000 ac (1,214 ha), the park is known for its fire tower and serves as an excellent viewpoint in the park. With over 70 campsites and cottages, plenty of accommodation is available for adventurers who are usually attracted by the remains of the mysterious fort built atop the mountain.
Hogpen Gap
Located next to the Appalachian Trail, Hogpen Gap serves as a scenic lookout of the North Georgia mountains. It can be reached from Atlanta in about 1.5 hours. Hogpen Gap has a campsite and several excellent spots for nighttime photography.
Charlie Elliot Wildlife Center
Charlie Elliot Wildlife Center is about an hour's drive southeast of Atlanta, near Mansfield, Georgia. The huge park spans 6,400 ac (2,589 ha) of forests, lakes, and open spaces. The preserve features Jon Wood Astronomy Field, which attracts many astronomy enthusiasts from Atlanta. It also hosts occasional star parties and other stargazing events. In addition to stargazing, Charlie Elliot Wildlife Center offers fishing, boating, and biking. Campsites and lodging are available on the property.
Atlanta also has many educational resources and observatories to explore. Fernbank Science Center, just northeast of downtown Atlanta, has a 36-inch Cassegrain telescope, which is available to the public on Thursday and Friday nights. The Georgia Tech Observatory also features public events dedicated to the moon and other space objects. The Bradley Observatory in Decatur has a 30-inch telescope, which is available to the general public on some Fridays each month.
Practical info
When is the ideal time to observe the stars in northern Georgia?
The best time to stargaze in northern Georgia is from September to February when the skies are clearer, nights are longer, and the weather is colder. During spring and summer, stargazing conditions are still good, with promising weather and decent visibility. Explorers who love to gaze at the beautiful skies can enjoy day trips outside the city and create an unforgettable stargazing experience in northern Georgia.
Which location is the nearest perfect place for stargazing in the darkest spot close to Atlanta?
Deerlick Astronomy Village, situated east of A.H Stephens Historic State Park, is the darkest spot closest to Atlanta in northern Georgia. Only red lights and headlamps are permitted in the gated community. Visitors can camp at Grier's Field and enjoy the beautiful skies of Deerlick. Permission is required from a member to enter the village. The public viewing night is conducted on the first Saturday of every month and is free of charge for all visitors.
What is the unusual camping experience that Deerlick Astronomy Village offers visitors?
Deerlick Astronomy Village provides a unique camping experience for visitors to enjoy. The community's collective campsite, Grier's Field, is available to the public and can house astronomers and stargazers in a suitable environment for observing the skies. The campsite has strict lighting regulations allowing only red lights and headlamps. Stargazers can enjoy calm surroundings and an unobstructed view of the stars. There is no need to book a reservation, and camping is on a first-come, first-served basis.
When does Deerlick Astronomy Village hold a public viewing night?
Deerlick Astronomy Village, located in northern Georgia, hosts a public viewing night on the first Saturday of every month. Along with enjoying the beautiful starry skies, visitors can engage in astronomy talks, discussions with experts, and telescope observing. This event is open to all visitors who want to enjoy a memorable stargazing experience free of cost. Stargazers can bring their cameras and telescopes to make unforgettable memories.
What educational resources and observatories are available for explorers to visit in Atlanta?
Atlanta offers many observatories and educational resources for stargazers to visit. The Fernbank Science Center has a magnificent 36-inch telescope which visitors can use on Thursday and Friday nights. The Georgia Tech Observatory has various public events focused on different space objects, while the Bradley Observatory in Decatur has a 30-inch telescope open to the public on certain Fridays each month. A trip outside the Atlanta city to explore other stargazing spots can make a memorable stargazing experience in northern Georgia.
