Dark skies
Colorado’s high elevation and dry climate make for good stargazing unless you’re near a city that glows with light pollution, making it hard to see any but the brightest stars and planets. To view the Milky Way and other celestial bodies, head to Florissant Fossil Beds or Dinosaur National Monument. These are among Colorado’s International Dark Sky Parks, joining designated International Dark Sky communities like Silver Cliff, Ridgway, Westcliffe – all distinguished by the deepness of their starry nights. And a dark night benefits more than astronomers. Most living things depend on the daily cycle of light and dark to govern periods of activity and rest. And in humans, darkness triggers the release of the hormone melatonin, which encourages bodily rest and recuperation. And, as David Whyte says in his poem “Sweet Darkness,” gives “you a horizon further than you can see.”
About Colorado Postcards
Colorado Postcards are snapshots of our colorful state in sound. They give brief insights into our people and places, our flora and fauna, and our past and present, from every corner of Colorado. See more postcards.
