Where to Gaze

Start your journey in the breathtaking Flint Hills prairie, where wildlife and rustling tallgrass add magic to pollution-free skies at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve.

Birds and waterfowl create the soundtrack for pre-sunrise star watches at Quivira National Wildlife Refuge near Stafford, while utter silence accompanies the pastoral scene at western Kansas’ Mount Sunflower, the state’s highest point.

Join the Kansas Astronomical Observers at Fall River State Park near Toronto, KS, for their annual star party, held each year in late August. Note: For everyone to catch a glimpse of constellations, planets and nebulae, limit or avoid use of white light from phones, flashlights, and car headlights.

Photo Ops that Rock

The state’s rock formations provide dramatic silhouettes for night sky shots. The Flint Hills’ Teter Rock in eastern Kansas juts out as a lone tower, while Mushroom Rock State Park in the Smoky Hills southwest of Brookville lends a Martian-like vibe. The Arikaree Breaks in the northwest corner of the state span miles for a cool, craggy panorama.

Give it Your Best Shot

Want to shoot the night sky? A tripod and long shutter speed are musts, says pro Kansas photographer Mickey Shannon. “Setting your ISO higher will help, too,” he says. “Depending on moonlight, anywhere from 1600 to 6400 or even higher.” He always shoots with a wide lens to capture a big swath of night sky, but getting closer with a 50 mm lens works too.

Awesome Observatories

Be sure to put these observatories on your Kansas Bucket List!

Powell Observatory, Louisburg
See moons and planets in stunning detail through one of the largest public telescopes in a five-state area.

Lake Afton Public Observatory, Wichita
No astronaut training is required to journey through space here, thanks to virtual reality experiences.

Farpoint Observatory, Eskridge
More than 600 asteroids have been discovered from this unassuming site next to Mission Valley High School.