Norwood

Norwood is a small high-desert town of around 570 residents at 7,000 feet in Colorado's San Miguel County, designated an International Dark Sky Community in February 2019.

Why Norwood is a top stargazing spot

Norwood was the first Dark Sky Community on Colorado's Western Slope and only the second in the state overall. Sitting on Wright's Mesa, the town rises above much of the region's light pollution, and local group Norwood Dark Sky Advocates has documented just how dark its skies really are: Sky Quality Meter readings average 21.43 magnitudes per square arcsecond, ranging from 20.64 to 21.95, with recent measurements topping 21.50. One astronomer who visited described a sky so dark that clouds appear black against the stars.

What you can see

The Milky Way is easy to see with the naked eye from within Norwood's town limits year round, including its faintest reaches, an unusual claim for any inhabited place; in summer it remains visible even before full twilight has ended. The high desert climate brings many clear nights throughout the year, giving visitors plenty of chances for good viewing.

Visiting Norwood at night

Pinon Wood Ranch, southeast of town, has a dedicated viewing area equipped with solar-powered telescope gear. Beyond town, some of the best stargazing in the area is found at Miramonte Reservoir, rated among Colorado's best, along with Busted Arm Draw and the Thunder Road trail system. The Dark Sky Cafe in town serves food that visitors can take along for a stargazing picnic, and the Lone Cone Library keeps dark-sky information and local maps for anyone planning a night out. As with any dark-sky community, check the town's official pages for current stargazing events before you travel.

Best time to go

Norwood's elevation and high desert climate mean clear skies are common across the seasons, so there is no single best time of year for clear weather, though summer and fall bring the most comfortable temperatures for a night outdoors. The Milky Way's core sits highest from around March through September, and meteor shower watchers should look for the Perseids in August, the Geminids in December and the Quadrantids in January. Whenever you go, aim for a night near the new Moon, give your eyes time to adjust, and use a red light rather than white to protect your night vision.

Getting there

Norwood sits on Wright's Mesa in San Miguel County, in southwestern Colorado, at around 7,000 feet elevation. Mountain roads into the area can be affected by winter weather, so it's worth checking conditions before you travel, especially outside the summer and fall months.

See your named star from here

With skies dark enough to see the Milky Way from town, Norwood is a genuinely good place to track down a star named through star-register.eu. Bring your certificate's coordinates and a stargazing app out after dark, and let Norwood's documented darkness do the rest. Explore our star catalogue or a naming package, and see our observatories directory for other certified dark-sky destinations.