Located in north-central Pennsylvania at an elevation of about 2,300 ft (701 m),
Cherry Springs State Park is one of the darkest places on the entire U.S. East Coast.
The park is an officially recognized International Dark Sky Park and is famous
among astronomers and astrophotographers for its pristine, high-altitude skies and excellent
360-degree horizon views.
The Milky Way Over the Observatory Domes
In the foreground you can see two astronomical domes, the distant forest line,
and a fun set of signs reading “Galaxy” – “Slow Down” – “No Dust”.
Above the scene, the Milky Way rises brightly across the sky.
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| Cherry Springs State Park Pennsylvania Astrophotography - Galaxy - Slow down - No dust |
Camera & Lens
- Canon EOS 60Da (modified for astrophotography)
- Canon EF 16–35mm f/2.8L II USM
Exposure Details
- ISO 20,000
- 15 sec exposure
- f/2.8
Processing
Processed using Adobe Camera Raw, Photoshop, Topaz Denoise AI and
Topaz Sharpen AI to reduce noise, enhance star clarity, and balance the
color of the Milky Way.
About Cherry Springs: Why It’s Special
Cherry Springs State Park is considered one of the top stargazing sites in the eastern United States.
Its remote location and high elevation mean exceptionally dark skies, often reaching
Bortle Class 2. On moonless nights, the Milky Way is easily visible to the naked eye
from horizon to horizon.
- Very low light pollution
- Dedicated astronomer field
- Restricted vehicle movement after dark
- No white lights allowed
- Excellent southern horizon for Milky Way imaging
From NYC, the drive takes approximately five hours, leading deep into
Pennsylvania forest land. When you arrive at night, the darkness feels almost unreal —
perfect for astrophotography.
Daytime Photos from the Park
The following images were taken during the day to show how the park looks in normal light.
This area includes the observatory domes, astronomer pads, fields, and surrounding forests.
Cherry Springs has many fun details visible only in daylight — including the
“Highway to the Stars” road sign near South 44, reminding visitors that they are entering
one of the darkest and most famous stargazing locations in the eastern United States.
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| Domes - Cherry Springs State Park, Pennsylvania |
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| Sign - Cherry Springs State Park |
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Dark Sky Fund
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| Stargazer's Delight |
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| Through an Astronomer's Eyes |
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| Highway to the Stars |
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| Astro Haven Dome |
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| Astronomers overnight area |
Cherry Springs remains one of my favorite dark-sky locations in the eastern United States.
The combination of quiet forest surroundings, dedicated observatory domes, and extremely dark skies
makes it a dream destination for night-sky photographers.
Visiting Tips
- Best time for Milky Way: April–September (new moon weekends are best).
- Bring red lights only: white light is prohibited.
- Warm clothing: nights get cold even in summer.
- Arrive before sunset: headlights are not allowed to enter the astronomy field after dark.
- Reserve ahead: astronomer field can fill up on holidays or special events.
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