Ohio is world-renowned for its contributions to aviation and aerospace — not only did the Wright Brothers call Dayton home, but Neil Armstrong was born and raised in the Buckeye State, too. But in terms of stargazing in Ohio, that’s a different story, as the Buckeye State is a densely populated place where dark skies are a bit harder to come by than, say, Texas or Arizona. But that doesn’t mean we don’t have stellar stargazing in Ohio; quite the contrary, in fact. Ohio is home to a Silver Tier Dark Sky Park, and stargazing at Observatory Park is definitely an experience for your Buckeye State bucket list.

Observatory Park is one of the most beautiful parks in Ohio. This 1,100-acre park is part of the Geauga Park District in Northwest Ohio, and it's a beautiful place to visit all year round...
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...day or night!
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Ohio's one and only International Dark Sky Park (IDSP), Observatory Park has permanent distinction from the International Dark Sky Association as a Silver Tier Dark Sky Park, a title bestowed upon the park in 2011.
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This elite status makes Observatory Park in Ohio one of fewer than 100 in the country; and, as of January 2022, there were just 195 certified IDSPs in the entire world. This is an honor that is celebrated at Observatory Park, which hosts regular stargazing events, presentations, and public "viewing parties."
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At Observatory Park, visitors not only enjoy amazing stargazing conditions, but also an immersive lesson in the cosmos. The mile-long Planetary Trail, for example, has displays representing the planets in our solar system distanced from one another to scale, offering guests an idea of how very far away planets such as Neptune and Uranus are from Earth.
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The quarter-mile Weather Trail, meanwhile, offers exhibits on weather systems and is surrounded by an outline of the Great Pyramid of Giza along with earthen mounds and stones that educate viewers on how humans have studied astronomy throughout history. Talk about a grounding *and* uplifting experience!
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There's nothing that reminds us of how wide and wonderful our world is quite like stargazing. And when you visit Observatory Park, you'll undoubtedly be reminded of how wide and wonderful Ohio is, too.
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Have you visited this Dark Sky Park in Ohio? Did you know the Buckeye State was home to one of the best places for stargazing in the world? What an amazing claim to fame. For more information about upcoming stargazing events, visit the Observatory Park website.

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Observatory Park, 10610 Clay St, Montville, OH 44064, USA