Clifton
Stargazing Guide.
Uncover the hidden celestial treasures of Clifton, CO. From the verified horizons at verified local spots to the scientific Bortle Class 5 reports at Hilltop above maintenance, your journey to the stars starts here.
Stargazing Logistics for Clifton
- STEP 1. Primary Staging Area: verified local spots. This is your most reliable community-vetted hub within a ~0.0 mile radius.
- STEP 2. Sky Quality Baseline: Classified as Class C (Suburban). Use the instrumented 5 rating from Hilltop above maintenance as your technical benchmark for the region.
- STEP 3. Local Support: Contact Western Colorado Astronomy Club for updated site access and group observation schedules.
- STEP 4. Observation Density: There are 0 recognized sites near Clifton offering varied horizons and atmospheric stability levels.
Clifton acts as a primary gateway to the verified local spots zone. This proximity allows for scientific-grade viewing (Class 5) at Hilltop above maintenance just a short 15-minute drive from the city center, making it a rare 'Hub' for serious observers.
The Best Times for Stargazing in Clifton
In CO, the transitional periods of early Autumn often provide a stable atmosphere between weather fronts. For Clifton residents, this means less 'star twinkling' (scintillation) and a significantly steadier view for high-magnification planetary observation.
Expert Tips for Clifton Observers
If you're visiting verified local spots, bring a pack of chemical hand-warmers and rubber-band them to your eyepiece or camera lens. This acts as a 'budget' dew heater, which is essential for the humid nights often found in CO during the peak viewing seasons. Scientific Context: While local conditions vary, the instrumented reading of Bortle 5 at Hilltop above maintenance (14.9 miles away) remains the benchmark for regional sky quality.
Best Spots for Stargazing in Clifton
The most accessible and reliable viewing locations in the region, ranked by local observer feedback. Max out your local session by using the essential observer gear staged for the Clifton environment.
2026 Celestial Roadmap for Clifton
Urban viewing is best for high-contrast targets. Head to a dark site to escape local glare.
Sky Quality Reports for Clifton
Access high-precision SQM readings from the National Park Service, providing the definitive baseline for regional darkness quality. Seeing the faint magnitude targets listed in these NPS readings often requires the specific gear we've staged for Clifton nights in our observer field kit.
Hilltop above maintenance
Colorado NM
Local Relevance
The scientific findings at Hilltop above maintenance provide Clifton residents with the most reliable data on regional atmospheric stability.
"Almost completely clear night with only a few residual clouds off in the distant east that are slowly dissappearing after sunset. Good view of Fruita and Grand Junction from this site. A few distinct areas of very bright lights visible in Grand Junction (southwest part of town). The Grand Junction airport is also prominent on the north end of the city. The truck stop/gas station in Fruita (Loco) has an extremely bright light tower that shines straight onto the landscape of the park. Even with the bright city lights below, the Milky Way is easily visible to the horizon in the SSW and visible to 20 degrees above horizon in NNE. M31 visible, as is the Cygnus star cloud."
Hilltop above maintenance
Colorado NM
Local Relevance
The scientific findings at Hilltop above maintenance provide Clifton residents with the most reliable data on regional atmospheric stability.
"Sky quality measurements were recorded at Hilltop above maintenance in Colorado NM on 4/25/2004. The site demonstrated a scientific darkness reading of 21.04 SQM."
Dark Sky Oasis near Clifton
Elite viewing locations officially recognized by DarkSky International for their pristine celestial environments. Experience the full, pristine depth of these IDA certified skies with the precision stargazing gear we recommend for Clifton residents.
Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area
Clifton stargazers often look to Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area as the gold standard for regional darkness and pristine celestial horizons.
2505 South Townsend Ave, Montrose, CO 81401 USA
Town of Paonia, Colorado
As one of the closest certified environments to Clifton, Town of Paonia, Colorado offers a rare window into the true depth of the Milky Way.
Paonia Town Hall 700 4th St Paonia, CO 81428
Astronomy Clubs for Clifton
Join the local community of observers for group viewing events, equipment swaps, and technical workshops. Planning to join a local session? Make sure you have the essentials ready by checking our starter kit recommendations.
Gearing Up for Clifton Nights
"Since deep darkness at sites like the local staging areas is less than a 15-minute dash from Clifton, you can justify using heavier, high-aperture telescopes that would be a hassle to transport long distances."
The Clifton Field Kit
Designing a field kit for Clifton requires understanding the specific transition from urban skyglow to the regional suburban benchmarks. With verified local spots sitting at a ~0-mile benchmark, your gear selection should mirror your willingness to travel. The following levels represent a logical path for growing your observatory without over-complicating your local field sessions.