Happy Star Wars day! Did you know that parts of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope and Episode VI: Return of the Jedi were filmed at Death Valley National Park in California? Used as a stand in for the planet Tatooine, Death Valley is the largest U.S. national park outside of Alaska. It’s also the hottest, driest and lowest (282 feet below sea level). A land of contrasts, the park boasts huge, barren salt flats and rugged, wrinkled mountains rising as high as 11,000 feet. From elevated views, visitors can see colorful mineral deposits, deep and winding canyons, rolling sand dunes and spring-fed oases – but not the droids you’re looking for. Photo of a meteor above the park by P. Taylor, National Park Service.

A stunning shot of the Perseid meteor shower from the summit of Haleakala National Park in Hawaii. Already impressive in the light of day, the summit takes on a new dimension at night when the darkness reveals the brilliant night sky and spectacular views of the Milky Way. Photo courtesy of Chris Archer.

On a clear, moonless night, visitors to Great Basin National Park in Nevada can see thousands of stars, five of our solar system’s eight planets, star clusters, meteors, man-made satellites, the Andromeda Galaxy, and the Milky Way – all with the naked eye. The area boasts some of the darkest night skies left in the United States. National Park Service photo.

Amazing shot of the northern lights dancing over Denali National Park in Alaska. In this pic, the aurora borealis shares the night sky with a meteor, the constellation Orion and Jupiter. Photo courtesy of Dan Leifheit.

One of the many things that make Grand Canyon National Park so amazing, is the night sky. The dark, dark, dark night sky. If you haven’t experienced it, then you are truly missing out. 

Due to very little light pollution, Grand Canyon has one of the darkest night skies around. Tonight is the peak of the Geminids meteor shower. Last night, the Geminids put on quite the show. Streaks of light were shooting across the sky above the canyon. It was a breathtaking sight. 

Photo provided by Erin Whittaker, Grand Canyon National Park

Looking for a place to view the Perseid meteor shower? There is no better place than America’s public lands. Here’s one great example from Arches National Park in Utah.

Photo: Jacob W. Frank

Pan-STARRS comet photographed at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon on March 12th. It still may be possible to view this comet over the next several days in the northern hemisphere. Use binoculars if you have them. Start looking 30 minutes after sunset in the direction of sunset. Look low about 10 degrees above the horizon near the top edge of twilight. With your binoculars, you should be able to see the comet head with the tail pointed upward. To find out more, visit: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2013/15mar_sunsetcomet

Photo: Rick Jurgen