Dark โSkies Beckon: Southwest FloridaS Premier Stargazing spots
OKEECHOBEE, FL – Escape the city โคglow andโ witness the brilliance of the Milky Way. Southwest Florida offers โaccessible โฃdestinations for stargazers, with Kissimmee Prairieโฃ Preserve leading the way as the state’s first designated Dark Sky park. As light pollutionโค increasingly obscures the night โsky, preserving access to these dark havens becomes crucial for astronomical observation, astrophotography, and simply reconnecting with the cosmos.
For residents of Naples and Fort Myers seeking a celestial experience, Kissimmee Prairie Preserve presents โa relatively short drive to unparalleled views. Designated by the International Dark Sky Association in 2016, the preserve actively works to minimize light pollution, offering opportunities for after-hours access to fully appreciate the night sky. This comes at a time when 80% of Americans can no longer see the Milky Way due to artificial light,according to the International Dark-Sky Association.
Located at 33104 N.W. 192ndโค Ave. in โขOkeechobee, the preserve isโข approximately 110 miles and a โ2-hour, 18-minute drive fromโค Fortโ Myers, and 146 miles (a 2-hour, 45-minute drive) from Naples.
Access to Kissimmee Prairie Preserve costs $4 per vehicle. While Florida State Parks generally close at sunset, special arrangements can be made โto gain โคafter-hours access for stargazing.Details on obtaining this access are available on the Florida State Parks website: https://www.floridastateparks.org/learn/dark-sky-designation.
The best time to view the โขMilky Way in Florida is between April and September, and optimal viewingโ conditions require moonless nights away โfrom light pollution. Photographers can achieve stunning results with equipment like a Canon 1DX Mark II camera, a 24-70mm lens set at 24mm, an apertureโค of 2.8,โ and an ISO of 1600,โค using a โฃ30-second exposure.
