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No need to spend the last days of summer hiding inside from the heat. Instead, we suggest an activity that gets you out after the sun goes down — we’re talking about some summer stargazing.
The Perseid meteor shower peaks in the middle of August + is considered one of the best meteor showers of the year, according to NASA. There’s a chance that it can be viewed anytime until Sept. 1.
In hopes of helping you catch a glimpse, here are some spots to see stars around Indy.
Indianapolis
- Eagle Creek Park, 7840 W. 56th St. | This park, located on the northwestern outskirts of the city, is the largest park in Indianapolis. With ~3,900 acres of land, the park offers lots of green space by day + some protection from light pollution by night. The park is generally open from dawn to dusk, depending on time of year, but occasionally it hosts stargazing events. Check online or its Facebook page.
- Holcomb Observatory and Planetarium, 4600 Sunset Ave. | Holcomb Observatory at Butler University is one of the largest public observatories in the world — housing a 38-inch Cassegrain reflector, in addition to smaller telescopes and a fully immersive digital planetarium. It’s offering limited group tours this week (Aug. 14-18) or you can schedule a private group tour.
Stargazing at McCloud Nature Park in June 2023.
Photo by @yodazeke
Within ~1 hour of Indianapolis
- McCloud Nature Park, 8518 Hughes Rd., North Salem | This nature park offers 232 acres of land, featuring hiking trails, year-round nature center programs, an art gallery, and a historic iron bridge. The park has become a popular spot to escape city light pollution by partnering with the Indiana Astronomical Society to hold sky seminars + viewings on Saturday nights. The next free astronomy program is on Saturday, Aug. 26 at 8:30 p.m.
Worth the drive
- Turkey Run State Park, 8121 Park Rd., Marshall | Turkey Run is Indiana’s second state park, with ~2,382 acres nestled along State Road 47 southwest of Crawfordsville. It offers the chance to explore deep into nature with more than 14 miles of hiking trails. The park is open until 11 p.m. daily and occasionally hosts a Planetarium Program at the Nature Center to explore constellations, and hear stories attached to them.
- Indiana Dunes National Park | Indiana Dunes is the perfect destination for a weekend getaway outdoors. It features a 15,000-acre swath of naturally occurring sand dunes south of Lake Michigan. It’s one of Indiana’s greatest natural treasures + an ideal spot for stargazing.
