Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
Sky Score 67/100≈ Bortle 2
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is a protected area in Arizona with a measured darkness of 85/100 (≈ Bortle 2) — a genuinely dark sky where the Milky Way is a bright, structured band. The best month to come is typically May, when about 87% of the night sky is clear.
Tonight's outlook: 62/100. The moon is 7% lit and above the horizon 13% of the night; typical August clear-sky odds here are 66%. Updated daily.
Best time to stargaze at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
| Month | Clear night skies | Sky Score (new moon) |
|---|---|---|
| January | 66% | 62/100 |
| February | 69% | 64/100 |
| March | 70% | 64/100 |
| April | 82% | 72/100 |
| May ★ | 87% | 76/100 |
| June | 84% | 74/100 |
| July | 55% | 54/100 |
| August | 66% | 62/100 |
| September | 80% | 71/100 |
| October | 84% | 74/100 |
| November | 72% | 66/100 |
| December | 67% | 63/100 |
Scores assume a moonless night — check the moon before you drive (methodology).
Where to stay near Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
No lodging within 80 km — this is true wilderness. Plan to camp, or base yourself in the nearest gateway town and drive out for the night.
Nearby spots in Arizona
- Cabeza Prieta Wilderness — 63.2 km · Sky Score 75/100
- Sonoran Desert National Monument — 113.3 km · Sky Score 62/100
- Baboquivari Peak Wilderness — 121.8 km · Sky Score 68/100
- Ironwood Forest National Monument — 133.5 km · Sky Score 56/100
- Hohokam Pima National Monument — 157.5 km · Sky Score 37/100