Sonoran Desert National Monument
Sky Score 62/100≈ Bortle 3
Sonoran Desert National Monument is a protected area in Arizona with a measured darkness of 80/100 (≈ Bortle 3) — a genuinely dark sky where the Milky Way is a bright, structured band. The best month to come is typically May, when about 85% of the night sky is clear.
Tonight's outlook: 55/100. The moon is 7% lit and above the horizon 13% of the night; typical August clear-sky odds here are 61%. Updated daily.
Best time to stargaze at Sonoran Desert National Monument
| Month | Clear night skies | Sky Score (new moon) |
|---|---|---|
| January | 62% | 56/100 |
| February | 69% | 60/100 |
| March | 67% | 59/100 |
| April | 79% | 66/100 |
| May ★ | 85% | 70/100 |
| June | 81% | 68/100 |
| July | 51% | 49/100 |
| August | 61% | 55/100 |
| September | 77% | 65/100 |
| October | 84% | 70/100 |
| November | 73% | 63/100 |
| December | 64% | 57/100 |
Scores assume a moonless night — check the moon before you drive (methodology).
Where to stay near Sonoran Desert 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
- Hohokam Pima National Monument — 47.8 km · Sky Score 37/100
- Casa Grande Ruins National Monument — 74.1 km · Sky Score 41/100
- Ironwood Forest National Monument — 91.9 km · Sky Score 56/100
- Eagletail Mountains Wilderness — 111.1 km · Sky Score 70/100
- Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument — 113.1 km · Sky Score 67/100