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