| Maine has some of the most beautiful, dark, clear skies in its rural areas. The UMaine campus is well lit at night, as you can see, so observing is limited to the brightest stars and planets.
Located very close to 45 degrees latitude, the observatory view finds Polaris almost 45 degrees above the North horizon. That produces a circumpolar sky that includes stars from the North horizon to the zenith (the point directly overhead).
In Winter, low temperatures produce dry, clear air, and turbulence in the upper atmosphere causes the stars to twinkle. Some of the best viewing comes in the Spring and Fall, when the air is still. The two best months for non-cloudy skies, historically, are February and October.
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Outdoor lighting is important for the safety of pedestrians.
Unfortunately, poor outdoor lighting has been accepted for so
long that even institutions of higher learning continue to install
glare-producing fixtures. For information about the proper
types of lighting that maximize safety and preserve the
heritage of the beautiful dark sky, see the International
Dark Sky Association's web site and become a member!
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