Milky Way above Mount Rainier in Mount Rainier National Park, Washington

© Brad Goldpaint/Aurora Photos

Milky Way above Mount Rainier in Mount Rainier National Park, Washington

Happy Astronomy Day! There are many places to go stargazing tonight, as long as you can get away from city lights and cloud cover. When the notoriously gray skies of the Pacific Northwest part during warmer months, visitors to Mount Rainier National Park might catch a glimpse of the Milky Way, as our galaxy spirals in a light show that’s hard to beat. Look closely at the snow-covered ridges of Mount Rainier on the right: Those glowing spots are headlamps and campsites from climbers hoping to summit the peak before sunrise. Let’s hope that they braved the cold night air to look up at the sky.