Stargazing around Gainesville, FL
My favorite pastime during my stay in Gainesville, Florida for my graduate studies was to rent a car to go stargazing and do some astrophotography while I can. Although Gainesville is notorious for its inclement weather, sometimes, mainly during winter, you get clear skies allowing some serious stargazing.
There are a handful of spots around Gainesville to stargaze, but here is my list of favorites. For the best views, you should visit these places on a new moon night — moonlight blocks about 60% of the visible stars, and you wouldn’t want your effort to go in vain. Most of these places are secluded and can be a bit intimidating, and hence for your safety you should travel in a group and carry a pepper spray for your safety.
The city limits
While downtown and most of central Gainesville is plagued by light pollution, it quickly dissipates as you reach the city limits. Places like the Gainesville Regional Airport, Butler Plaza and Williston Road all have skies dark enough for some casual stargazing.
Paynes Prairie Ecopassage Boardwalk
Paynes Prairie is a 21,000 acre savanna just south of Gainesville. One can access the Paynes Prairie Ecopassage Boardwalk, located off US Hwy 441, after dusk to have some great stargazing time. As a bonus, one can see rocket launches too on a clear night! Just beware of snakes and alligators which like to lurk around near the shores. Applying a bug spray is advised, and keeping a pepper spray for your safety is a good idea. For better safety, always go in a group.
Newberry Star Park
About 20 miles east of Gainesville lies the city of Newberry, with its modest population of about 8,000 people. The city boasts a few locations for stargazing, including the Newberry Star Park, a stargazing location managed by the Alachua Astronomy Club. The park is located within the Easton-Newberry Sports Complex, just north of the city on FL-45 highway. Once there, follow the signs for “Star Park” leading to a dirt road with considerable bumps. The location is generally safe, but gets really dark on moonless nights, which can be intimidating for a few. A good way to enjoy the view would be to peep out of your car through the sunroof, if you have one.
Longleaf Flatwoods Reserve
The darkest dark sky place you can find around Gainesville, Longleaf Flatwoods Reserve is a nature reserve about 20 miles east of Gainesville on the way to Hawthorne. While the reserve may be closed to public often times, the parking space is open to park your car and set your equipment.
The reason why Longleaf Flatwoods Reserve offers a really dark sky is because it lies in the middle of nowhere. This is also why you should avoid visiting this place alone, and should carry a pepper spray for your safety every time. You should also be careful during the drive to this location — expect wildlife from armadillos to deer on the roads.
That is all, happy stargazing!
