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M99 (NGC 4254) Observation Guide — Spiral Galaxy in Coma Berenices
M99 (NGC 4254) Observation Guide — Spiral Galaxy in Coma Berenices
An observing guide for M99 (NGC 4254). Learn how to locate and observe this Magnitude 9.9 spiral galaxy in Coma Berenices.
Achi Village Namisai Park, Japan — The Environment Ministry's Number One Stargazing Location
Achi Village Namisai Park, Japan — The Environment Ministry's Number One Stargazing Location
Achi Village in southern Nagano Prefecture was ranked first in the Environment Ministry's national star observation survey. The Namisai Park stargazing deck delivers a Bortle Class 1 sky that lives up to every superlative.
Akiyoshidai, Japan — A 360-Degree Starry Sky Above Japan's Largest Karst Plateau
Akiyoshidai, Japan — A 360-Degree Starry Sky Above Japan's Largest Karst Plateau
Akiyoshidai in Mine City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, is Japan's largest karst plateau — a National Quasi-Park and Special Natural Monument. Hundreds of limestone outcrops dot the grassland under a wide, open sky that's uniquely suited for stargazing.
Amagi Highland, Japan — Pacific Horizon and Mountain Skies at 1,000 Meters on the Izu Peninsula
Amagi Highland, Japan — Pacific Horizon and Mountain Skies at 1,000 Meters on the Izu Peninsula
Amagi Highland in Izu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, sits at roughly 1,000 m. The open southern sky faces the Pacific Ocean, giving clean dark conditions toward the south that complement the mountain scenery.
Biei Hills, Japan — A 360-Degree Starry Panorama Across Hokkaido's Rolling Fields
Biei Hills, Japan — A 360-Degree Starry Panorama Across Hokkaido's Rolling Fields
Biei's vast patchwork of gentle hills in central Hokkaido becomes a stunning stargazing destination after dark. Seasonal landscapes and wide-open skies combine in one of Japan's most photogenic night-sky settings.
Bisei Observatory, Japan — Protected by Japan's First Light Pollution Prevention Ordinance
Bisei Observatory, Japan — Protected by Japan's First Light Pollution Prevention Ordinance
Bisei-cho in Ibara City, Okayama Prefecture, enacted Japan's first light pollution prevention ordinance in 1989. The Bisei Observatory's 101 cm telescope operates under skies the community has actively protected for over 30 years.
Chokai Highland Hanakake Ranch Park, Japan — Second-Best Starry Sky in Japan, According to the Environment Ministry
Chokai Highland Hanakake Ranch Park, Japan — Second-Best Starry Sky in Japan, According to the Environment Ministry
Chokai Highland Ranch Park in Yurihonjou City, Akita Prefecture, ranked second nationally in the Ministry of Environment's star observation survey. A spectacular view of Mt. Chokai's silhouette under the Milky Way awaits.
Dodaira Observatory, Japan — Overnight Stargazing at a Former National Observatory in Saitama
Dodaira Observatory, Japan — Overnight Stargazing at a Former National Observatory in Saitama
Dodaira Observatory in Tokigawa-cho, Saitama Prefecture, retains its 91 cm reflector from its days as a University of Tokyo facility. Stay overnight and observe through one of the most historically significant telescopes accessible to the public.
Ginga-no-Mori Observatory (Rikubetsu), Japan — One of Japan's Largest Public Telescopes in Hokkaido's Star Town
Ginga-no-Mori Observatory (Rikubetsu), Japan — One of Japan's Largest Public Telescopes in Hokkaido's Star Town
Ginga-no-Mori Observatory in Rikubetsu-cho, Hokkaido, houses a 115 cm reflector — among the largest for public access in Japan. Rikubetsu earned its 'Star-Friendly Town' designation in 1987 and has been protecting its skies ever since.
Mt. Gomadanzan, Japan — A Sea of Stars Above the Kii Peninsula's Sacred Mountains
Mt. Gomadanzan, Japan — A Sea of Stars Above the Kii Peninsula's Sacred Mountains
Mt. Gomadanzan (1,372 m) is the highest peak in Wakayama Prefecture. Accessible via the Koya-Ryujin Skyline, it delivers Bortle Class 1 skies deep in the old-growth forests of the Kii Peninsula.
Gunma Astronomical Observatory, Japan — One of the Largest Public Telescopes in the Country
Gunma Astronomical Observatory, Japan — One of the Largest Public Telescopes in the Country
Gunma Astronomical Observatory in Takayama Village, Gunma Prefecture, operates a 150 cm reflector open to the public — one of the largest in Japan. Among the most well-equipped public observatories in the Kanto region.
Hateruma Island Star Observation Tower, Japan — Japan's Southernmost Inhabited Island and the Ultimate Dark Sky
Hateruma Island Star Observation Tower, Japan — Japan's Southernmost Inhabited Island and the Ultimate Dark Sky
Hateruma Island is Japan's southernmost inhabited island, with one of the darkest skies in the country. The Star Observation Tower gives access to the Southern Cross and 84 constellations from a Bortle Class 1 sky.