Wrap yourself in a heavenly blanket of Oregon stars. Indulge in the spectacular majesty of a night sky aglow with the cosmic amazement of constellations and the silhouettes of dark pines and mountain peaks in the distance. Leave the white noise of the city behind to bask in the firmament wonders of Central Oregon.

Why is stargazing around Bend so stellar? Central Oregon is home to vast pitch-dark celestial skies that make it easy to gaze upon constellations, twinkling stars, and the periodic meteor shower. Plus, we have a couple of state-of-the-art observatories where you can peer through a telescope for a glimpse of globular clusters, galaxies, and our neighboring planets.

Pine Mountain Observatory, located 35 miles east of Bend, sits at 6,300 feet atop Pine Mountain. The high elevation and zero light pollution provide the perfect spot for the University of Oregon Department of Physics to house a few massive telescopes. The Observatory is open to the public on Friday and Saturday nights (weather dependent) from Memorial day through the end of September.

Or how about peering up at our heavenly skies with local beer nearby? Worthy Brewing has a Hopservatory located at their brewery. Open Wednesday through Saturdays starting at 9 pm; you can gaze upon galaxies, planets, and nebulas.

For those who prefer to plot their own astral adventures, there are several pull-outs along the Cascade Lakes Highway with magnificent views. Venture out east in the high desert for endless night skies.

Or how about a guided stargazing tour with Wanderlust Tours, a nationally renowned ecotourism company? They offer starlit adventures in both the winter and summer months. And if the moon calls you, they give full moon canoe tours. Glide through the luminous mirror of an alpine lake with the silhouette of Mount Bachelor in the distance.