Many visitors come to Laurel Fork Rustic Retreat to get away from the hustle and bustle of their normal daily lives. Part of what guests love about our area is the chance to get back to nature which includes sitting out under the magnificent night sky.

The retreat is located in Jamestown, Tennessee (near the Tennessee and Kentucky border) in an area that is still considered to have a naturally dark sky without any light pollution from surrounding areas. This allows visitors to experience a crystal-clear look into the sky to see stars, planets, and constellations. In fact, just 7 miles from the retreat is nearby Pickett State Park, a certified dark sky viewing location!

Check out the best times of the year to get a close-up look at your favorite constellations in Tennessee:

Summer

Visitors to the area will be able to see all-time favorite constellations like the Little and Big Dipper during the summer months. Hercules, which will be almost directly overhead, and the very large Pegasus are other constellations that are easy to spot given their location in the sky. The Milky Way is also a big favorite among stargazers and will be easy to spot on a clear night.

The highlight of summer star viewing happens in mid-August when the Perseid meteor shower is at its brightest! Check out the best way to watch the Perseids.

Fall

The brightest star during the fall season is called Fomalhaut and will be easily located on the southern horizon of the sky. Other constellations to look for include Gemini and Orion to the East. The Little and Big Dipper will still be visible but will be shifted towards the North as the Earth makes another quarter turn around the sun.

You can check out the night sky outings that are available in order to learn even more about the stars and planets as well!

Dark Sky Viewing AT LAUREL FORK RUSTIC RETREAT

Laurel Fork Rustic Retreat boarders the Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area and is just 7 miles from the retreat is nearby Pickett State Park, a certified dark sky viewing location!

Check Availability and book your stargazing stay today!

Winter

Grab a cup of cocoa and look for the Winter Hexagon on a clear night sky! The Winter Hexagon is made up of 7 easy to spot stars and can be viewed from December to March. Also look for Taurus and Auriga and make sure to bundle up so that you can spend more time out under the natural dark sky during colder temperatures!

Spring

Fan favorites like Leo and Virgo are easily viewed during the exciting spring season! Bootes is another large constellation that can be seen and is thought to look like a shepherd. Arcturus, or the kite, is a great one to spot with kiddos among other fun ones like the Owl Nebula that looks like it is staring right at you!

Take advantage of the gorgeous Big South Fork area by checking out the beautiful night sky! What other planets and stars do you enjoy viewing each season?