Starry night skies are an important part of the special places the National Park Service protects. Our national parks hold some of the last remaining harbors of darkness and provide amazing opportunities to experience this critical resource. The Obed Wild and Scenic River is one of these special places where you can enjoy the quiet, dark solitude of nature at night, and now the Obed is one of the newest Dark Sky Parks designated by the International Dark Sky Association.

Join Ranger Rick Ryan on Friday, September 14, at 8:30 p.m. (ET) to enjoy the spectacular dark sky conditions in the park to view the bright stars, star clusters, distant galaxies, and constellations of the fall stargazing season. Telescopes will be available for sky observations, including the park’s 12-inch Dobsonian Reflector telescope. Amateur astronomers are also invited to bring their telescopes to join our program and may contact the visitor center for more information. 

Participants should meet at Lilly Overlook which is a short walk from the Lilly Overlook parking area. The parking area is located a quarter-mile after crossing the Lilly Bridge on Ridge Road in Morgan County, Tennessee. Please wear sturdy shoes and bring a red-light flashlight and blanket or chair for comfortable seating. All ages are welcome to attend this free event, but children must be accompanied by an adult. This event is subject to favorable clear sky weather conditions. In the event of inclement weather or cloud cover, the event will be cancelled. Be sure to call the Visitor Center before 5 p.m. on the day of the event to confirm the status of the event. For more information, please contact the visitor center at (423) 346-6294.