Mojave & Sonoran Desert

The night skies are especially striking in the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts, two of the least inhabited ecosystems in North America.  A short distance from Las Vegas is the vast Mojave featuring some of the darkest skies in the U.S. and in contrast, the incredible amount of light generated from our cities nearby.  In Sedona, AR and the surrounding Sonoran Desert, “dark sky” communities have reduced their light pollution, having a profound effect on the local view of the universe.

During the day, desert life is surprisingly diverse and the mountains landscapes in both places are way more impressive up close than they seem from the distance.  Places like Red Rock Canyon Natural Conservation Area and Death Valley National Park are pictured below with their unique wildlife and vast expanses of desert, towering mountains and dark skies.  In the other direction, facing Vegas is the light of the Strip, Downtown and suburbs illuminating the otherwise dark and uninhabited surrounding lands.