Spending time in nature, whether in a park, in a forest, on a trail, or at the beach has always helped evoke a sense of calm, peace of mind and relaxation of the senses. Research has also supported this idea with proven results showing boosted immune system and stress-relieving capabilities when spending time outdoors in green spaces. Whether you choose to hike, swim, or camp, studies have found these activities supporting not only our mental health but also our creativity, broadening our perspectives and even experience awe. Luckily, those benefits don’t stop when the sun sets, in fact you can continue to experience the benefits of being in nature once the stars are out with something called star bathing.

What is star bathing?

Star bathing simply means spending time under the stars in order to appreciate and celebrate their beauty. Best part, star bathing is free of charge, not requiring any specialty camping gear or gadgets to capture what you see. Just lie down in a star lit space, look up and enjoy star bathing.

but

Unfortunately, with the increasing light pollution around the world, less and less places are able to witness the stars and the Milky Way to the naked eye. In fact, 90% of the world’s population can no longer see Milky Way when they look up. That’s right, if you’re able to see one out of your window right now, consider yourself the lucky few.

What are the effects of light pollution?

Why can’t we see the stars at night?

According to Dark Sky International:

light pollution disrupts wildlife (half of the world’s creatures are nocturnal)
light pollution impacts human health (increasing risks of depression, diabetes, breast cancer, obesity and more)
light pollution wastes money and energy (annually parking lots and street lights use about 120 terawatt-hours of energy, which is enough to power New York City for 2 years!)
light pollution contributes to climate change ( Dark Sky estimates that 30% of all outdoor lighting in the U.S. is wasted, contributing to release of 21 million tons of carbon dioxide per year)
light pollution blocks our view of the universe (blocking our sense of awe, sense of wander, inspiration and introspection about our place in the universe)

Without being able to observe the night sky we could not have learned about our expanding universe, navigated the globe, or walked on the Moon.

Night Sky at The Hohnstead Glamping Cabins Resort in Bonner, Montana

If you’re traveling to Montana, you’re in luck about being able to see the night sky in the Big Sky State. Did you know that for such a giant state there are only over 1.1 million residents? and our biggest city of Billings only has a little over 117,000 inhabitants. This means that in comparison to other larger states and cities, Montana’s skyglow is usually very low.

What is skyglow?

Skyglow is the illumination of the night sky with man-made and natural sources, resembling an orange “smog.” “It consists of light that is either emitted directly upward or reflected from the ground that is then scattered by dust and gas molecules in the atmosphere. These artificial skyglows cause the sky to be 5–10 times brighter in urban areas than a naturally dark sky that is unaffected by artificial light.” Wikipedia

how to star bathe

You can check the brightness of the night sky in a particular destination using the Bortle Scale. It’s a nine-level numerical scale helps to determine how much you’ll be able to see in the night sky.

You can use Clear Outside website in order to track down the quality of the night sky at any desired location.

PRO TIP! Plan your trip during the new moon and astronomical twilight to enhance the viewing experience!

Star bathing doesn’t have to be too complicated. Simply try to find a roof or a higher elevation, so as to avoid some of the city skyglow. Try to avoid being under or in the close vicinity of city lights or outdoor lights. Turn off indoor lights since they also get reflected in the pavement and cause unwanted light pollution.

Get comfy! Grab a blanket or a towel and settle in. Rest your neck and head on something like a cushion or a lounge chair.

Be patient! Your eyes may need around 10-15 minutes to adjust to the darkness, so plan accordingly.

Bring a warm beverage to help set the mood for a romantic time together or enjoy this solo mission of self-care and stargazing!

star bathing meditation

Breathe slowly. Focus on the stars that you see. Banish any thoughts that arise and keep focusing on the stars before you. If you see a small amount of stars, appreciate seeing them in front of you. Don’t dwell on how many you see or don’t get to see, just appreciate the moment of being able to take the time to gaze up at the stars. Don’t worry about how much time has passed or how little time you have for this, simply compliment yourself for doing this, right now, right here. You’re a star bathing pro, keep going!

Breathe

Enjoy the experience of being here under the stars, some of them may be faint, while others appear brighter. You can focus on a single point in the sky, or let your eyes wonder, contemplating about the different planets and constellations before you.

Breathe

If you don’t know the names of stars or planets, don’t get distracted by pulling out your phone in order to find out. Just enjoy knowing the fact that what you see in front of you is the same as every human has ever seen, other explorers, astronomers, photographers, kids and everyone in between.

Congratulations, you’ve officially spent time focused (not on the screen we often have in front of us) but on this majestic show of inspiration and awe we get to enjoy EVERY NIGHT!

Milky Way at The Blind Cabin at The Hohnstead Glamping Cabins Resort in Bonner, Montana

Did you know that 96% of US consumers surveyed intend to behave in ways that protect the planet, its people, and its resources (Sustainable Brands), isn’t it great?

Small businesses like ours sure hope that more guests and customers opt to support efforts to reduce light pollution, improve sustainability practices like recycling, and even unplug by staying in off-the-grid cabins for a change.

The Hohnstead Glamping Cabins Resort has an estimated sky quality of 21.88, which places us at Class 3 Bortle due to our remote location (about 18 miles or 30 minutes outside of Missoula, Montana). A Bortle value represents the potential of a location, not what it will be when you are there, making Clear Outside website a great source for when traveling to Montana.

Stay in The Blind Cabin (featured above) or the A-frame cabin, whose see-through roof panels help you lay in bed and star bathe without having to lift your head off the pillow. All 5 of our self-built cabins are off-the-grid, which we believe help to keep our resort dimply lit at night and perfect for stargazing lovers.

Some of our nature loving guests opt to take in the big sky from the comforts of our hot tub, placed among the trees but in a private, forested setting.

Or, split some firewood and start a campfire at a centrally placed fire pit - a perfect location for sunsets over the mountain or when searching for the Big Dipper (doppelganger for one of our favorite local ice cream chains). Check out guest favorite Scavenger Hunt Challenge and Hike we created where you get to split wood, shoot bows and arrows, pan for gold, use a slingshot, guess riddles and other active stations throughout our 100 acre forested Montana property.

We can’t wait to host you at The Hohnstead, a great place to star bathe near Missoula!

Stargazing at The Blind Cabin at The Hohnstead Glamping Cabins Resort near Missoula, Montana

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