6 great places to stargaze in California

The stars in the skies over the Yosemite Valley illuminate the features of the park during a 17-minute exposure.

(Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

July 31, 2015 3:36 PM PT

The stars shine brightly over Death Valley National Park near Furnace Creek Ranch.

(Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

Stargazing can take on a party atmosphere in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.

(Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)

Can you believe this is midnight in Joshua Tree National Park? Star trails form a circle around the North Star during an almost hour-long exposure.

(Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times)

One of our favorite places to see stars? Griffith Park Observatory. Admittedly, there’s plenty of light pollution ...

(Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)

But it’s still a great place to see a full moon -- or a blue moon.

(Christina House / For the Times)