How to prepare your stargazing gear before dark. Charge batteries, test headlamps, download maps, learn your controls, and set up a kit that works in darkness.

What to bring stargazing in Rocky Mountain National Park. A packing checklist for clothing, footwear, seating, lighting, water, binoculars, and backup power.

Do you need a telescope to stargaze? No. What naked eyes, binoculars, and telescopes each show best, and which binoculars to buy first.