Of course, we know the night sky is a star-strewn glory. But it’s easy to forget that when all we see is a vaguely orange glow, the stars hidden by the light pollution of Bay Area cities. To really see the Milky Way and other astronomical wonders, you have to head out to the Sierra mountains — or better yet, Mono County in the Eastern Sierra, where astronomers and photographers gather to gaze at the stars and watch meteor showers, such as the Perseid shower, which will fill the night sky Aug. 14 and 15.

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Top 10 travel-inspired board games for family game night Here are five perfect spots for stargazing, courtesy of photographer Jeff Sullivan, who runs night sky photography workshops in the historic ghost town of Bodie and other Mono and Inyo county locations. This region “has some of the darkest skies in the country,” he says. “The Sierra Nevada shields us from the lights in California’s Central Valley.”

Benton Hot Springs Mono Lake Bridgeport Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, White Mountains Bodie State Historic Park

Find out more about Sullivan’s night sky photography workshops at www.jeffsullivanphotography.com.

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