Here are four spots—a tip of the celestial iceberg—to start an escape from winter ... a truly dark sky. A volunteer-built observation platform provides a perfect perch for night visitors ...

While it might be tempting to stay home and rug up, winter is the best time of year to go out and see the night ... dark area ...

We're now just past the midpoint of astronomical winter — that moment marking ... These stars appear in that order, as the twilight sky grows dark. This stellar trio is crossing the meridian ...