Washington DC's Bortle 8 skies reflect the dense Mid-Atlantic megalopolis, but Shenandoah National Park and the Blue Ridge Mountains to the west offer Bortle 4 darkness within 90 minutes, with designated night-sky viewing areas along Skyline Drive. Further into West Virginia, Bortle 3 skies open up. The region's humid summers bring haze, while autumn and winter cold fronts deliver crisp, clear nights. At 38.9°N, DC has well-balanced northern-hemisphere skies, and the National Mall's monuments make a striking foreground for Moon and planet photography.