Half the park is after dark when the night skies come alive with dazzling stars. In the winter, skies are filled with a whole new catalog of stars, making the experience even better. Derek Culver took this amazing photo in December of Zion National Park in Utah. That’s the Virgin River, the Watchman, and in the sky, you can see the Orion Constellation with Barnard’s loop and Orion Nebula. Photo courtesy of Derek Culver.

Sunset at Death Valley National Park in California is a magical time. The retreating sun mutes the shadowed ripples and graceful curves of the sand dunes while the day’s last light focuses on the mountaintops. Here, a rogue white cloud wanders in to enjoy the view. Photo courtesy of Sandra Slead.

Happy 168th birthday to us! On March 3, 1849, Congress passed a bill creating the Department of the Interior to take charge of the nation’s internal affairs. Interior’s diverse mission – which includes managing America’s vast natural and cultural resources, honoring our tribal relations and supplying the nation with energy – has earned it the nickname “The Department of Everything Else.” Photo of Yosemite National Park by William Woodward (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).