Star Party telescopes | NPS Photo by Mike Quinn
If you think the big views at Grand Canyon disappear when the sun goes down, you’re missing half the show. With its lack of humidity, infrequent nocturnal cloud cover, and famously limited light pollution, northern Arizona has long been considered one of the greatest places in this hemisphere to view the night sky—and Grand Canyon National Park with its breathtaking backdrop, is arguably the best in class.
Each June, astronomers descend on the Grand Canyon to train their telescopes on the stars, planets, and galaxies in the dazzling celestial canopy. These same astronomers invite park visitors to peer through the eyepiece of the high-powered astronomical instruments and enjoy distant wonders firsthand. It’s a memorable experience for people of all ages. And best of all, it’s free with park admission.
The Star Party will be conducted June 17-24, and the viewing will take place on both the South and North Rims. Follow this link for more information: 2017 Grand Canyon Star Party
The National Park Service is proud of its commitment to preserving dark skies at Grand Canyon. At last year’s event, the International Dark-Sky Association awarded Grand Canyon National Park with Provisional Dark Sky Park status. For information on how you can support these efforts visit Protecting the Night Sky.
