Star Parties

Public Star Parties

Bryce Canyon National Park will host public star parties for the Annual Bryce Canyon Astronomy Festival (a separate event from ASTROCON). Each evening from Thursday, June 26th through Saturday, June 28th, the star parties will be held at a parking lot across the street from the Visitor’s Center from 10:00 pm until midnight each of the three nights.

If you are not bringing equipment and want to attend one or more public star parties, please park in the Visitor’s Center parking log or, better yet, take a shuttle bus from Ruby’s Inn to the Visitor’s Center. At 10:00 p.m., the park service rangers will allow the public onto the telescope field. Please pay attention to where the park rangers guide the public with special lighting.

The Bryce Canyon staff requires that those who participate in a public star party with their telescopes plan to attend an orientation meeting at the Visitor’s Center at 7:00 p.m. before each evening’s stargazing. The orientation meeting will give instructions about when you can set up at the telescope field, along with other important information.

If you want to volunteer with your own telescope at one or more public star parties, please contact BJ Cluff at bj_cluff@nps.gov. She can provide all the necessary information.

During the day in front of the Visitor’s Center, will be exhibits and solar viewing opportunities.

Please visit the ASTROCON information kiosk at Ruby’s Inn for information about daytime solar viewing near the hotel.

Private Star Parties

Private viewing will be available at Rainbow Point at the southern end of Bryce Canyon National Park for those participating in the ASTROCON Observing Contest or those who want a quiet place for personal viewing with their equipment. This is possible due to a Special Use Permit granted by the Park Service.

There will be limited parking for private viewing at Rainbow Point. You must reserve a spot for your vehicle and equipment. Please contact Walter Williams at starparties@astrocon2025.org to do this.

There will also be an area about a mile east of Ruby’s Inn for those participating in the Astrophotography/Digital Imaging Contest. More information will be in the attendee booklet and at the ASTROCON information kiosk inside Ruby’s Inn.