Enjoy a night sky constellation tour and views of celestial objects through several telescopes.
Duration: Approximately 2 hours
Audience: All ages
Includes General Admission
In the event that weather is likely to prevent views of the night sky, Visitors Center staff will contact you via email to explain available options.
What to Expect
- Check In: Please arrive at the Visitors Center 15 minutes early to check in and find a seat.
- Introduction: As we wait for the sky to darken and stars to become visible, guests receive a short introduction in the outdoor Amphitheater at the Visitors Center, covering the program plan and the objects to view through telescopes. The introduction is usually about 15 minutes.
- Constellation Tour: Visitors Center staff point out brighter stars and constellations, discuss the mythology of some constellations, and relate our scientific understanding of objects seen in the night sky. These constellation tours serve as an orientation to the night sky. Guests may skip the constellation tour and move directly to telescope viewing following the introduction. The constellation tour lasts about 30-45 minutes.
- Telescope Viewing: Guests rotate among a number of telescopes, viewing different objects with guidance from staff and volunteers. Objects can include planets, galaxies, and more. Our telescopes range in aperture from 8″ to 22″. After about an hour, things wind down as guests take their last views through the telescopes.
- Gift Shop Access During the Star Party: The Visitors Center, exhibit hall, gift shop, and restrooms remain open throughout the Star Party.
- Note: In June and July, the gift shop closes before the end of the Star Party.
Important Considerations
- Star Parties take place outdoors, so be sure to dress appropriately for the weather. During fall through early spring, consider bundling up, as temperatures can be in the 30s or colder. Even in the summer, it can be chilly enough for a jacket.
- Our amphitheater seating consists of stone benches. Feel free to bring a pad or blanket for added comfort.
- There is some walking (at ~6300 ft in altitude) involved to participate in the program.
- During summer months, it is not dark enough to start a Star Party until nearly 10:00 p.m.
- The Observatory is located very far west in the Central Time zone. So, while we are in the same time zone as Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin, the times of sunrise and sunset are very different. In fact, the Sun sets at the Observatory almost an hour later than it does in Houston. Daylight Saving Time makes this situation worse.
- The Observatory reserves the right to ask visitors to leave the program venue if their behavior becomes disruptive. Refunds will not be offered for those who are asked to leave.
Make Advance Reservations to Ensure Your Spot
Star Parties frequently sell out during busy periods like Spring Break and major holidays. Even on an average night, it is not uncommon for 300 people to be in attendance. We may be in the “middle of nowhere” but we do see some large crowds! To ensure program participation, make advance reservations.
What Happens If It’s Cloudy
We will take every reasonable opportunity to do telescope viewing with guests. In the event that weather is likely to prevent views of the night sky, Visitors Center reservations staff will contact program participants (via the email address associated with the reservation) to explain available options.
When conditions don’t allow for telescope viewing, we offer various unique, live indoor talks and demonstrations. The exact program content will be determined on the night of the program, depending on available staffing, crowd size, weather conditions and other factors.
Cloudy Star Party Program Options:
- Virtual Sky Tour: Our most popular cloudy night program highlights the targets we typically view through telescopes at the Star Party. Your host will show you amazing images from ground- and space-based telescopes, share the scientific significance of these objects and answer your questions about them.
- Moon Phases Demonstration: Why does the moon seem to change shape every night? Learn about the phases of the moon with this hands-on demonstration. You’ll see the phases change in your very own hands!
- Spectroscopy Demonstration: This hands-on demonstration allows you to try deciphering the information encoded in starlight. Astronomers use the technique of spectroscopy to learn about the physical properties of stars, their motions, and more. Participants will use diffraction gratings to analyze various light sources and learn how astronomers decode the secrets of starlight.
- Dark Skies: Go beyond the exhibit! This classroom presentation explores the impacts of light pollution and what you can do to save the dark night sky.
- Dome Tours: Although viewing through the telescopes may not be possible, there’s nothing stopping us from looking at them! We’ll turn on the lights and open the domes of our largest Star Party telescopes to allow you to get up close to them. Experienced guides will show you how the telescopes work and answer all of your telescope questions. This option is not available if heavy rain or nearby lightning is detected.
- Exoplanets: Learn about the many worlds beyond our solar system! How did we find them? What are they like? Could there be life on these planets? This classroom presentation features the latest research on planets orbiting stars other than the sun.
- Astronomy Ask Me Anything: Got a burning astronomy question? Odds are we’ve got an answer! This pop-up lab features a brave staff member who will take any and all of your astronomy-related questions.
Change of Plans?
Learn about cancelling or rescheduling your visit.