Death Valley Dark Sky Festival
Ready to get acquainted with some of the darkest skies on planet earth? Held at DarkSky-certified Gold Tier Dark Sky Park park, Death Valley’s Dark Sky Festival belongs on your calendar if you’re looking to experience an unforgettable celestial show. This Death Valley National Park event, led by park rangers (AKA “dark rangers), invites you to listen in on astronomy lectures from the the pros at NASA and the Jet Propulsory Laboratory (JPL), Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI), and Dark Sky Rangers, along with astrophotography workshops for all camera formats and skill sets, astronomy walks, and of course unbeatable stargazing with thousands of stars, constellations, planets and galaxies visible to the naked eye.
An unforgettable astronomy experience awaits at Death Valley National Park, DarkSky certified Gold Tier Dark Sky Park with some of the darkest skies in the lower 48—where you can scope out thousands of stars, constellations, planets, entire galaxies, and more.
Within minutes of Beatty and Pahrump, Death Valley National Park is an incredible place to explore by day, and just as breathtaking (if not more!) at night. As some of the best stargazing in the country with zero to none surrounding light pollution, Death Valley National Park has been designated as a Gold Tier Dark Sky Park—the highest rating of darkness made by DarkSky. By day, get in on guided hikes and Dark Ranger-led lectures, all kinds of family fun activities, and an exploration fair. During the evening hours, visitors can participate in night sky photography meetups and workshops, and a star party that celebrates the spectacular skies overhead with viewings of the universe through some of the biggest and highest-powered telescopic devices you may ever encounter (many of them larger than you)!
While admission to this event is free, admission to the park in order to access the event is not. For a full list of Death Valley fees and passes, click here. For a complete schedule of events, planning your trip to Death Valley, and more information on the Death Valley Dark Sky Festival, get in touch with the park directly at (760) 786-3200.
