Artist Joe Bergeron, COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL

2009 Star Party Logo

Grand Canyon's 19th annual Star Party will be held from June 13-20, 2009.

Explore the wonders of the night sky at Yavapai Point on the South Rim with the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association and at Grand Canyon Lodge on the North Rim with the Saguaro Astronomy Club of Phoenix.

Amateur astronomers from across the country will volunteer their expertise. Free star programs will be offered, and numerous telescopes will be set up to view planets, star clusters, galaxies, and nebulae at night and to view the sun by day. Grand Canyon is one of the best night sky observing sites in the United States. Weather permitting, expect spectacular views of the universe!

NPS/Marker Marshall

Telescopes at Yavapai Point at the 2008 Star Party.

On the South Rim, events include a slide show nightly at 8:00 p.m. next to Yavapai Observation Station, followed by telescope viewing in the Yavapai parking lot and the dirt lot below. Since parking is very limited, plan to arrive by the park’s free shuttle bus, which runs until 11:00 p.m. For a comfortable spot at the slide shows, arrive early and bring something to sit on. Telescope viewing continues well into the night. Visitors may arrive any time after dark.

On the North Rim, the nightly slide program will be held at 6:30 p.m. in the Grand Canyon Lodge auditorium. Telescopes will be set up on the porch of the Lodge every evening. Look for telescopes by day as well, and check the bulletin board at the Visitor Center for additional events such as star talks.

Nighttime temperatures at the canyon can be quite cool, even in summer. Those attending the star parties are encouraged to bring warm layers of clothing. Visitors to the South Rim Star Party will also need a flashlight for the walk to the viewing area.

COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL - International Astronomical Union

Logo for The International Year of Astronomy, "The Universe, Yours to Discover"

National parks are protective harbors for some of the last remaining dark skies in this country. The National Park Service has come to embrace night skies as one of the many scenic vistas the agency is a steward of. It is essential to keeping a park whole and touches on almost every aspect that is important to us- from sustainability to stargazers, and animals to ancient ruins.
More information on Natural Lightscapes....
More information on NPS Night Sky Program....

Grand Canyon National Park is proud to sponsor the Star Party event during the International Year of Astronomy, celebrating the 400th anniversary of Galileo first using a telescope and discovering the moons of Jupiter.

The International Year of Astronomy 2009 is a global effort initiated by the International Astronomical Union and UNESCO to help the citizens of the world rediscover their place in the Universe through the day- and night-time sky, and thereby engage a personal sense of wonder and discovery. For more information visit the International Year of Astronomy 2009 website.