September 2026The 2026 astronomy festival will be September 10-12. 
Tom Auchter 
NPS Graphic Be PreparedThe Astronomy Festival is one of the most exciting and busy events and weekends at Great Basin National Park. Planning ahead of time will ensure you have the best experience during your visit. Check back at this page regularly for updates if event schedules change.
Dates & TimesDaily Schedule11:30am - 12:00pm: Ranger Astronomy Program - Explore a night sky related subject with a ranger in the Lehman Caves Visitor Center theater. Topics vary. 12:00pm - 1:00pm: Great Basin Observatory Tour (Same-day registration required. Tickets will be offered on a first come, first served basis) - Meet at the Lehman Caves Visitor Center and follow a ranger to the only research grade observatory inside a national park. 1:00pm - 2:00pm: Milky Way Photography - Join astrophotographer Don Riddle in the Lehman Caves Visitor Center Theater to learn about Milky Way photography and prepare yourself for the evening meetup. 2:00pm - 3:00pm: Great Basin Observatory Tour (Same-day registration required. Tickets will be offered on a first come, first served basis) - Meet at the Lehman Caves Visitor Center and follow a ranger to the only research grade observatory inside a national park. 3:00pm - 4:00pm: Great Basin Observatory Tour (Same-day registration required. Tickets will be offered on a first come, first served basis) - Meet at the Lehman Caves Visitor Center and follow a ranger to the only research grade observatory inside a national park. 3:30pm - 4:00pm: Ranger Astronomy Program - Explore a night sky related subject with a ranger in the Lehman Caves Visitor Center theater. Topics vary. 4:00pm - 5:00pm: Great Basin Observatory Tour (Same-day registration required. Tickets will be offered on a first come, first served basis) - Meet at the Lehman Caves Visitor Center and follow a ranger to the only research grade observatory inside a national park. 6:30pm - 7:00pm: Bats in the Night Ranger Talk - Find a park ranger on the back patio of the Lehman Caves Visitor Center to learn about bats and their connection to the night sky. 7:00pm - 10:00pm: Astrophotography Workshop - Join astrophotographer Don Riddle at the Baker Archaeological Site outside the park and learn how to take photos of the night sky. 7:30pm - 9:00pm: Art in the Dark - Head to the Astronomy Amphitheater to participate in an art project that will play with how our eyes perceive color. No registration required for the group art project. 8:00pm - 11:30pm: Telescope Viewing/Star Party - Outside the Astronomy Amphitheater, park rangers and volunteers will be with telescopes showing views of the night sky and objects within it for all to see. 9:00pm - 9:30pm: Constellation Talk - A park ranger will guide you through the night sky at the Astronomy Amphitheater, right next to the telescope observing area. This program is accessible and open to all. 9:00am - 11:00am: Photo Editing Workshop - Come to the Lehman Caves Visitor Center Theater to edit photos from the last evening's astrophotography workshop alongside volunteer Don Riddle. Learn about editing software and techniques to improve your photos. 11:30am - 12:00pm: Ranger Astronomy Program - Listen to a ranger at the Lehman Caves Visitor Center discuss a night sky related subject. Topics vary. 12:00pm - 1:00pm: Great Basin Observatory Tour (Same-day registration required. Tickets will be offered on a first come, first served basis) - Meet at the Lehman Caves Visitor Center and follow a ranger to the only research grade observatory inside a national park. 1:00pm - 2:00pm: Milky Way Photography - Join astrophotographer Don Riddle in the Lehman Caves Visitor Center Theater to learn about Milky Way photography and prepare yourself for the evening meetup. 1:30pm - 3:30pm: Solar Telescope and Crafts - Join a park ranger for family & kid friendly activities behind the Lehman Caves Visitor Center. Peer through a solar telescope at our nearest star (safely, of course)! 2:00pm - 3:00pm: Great Basin Observatory Tour (Same-day registration required. Tickets will be offered on a first come, first served basis) - Meet at the Lehman Caves Visitor Center and follow a ranger to the only research grade observatory inside a national park. 3:00pm - 4:00pm: Great Basin Observatory Tour (Same-day registration required. Tickets will be offered on a first come, first served basis) - Meet at the Lehman Caves Visitor Center and follow a ranger to the only research grade observatory inside a national park. 3:30pm - 4:00pm: Ranger Astronomy Program - Listen to a ranger at the Lehman Caves Visitor Center discuss a night sky related subject. Topics vary. 4:00pm - 5:00pm: Great Basin Observatory Tour (Same-day registration required. Tickets will be offered on a first come, first served basis) - Meet at the Lehman Caves Visitor Center and follow a ranger to the only research grade observatory inside a national park. 7:00pm - 10:00pm: Astrophotography Workshop - Join astrophotographer Don Riddle at the Baker Archaeological Site outside the park and learn how to take photos of the night sky. 7:00pm - 8:00pm: Keynote Speaker - Join Dr. Cameron Hummels of Caltech at the Astronomy Amphitheatre at Lehman Caves Visitor Center to explore his research into how galaxies like our Milky Way evolve over billions of years. 8:00pm - 11:30pm: Telescope Viewing/Star Party - Outside the Astronomy Amphitheater, park rangers and volunteers will be with telescopes showing views of the night sky and objects within it for all to see. 9:00pm - 9:30pm: Constellation Talk - A park ranger will guide you through the night sky at the Astronomy Amphitheater, right next to the telescope observing area. This program is accessible and open to all. 9:00am - 11:00am: Photo Editing Workshop - Come to the Lehman Caves Visitor Center Theater to edit photos from the last evening's astrophotography workshop alongside volunteer Don Riddle. Learn about editing software and techniques to improve your photos. 11:00am - 12:00pm: Guest Speaker - Join Sam Rose at Great Basin Resource Center to learn more about astronomical transients: the things that light up our night skies. Dive into the spectacular explosions of massive stars dying, pulsing stars, and comets and asteroids drifting through our Solar System, as well as our history of observing these events. 12:00pm - 1:00pm: Great Basin Observatory Tour (Same-day registration required. Tickets will be offered on a first come, first served basis) - Meet at the Lehman Caves Visitor Center and follow a ranger to the only research grade observatory inside a national park. 1:00pm - 2:00pm: Guest Speaker - At the Great Basin Resource Center, NASA/JPL Ambassador Jerry Hilburn will share about the Great Basin Observatory and the outreach program for teachers, students, and amateur astronomers. 1:00pm - 2:00pm: Milky Way Photography - Join astrophotographer Don Riddle in the Lehman Caves Visitor Center Theater to learn about Milky Way photography and prepare yourself for the evening meetup. 1:30pm - 3:30pm: Solar Telescope and Crafts - Join a park ranger for family & kid friendly activities behind the Lehman Caves Visitor Center. Peer through a solar telescope at our nearest star (safely, of course)! 2:00pm - 3:00pm: Great Basin Observatory Tour (Same-day registration required. Tickets will be offered on a first come, first served basis) - Meet at the Lehman Caves Visitor Center and follow a ranger to the only research grade observatory inside a national park. 3:00pm - 4:00pm: Great Basin Observatory Tour (Same-day registration required. Tickets will be offered on a first come, first served basis) - Meet at the Lehman Caves Visitor Center and follow a ranger to the only research grade observatory inside a national park. 3:30pm - 4:00pm: Ranger Astronomy Program - Listen to a ranger at the Lehman Caves Visitor Center discuss a night sky related subject. Topics vary. 4:00pm - 5:00pm: Great Basin Observatory Tour (Same-day registration required. Tickets will be offered on a first come, first served basis) - Meet at the Lehman Caves Visitor Center and follow a ranger to the only research grade observatory inside a national park. 7:00pm - 10:00pm: Astrophotography Workshop - Join astrophotographer Don Riddle at the Baker Archaeological Site outside the park and learn how to take photos of the night sky. 7:00pm - 8:00pm: Keynote Speaker - Listen to Dr. Charles Jui of the Univeristy of Utah as he discusses local astronomical research at the Telescope Array Project in Utah. 7:30pm - 9:30pm: Caltech Presents: Astronomy on Tap - Join Caltech Scientists for two 20-minute public astronomy talks and space-themed pub trivia over food and drinks at the Bristlecone General Store! All ages welcome. 8:00pm - 11:30pm: Telescope Viewing/Star Party - Outside the Astronomy Amphitheater, park rangers and volunteers will be with telescopes showing views of the night sky and objects within it for all to see. 9:00am-11:00am: Photo Editing Workshop - Come to the Lehman Caves Visitor Center Theater to edit photos from the last evening's astrophotography workshop alongside volunteer Don Riddle. Learn about editing software and techniques to improve your photos. 7:30pm - 9:30pm: Ranger Astronomy Program - Listen to a ranger at the Astronomy Amphitheatre discuss a night sky related subject. Topics vary. Event DescriptionsFind details of each event during the Astronomy Festival below. Check the schedule above for dates and times of each event. Telescope Viewing & Star PartiesEach night, amateur astronomers gather their telescopes near the Astronomy Amphitheater to showcase the night sky and dazzle with a peek through their eyepieces. Look at colorful star-forming nebulas, ancient star clusters, far off galaxies millions of light years distant, or the planets which dot our night sky. 
D. Highsmith Great Basin Observatory ToursTours of the Great Basin Observatory will be on a walk-up, first come-first served basis. All park program participants must check in at the Lehman Caves Visitor Center the day of the program. Limited to 15 people per tour.
Astronomy on Tap Caltech Presents: Astronomy on TapPub trivia, astronomy talks, food & drinks can all be found at Astronomy on Tap hosted by the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) at in the town of Baker. All ages are welcome and no sign-ups are required. Arrive early to get a seat! Recommended equipment
NPS / B. Mills Art in the DarkJoin Astronomy Rangers for an art project that experiments with how our eyes see color. This accessible and kid-friendly program will challenge artists to create and paint in low light conditions, under the guidance of the Astronomy Rangers. All needed art supplies will be provided. Together, all will create a dazzling art piece in the Astronomy Amphitheater. These pieces will then be displayed for the remainder of the festival at the Lehman Caves Visitor Center for all to see and share in. Recommended equipment
Don Riddle Photo WorkshopsJoin an experienced astrophotographer and longtime Great Basin volunteer Don Riddle to learn the basics of night photography. Throughout the festival, Don will host events on photo editing, milky way photography, and nightly workshops to introduce astrophotography to all those interested.
Tom Auchter Constellation TalkJoin a ranger and volunteers for a night under the stars. This accessible program will guide visitors through the constellations, stars, and possibly galaxies visible to the unaided eye in the Great Basin night skies. Learn how to stargaze on your own for when you head back home.
NPS / M. Van Wicklin Solar Telescopes and CraftsBehind the Lehman Caves Visitor Center, rangers will have a solar telescope set up, allowing anybody to come and view our planet's closest star safely. View sunspots and prominences, filaments and ejections through our specialized telescope and see the sun as you never have before. Ranger ProgramsJoin park rangers as they present their astronomy programs in the dark of the Lehman Caves Visitor Center. Topics vary, but our dark sky rangers will guide you through the night sky, our relationships with the stars, and the protected dark of Great Basin. AccessibilityHave concerns about mobility or parking? What about bringing a service animal? Many questions about park programs and accessibility can be answered through our accessibility pages.
All may attend the Star Party each night and volunteers may have devices to allow those unable to stand or balance to view the telescope's focus. Great Basin Observatory tours are not fully accessible due to the stairs and gravel pathways leading to the dome. Weather and CancellationsSeptember tends to be a predictably mild month, but rain & thunderstorms may occur. In the event of poor weather, events may be cancelled or moved and notice will be posted at the Lehman Caves Visitor Center throughout the weekend.
VolunteersTelescope viewing is driven almost entirely by volunteers donating their time and the use of their delicate equipment to the park. More info on Great Basin Night Skies
Great Basin ObservatoryThe Great Basin Observatory is the only research grade observatory in a national park. Dark skies make for excellent opportunities to learn. 
Experience our dark skies
Stargaze on Your OwnAs an International Dark-Sky Park Great Basin National Park offers amazing stargazing within the park 
Weather & brightness all in one
Great Basin's Astronomical ForecastCheck the viewing forecast for the next few days for a good view of the night sky 
Thank You to Our PartnersThe Great Basin National Park Foundation helps fund educational programs and out-reach events like the Annual Astronomy Festival 
VolunteerVolunteers are an important part of the park staff, donating thousands of hours to National Park Service sites like Great Basin. |
Last updated: August 12, 2026