Night Sky FestivalDiscover the Park after dark during the Night Sky Festival! Join us for stargazing, Ranger talks, kids' activities, and guest presentations ranging from topics such as space weather, space travel, and our future in space. If you plan on attending one of the outdoor evening activities, be sure to be prepared for the weather and bring a flashlight with a red filter. All events are free with park admission. Please note: Outdoor activities may be canceled in the case of inclement weather.Check back for the 2025 program schedule! Spot the Station from Shenandoah2024 Celestial Events On clear nights, Shenandoah is a wonderful spot to view the Milky Way or some of the 2,500 stars visible to the unaided eye that make up one of the 88 official constellations. Finding and observing constellations, phases of the moon, meteor showers, and eclipses can provide a sense of wonder about our place in the universe.
Browse through each month to see celestial events happening in 2024 that can be witnessed from Shenandoah. Download an app to help you navigate the night sky, attend a Ranger-led Star Party, or join amateur astronomers on star-filled explorations (fees may apply). Attend a Ranger-led Star Party at 9:30 p.m. through Labor Day. Every Sunday at Mathews Arm Campground Amphitheater
Please note: Outdoor activities may be canceled in the case of inclement weather.Every Tuesday at Big Meadows Every Thursday at Big Meadows Every Saturday at Dickey Ridge and Big Meadows Sunday, June 2 | Close approach of the Moon and Mars
Tuesday, June 4 | "Twilight Hikes" Saturday, June 8 | "Twilight Hikes" Sunday, June 9 | "Exploring the Skies" Thursday, June 13 | "Twilight Hikes" Friday, June 14 | "Night Skies" Tuesday, June 18 | "Twilight Hikes" ; Big Meadows Star Party; Dickey Ridge Star Party Thursday, June 20 | Summer Solstice; Big Meadows Star Party Friday, June 21 | Full Moon Saturday, June 22 | "Twilight Hikes" Thursday, June 27 | Close approach of the Moon and Saturn; Big Meadows Star Party Friday, June 28 | "Night Skies" Monday, July 1 | Close approach of the Moon and Mars
Tuesday, July 2 | "Twilight Hikes"; Big Meadows Star Party Wednesday, July 3 | Close approach of the Moon and Jupiter Saturday, July 6 | "Twilight Hikes"; Big Meadows Star Party; Dickey Ridge Star Party Wednesday, July 10 | "Exploring the Skies" Thursday, July 11 | "Twilight Hikes"; Big Meadows Star Party Saturday, July 13 | "Night Skies"; Big Meadows Star Party; Dickey Ridge Star Party Sunday, July 21 | Full Moon; Mercury is at opposition; Star Party Tuesday, July 23 | Pluto is at opposition: Big Meadows Star Party; "Twilight Hikes" Wednesday, July 24 | Close approach of the Moon and Saturn; "Exploring the Skies" Friday, July 26 |"Night Skies" Saturday, July 27 | "Twilight Hikes"; Big Meadows Star Party; Dickey Ridge Star Party Monday, July 29 | Southern Delta-Aquariid Meteor Shower peak (up to 20 meteors per hour) Tuesday, July 30 | Close approach of the Moon, Mars, and Jupiter; Big Meadows Star Party Tuesday, August 6 | "Twilight Hikes"; Big Meadows Star Party
Wednesday, August 7 | "Exploring the Night Skies" Thursday, August 8 | "Twilight Hikes"; Big Meadows Star Party Saturday, August 10 | "Twilight Hikes"; Big Meadows Star Party; Dickey Ridge Star Party Sunday, August 11 | "Night Skies"; Star Party Monday, August 12 | Perseid Meteor Shower peak (up to 100 meteors per hour) Tuesday, August 13 | "Twilight Hikes"; Big Meadows Star Party Wednesday, August 14 | Close approach of Jupiter and Mars Saturday, August 17 | "Twilight Hikes"; Big Meadows Star Party;Dickey Ridge Star Party Monday, August 19 | Full Moon Tuesday, August 20 | Close approach of the Moon and Saturn; Star Party at Big Meadows Wednesday, August 21 | "Exploring the Night Skies" Friday, August 23 | "Night Skies" Sunday, August 25 | Close approach of the Moon and Globular Cluster M45 (The Pleiades); Star Party Tuesday, August 27 | Close approach of the Moon, Mars, and Jupiter; Star Party at Big Meadows Wednesday, September 4 | "Exploring the Skies"
Friday, September 6 | "Night Skies" Sunday, September 8 | "Exploring the Skies" Tuesday, September 17 | Full Moon with partial lunar eclipse (8:40 p.m. - 12:47 a.m.); Close approach of the Moon and Saturn Friday, September 20 | "Night Skies" Sunday, September 22 | Close approach of the Moon and Globular Cluster M45 (The Pleiades); Autumn Equinox Monday, September 23 | Close approach of the Moon and Jupiter Wednesday, September 25 | Close approach of the Moon and Mars Friday, October 4 | "Night Skies"
Saturday, October 5 | Close approach of the Moon and Venus Monday, October 14 | Close approach of the Moon and Saturn; Triangulum Galaxy visible Thursday, October 17 | Full Moon Monday, October 21 | Close approach of the Moon and Jupiter; Orionid Meteor Shower peak (25 meteors per hour) Wednesday, October 23 | Close approach of the Moon and Mars Friday, October 25 | "Night Skies" Tuesday, November 5 | Southern Taurids Meteor Shower (Second peak; 10 meteors per hour; notable for fireballs)
Tuesday, November 12 | Northern Taurids Meteor Shower (5 meteors per hour) Friday, November 15 | Full Moon Sunday, November 17 | Leonid Meteor Shower (15 meteors per hour) Saturday, December 14 | Geminid Meteor Shower (up to 120 meteors per hour)
Sunday, December 15 | Full Moon Saturday, December 21 | Winter Solstice |
Last updated: July 11, 2024