Aug 1

August Moon, Stars, Meteors, and Planets!

Celestial viewing opportunities abound in mid-August. Two free public observing sessions hosted by Kanab’s Stellar Vista Observatory (SVO) are coming your way on August 11 and 12. One occurs in the morning, and the other takes place in the evening. Here’s how to participate. Consider starting your August 11 work week with the refreshing inspiration […]

Aug 1

Seasons of the Solar System

An artist's rendition of Mars’ orbit around the Sun, and its seasons. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Here on Earth, we undergo a changing of seasons every three months. Butwhat about the rest of the Solar System? What does a sunny day on Marslook like? How long would a winter on Neptune be? Let’s take a tour ofsome other planets and ask ourselves what seasons might look like there. Martian Autumn Although […]

Aug 1

Kane County Friends of the Night Sky Program is Growing!

Kane County Friends of the Night Sky

SVO’s Friends of the Night Sky Program was featured in the May/JuneSpotlight at Utah State University’s Colorado Plateau Dark Sky Cooperative.This innovative program is helping Kanab-area businesses preserve ouramazingly dark skies by advising them on dark-sky friendly outdoor lighting.Participating businesses undergo a lighting inventory conducted by an SVOrepresentative to identify ways they can improve their […]

Aug 1

2025 4-H Space Camp Roundup

Eric Sims, SVO Secretary, leads crater making activities Photo by Victoria Xiong, Kane County Extension

On May 28th, the local 4-H chapter held an all-day space camp event, and66 kids participated! SVO’s Eric Sims was there to teach about asteroids,meteors, and craters. In a hands-on activity, kids experimented withdropping rocks into flour and cocoa powder to see how craters form and canbe affected by the shape, angle, and speed of […]

Jan 23

Planetary Parade to Light Up the Sky

This January and February, the night sky will showcase a beautiful planetary alignment. This celestial phenomenon, often referred to as a “planetary parade,” will feature all seven of Earth’s neighboring planets visible at the same time in the sky. Throughout January and February, six planets will be visible in the night sky, and then on […]

Jan 1

SVO’s 2024 Year in Review

2024 was an excellent year! Thanks to all who participated and supported. Please enjoy the Year in Review document below, and share it with anyone you think might be interested!

Nov 8

Signals are “Go” for Kanab’s Stellar Vista Observatory

Stellar Vista Observatory (SVO) , a 501c3 nonprofit organization based in Kanab and the Kane County Water Conservancy District (KCWCD) are pleased to announce an agreement to guide the creation of an educational astronomical observatory for public enjoyment of southern Utah’s star-filled skies at the Conservancy’s Jackson Flat Reservoir property. The vision for creating an […]

Oct 15

SVO Hosts Comet Viewing: Next Public Star Party Friday, 10/25

Photo of comet 2023/A3 Tsuchinshan/ATLAS over the red rock cliffs near Kanab, UT, by Christian Veit

On Monday, October 14th, Stellar Vista Observatory (SVO) hosted a comet viewing party at Jackson Flat Reservoir, drawing an enthusiastic crowd of about 50 locals and visitors. Attendees were treated to a spectacular view of comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan/ATLAS, a rare sight that won’t grace our skies again for another 80,000 years. If you haven’t […]

Oct 7

SVO to host viewing of Comet A3 Tsuchinshan

By AlexL1024 - Own work, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=153267726

By Rich Csenge Stellar Vista Observatory (SVO) will host a free public observing opportunity to view the bright Comet A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS (C/2023 A3) through telescopes and binoculars on Monday, October 14, about an hour after sunset, beginning at 7:45 pm, MDT, at the Jackson Flat Reservoir boat launch parking area.  On this night A3 will […]

Aug 20

Marvelous Moons

By Kat Troche, NASA Night Sky Network,Eric Sims, Stellar Vista Observatory Did you know there are more than 200 moons in our Solar System? Most of them orbit Jupiter and Saturn. Both Jupiter and Saturn are visible this September, along with several of their moons. Saturn rises around 9pm, and Jupiter rises around midnight. Come […]