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 […]

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 […]

Aug 1

Seeing Double (Stars)

August is an exciting month for stargazing because it brings the peak of the Perseid meteor shower! Stellar Vista Observatory (SVO) is so excited for it that we have added another star party to our calendar on Sunday, August 11th at 9:15pm at the Nomad Cafe, just north of Kanab on Highway 89. Come for […]

Jul 30

The Wonders of Meteor Showers: Perseids and Geminids

In August, we will be treated to an amazing spectacle: the Perseid meteor shower. This dazzling display happens when Earth travels through the debris left by Comet Swift-Tuttle. As these particles enter our atmosphere, they burn up, creating bright streaks of light. I used to wonder how astronomers could predict the peak date and time […]

Jun 15

June Star Parties in Kanab!

Kanab’s nonprofit Stellar Vista Observatory (SVO) has scheduled four occasions during the month of June, 2024, in its ongoing series of free public star parties and solar science observing opportunities. SVO’s June programs will enable residents and visitors in southern Utah to witness, through the eyepiece of its telescopes, the stunning beauty of the night […]

Feb 24

March 2024 Free Public Star Parties

Through its monthly public star party series, Kanab, Utah’s nonprofit Stellar Vista Observatory (SVO) provides observational experiences for people to enjoy, appreciate and comprehend what we can see in the exceptionally starry skies of southern Utah. For the month of March, two public star parties are planned. Kanab Library will host the first while Coral […]

Dec 5

SVO to finish its 2023 series of Monthly Star Parties during Geminids Meteor Shower!

Wednesday, December 13, 2023, is a special night for stargazing. That’s because its the best night to observe the Geminids Meteor Shower! Kanab’s nonprofit Stellar Vista Observatory will facilitate a memorable night sky experience by hosting our last free monthly public star party in our 2023 series from 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm. During that […]

Sep 11

2023 Southwest Astronomy Festival Comes to Kanab!

This week on September 15, 16 and 17, the National Park Service, in collaboration with community partners, invites everyone to experience the wonders of the stars at a wide range of activities in southwest Utah’s Washington, Kane and Iron Counties. Participating agencies, communities and organizations include Cedar Breaks National Monument, Zion National Park, Utah Department […]

Sep 11

A Star Party for Grandparents Day!

At this month’s free public star party, compliments of Kanab’s Stellar Vista Observatory, grandparents are invited to bring their grandchildren to Kanab City Library for a laser guided tour of the late summer constellations and a look at the stars, star clusters and even a few nebulae deep in our Milky Way galaxy! For this […]