Nov 1

Building Your Stargazing Toolkit: Helpful Equipment for Hosting Star Parties

Essentials for an Unforgettable Night Under the Stars If your tour company is planning to launch stargazing experiences, you’re about to create something truly magical — moments your guests will remember forever. Whether your guides are brand new to astronomy or seasoned space enthusiasts, having the right tools (and a bit of background knowledge) makes […]

Sep 10

Explore the Night Sky with SVO in September!

Stellar Vista Observatory (SVO) is hosting a series of exciting public astronomy events this fall. From free star parties to a unique starlit dinner experience, there’s something for everyone who wants to connect with the cosmos. The series begins on Friday, September 12, with a public star party at Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park […]

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 […]

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 […]