Stellar Vista Observatory hosts monthly star parties that are free and open to the public. Our goal is to create opportunities for families, friends, and individuals to learn together and marvel at the beauty of the night sky. Our passionate volunteer astronomers are on hand to guide you through a fascinating journey of discovery.

We always have telescopes and binoculars set up to help you get great views of the cosmos. If you own a telescope, feel free to arrive early and set it up. If you’d like to learn how to use your telescope more effectively, just let us know, and we will gladly assist you!

Not sure what to bring to the star party? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions page.

Upcoming Star Parties

DateDescriptionLocationStart Time*Backup Date
December 21, 2024Celebrate the Winter Solstice with SVO – the longest night of the year! We’ll see Jupiter, Saturn, Orion, the Pleiades, and more!Jackson Flat Reservoir6:30pm
January 24, 2025Orion and the Orion Nebula, Mars in Gemini, the Beehive Star Cluster appears, and last chance to see Saturn until September!Jackson Flat Reservoir6:30pm
February 14, 2025Leo appears, which means Spring is almost here! See Venus as a crescent. Last chance to see Andromeda Galaxy until the Fall.Jackson Flat Reservoir7:00pmFebruary 15, 2025
March 7, 2025Celebrating influential women in astronomy for International Women’s DayTBD7:00pmMarch 8, 2025
March 28, 2025Jupiter, Mars, the Perseus Double Cluster, and Orion under a wonderfully dark skyCoral Pink Sand Dunes State Park**8:30pmMarch 29, 2025
April 25, 2025“Every Kid Outdoors” with the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation – The Beehive Cluster, Mars, Jupiter, and last chance to see Orion until winter!Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park**8:30pm
April 26, 2026Celebrating International Dark Sky Week with the Beehive Cluster, Coma Berenices, Jupiter, Gemini, and more!Jackson Flat Reservoir8:30pm
May 23, 2025The Great Hercules Cluster, Galaxies in Virgo, Mars, and the Ghost of Jupiter Planetary NebulaCoral Pink Sand Dunes State Park**9:30pmMay 24, 2025
June 20, 2025Celebrating the Summer Solstice: See the Summer Triangle, Scorpius, and the Butterfly Cluster!Jackson Flat Reservoir9:30pm
* All times are Utah time unless otherwise noted
** Events at the State Park carry a fee of $5/vehicle

If you would like to schedule a Night Sky Experience on a date other than our public star parties, click here to reserve a private Night Sky Experience.

Past Events

Click below to expand and view past events

2024 Events
DateDescriptionLocationStart Time*Backup Date
January 27, 20246% Crescent MoonJackson Flat Reservoir6:30pm
February 12, 2024Star Party with Local BusinessKanab6:45pm
February 17, 2024Balloons & Tunes – Glow on Center StreetCenter Street, Kanab7:00pm
February 20, 2024STEM FestKanab Center9:00am
February 21, 2024STEM FestKanab Center9:00am
February 23, 2024Star Party with local Girl Scout TroopKanab6:30pm
March 7, 2024Celebrating Influential Women in Astronomy!Kanab City Library7:00pm
March 22, 2024Beehive cluster in Cancer, Orion Nebula, Andromeda GalaxyCoral Pink Sand Dunes State Park8:30pm
April 3, 2024International Dark Sky WeekPipe Spring National Monument7:00pm
April 8, 2024Solar EclipseKanab City Library11:00am
April 19, 2024Moonlight PromenadeJackson Flat Reservoir8:30pm
April 20, 2024Public Solar ObservationKanab City Library12:00pm
April 23, 2024Solar Science Experience – Forest SchoolHeart Water Farm11:00am
April 24, 2024Solar Science Experience – Kanab Homeschool GroupJacob Hamblin Park10:30am
April 26, 2024Solar Science ExperienceKanab City Library10:00am
May 1, 2024Solar Science Experience – Local Children’s Activity GroupKanab3:15pm
May 2, 2024Solar Science Experience – Local Children’s Activity GroupKanab3:30pm
May 3, 2024Earth Day FestivalJacob Hamblin Park3:00pm
May 3, 2024Coral Pink Sand Dunes Spring Star PartyCoral Pink Sand Dunes State Park8:30pmMay 4, 2024
May 4, 2024Solar Science ExperienceKanab City Library10:00am
May 8, 2024Solar Science Experience – Local church youth groupKanab6:30pm
May 10, 2024Amazing EarthfestKanab City Library9:00pm
May 11, 2024Amazing EarthfestJackson Flat Reservoir9:00pm
May 16, 2024Solar Science Experience – Local Children’s Activity GroupKanab3:15pm
June 12, 2024Solar Science Experience – 4H Boys Tech CampMaker Space2:30pm
June 12, 2024Solar Science Experience – Local church youth groupKanab6:30pm
June 15, 2024Solar Science ExperienceKanab City Library10:00am
June 20, 2024Solstice Skate
Jackson Flat Reservoir		9:30pm
June 21, 2024Solar Science Experience – Rascal RodeoKaneplex Rodeo Grounds10:00am
June 21, 2024Full Moon Summer Solstice
Jackson Flat Reservoir		9:00pm
June 22, 2024Solar Science ExperienceKanab City Library11:00am
June 29, 2024For early risers! Planetary alignmentJackson Flat Reservoir4:30am
July 20, 2024Full Moon and VenusJackson Flat Reservoir8:30pm
August 5, 2024For early risers! Mars, Jupiter, and Aldebaran form a triangle in the early morning skyJackson Flat Reservoir8:30pm
August 9, 2024Perseids Meteor Shower, Moon ObservationJackson Flat Reservoir8:30pm
August 12, 2024Perseids Meteor ShowerNomad Cafe9:15pm
September 13, 2024International Observe the Moon Night!Kanab City Library7:00pm
September 20, 2024
September 21, 2024		The dazzling constellations of Scorpius and Sagittarius cradling the Butterfly and Ptolemy Clusters are the “stars” of the late summer sky while Saturn makes its return!Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park8:00pmSeptember 21, 2024
September 27, 2024“Desert Starlight in Kanab” – a special fee-based event. Catered Supper, followed by an Astrophotography Workshop and Stargazing! Attendance is limited to 25 persons. tickets at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/desert-starlight-in-kanab-tickets-928602704687Kanab6:00pm to 10:30pm
October 2, 2024Enjoy beautifully dark skies and see the Andromeda galaxy, Saturn, the Hercules globular cluster, and many moreJacob Lake Campground Amphitheater8:00pm MDT (7:00pm AZ Time)
October 4, 2024Join us at Grand Circle Trailfest and see Saturn’s rings, star clusters, and double stars
Jacob Hamblin Park in Kanab		8:00pm
October 14, 2024Catch a Comet! SVO hosts a special event to view the bright Comet A3 Tsuchinshan in the western sky!Jackson Flat Reservoir7:45pm
October 25, 2024Behold the Andromeda Galaxy, Saturn, and the Perseus Star Clusters from a lovely dark location!Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park7:30pm
October 26, 2024
November 1, 2024
Come see the Perseus double star clusters, Saturn, and the Andromeda Galaxy!Jackson Flat Reservoir7:15pm
December 4, 2024Close arrangement of the moon (14% illuminated), Venus, the M75 Globular Cluster, and Pluto.Jackson Flat Reservoir6:30pm
2023 Events
DateDescriptionLocationStart Time*Backup Date
January 23, 2023Appulse of Venus and Saturn with Crescent MoonJackson Flat Reservoir7:00pm
February 1, 2023Star Party for local Boy Scout troopPeekaboo Trailhead8:00pm
February 10, 2023Comet ZTF Visits MarsSand Caves Parking7:00pm
April 14, 2023Indigenous Perspectives and Leave No Trace W/GSEPPonderosa Grove Campground7:00pm
May 14, 2023Mother’s Day Stars, Venus, and MarsJackson Flat Reservoir9:00pm
May 18, 2023Light Pollution and the Stars Powerpoint Presentation by Paul Ricketts, Univ. of Utah (SPO) followed by a Star Party with Amazing EarthfestNomad Cafe9:00pm
May 19, 2023Endangered Species Star Party – Outdoor Lighting Demo & Star Party in collaboration with IDA, NWF, & Amazing EarthfestZion View Star Field9:00pm
May 20, 2023Supper & Stars, Talk by UofU student on lava tubes on the Moon and MarsKanab5:00pm
June 16, 2023SVO participated in 2023 Kaibab Lodge Star Party with an astronomy talk by SVO’s Colin Littlefield on Black HolesN Kaibab NF7:30pm
June 17, 2023SVO participated in 2023 Kaibab Lodge Star Party with an astronomy talk by SVO’s Colin Littlefield on Variable StarsN Kaibab NF7:30pm
June 21, 20231st Day Summer Star Party, Appulse of Venus & 13% Moon, Mars nearJackson Flat Reservoir9:30pm
July 21, 2023The Planets Line Up, Mercury, Venus, Mars, and a 15% MoonJackson Flat Reservoir9:30pm
August 12, 2023Deep Sky Watching: The Milky Way with Perseid MeteorsJackson Flat Reservoir9:15pm
September 9, 2023Grandparents Night with our Galaxy & the Return of Saturn, new moonKanab City Library8:00pm
September 15, 2023Southwest Astronomy FestivalZion View Star Field8:00pm
October 4, 2023Star Party for local church youth groupKanab Elementary School7:00pm
October 14, 2023Annular Solar Eclipse (Annularity 10:28-10:31)Kanab Center9:00am
October 14, 2023Night of Annular Solar Eclipse Saturn & the Milky Way, DraconidsJackson Flat Reservoir8:30pm
October 30, 2023Kanab Elementary 2nd Grade Moon PartyKanab Elementary School7:30pm
November 1, 2023Star Party with local businessJackson Flat Reservoir7:00pm
November 7, 2023Star Party for local church youth groupJackson Flat Reservoir7:00pm
November 20, 2023Appulse of Saturn & 57% Moon (2 deg. 29 min.) Leonids & GeminidsJackson Flat Reservoir7:00pm
December 1, 2023Polar Express Star Party Levi Stewart Memorial Park5:00pm
December 13, 2023Geminid Meteor Peak, 1% moon, Saturn & Jupiter visible, Uranus & NeptuneJackson Flat Reservoir7:00pm
December 14, 2023Local Stargazing at the ReservoirJackson Flat Reservoir7:00pm