Grand Canyon Star Party

Things to Know about the 2025 Star Party

• Attend this free, open to the general public, event. The park entrance fee, is good on both South and North rims for 7 days. No additional tickets or sign-up is required.
• The event begins at sunset, although the best viewing is after 9 pm and many telescopes come down after 11 pm; however, on nights with clear, calm skies, some astronomers continue sharing their telescopes into the night.
• Campground or lodging reservations are recommended.
• Dress warmly. Temperatures drop quickly after sunset—even during summer months.
• View an assortment of planets, double stars, star clusters, nebulae and distant galaxies by night, and perhaps the Sun or Venus by day.
• Skies will be starry and dark until the moon rises the first night. It rises progressively later throughout the week of the Star Party.
• Bring a red flashlight. Make your way safely: use a red flashlight; white flashlights and cell phone lights are discouraged on the telescope lot.

South Rim Star Party 2025

Events include nightly evening programs from special guest speakers at 8:00 pm outdoors, in the plaza in front of the Visitor Center. The speakers and program topics are listed below, To get a good seat arrive early —seating is limited. Bring a folding chair, or cushions to sit on.

The evening programs are followed by telescope viewing in the large lot behind the Visitor Center. Follow the red rope lights to the telescope lot.

Park rangers offer constellation tours at 9:00 p.m., 9:30 p.m., and 10:00 pm. The evening program, constellation tours, and at least one telescope are wheelchair accessible.

Plan on driving your vehicle and parking in Visitor Center lots 1 through 4, since the last Village (Blue) Route shuttle is at 8:30 pm. Lot 4 provides the nearest accessible parking.

The South Rim Star Party is sponsored by the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association.

Amateur astronomers from across the country volunteer their expertise and offer free nightly astronomy programs and telescope viewing during this special annual event.

Star Party Evening Programs (South Rim)

Presentations take place outdoors in the plaza in front of the Visitor Center. Presentations start at 8:00 p.m. (Limited-capacity seating - so bring a folding chair or cushions to sit on.)

Saturday, June 21
Iron Rain and Supersonic Winds: What Exo-Jupiters Can Teach Us About Our Own Solar System 
Dr. James Sikora - Astronomer at Lowell Observatory
Discover the wonders and current research of hot-Jupiter-like planets across our galaxy

Sunday, June 22
How Stars Shape Worlds 
Dr. Tyler Richey-Yowell - Astronomer at Lowell Observatory
Learn about cutting-edge research about space-weather environments around stars.

Monday, June 23
Tour of the Universe: You are Here
Dean Regas - Author, astronomer, host of "Looking Up" podcast
Rocket through space and sail among billions of stars and galaxies as you contemplate the mind-blowing scale of the universe.

Tuesday, June 24
Astronaut Training at the Grand Canyon
Kevin Schindler - Author, Historian at Lowell Observatory
Discover the amazing history of the Apollo astronauts' connection to Grand Canyon!

Wednesday, June 25
Galaxies: Inside the Universe’s Star Cities
David Eicher - Editor-in-Chief of Astronomy Magazine
Learn about the incredible diversity and sheer number of galaxies in our universe. 

Thursday, June 26
Exploring the Hopi Cosmos
Gerald Dawavendewa - Hopi Artist
Discover the Hopi peoples’ cultural connections to the cosmos through artwork.

Friday, June 27
Dark Sky Piano Performance
Dr. David Koerner - Astronomer, musician in the Dark Skies Quartet
Listen to a beautiful piano performance themed around dark skies!

Saturday, June 28
The Amazing Nuwuvi Universe
Autumn Gillard - Southern Paiute Astronomer
Soar into space with an indigenous astronomer and learn about the cultural connection that the Southern Paiute have with the dark sky.

Constellation Talks (South Rim)

Constellation talks happen every night of the event: 9, 9:30 and 10 pm

North Rim Star Party 2025

Telescopes are set up on the porch of the Grand Canyon Lodge every evening. An astronomy-related evening program will be presented at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium of Grand Canyon Lodge. Check the park bulletin boards for the evening program schedule. Constellation talks are also given throughout the evening. By day, look for solar telescopes set up at various locations.

The North Rim Star Party is sponsored by the Saguaro Astronomy Club of Phoenix, Arizona.

Star Party Evening Programs (North Rim)

North Rim Lodge Auditorium, Presentations start at 7:30 p.m. (Limited-capacity seating)

Saturday, June 21
Kevin Schindler
Astronaut Training at Grand Canyon
Astronomer in Residence Alumni

Saturday, June 21
Kevin Schindler
Dark Skies over Arizona
Astronomer in Residence Alumni
                                                           
Monday, June 23
David Koerner
At home in the Cosmos
Astronomer in Residence Alumni

Tuesday, June 24
Dean Regas
Tour of the Universe: You are Here
Astronomer in Residence Alumni

Wednesday, June 25
Dean Regas
Archeoastronomy
Astronomer in Residence Alumni

Thursday, June 26
Dean Regas
Deep Space: What Can I See Out There?
Astronomer in Residence Alumni

Friday, June 27
Lauren Camp
Poetry Under the Stars
Astronomer in Residence Alumni

Saturday, June 28
Jason Hoover
Basic Milky Way photography
VIP, Saguaro Astronomy Club

Constellation Talks (North Rim)

Constellation talks happen every night of the event: 9, 9:30 and 10 pm meeting at the North Rim Lodge Sun Room

View the latest from NPS updates here.