Annual Astronomy Festival

 
 
a group of people stargaze, illuminated by red lights

NPS/Peter Densmore

Bryce Canyon Astronomy Festival


There’s no place quite like Bryce Canyon by day, and no time like a new moon in June to enjoy it by night. Astronomy festivals feature family-friendly daytime activities and special evening programs, telescope viewing, and constellation tours.

See below for our schedule of events. As always, attending the festival is free with park admission.

Visit our Ranger Program page for more information on our regularly-offered ranger programs.

 

2024

Schedule of Events

Our 2024 festival is scheduled from Wednesday, June 5 through Saturday, June 8.

Daytime Activities

11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Family Friendly activities in the Visitor Center plaza.

Evening Programs

Star Stories

8:30 p.m. 45 minutes
Planetarium Educator Dr. Amy Sayle takes you on a trip through the constellations and the eternal legends they tell. Help act out one of the greatest star stories ever told.

Dr. Amy Sayle is a longtime planetarium educator, storyteller, coordinator of  large public skywatching events, coordinator of North Carolina's annual Statewide Star Party, and member of the Chapel Hill and Raleigh astronomy clubs.

Location given at sign-up. This program requires reservations, which can be made same-day at the Visitor Center Information Tent beginning at 8 a.m. until capacity is reached.

Evening Program (Details Coming)

9:00 p.m. 45 minutes

Location given at sign-up. This program requires reservations, which can be made same-day at the Visitor Center Information Tent beginning at 8 a.m. until capacity is reached.

Stargazing

10:00 p.m. - Midnight
Aditional Parking lot across from Visitor Center

Shuttle hours will be extended for the festival. As parking at the Visitor Center and evening program locations will be limited, we advise parking at the Shuttle Station or boarding from your campground in the park. Shuttles will run until 12:15 a.m.

Volunteers point their telescopes at some of the night sky's most spectacular sights. White-light flashlights are prohibited due to their negative impact on night vision.

Daytime Activities

11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Family Friendly activities in the Visitor Center plaza.

Evening Programs

Evening Program (Details Coming)

9:00 p.m. 45 minutes

Location given at sign-up. This program requires reservations, which can be made same-day at the Visitor Center Information Tent beginning at 8 a.m. until capacity is reached.

Evening Program (Details Coming)

9:00 p.m. 45 minutes

Location given at sign-up. This program requires reservations, which can be made same-day at the Visitor Center Information Tent beginning at 8 a.m. until capacity is reached.

Stargazing

10:00 p.m. - Midnight
Aditional Parking lot across from Visitor Center

Shuttle hours will be extended for the festival. As parking at the Visitor Center and evening program locations will be limited, we advise parking at the Shuttle Station or boarding from your campground in the park. Shuttles will run until 12:15 a.m.

Volunteers point their telescopes at some of the night sky's most spectacular sights. White-light flashlights are prohibited due to their negative impact on night vision.

Daytime Activities

11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Family Friendly activities in the Visitor Center plaza.

Evening Program

The Amazing Nung'Wu Universe

9:00 p.m. 45 minutes
Explore the night sky and various constellations through the eyes of the Southern Paiute people. Information will also be given on the how the journey started to revitalize the skill of watching the pootseevs (stars).

Autumn Gillard is the Cultural Resource Manager for the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah. She is a maternal descendant of the Cedar Band of Paiutes which is a part of the Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah. She holds an associate degree in social and behavioral science, and earned her undergrad degree at Southern Utah University where she graduated magna cum laude majoring in Anthropology and minoring in Psychology. She is currently finishing up my master's degree in cultural resource management at New Mexico Highlands University.

Location given at sign-up. This program requires reservations, which can be made same-day at the Visitor Center Information Tent beginning at 8 a.m. until capacity is reached.

Star Stories

8:30 p.m. 45 minutes
Planetarium Educator Dr. Amy Sayle takes you on a trip through the constellations and the eternal legends they tell. Help act out one of the greatest star stories ever told.

Dr. Amy Sayle is a longtime planetarium educator, storyteller, coordinator of  large public skywatching events, coordinator of North Carolina's annual Statewide Star Party, and member of the Chapel Hill and Raleigh astronomy clubs.

Location given at sign-up. This program requires reservations, which can be made same-day at the Visitor Center Information Tent beginning at 8 a.m. until capacity is reached.

Stargazing

10:00 p.m. - Midnight
Aditional Parking lot across from Visitor Center

Shuttle hours will be extended for the festival. As parking at the Visitor Center and evening program locations will be limited, we advise parking at the Shuttle Station or boarding from your campground in the park. Shuttles will run until 12:15 a.m.

Volunteers point their telescopes at some of the night sky's most spectacular sights. White-light flashlights are prohibited due to their negative impact on night vision.

Daytime Activities

11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Family Friendly activities in the Visitor Center plaza.

Keynote Program

NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope (Details Coming)

9:00 p.m. 45 minutes

Location given at sign-up. This program requires reservations, which can be made same-day at the Visitor Center Information Tent beginning at 8 a.m. until capacity is reached.

Stargazing

10:00 p.m. - Midnight
Aditional Parking lot across from Visitor Center

Shuttle hours will be extended for the festival. As parking at the Visitor Center and evening program locations will be limited, we advise parking at the Shuttle Station or boarding from your campground in the park. Shuttles will run until 12:15 a.m.

Volunteers point their telescopes at some of the night sky's most spectacular sights. White-light flashlights are prohibited due to their negative impact on night vision.

 

Map of 2023 Festival Activities

Learn more about where to go for the 2023 Bryce Canyon Astronomy Festival by visiting the activity map.

 

Star Shuttle

Each night of the festival, shuttle service will continue to limited locations between 8 p.m. and 12:15 a.m. Parking will be limited at Evening Program and Telescope locations, so we strongly recommend parking at the Shuttle Station in Bryce Canyon City (2 miles north of park entrance) and riding the Star Shuttle into the park. Shuttles arrive at each stop every 15 minutes. Use of the Star Shuttle is free with park admission.

Star Shuttle Stops

  • Shuttle Station
  • Ruby's Inn Campground
  • Visitor Center (Telescope Viewing Site)
  • Sunset Campground
  • Bryce Lodge
  • North Campground Outdoor Theater
 

Daytime Activities

Daytime activities include activity tents, solar telescopes, and other opportunities open to the public at the Visitor Center between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. each day of the festival.

 

Evening Programs

Evening Programs are the only festival events that require a free ticket. Pick up a ticket the day of the program at the Visitor Center Information Desk. Programs are held at 8:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. each night, and the location is shared when you pick up your ticket. See Schedule of Events above for program details.

 

Telescope Stargazing Site

This year's telescope site will be located within the park across the street from the Visitor Center. It will be open each night of the festival from 10 p.m. to midnight and is open to the public. We are excited to share the night sky with our visitors, and thank our partners at the Salt Lake Astronomical Society and University of Utah for their participation, expertise, and generosity with their telescopes.

Weather Cancellations

In the event that weather requires cancelling telescope viewing, we will post an update no later than 10 p.m. to our Twitter page. No account is needed to view the page.

Transportation

Parking at the Visitor Center will be very limited, so we strongly recommend parking at the Shuttle Station and riding the Star Shuttle into the park. If you're staying at a park campground or the Lodge, you can pick the shuttle up there. The last shuttle bus leaving the Visitor Center will depart each night around 12:15 a.m. and we'll ensure everyone gets where they need to go.

Disabled Parking

Disabled parking spaces are available at the Visitor Center and the Telescope site. Star shuttles are also fully accessible. If Visitor Center spaces are full, a ranger can direct you to disabled parking spaces at the turn for North Campground (first left past Visitor Center).

What to Bring

Overnight temperatures are typically in the 40s Fahrenheit. A light jacket is a good idea if you plan to be outside for awhile after dark. While red light flashlights are okay, we ask that no white light flashlights be used due to their negative effect on night vision. After using a white light, it can take well over thirty minutes for your eyes to begin to readjust to the profound darkness of Bryce Canyon.

Amenities

Portapotties will be available at the Telescope Site. No other amenities will be available.

 
Milky way galaxy and a sky of stars above a silhouette of rock spires and cliffs

NPS/Keith Moore

 

Last updated: March 20, 2024

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

P.O Box 640201
Bryce, UT 84764

Phone:

435 834-5322
Phones are answered and messages returned as soon as possible as staffing allows.

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