Death Valley Dark Sky Festival

Get a little out of this world with an unforgettable celestial show. The Death Valley Dark Sky Festival takes you on an interstellar journey with space and night sky lectures from the pros at Death Valley National Park, the Death Valley Natural History Association, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Ames Research Center, The Las Vegas Astronomical Society, SETI Institute, and the California Institute of Technology.

Throughout the weekend, the Death Valley Dark Sky Festival offers a wide range of engaging programs designed for stargazers of all experience levels. Festival highlights typically include expert-led talks on astronomy, light pollution, and night photography; beginner-friendly astrophotography sessions focused on capturing the night sky; interactive exploration fairs with hands-on activities and opportunities to connect with scientists and rangers; and evening astronomy programs featuring ranger-led telescope viewing under some of the darkest skies in the country. Together, these experiences invite visitors to learn, explore, and fully immerse themselves in Death Valley’s internationally recognized dark sky environment.

Accessible from Beatty, Amargosa Valley, and Pahrump, Death Valley National Park is an incredible place to explore by day, and just as breathtaking (if not more!) at night. With some of the best stargazing in the country thanks to almost zero surrounding light pollution, Death Valley National Park has been designated as a Gold Tier Dark Sky Park—the highest rating of darkness by DarkSky.

While admission to this event is free, admission to the park in order to access the event is not. For a full list of Death Valley fees and passes, click here. For a complete schedule of Dark Sky Festival events and more information on planning your trip to Death Valley, get in touch with the park directly at (760) 786-3200.