![]() NPS/Peter Densmore Bryce Canyon Astronomy Festival
2022Schedule of EventsOur 2023 festival is scheduled for June 14-17. Check back later for an updated schedule!Daytime Activities11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.Family Friendly activities in the Visitor Center plaza including booths from the James Webb Space Telescope team and University of Utah. Evening ProgramsStar Stories8:30 p.m. 45 minutes Our Backyard: Exploring Venus and Mars9:00 p.m. 45 minutes Stargazing10:00 p.m. - Midnight Volunteers from the Salt Lake Astronomical Society 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 Activities11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Evening ProgramsBlack Holes8:30 p.m. 60 minutes From Lead to Gold: The Alchemy of the Stars9:00 p.m. 60 minutes Stargazing10:00 p.m. - Midnight Volunteers from the Salt Lake Astronomical Society 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 Activities11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Evening ProgramStar Stories8:30 p.m. 45 minutes Keynote Program100 Things to See in the Night Sky: Stargazing 101Dean Regas, Cincinnati Observatory9:00 p.m. 60 minutes Stargazing10:00 p.m. - Midnight Volunteers from the Salt Lake Astronomical Society 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 Activities11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Keynote ProgramsTour of the Universe: You Are HereDean Regas, Cincinnati Observatory Unfold the Universe with NASA’s James Webb Space TelescopeBill Ochs, Webb Project Manager & Begoña Vila, Webb Instrument Systems Engineer8:30 p.m. 90 minutes Stargazing10:00 p.m. - Midnight Volunteers from the Salt Lake Astronomical Society 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 2022 Festival ActivitiesClick the text above for a map of 2022 festival activities. Star ShuttleEach 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
Daytime ActivitiesDaytime 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 ProgramsEvening 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 SiteThis 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 CancellationsIn the event that weather requires cancelling telescope viewing, we will post an update no later than 9 p.m. to our Twitter page. No account is needed to view the page. TransportationParking 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 ParkingDisabled 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 BringOvernight 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. AmenitiesPortapotties will be available at the Telescope Site. No other amenities will be available. ![]() NPS/Keith Moore |
Last updated: December 26, 2022