Southwest Astronomy Festival 2023

 

NPS photo

Join us throughout Southwest Utah for both daytime and nighttime astronomy programs. From Cedar Breaks to Zion, or Cedar City to St. George, come experience a dark night sky close to home.

Friday, September 15th

Sunset: 7:41 PM; Moonset: 8:12 PM; Astronomical Twilight End: 9:09 PM

When: 8 PM to 9 PM Cedar Breaks National Monument, Northview Overlook
Where: Cedar Breaks National Monument, Northview Overlook
What: How to Take Amazing Photos of the Night Sky with Your Smartphone
Have you noticed how your advanced smartphone can take photos at night? Come and learn how to get wonderful night sky pictures with your iPhone or Android phone. I will talk about settings and techniques that can help you get the best pictures possible.
Learn about built-in phone camera features, additional apps, optional accessories, and more that can help you get beautiful night sky photos with your smartphone. This class includes a presentation with an instructional PDF to download to your phone, question-and-answer time, and a hands-on portion at the end where you will take night sky photos with your phone at this beautiful location.

When: 9 PM to 11 PM Star Party Cedar Breaks NM
Where: Cedar Breaks National Monument, Northview Overlook
What: Stargazing with rangers and volunteers from the St George Astronomy Group. Take a tour of the Solar System, the Milky Way and the Galaxy. Learn about constellations and asterisms, how they connect cultures across the oceans of time and the upcoming annular and total eclipses.

When: 8 PM to 10:30 PM Stargazing Night with Guest Speaker Zion National Park
Where: South Campground Amphitheater
What: Our featured guest speaker is a heliophysicist that has studied the life and properties of stars all her career. Dr. Madhulika Guhathakurta, Lika, is Senior Advisor for New Initiatives, Heliophysics, NASA GSFC/Program Scientist, NASA HQ.
For the past two decades, Dr. Guhathakurta has enabled the development of Heliophysics as an integrated scientific discipline from which fundamental discoveries about our universe provide direct societal benefits. As the Lead for the Living With a Star (LWS) program for 16 years since its initiation in 2000, she made possible the flagship missions (e.g., the Solar Dynamics Observatory, Van Allen Probes, Solar Orbiter Collaboration with European Space Agency and Parker Solar Probe), many other missions, including STEREO that would revolutionize our understanding of how the Sun shapes space weather in the solar system.
Talk followed by stargazing constellation tour.

When: 9 PM to 10:30 PM SUU Star Party at Ashcroft Observatory
Where: SUU’s Ashcroft Observatory, 745 S Hillcrest Dr, Cedar City, UT 84720
What: At the Ashcroft Observatory, we will be observing several highlights in the Milky Way, including the Lagoon Nebula and the Double cluster. The two largest planets of the Solar System, Jupiter, and Saturn, will also be up, and Saturn’s ring will dazzle in the eyepiece. Additionally, the Moon will be in an attractive crescent phase that will be very favorable for viewing. The Ashcroft Observatory is located just off Westview Drive near the SUU farm.

When: 8 PM to 11 PM Star Party by members of Kanab’s nonprofit Stellar Vista Observatory
Where: Jackson Flat Reservoir Boat Launch, Kaneplex Drive, Kanab. This location is close to town with restrooms.
What: Learn how to operate one of SVO’s small portable telescopes, or bring your own and join the fun! Find out about SVO’s plans to build an educational astronomical observatory in Kanab for public enjoyment of the night sky at https://www.stellarvistaobservatory.org.

When: 8 PM to 9:30 PM– Scorpion Night Hike by Conserve Southwest Utah
Where: Red Cliffs Desert Reserve
What: Join us for a scorpion night hike in the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve. Experience the thrill of obscure local biodiversity with arachnid specialist, Zach Valois, of Conserve Southwest Utah. We’ll meet a live scorpion or two, explore the variety of scorpions found in our special ecotone, learn about scorpion safety and dispel common myths, contemplate the special connection between scorpions and the stars that shine down from protected dark night skies like those above Red Cliffs, and learn how to spot the Scorpius constellation. This is a great, short hike for kids and a fun addition to the Southwest Astronomy Festival. Stormy conditions could lead to this hike being canceled, so please RSVP to receive updates and location details.
This hike is limited to 15 participants.

Recommendations [to include in listing or RSVP correspondence]:
- light jacket or sweater, long pants, and close-toed shoes
- personal use drinking water
- white or other visible-light flashlight (UV flashlights will be provided)
RSVP at https://forms.gle/BfyTgbo1sitsy8ue6
Contact: Zach Valois; [e-mail]

Saturday, September 16th

Sunset: 7:39 PM; Moonset: 8:34 PM; Astronomical Twilight End: 9:07 PM

When: 10 AM to 1 PM Solar Viewing at Red Hills Garden with the St George Astronomy Group
Where: Red Hills Desert Garden, 375 Red Hills Pkwy, St. George, UT 84770
What: Safely view, enjoy, and learn about our closest star, the sun! We will also talk about the upcoming annular solar eclipse of October 14th, 2023, and the total solar eclipse of April 8, 2024. Join park rangers from Grand Canyon-Parashant, St. George Astronomy Group, and CEBR staff for solar viewing and activities for kids.

When: 11 AM to 2 PM Solar Viewing Cedar Breaks at Northview Overlook
Where: Cedar Breaks NM, Northview Overlook
What: Learn about the Sun, our source of light, heat, and energy, and the closest star. We will also discuss the upcoming annular solar eclipse of October 14th, 2023, and the total solar eclipse of April 8, 2024. Led by Cedar Break’s Astronomy Volunteers.

When: 2 PM to 4 PM Family Day at Cedar City Library with Portable Planetarium by SUU
Where: Cedar City Library
What: Portable planetarium, astronomy activities, and storytelling. Hosted by Cedar City Library and SUU’s Ashcroft Observatory staff.

When: 1 PM to 4 PM Family Day at Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA)
Where: Cedar City, SUMA, 13 S 300 W, Cedar City
What: Come celebrate the sun, moon, and stars at SUMA! In partnership with Cedar Breaks National Monument and their annual Astronomy Festival, SUMA is proud to bring you a celebration of the celestial at the museum. There will be live music and a hands-on art activity for all ages. Admission is free. CEBR staff will provide a solar telescope for observing the sun safely.

When: 8 PM to 11 PM Star Party Cedar Breaks NM
Where: Cedar Breaks National Monument, Northview Overlook
What: The fantastic life of stars. Our featured guest speaker is a heliophysicist that has studied the life and properties of stars all her career. Dr. Madhulika Guhathakurta, Lika, is Senior Advisor for New Initiatives, Heliophysics, NASA GSFC/Program Scientist, NASA HQ.
For the past two decades, Dr. Guhathakurta has enabled the development of Heliophysics as an integrated scientific discipline from which fundamental discoveries about our universe provide direct societal benefits. As the Lead for the Living With a Star (LWS) program for 16 years since its initiation in 2000, she made possible the flagship missions (e.g., the Solar Dynamics Observatory, Van Allen Probes, Solar Orbiter Collaboration with European Space Agency and Parker Solar Probe), many other missions, including STEREO that would revolutionize our understanding of how the Sun shapes space weather in the solar system.
Talk followed by stargazing and telescope observation.

When: 8 PM to 11 PM St George Star Party with Stargazer Astronomy Club of Utah Tech
Where: Vernon Worthen Park is 300 S 400 E, St. George, UT 84770
What: Join the stellar and bright members of the Trailblazers Astronomy Club of Utah Tech. Learn about constellations, observe stars and other deep sky objects with telescopes, and get illuminated by their passionate energy for the cosmos.

Sunday, September 17th

Sunset: 7:38 PM; Moonset: 8:57 PM; Astronomical Twilight End: 9:05 PM

When: 8 PM to 11 PM Star Party Cedar Breaks NM
Where: Cedar Breaks National Monument, Northview Overlook
What: Stargazing with rangers and volunteers from the St George Astronomy Group. Take a tour of the Solar System, the Milky Way, and the Galaxy. Learn about deep sky objects, other galaxies, constellations, and asterisms and how they connect cultures across the oceans of time. Get information about the upcoming annular and total eclipses.

When: 8 PM to 11 PM Star Party Gunlock State Park with the St George Astronomy Group
Where: Gunlock Rd, Gunlock, UT
What: View planets, stars, and galaxies with the St. George Astronomy Group in one of Southern Utah’s darkest locations. (Red headlamps and/or flashlights are recommended)

When: 8 PM to 11 PM Star Party at Springdale Parks & Recreation
Where: Springdale Community Center, 126 Lion Blvd, Springdale, UT 84767
What: The fantastic life of stars. Our featured guest speaker is a heliophysicist that has studied the life and properties of stars all her career. Dr. Madhulika Guhathakurta, Lika, is Senior Advisor for New Initiatives, Heliophysics, NASA GSFC/Program Scientist, NASA HQ.
For the past two decades, Dr. Guhathakurta has enabled the development of Heliophysics as an integrated scientific discipline from which fundamental discoveries about our universe provide direct societal benefits. As the Lead for the Living With a Star (LWS) program for 16 years since its initiation in 2000, she made possible the flagship missions (e.g., the Solar Dynamics Observatory, Van Allen Probes, Solar Orbiter Collaboration with European Space Agency and Parker Solar Probe), many other missions, including STEREO that would revolutionize our understanding of how the Sun shapes space weather in the solar system.
Talk followed by stargazing and telescope observation.