Death Valley Dark Sky Festival 2024
A Weekend Journey into the Stars
If you're a stargazing enthusiast or simply curious about the wonders beyond our world, Death Valley National Park beckons with its annual spring Dark Sky Festival. Renowned for offering some of the best stargazing experiences in America, Death Valley holds the prestigious Gold Tier Dark Sky Park designation from the International Dark-Sky Association.
This unique event, a collaborative effort between Death Valley National Park, the Death Valley Natural History Association, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Ames Research Center, SETI Institute, and California Institute of Technology, promises a weekend filled with celestial wonders, insightful presentations, and hands-on activities.
Friday
The festival kicks off on Friday with a series of engaging presentations at the Furnace Creek Auditorium. Learn the art of astrophotography in a "How-to" session with Kayla McCraren from the National Park Service (NPS), followed by a captivating keynote talk by Bethany Ehlman from Caltech on the upcoming Lunar Trailblazer mission.
As the night descends, head to the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes for an Astrophotography Meet-up, guided by Kayla McCraren. Capture the brilliance of the stars in one of the darkest locations in the country with assistance from astrophotography volunteers and rangers. Alternatively, join the Furnace Creek Star Party at the Furnace Creek Airport for telescope exploration of the night sky and ranger-guided constellation tours.
End the evening at the Badwater Saloon with Caltech's Astronomy on Tap event. Enjoy space-themed pub trivia and insightful talks by Caltech scientists on cosmic mysteries.
Saturday
Saturday begins with more presentations at the Furnace Creek Auditorium. Dominic Benford from the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope unfolds NASA's next flagship observatory's mission, followed by talks on the future of space exploration by Cameron Hummels (Caltech) and Doug Ellison (JPL) on photographing Mars.
As the day progresses, embark on fascinating journeys around the park. Explore Mars-like landscapes at Ubehebe Crater, delve into the microbial world of Badwater Basin, and uncover the secrets of dunes on Earth, Mars, and Titan.
The evening brings more celestial delights with the Furnace Creek Star Party and Caltech's Astronomy on Tap at the Wildrose Tavern. Capture the stars in a dedicated Astrophotography Meet-up at Harmony Borax Works.
Sunday
On the final day, indulge in talks about astrobiology, a Q&A session with astrophysicists from Caltech, and insights into the next total solar eclipse with Andrea Jones from Goddard.
Take part in engaging activities like building a Mars Lander with NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center and explore the Exploration Fair at Furnace Creek Visitor Center Courtyard.
The weekend concludes with an evening walk at Zabriskie Point, where Leslie Heid from JPL's Deep Space Network discusses the infinite rainbow that fills our cosmos.
Don't miss this opportunity to delve into the mysteries of the universe at Death Valley's Dark Sky Festival. Whether you're a seasoned astronomer, a curious explorer, or a family looking for educational fun, this weekend promises an unforgettable cosmic experience. Secure your free tickets for keynote talks and get ready to gaze into the vastness of the night sky in one of America's darkest corners.
