ESTES PARK OBSERVATORY SCHEDULING CALENDAR
We currently host private stargazing sessions four nights weekly (Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday). We are presently taking reservations through September. On August 1st we will include reservations through October but then we will be closed until next spring. All requests must be emailed. We no longer do bookings over the Internet. If you wish to book a date, check out the calendar below to see if there are any open dates you can fit into without exceeding the 14-person limit. Then answer the following questions and email them to (info@AngelsAbove.org):
What is the date you wish to book?
What other dates are you available?
How many adults (13 & older)?
How many children (12 & under)?
A phone where you can be reached in Estes?
Where is your hometown?
Also in the email’s subject line, please indicate the number of people and the dates you wish to visit, for example: You want to book three people and your first choice is 7/25 but you’re available 7/24 through 7/26 and you’re leaving on 7/27. Your email subject line would look like this: Subject 3 people on 7/25, 7/24 – 7/26. –This will make the processing go much quicker.
Thank you for your reservation request. Please be patient as we process requests in the order they are received. You will receive an email confirmation or a notification if you are placed on the waiting list once your request has been processed. Please note that only one person is handling the reservations.
Look out for these recurring astro events at EPMO and in the Estes Park area.
Click to read more about these events:
– Open House at EPMO –
– Rocky Mountain National Park Astronomy Programs –
– EPMO and EVAS Monthly Meeting –
More Info about Private Viewing Sessions at EPMO
A few hours before your visit, you will receive a text or call to confirm if the weather is suitable for stargazing. On the night of your visit, we meet at the observatory around sunset, which varies with the time of year. In April, sunset is near 7:00 pm, while in June, it can approach 9:00 pm. Once at the observatory, please plan for a 1.5 to 2-hour visit.
During your visit, we offer a variety of activities, including videos, an introductory astronomy lecture, and stargazing. We start with a tour of the observatory, followed by a couple of short movies to set the mood for space exploration. We then provide a brief introduction to astronomy and show you on our star wall some of the objects we hope to see through our 16” RC dome telescope. To ensure everyone has a good experience, we limit the dome visit to 14 people at a time. We generally observe for about an hour or more, depending on guests’ interests and weather conditions.
There is no charge for the visit, but we operate on visitor donations and souvenir sales. Think of your observatory visit as akin to spending a couple of hours at a movie theater. We are an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) public charity and all donations are tax-deductible. Your contributions help maintain the observatory and support the Estes Park High School Science programs. In the last four years, we have donated over $40,000 in college scholarships for our high school science students.
Observatory Open House Nights
Volunteers of the EPMO conduct the observatory open house nights which are free to all and no reservations are necessary. The evening starts with a tour of the facility and an introduction to the night’s viewing with a demonstration of the observatory star wall. We discuss objects we will later view with the telescope and point out their locations on our star wall. Depending on the number of visitors, we may also set up telescopes outside the observatory to supplement the main telescope in the dome. Of course, the viewing depends on the night sky and if it is unfavorable we can show educational videos in our warm room.
The Open Viewing Nights for 2024 are:
- Saturday, June 29th, 7:00 pm
- Saturday, July 27th, 7:00 pm
- Saturday, August 31st, 7:00 pm
Rocky Mountain National Park Astronomy Programs
Rocky Mountain National Park Astronomy Link
Observe the night sky with the help of a park ranger and expert volunteer astronomers. Rocky Mountain National Park offers weekly Astronomy in the Park programs from June through August. A traditional astronomy program is conducted in Upper Beaver Meadows every other week and includes a 20 to 30-minute interpretive presentation by park rangers followed by a night of observing put on by local astronomers and park volunteers. Dress warm, bring binoculars and a flashlight, and meet at the Upper Beaver Meadows Trail-head parking area.
“The 2024 Dates for the Traditional Viewing Program are:”
- Friday, June 7 at 8:30 p.m.
- Friday, June 28 at 8:30 p.m.
- Friday, July 5 at 8:30 p.m.
- Friday, July 26 at 8:30 p.m.
- Friday, August 30 at 8:30 p.m.
Every other week, the “The Story Behind the Moon & the Stars” program will incorporate star lore and activities for families. The program will include a constellation tour and viewing with binoculars, the naked eye, and possibly telescopes. This program will take place at the Moraine Park Visitor Center in the RMNP and will last approximately 1 & 1/2 hours.
Stories Behind the Moon & Stars 2024 Dates
- Tuesday, June 11 at 8:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, June 18th at 8:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, July 9th at 8:30 p.m.
Night Sky Festival Three days of fun activities, speakers, programs, and night sky viewing. The event is scheduled for TBD. Start times for this program have not yet been set.
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This month’s EPMO & EVAS Astronomy Lecture
The Estes Park Memorial Observatory (EPMO) in conjunction with the Estes Valley Astronomical Society (EVAS) holds a joint meeting every month that features a lecture on an astronomy topic followed by a viewing session. The meetings open with a short discussion of the current EVAS business. A short presentation about a star currently visible in the night sky precedes the formal lecture for the evening. Invited speakers who work in the field of astronomy or aerospace generally give the lectures.
Estes Park Clear Sky Chart
Estes Park Sky Map (SkyMaps.com)