Event



Our club has been invited to participate in a two-night public star party at Glacier Point amphitheater at Yosemite National Park.  This high altitude, dark sky location makes this event the stargazing highlight of the year.

Cloud cover cancels this event.

Notes to the public:  Yosemite National Park hosts public star parties during most Fridays and Saturdays throughout the summer.  California-based amateur astronomy clubs are assigned one weekend each summer to provide telescopes and knowledge of the night sky.  To view all dates this summer for Glacier Point star parties, refer to the Yosemite National Park on-line calendar.

Notes to participating MIRA Astronomy Club members:  Glacier Point is about a 30-minute drive on Glacier Point Road, starting at Wawona Road.  It is about an 80-minute drive from Wawona Campground, where free campsites have been reserved for us.  See the map below.



Sunset is about 8:13 on both days.  Plan to arrive with your stargazing equipment between 6:30pm and 7:00pm, to give yourself adequate time to unpack and move your car.  You may move the cones (if any) to gain access to the short dirt road that leads to the top of the amphitheater, where you can unload your equipment.  Parking is available nearby, as shown on the map below.



More information and event rules & regulations will be provided to participating members via email.

Date: Friday, July 25 - Saturday, July 26, 2025

Time: 8:30 p.m. - 11:30 p.m. Pacific

Location: Glacier Point, Yosemite National Park
5202 Glacier Point Rd
TUOLUMNE MEADOWS, CA 95389

Information for Visitors

Location Details

Glacier Point, Yosemite National Park

Glacier Point Amphitheater (end of Glacier Point Road)

Event Report

Comments and anecdotes about the event:
Mark Tomalonis made his first delivery of a Glacier Point star party presentation. Big crowds (100+) both nights. The club's new screen, red LED light ropes and projector all worked well. MIRA brought its PA system. Mostly clear skies both nights. (The second night was tainted by forest fire smoke.)
Photo From Annual Yosemite Public "Star Party" (Two Nights)
MIRA Astronomy Club members at Yosemite National Park's Glacier Point "star parties" on July 25th and 26th. Front row, L-to-R: Rich Hamilton, Daniel Cotton, Eric Haase, Mark Tomalonis, Jean Perkins, Brian Mahoney, Joe Chudy, Susan Chudy. Back row, L-to-R: Eric Hickock, Evan Hamilton, Alex Cacciola, Gerhard Gross, Sean Bereman.
Photo From Annual Yosemite Public "Star Party" (Two Nights)
MIRA Astronomy Club's Mark Tomalonis delivers a pre-stargazing presentation at Glacier Point on July 25th, 2025.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Sun 4/12/2026
10 a.m. - noon Pacific
Member Social Coffee Gathering The PG Meetinghouse
599 Lighthouse Avenue
Pacific Grove, CA
Fri 4/17/2026
8 p.m. - 10 p.m. Pacific
Public 'Star Party' at Garland Ranch Regional Park Garland Ranch Regional Park
700 W. Carmel Valley Road
Carmel Valley, CA
Thu 5/14/2026
7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Pacific
MIRA Astronomy Club Quarterly Meeting Monterey Institute for Research in Astronomy
200 8th St
Marina, CA
Sat 6/6/2026
9 p.m. - 11 p.m. Pacific
"Race to Space" Public Stargazing Event WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Hospitality Island
1021 Monterey Salinas Highway
Salinas, CA