Our club has been invited to participate in a two-night public star party at Glacier Point amphitheater (high above and south of Yosemite Valley) 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 MIRA Astronomy Club members:  Participants in this two-night event (i.e., letting park visitors look through your telescope or tripod-mounted binoculars) are eligible to receive a park entry fee waiver pass and may be eligible for a free campsite at Bridalveil Creek Campground on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday of this weekend's event.

Glacier Point is about a thirty-minute drive on Glacier Point Road, starting at Winona Road.  It is about a fifteen-minute drive from the Bridalveil Creek Campground.  See the map below.

Sunset is about 8:20pm on both days.  Plan to arrive with your stargazing equipment between 6:00pm and 7:30pm, to give yourself adequate time to unpack and move your car.  A club member will deliver a thirty-minute presentation starting at 8:30pm.  Moon/stargazing will start at 9:00pm and end at 11:00pm.  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 & requirements will be provided to participating members via email.

PLEASE RESPOND BY APRIL 15th.  Click on either link below to let us know if you want to participate in this event (with your telescope or astronomical binoculars on a tripod):

I want a campsite for Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.*

I will arrange my own lodging.**

*Prior to April 16th, preference for campsite assignments will be given to club members who have participated in at least one local club-hosted public stargazing event between August 2025 and April 2026.  Starting on April 16th, remaining available campsites will be allocated in order of receipt of completed submittals.  Campsites will be assigned only to club members who commit to bringing and setting up for public viewing either a telescope or tripod-mounted binoculars.

**Campsites at Bridalveil Creek Campground (and all other campsites in the park, I suppose) become available to the public for on-line reservations starting two weeks prior to the desired arrival date.  But they fill up fast.  Thus, if you want to reserve your own campsite for three nights starting on Thursday, July 16th, make your reservation here on July 2nd at 7:00am PDT.  If you prefer more comfortable lodging, consider renting a condo or cabin at Yosemite West, via the Yosemite's Scenic Wonders website.