Joshua Tree National Park Astronomy Program

Joshua Tree National Park Tours and Programs

Join Joshua Tree National Park Astronomy Rangers to learn about star clusters, planets, nebulae, and experience a naturally dark night sky!

Our Wednesday programs will feature an astronomy talk and a constellation tour. There will be no telescopes on Wednesday nights.

Our Friday programs will feature telescopes in addition to an astronomy talk and constellation tour. Only Friday programs will have telescopes.

Select a date to see a list of times

Need to Know

• Program Information

  Programs are held at Sky's The Limit Observatory and Nature Center, located at 9697 Utah Trail, Twentynine Palms, California 92277. Programs last approximately 120 minutes. Seating for the astronomy presentation is limited. Please bring chairs or other portable seating for the presentation portion.

  Wednesday programs feature an astronomy talk and a constellation tour.

  Friday programs feature an astronomy talk, constellation tour, and stargazing through telescopes.

• Reservations Required

  A reservation is required to participate due to limited parking and seating. Tickets are available only through Recreation.gov and are not available at visitor centers or park entrance gates. Due to limited parking, carpooling is encouraged.

• Sold Out Events

  Events often sell out, so please book early. A reservation is required to participate. Tickets are available only through Recreation.gov. If the event is sold out, please refrain from calling Sky's the Limit Observatory. For more information on these events call Joshua Tree National Park at 760-367-5500 or visit www.nps.gov/jotr.

• Be Prepared

  Nights in the desert can be cold. Dress in layers to be prepared for changing weather conditions. Visitors are encouraged to use red lights for illumination, as white lights disrupt our night vision. Make sure to bring a headlamp and/or flashlight with a red option to adequately illuminate your surroundings.

• Arrival Time

  Please arrive at Sky's the Limit Observatory 30 minutes before the scheduled start time of the event to secure parking and find seating. When you arrive at Sky's The Limit, a parking attendant will greet you and ask for your event registration information. Don't be late... If you have not arrived by 10-minutes after the start of the program, your tickets will be forfeited to the next person on the waitlist. Joshua Tree National Park is located in the Pacific Time Zone and observes daylight savings time.

• Pets, Alcohol, and Smoking

  Pets are not permitted on the Observatory campus and cannot be left unattended in vehicles. Service animals are allowed in accordance with federal law. Alcohol, smoking, e-cigarettes and other substances are not allowed at the facility or during the program.

• Accessibility Information

  The Sky’s The Limit Campus includes both paved and gravel walkways. Bleacher seating for night‑sky presentations is located on a gravel surface that ranges from 1 to 3 inches deep. A paved walkway connects the restrooms to the telescope area and continues to within about 30 feet of the bleachers.

  The constellation program takes place in the Orrery, a circular, rock‑lined space within the campus. The pathway to the Orrery and the standing area inside are both gravel.

  If you need seating accommodations during the constellation program, please let a staff member know. Assisted‑listening devices are available on request for visitors who are deaf or hard of hearing.

  ADA parking is available on request next to the paved walkway leading through the telescope area.

  If you have questions or want to discuss specific accommodations, contact jotr_info@nps.gov

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