International Observe the Moon Night!
Star Party Celebration
September 14
Join DarkSky San Diego County, the San Diego Astronomy Association (SDAA), and San Diego County Parks and Recreation to celebrate the moon with a telescope viewing star party at Oakoasis County Preserve in Lakeside. International Observe the Moon Night invites everyone on Earth to learn about lunar science and exploration, take part in celestial observations, and honor cultural and personal connections to the Moon. The moon will rise at 5:05 p.m. Pacific Time and be visible through most of the night, setting a few hours before sunrise. It will be in a Waxing Gibbous phase with 88% illumination, so not quite a Full Moon.
Arrive early for twilight hike with Park Ranger Kyle to learn about nocturnal creatures, bats, and scorpions! The Park Ranger and SDAA volunteers orient people to the night sky by pointing out planets and constellations and teaching basic astronomy. Bring binoculars if you have them. DarkSky advocates will educate on light pollution, how our night vision works, and how to ‘Light Wisely’ to see more stars in the night sky!
• About the event: https://moon.nasa.gov/observe-the-moon-night/about/overview/
• Moon map: https://moon.nasa.gov/observe-the-moon-night/resources/moon-map/
• Moon phases: https://www.moongiant.com/phase/9/14/2024/
WHEN: Saturday, September 14. Starts at dusk, approximately 7:00 p.m. (arrive early for twilight hike) until 11:00 p.m.
WHERE: Oakoasis County Preserve, 12620 Wildcat Canyon Rd, Lakeside, CA 92040-1515 (map)
International Dark Sky Week
April 2 – 8, 2024
International Dark Sky Week is an annual celebration of our night sky! This year’s events took place from April 2nd through the 8th. San Diego County residents were able to enjoy a variety of events and activities to learn more about the dark sky movement, and to experience the beauty of our Milky Way Galaxy for themselves at one of the local star parties, such as the “Stars at Misssion Trails” hosted by the San Diego Astronomy Association (SDAA). “The Sky Tonight” planetarium shows were presented by the Fleet Science Center, as well as the Palomar College Planetarium, followed by telescope viewing opportunities.
This year’s celebration was scheduled to coincide with the 2024 total solar eclipse. While the sun was only in partial eclipse for the San Diego area, Eclipse viewing activities and viewing were provided by the San Diego Astronomy Associaiation, at Mission Trails, the Julian Dark Sky Network, the Fleet Science Center, and Dark Skies Valley Center.
Even if you missed the Dark Sky Week’s special events, there’s still lots of places to visit and activities to participate in, throughout San Diego County. Read on to find out more!
Visit a Certified Dark Sky Place in San Diego County
San Diego County is home to two certified International Dark Sky Communities and one International Dark Sky Park!
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park – Explore the local desert and camp overnight at Agua Caliente or Vallecito County Park to take in the wonders of the night sky and the soothing hot spring waters. Then head to the northern end of the park to explore Borrego Springs. Learn more about the park from the Anza Borrego Foundation web site.
Borrego Springs – Borrego Springs was designated an International Dark Sky Community in 2009, the second in the world! Come see the wildflowers and experience a truly dark night sky. Visit the Anza-Borrego Desert Natural History Museum for nature displays and information on local activities. Be sure to check out the dark sky display at the Borrego Springs County Library. Members of the Borrego Springs Dark Sky Coalition support dark sky education and outreach in the community.
Julian – Come up for some apple pie and stay for a star-filled night sky! Julian was designated as an International Dark Sky Community in May of 2021. Members of the Julian Dark Sky Network (JDSN) work tirelessly in the community to encourage residents, businesses, and government facilities to light responsibly to maintain their view of the cosmos.
Visit Potrero County Park
View Dark Sky Cosmology Signage, and Camp Under the Stars
Potrero County Park is a great place to camp under the stars and they have some terrific, educational dark sky signage. There’s really good hiking in the park, tent and RV camping sites, a few cabins, and it’s a lovely, scenic drive out to the park. The signs are easily accessible in an open area near some mature oak trees. Thanks goes out to Supervising Park Ranger, Danni Cardiff, who worked to have the signage installed following community interest in night sky programs. Rangers hope to develop a place where folks can give star viewing and talks.
Visit the Dark Skies Exhibit at Santa Ysabel
Santa Ysabel Nature Center
The Santa Ysabel Nature Center has a permanent Dark Skies exhibit with out-of-this-world information on natural darkness, light pollution, and its impact on back country wildlife as well as our ability to view the cosmos. Turn a dial and see what a star-filled sky above the San Diego skyline would look like if light pollution were reduced! Learn more about this award-winning 6,000-square-foot LEED Gold and Zero Net Energy facility and star-gazing hotspot at Santa Ysabel Nature Center (sdparks.org).
Extended hours starting April 1: Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Friday – Sunday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Where: 22135 Highway 79, Santa Ysabel, CA 92070
DIRECTIONS: From CA-78, head NORTH on CA-79 for approximately ¼ mile. Look for the sign/monument near guard rail, and enter through green gates. Drive up the hillside to the nature center building.
IMPORTANT NOTE ON LOCATION: The nature center building is NOT visible from the roadway! It was designed to blend into the environment, so please use the directions and map to help you find your way. GPS navigation may NOT be accurate.
Turn Lights Out to Protect Migrating Birds
Millions of migrating birds are harmed and killed each year from artificial light at night. DarkSky San Diego County and the San Diego Audubon Society are partnering on the “Lights Out, San Diego!” campaign to build awareness about how light pollution impacts migrating birds and other wildlife. You can help provide safe passage for birds traveling to and through San Diego County on the Pacific Flyway by turning off unnecessary outdoor lighting from 11:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m. during migration season. Take the pledge!
Learn more at Lights Out, San Diego! (sandiegoaudubon.org).
Watch “Losing the Dark”
The “Losing the Dark” is a short planetarium show from DarkSky International introducing light pollution and three simple actions people can take to help mitigate it, available for streaming or download in 15 languages.
‘Save the Sky’ Children’s Animated Audiobook
by Bethany Stahl
A beautifully animated story about light pollution and the night sky, for children.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfSMD9dpmXE
Online Space Trivia
Can you pass the Kindergarten Astronomy Test? Engage family members and friends to learn and have fun testing your knowledge on planets, constellations, the sun and moon, even the International Space Station (ISS)! Is it true that one of Jupiter’s moons is bigger than Mercury? Take the quiz and find out! https://starwalk.space/en/games
Read Light Pollution Articles by Local DarkSky Advocates
The 2023 International Dark Sky Week celebration in San Diego County featured three essays from DarkSky advocates from San Diego, Julian, and Temecula in the local section of the San Diego Union Tribune print edition and online!
Note, dates reflect the 2023 International Dark Sky Week dates.
Assess Your Home Lighting & Self Certify as Dark Sky Friendly
Commit to protecting the night, every night, by taking a quick survey of your home lighting to see if it’s nature, neighbor, and night sky friendly. Simple changes like shielding or re-aiming a light or switching to a warmer color bulb are often all that’s needed. Proudly display your certificate during International Dark Sky Week!
‘Globe at Night’ Citizen Science Project
Engage your children as citizen-scientists in ‘Globe at Night’ – observe and report night sky brightness from your own backyard!
The Globe at Night program is an international citizen-science campaign to raise public awareness of the impact of light pollution by inviting citizen-scientists to measure their night sky brightness and submit their observations from a computer or smart phone. Light pollution threatens not only our “right to starlight”, but can affect energy consumption, wildlife and health. More than 200,000 measurements have been contributed from people in 180 countries over the last 14 years, making Globe at Night the most successful light pollution awareness campaign to date! Visit Globe at Night to learn more: www.globeatnight.org
Star Party recordings from Curiosity Peak Observatory in Julian
Jupiter-Saturn conjunction, solar star party, light pollution comparison star party, and many more to choose from! https://www.youtube.com/@curiositypeakobservatory2173/streams
“The Night Sky Through Navajo Eyes”
by Ravis Henry
Ravis Henry belongs to the Towering House Clan and was born of the Coyote Pass-Jemez Clan of the Navajo Tribe. He originates from a place called Alamo, New Mexico, but was born, raised, and still resides in Canyon de Chelly/Chinle, Arizona. Currently, Ravis is a Park Ranger with the National Park Service and has been working in the green and grey since 2009, mostly all at Canyon de Chelly National Monument. He works in the field of Interpretation and Education, sharing the stories and history of his people with visitors from around the world. Ravis is a Traditional Knowledge holder and storyteller for his people, and he’s learning the ancient ceremonial ways of the Navajo. He is also an artist/silversmith, creating pieces inspired by the stories of the land and his people. In this presentation, Ravis will introduce the Navajo perspective of the night sky, briefly sharing the stories of how the stars came to be by the acts of the Deities and the Coyote. He will also introduce the Navajo constellations, along with the stories and teachings behind the individual constellations as they are understood by the Navajo People.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjhTRUVWzSQ
In Conversation with Astronaut Nicole Stott and Tim Russ
Veteran NASA Astronaut Nicole Stott joins a discussion with entertainment industry veteran and visual astronomy enthusiast Tim Russ about what her transformative view of our home planet from space taught her about Earth and our mission to protect it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8e8fnWgw-Q
Dark Skies and Light Pollution: An Art-Historical Approach
Contemplation of stars, planets, and galaxies have inspired religions, philosophies, myths, and stories and consideration of visual images of the sky over time provides a basis for protecting the Dark Sky.
Contemplation of stars, planets, and galaxies have inspired religions, philosophies, myths, and stories and consideration of visual images of the sky over time provides a basis for protecting the Dark Sky. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_oXhwL_fxg