2026 IDSW - DarkSky San Diego County, volunteer chapter of DarkSky International

As we celebrate International Dark Sky Week, let’s ask ourselves:

“What do we want to see at night, a bunch of bright glaring lights,
or billions of twinkling stars? The choice is ours!” Cathy Handzel

International Dark Sky Week takes place from April 13 to April 20. DarkSky San Diego County encourages families to step outside and discover the night!

There’s something magical about seeing a meteor shoot across the sky! This global celebration of the night sky coincides with the Lyrids meteor shower and the new moon, when night skies are darkest. Look towards the bright star Vega in the constellation Lyra, known as the Harp.

Celebrate by taking a tour at Palomar Observatory, visit Santa Ysabel Nature Center’s “Dark Skies Above” exhibit, or see the 20-foot long “Under Dark Skies” ceramic mural inside the Julian County Library during weekday library hours. Check out ‘The Sky Tonight’ or full dome film at Palomar College Planetarium followed by telescope stargazing. Explore online activities that connect you and your family with the wonders of night.

Join us at our in-person events:

Saturday, April 11 – “Festival of the Night Sky and Nocturnal Creatures” at Los Penasquitos Ranch House

Monday, April 13 – Borrego Springs “Dark Sky Welcome Center” Open House

Tuesday, April 14 – Borrego’s Dark Sky Week Celebration at the Library

Friday, April 17 – “Stars at West Sycamore” with San Diego Astronomy Association in Scripps Ranch

Saturday, April 18 – Daytime Solar Telescope & Nighttime Star Party at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Saturday, April 18 – International Dark Sky Week Celebration at Santa Ysabel Nature Center

Festival of the Night Sky and Nocturnal Creatures

Saturday, April 11 from 5:00 – 10:00 p.m. near the Los Penasquitos Ranch House, 12122 Canyonside Park Dr, San Diego, CA 92129

Educational exhibits, bird walks, and kids activities followed by an evening of urban stargazing with local astronomers. Learn about our solar system from a NASA Ambassador. Park Ranger nature walks and nocturnal creature exhibits including spiders, scorpions, and bats. See live owls and hawk flights! Light pollution awareness, human night vision and good light/bad light demonstration with DarkSky Advocates. This is a FREE, family-friendly event.

Bring your binoculars, jacket, red flashlight, drinks, snacks, and your curiosity!

5:00 p.m. – Guided Bird Walks with San Diego Bird Alliance – bring your binoculars!

7:30 p.m. – Telescope Star Party with San Diego Astronomy Association and local astronomers begins at dusk – bring your binoculars!

For more details, download the event flyer.

Exhibitors include:

County of San Diego Parks and Recreation
City of San Diego Parks and Recreation
Friends of Los Penasquitos Canyon
DarkSky San Diego County
San Diego Bird Alliance
Avian Behavior International
NASA Solar System Ambassador
Sierra Club San Diego Chapter
San Diego River Park Foundation
California Native Bee Society
San Diego Tracking Team
California State Parks
San Diego Herpetological Society
Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
San Diego Spider Society

Borrego Springs “Dark Sky Welcome Center” Open House

Monday, April 13 from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the KRAM radio station building, 730 Christmas Circle, Borrego Springs, CA 92004

Open house event for Borrego’s new Dark Sky Welcome Center with educational displays, handouts, and videos on night sky preservation. Complimentary refreshments and connections with fellow dark sky enthusiasts. FREE event.

For more details, download the event flyer.

Borrego Springs Library

Astrophotography & Binoculars

Tuesday, April 14 from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Borrego Springs Library, 2580 Country Club Road, Borrego Springs, CA 92004

Celebration includes an astrophotography presentation and fundamentals of night sky photography by renowned photographer of Anza-Borrego dark skies, Kamala Venkatesh. Temecula Valley Astronomer and experienced illustrator, John Garrett, will share his extensive knowledge of stargazing with binoculars followed by his guide to the most captivating celestial wonders of the spring and summer night sky. There will also be recognition of Borrego Dark Sky Friendly Businesses! FREE event.

For more details, download the event flyer.

“Stars at West Sycamore” with San Diego Astronomy Association in Scripps Ranch

Friday, April 17 at dusk, approximately 7:30 p.m. at West Sycamore, a section of Mission Trails Regional Park located in Scripps Ranch

This is a regularly scheduled star party event that takes place on the third Friday of every other month. Arrive earlier to explore this northern section of Mission Trails Regional Park with a short hike. DarkSky San Diego County will join the party with a light pollution booth providing education on what we can do to “Light Wisely” and protect the night from excessive light to bring back the beauty of the night sky for the benefit of all living things.

Directions: 17160 Stonebridge Parkway, San Diego, CA. From I-15, go east on Pomerado Road and turn right on Stonebridge Parkway. The entrance to West Sycamore is at the very east end of Stonebridge Parkway. From Highway 67 turn west on Scripps Poway Parkway, then left on Pomerado Road, then left on Stonebridge Parkway and continue until it dead ends at the main entrance to West Sycamore.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Before heading out, check the SDAA public calendar for last minute weather cancellation SDAA Public Events Calendar – SDAA. Bring your binoculars!

Daytime Solar Telescope & Nighttime Star Party at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Saturday, April 18 – Two activities at 200 Palm Canyon Drive, Borrego Springs, 92004

Daytime 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon at the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Visitor Center

Safely view the sun through a special filtered solar telescope with Anza-Borrego Desert State Park staff and volunteers assisted by members of the San Diego Astronomy Association. Since it’s certification in 2018, this International Dark Sky Park connects visitors to a starry night sky and our solar system through education and activities. This daytime solar viewing takes place at the Visitor Center.

Nighttime 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Borrego Palm Canyon Campground Campfire Center

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park hosts their final Star Party of the season at Borrego Palm Canyon Campground Campfire center in honor of International Dark Sky Week. Anza-Borrego Desert State Park staff and volunteers connect visitors to the cosmos with assistance from members of the San Diego Astronomy Association at this certified International Dark Sky Park.

For details see Events at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Saturday, April 18 – from 2:00 – 10:00 p.m. at Santa Ysabel Nature Center located at 22135 Highway 79, Santa Ysabel, CA 92070

An afternoon of dark skies education from esteemed speakers, and Nature Center exhibits on wildlife, ecology, and dark skies. After sunset, enjoy telescope and binocular stargazing with local astronomers. Astrophotography education and hands on practice with your own equipment, after dark!

For more details, download the event flyer.

2:00 – 7:00 p.m. Symposium: Defending the Night!

Liz Harrison, research biologist at the UCSD Center for Circadian Biology, will speak on Circadian Rhythms, Light at Night, and Human Health.

Marcus Bush, Vice Mayor of National City, will share his vision for dark sky friendlier National City and present a Proclamation by the City of National City honoring International Dark Sky Week.

Malia Sollosy, student at Bonita Vista High School, shares her perspective on Growing up With, and Without a Natural Dark Sky.

Paul Ericson, lighting engineer and DarkSky San Diego County Board Member and Past President, will discuss the planned dark sky friendly upgrade of 40,000 San Diego city streetlights. Finally, New Streetlights! What’s the Difference?

Kamala Venkatesh, renowned San Diego based photographer, will give a presentation on Shooting the Night Sky, and provide some guided practice, after dark.

6:00 p.m. Keynote Speaker: Carolyn Heffner, Chief Engineer at Palomar Observatory

Our featured speaker will discuss Current Research at Palomar Observatory, based right here in east San Diego County, where important breakthroughs in our understanding of the cosmos have been made, since it became operational in 1948. Its presence here alone is one good reason to keep our East County skies dark! Her talk will also touch on the adverse impact of existing and future large-scale commercial satellite projects, such as Starlink, on scientific research.

7:00 p.m. “The Starry Walk” Film

Indoor screening of the 55-minute adventure documentary by French writers Olivier Bleys and Julie Phillipe about their exploration of California’s International Dark Sky Places and night sky preservation movement.

8:00 – 10:00 p.m. Telescope & Binocular Star Party and Night Sky Photography

Local astronomers will share views through their telescopes, and a binocular sky tour will take place in the amphitheater. If you have binoculars, be sure to bring them!

Local astrophotographer, Kamala Venkatesh, will lead a session for attendees to do some night sky photography with cell phones and cameras. Please bring your tripod and remote shutter release!