Stargazing at Bryce Canyon National Park

On any given night, when stargazing at Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, the magnitude of what can be seen without the interference from urban lighting is phenomenal. Starlight floods across above the reddish hoodoo rocks, creeping into even the darkest crevice. Astronomers, amateur and professional spend hours, even weeks just looking up at the night's skies.

Astronomers of all levels spend countless sleepless hours staring up at the heavens above Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah each year. At night the splashes of starlight cast haunting illuminations upon the amphitheatre of rock. It is not surprising to these enthusiasts that stargazing in the park is so much easier than under intrusive urban lighting.

This pleasing pursuit is as strongly guarded as the delicate ancient rock formations nearby. Bryce Canyon has an astronomy course that has been going longer than any other that the National Park Service has ever seen.

Stargazing in the canyon began in the sixties when the local Visitor Center added it to their long list of park activities. Since then, many forest rangers have emerged with astronomy skills that they love to share with the general public. In fact, it is these volunteer services that have contributed to the program.

The program includes lectures, constellation spotting and tours, and the ever popular stargazing adventure nights. In fact, the program had gained such a following that the Visitors Center added an astronomy fiesta to its annual agenda, running from early April to late October. Though this was definitely inspired and promoted by the forest rangers themselves, many other volunteers have joined the group, making it one of the most successful stargazing programs in Utah history.