Designated an International Dark Sky Park in 2015, Capitol Reef National Park offers the unique opportunity to experience near-pristine night skies. The park has hosted Heritage StarFest since 2010. The event invites visitors to celebrate the night sky and learn more about astronomy.
Natural darkness is becoming an increasingly rare occurrence in nature, but darkness is integral to the health of all living things. Events and presentations throughout the festival will highlight how important dark skies are to our ecosystem and help visitors learn how to navigate and interpret the night sky.
Activities and events will happen throughout September 23–29. Locations vary from around the park to the gateway community Torrey, Utah.
One of the most anticipated events in the beginner astrophotography workshops. Amateur photographers are welcome to this introductory workshop led by nationally recognized astrophotographer Don Riddle. The workshops required registration but are free to attend.
Monday through Thursday evening, rangers will hold talks about astronomy and nocturnal creatures.
The bulk of events will take place Friday and Saturday, with guest speakers, telescope programs and solar viewing.
See the park’s official Heritage StarFest 2024 event page for more information and for instructions to register for the astrophotography workshop.
Friday, September 27th
Programs will take place in Capitol Reef National Park.
Guest Speaker Series
3:00 p.m. at the visitor center theater: Dr. Qicheng Zhang, Lowell Observatory, Anatomy of a Great Comet. Comets occasionally produce spectacular visual displays with ghostly tails stretching many degrees across the night sky, and one such bright comet may only be a week away.
5:00 p.m. at the visitor center theater: Dr. Anil Seth, University of Utah, The Nearest Massive Black Hole. Focusing on the recent detection of a black hole in the Milky Way’s most massive cluster, Omega Centauri, and why this black hole is unique and interesting.
7:00 p.m. at the Fruita Campground amphitheater: Dr. Kyle Dawson, University of Utah, Mapping the Universe: 5,000 Galaxies at a Time. The cosmos hold a wealth of information about the earliest times in the universe and the fundamental laws of Physics.
Telescope Program
8:30 – 11:00 p.m. at the Fruita Campground amphitheater parking lot. Join park rangers and volunteers, and guest amateur astronomers as the Milky Way and other celestial wonders are brought to your eye with various telescopes.
Saturday, September 28
Events will take place at the Torrey Park (100 N. 75 East in Torrey, UT) and at the Entrada Institute’s Robber’s Roost (185 W. Main St. in Torrey, UT).
Special Speakers and Presentations
Throughout the afternoon and early evening at the Robber’s Roost in Torrey. Please see our community partner’s website at https://www.entradainstitute.org/ for more information and to register for a particular program at the Robber’s Roost.
Solar Viewing and Junior Astronomy Programming
4:00-6:00 p.m. at the Torrey Park. Join park staff and volunteers, and guest amateur astronomers to safely view our closest star with solar telescopes and participate in fun, child-focused astronomy activities.
Torrey Park Telescope Program
8:30 – 11:00 p.m. at the Torrey Park. Join park staff and volunteers, community partners and guest amateur astronomers to view the Milky Way and other celestial wonders through many different telescopes.
