Death Valley Dark Sky Festival Scheduled for Early March
If you’re craving a break from the bright lights of Las Vegas, then consider an event that’s exactly the opposite: the Death Valley Dark Sky Festival.
The annual Death Valley Dark Sky Festival attracts star-seekers from all across the globe because of ideal stargazing conditions. Death Valley National Park, which is located on the California-Nevada Border, is rated as a Gold Tier Dark Sky Park — the highest rating available.
The festival, which is completely free to attend, is scheduled for Friday, March 1 through Sunday, March 3.
Death Valley National Park is about 130 miles west of Las Vegas, making it about a two-hour drive. That means that it’s close enough to stay at non-camping accommodations, such as the 10 best Las Vegas hotels off the Strip.
According to 8 News Now, the festival this year will kick off with a virtual program at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 29. The free event will feature NASA Astrobiologist and Organic Geochemist Dr. Lu Chou speak about the similarities between Death Valley and the surface of Mars.
Along with the virtual talk, there will also be a variety of different events, including:
- Hands-on activities and learning opportunities at the Exploration Fair
- Auditorium talks on the mysteries of the universe, and how humans can explore them
- Meetups that will bring together amateur and professional astro-photographers
- Astronomy programs, such as telescope viewings and nighttime ranger talks
- The opportunity to learn about space, stars, and more with leading scientists in the field.
If you attend the festival and can’t wait to share your experience with others, check out the Vegas News guide to the top podcast studio rentals in Las Vegas.
Media credit: Image licensed from Adobe