The dark skies of Grand Canyon National Park are ideal for stargazing, and there's no better time than at the annual Grand Canyon Star Party, which runs from next Saturday, June 4, to the following Saturday, June 11, this year.
On both the North and South Rims, amateur astronomers will volunteer their telescopes and expertise for park visitors, the park said in a news release. Views of Jupiter, Saturn and Mars, along with double stars, star clusters, nebulae, galaxies and the moon, will be on display. During the day, solar telescopes will offer views of the sun.
The park also is planning a nightly slide show at 8 p.m. in the theater of the South Rim's Grand Canyon Visitor Center. This year's event is in honor of Joe Orr, a lifelong astronomer and former Star Party participant who died in 2013.
Cool evenings are expected on both rims, so visitors to Star Party events are encouraged to bring warm layers of clothing. All Star Party events are free with park admission.
For more information about the Grand Canyon Star Party, click here.