"Death Valley Days" (and nights).

[Mark Wagner]

A few days ago there was a posting about the Death Valley Star Party (or some similar name) in January.  A second posting pointed out the early moonrise as scheduled.

I'm possibly interested in going and observing there as I've never been.  It would be a sightseeing-astro trip.

For those who have gone there for astronomy, what are your experiences, where did you stay/camp, where did you observe, and how do you rate it?

Just getting info at this point, no serious plans yet.

Thanks!

Mark

[James Webster]

Mark,

I spent New Years at Death Valley for about a decade. I always stayed at the Ranch. Old fashioned cabins with a general store and a not very good resto and a bar. A nice swimming pool, but beware of the grumpy campers, from a nearby campsite who are not supposed to use the pool and showers. Nightly lectures. I observed there a couple of times. John Dobson talked and had his observing group at the Ranch there a few times. The weather can be cold, and windy at night this time of year. Frankly, due to the lights from Las Vegas and the cold winds at night, I didn’t find it very good for observing. I started flying into LV and renting a car and non observing. Golden Canyon is nearby and there are a lot of interesting trails from there. I got stuck off roading once and almost didn't make it out. You can rent jeeps for that with radios and GPS systems. Cell phones generally don't work there. It's largely a driving park. There is telescope peak, which is supposed to have good observing, JD used to go there, but it’s a long and arduous drive. Further and more arduous than I wanted to venture.

James Webster 

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[John Pierce]

On Wed, Dec 24, 2025 at 10:19 AM Mark Wagner <itsmar...@gmail.com> wrote:

A few days ago there was a posting about the Death Valley Star Party (or some similar name) in January.  A second posting pointed out the early moonrise as scheduled.

I'm possibly interested in going and observing there as I've never been.  It would be a sightseeing-astro trip.

For those who have gone there for astronomy, what are your experiences, where did you stay/camp, where did you observe, and how do you rate it?

for some years, we did a January motorcycle ride to Furnace Creek Campground, called it Death Valley Daze.    Several times it happeneed to land on the DV Star Party weekend, so me and a couple riders would hoof it out to the airport and take a look see.

Seeing was universally dreadful in Furnace Creek, something about being 200 feet below MSL.   Transparency was often bad too, due to dust in the air.   Darkness was generally pretty bad too, due to the proximity of the Las Vegas light dome..       but its still a cool experience. 

[Ted Hauter]

I've had good luck at Hole in The Wall campground if canceled. Way less lights from Vegas. Amazing seeing resides there. Best Flame Nebula in 17 years. Go there on the Death Valley dates for moon views.

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[Richard Ozer]

I was hoping to go with a group from Chabot, but all the group campgrounds were taken already.

On Wed, Dec 24, 2025 at 10:19 AM Mark Wagner <itsmar...@gmail.com> wrote:

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[Akarsh Simha]

John gave an honest impression of Furnace Creek and I agree. The finer particles of dust in the desert are suspended in the air and add to poor transparency and more efficient scattering of any light pollution. If I were to observe from Death Valley area (which I do), I would be on the ranges and not in the valleys, I would be at high elevation.

Unfortunately we aren’t allowed to drive up to telescope peak, or camp overnight at Augereberry Point and such. I therefore stay outside the park in the Talc City hills. My site there is so-so, although I’ve had a few really good nights. If I were to go to Death Valley proper to observe, I’d want to be up near Ubehebe crater.

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[miloc...@gmail.com]

This was my experience; I'm not implying that anyone else's experience would be the same; and I only have two days of data.

Stayed at Mesquite Spring and Furnace Creek in early Nov 2024.  Average SQM was 21.32, comparable to Cottonwood in Joshua Tree, West Pinnacles, Yosemite Glacier Point, Lake San Antonio, and Sweetwater Campground near San Benito.  Some Vegas skyglow but not bad.  Seeing was pretty good; not great.  People turned in pretty early at the smallish Mesquite Spring campground, though I had to break down early due to a rain squall.  I set up the 2nd night at Borax Works just north of Furnace Creek to clear skies. A steady stream of visitors cars at Borax ensured that my night vision was never established. What I learned was ... find a place up some dirt road where you're not likely to see visitors at 10PM, or realize that you'll be hosting a public star party with lots of headlights if you're in the busy areas of the park. 

I found gas prices to be very reasonable, and the general store at StovePipe Wells was very well stocked with food and had very reasonable prices. 

I enjoyed my stay and did the usual sights and short hikes during the days so the drive from Santa Cruz was worth it.  But I won't go back for astronomy, only because it's such a long drive, and there are many closer places more conducive to astronomy.  My advice is that if you go, make sure you get actual tips on where to set up at night that isn't full of visitors.  FWIW, others have reported nights with better seeing.

Jim B

[miloc...@gmail.com]

Yeah, I'd imagine Ubehebe crater would be good, assuming that it isn't visited too much.  There isn't much to do after the sun goes down so I suspect that people drive to places like Ubehebe, like they drive to the Borax site.

JimB

[Akarsh Simha]

I wonder if RBA knows any good sites near Ubehebe.

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[Paul Alsing]

In Panamint Valley, this is a terrific spot... I've observed from here several times. No facilities, no internet, no phone service, just dark skies. Across the valley is Telescope Peak. About 30 minutes south to Trona for gas and groceries, and about 15 minutes to cell service on the pass between endpoints. There is enough room for many telescopes on level ground. No 4x4 needed unless you want to take Slate Range Road, just north of the Nadeau Road location, to reach Panamint Springs without backtracking to the main road 6 miles south. Lots of sandy spots on Slate Range Road.

\Paul

On Wednesday, December 24, 2025 at 10:19:22 AM UTC-8 Mark Wagner wrote:

[Bill Seiler]

Anybody tried astronomy up at Cerro Gordo?

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[Richard Ozer]

Thanks Paul,

And it's just a stone's throw from Telescope Peak.

In all seriousness, it's dark out there; you have to time it to avoid wind and flash flooding, but that's not terribly hard to do.

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[Paul Alsing]

I'm pretty sure that Akarsh has been there, since I had previously told him about it... and he sent me a "guess where I am" photo partway up the mountain, where there is a nice wide spot on the roadside and a perfect place to set up. Nice road, wide enough for 2 greyhound buses to pass!

\Paul

[Akarsh Simha]

On Sat, Dec 27, 2025 at 13:07 Paul Alsing <pnal...@gmail.com> wrote:

I'm pretty sure that Akarsh has been there, since I had previously told him about it... and he sent me a "guess where I am" photo partway up the mountain, where there is a nice wide spot on the roadside and a perfect place to set up. Nice road, wide enough for 2 greyhound buses to pass!

Yes, I didn’t go all the way up to Cerro Gordo proper but exactly what Paul said

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