BOOK A PRIVATE TELESCOPE TOUR
private TELESCOPE TOURs
If you would prefer a private tour you can book an exclusive Telescope Tour at 2 different price levels, depending on the size of your group (see pricing below). Regardless of your group size when you book a Private Telescope Tour you and your colleagues, family, or friends can determine exactly what happens on your private tour night.
While booking your private tour (after entering your credit card information), you will be presented with a questionnaire where you can request specifics like those in the list above so as to customize your private tour.
- Maybe instead of the regular Telescope Tour you want 2-3 hrs of hands-on training about how to operate different kinds of telescopes and individual consultation on your next telescope purchase?
- Alternatively maybe you'd like to bring YOUR telescope and be taught how to use it better? We can teach you how to pack it / or ship it to us.
- You could bring your DSLR an get an introductory lesson in astrophotography (Small Private Tour only)
- You could skip the multimedia show (though many say that's the best part) to maximize time with our telescopes. Bring a list of astronomical objects you like to see and we'll help you find them with our scopes.
- You could request a longer Laser Constellation Tour.
- We could teach you the best astronomy apps so you can learn to do your own constellation tours and chase satellites through the night sky.
While booking your private tour (after entering your credit card information), you will be presented with a questionnaire where you can request specifics like those in the list above so as to customize your private tour.
Large Private Telescope Tours
Any night, not already booked
(Group sizes 10- 42+)
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Book this type of private tour for:
- Company retreats - Tour companies - Family reunions - Wedding receptions (Yes, we can come to you!) - Science-supporting, government & non-profits - Educational / scouts Location: Dark Ranger Observatory
(adjacent, but NOT inside Bryce Canyon Natl. Park). Start Time: You decide as prompted by questionnaire after booking! Ticket Prices (10 ticket min)
NOTE: Pricing includes Utah sales tax and includes an estimated 6% for your bank/credit card's non-refundable transaction fees. Exact prices will vary.
NOTE: Cloudy Weather Insurance is NOT Available for Large Private Telescope Tours. Due to the logistical costs of accommodating large private tours we only offer
79% refunds for cloudy nights. |
With 42-ish days advanced notice (call or email) we can handle groups up to 150 people by supplying up to 10 telescopes with 5 dual-scope operators.
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Science/Conservation Government & Non-profits
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Most of the Dark Ranger are scientists, and all of us conservationists. So, if your science/conservation promoting governmental institution or non-profit organization is looking to re-inspire your employees to continue their important work, thru a company retreat, we would be honored to offer them a transformational evening under the stars. And, we'd insist on doing so with a 42% discount -- it's our way of saying thanks and an opportunity to to rub shoulders in solidarity.
Location: Dark Ranger Observatory (adjacent, but NOT inside Bryce Canyon Natl. Park). Start Time: You decide as prompted by questionnaire after booking! Pricing is as above for Large Group Private Tour but use this coupon code when prompted for credit card information: "PLANETHUGGERS42%" to get a 42% discount!
Organizers & Drivers = FREE |
Yep! The Dark Ranger are "planet-huggers!" AND you would be too, if you spent as much time in telescopes confirming there's no place like home. :-)
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K-12 Public School / scout TELESCOPE TOUR
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Where do talented Dark Rangers come from? Some of us are educators and ALL of us can thank at least one talented teacher who positively shaped our lives. So we are eager to not only give back but to also pay it forward in hopes we can help inspire the next generation of astronomers, astronauts, scientists in general... or even Dark Rangers.
Location: Dark Ranger Observatory (adjacent, but NOT inside Bryce Canyon Natl. Park). Start Time: You decide as prompted by questionnaire after booking! Pricing is as above for Large Group Private Tour but use this coupon code when prompted for credit card information: "IGNORANCECOSTSMORE42%" to get a 42% discount!
Teachers/Chaperons/Drivers = FREE We know, all too well, that education is often an afterthought when it comes to public funding, so our prices, as low as they are, are STILL negotiable! All that we ask is that you give us plenty of time (42 days advanced notice) so that we can plan and negotiate astro-memories of a lifetime for you and your students.
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Shelby, using Marvin, shows students a partial solar eclipse as part of a daytime-only discount tour.
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What do you mean by STILL negotiable?
If our pricing, even after the 42% discount, is still a deal breaker, we can negotiate up to a 84% discount in exchange for the equivalent of ~42 hrs of volunteer service. 42 hrs could be 10 kids for 4 hours, 21 kids for 2 hrs, etc. The work / maintenance our Dark Ranger Observatory needs varies with the season but might include:
- litter pick-up - pruning brush - painting / staining - raking and leveling gravel - etc. We'll provide the supplies and tools if your students bring work clothes and ESPECIALLY work gloves. We want to share the wonders of the Universe with you and your students/scouts! Email us at darkrangertelescopetours@gmail.com and let's see if we can work out a deal. |
And / or your Astronomy Merit Badge!
Scouts! We'll help you earn your Space Exploration (Model Rockets) Merit Badge!
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Small Private Telescope Tours
Nov. thru March: any night not already booked
April thru Oct.: Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, & Saturday not already booked
(Group Sizes 1-9)
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Book this type of private tour for:
- Family Groups who wish to go at their own speed# - Couple(s) seeking a romantic experience * - Astrophotographers seeking an introductory course (see details below) - Those in the market for a telescope or wanting assistance with one with they already own Location: Dark Ranger Observatory's
'Dark Sky Site' Not far, from our main public facility we have hidden our private observatory where the sky is even darker. There experienced astronomers can rent our specialty telescopes, so they get first 'dibs' on that observatory. Though a little more spartan than our main facility (no restroom immediately on-site) we try to schedule Small Group Private Telescope Tours for that venue. Look for an email 1-2 weeks prior to your schedule tour notifying you if this special location is available for your group. Start Time: You decide as prompted by questionnaire after booking! Ticket Prices (4 ticket min)
NOTE: Pricing includes Utah sales tax and includes an estimated 6% for your bank/credit card's non-refundable transaction fees. Exact prices will vary.
Improve your chances of avoiding a cloudy night, by booking an Alternate Night for $2/Ticket
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# Large Private Tours have family-friendly pricing. It might save you money to invite another family to join yours.
* NOTE Minimum Purchase: If your actual group size is only 1 or 2. You will still have to buy 4 tickets. 'Scalp' the extras or just bring along your imaginary friends. :-) Are you open to doubling-up in exchange for a $100 refund? Occasionally we get discovered by another small group who have already finalized their vacation plans without including us. Can you imagine!? Anyway, some are so eager to join us that they often offer to buy their way onto YOUR private tour. The nerve!? Nevertheless, after booking, the questionnaire will ask you about your willingness to "take that deal," if offered. |
Introduction to Astrophotography
Here's an example of wide-angle (aka Milky Way) photography. This would be done with your wide-angle lens on your tripod.
Below are "thru the scope" images where our telescope(s) become your lens. You must bring a $15 Celestron "t-ring" specific to your brand of camera. Email us if you need help finding one.
These 3-hr workshops are held at the Dark Ranger Observatory (adjacent, but NOT inside Bryce Canyon National Park).
Pricing is as above for Small Private Telescope Tour and includes configuring 1 telescope for astrophotography. If you have multiple photographers you may wish to have 1 additional telescopes (total of 2) setup for photography for the add-on extra fee of $21. |
A wise man once said "Astrophotography is a good way to lose your job, get divorced, and generally withdrawal from society as a whole." However, with the advent of large sensor, digital SLRs, and state-of-the-art image enhancing software, photographing the night sky is not nearly the anti-social, soul-sucking hobby it once was.
Though we at Dark Ranger Telescope Tours are careful not to get too close to the event horizon of professional astrophotography, we enjoy the hobby and are happy to teach the basics to individuals who are experienced in using their camera in manual mode, AND patient enough to give astrophotography a try. You bring your digital SLR (ideally capable of 6400 ISO or higher) with a Celestron t-ring specific to your brand of DSLR, your widest-angle lens, and a tripod; and we will supply:
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Private Tour Cancellation Policy
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We refund 94% (NOT including the transaction fees your bank/credit card assesses. As a small business, we must retain 6% to cover our bank/credit card merchant fees as we issue refunds) if guest(s) cancels more than 14 DAYS in advance. 42% refund if cancellation occurs between 14 and 4 DAYS prior to start time. Sorry, no refunds after that. That's the price of exclusivity. We need to know as soon as possible when we can put our Private Observatory (small private tours), and especially our Public Observatory (large private tours) back into circulation.
What if it is cloudy? We average 300 clear nights per year so weather cancellations are uncommon. Nevertheless, you can read more about our weather related cancellation policy here. |
