Tour the Universe through our BIG telescopes!
Have a Bryce Night!
Everybody wishes you to have a "Nice Day." but we want you to have a "Bryce Night!" -- the best possible nights for stargazing. If your travel dates are flexible, check our list for the Bryce-ist of nights. Then come back to this page to book your telescope tour.
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The Astronomy You Prefer
Within the ranks of the Dark Rangers, there is enough knowledge to give you an entertaining show on almost any astronomy subject. After booking your tour below, you'll be invited to pick your show preference by title in a follow-up questionnaire.
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Yes, reservations are required.
That way we will know how many telescopes to setup.
That way we will know how many telescopes to setup.
SUMMER AND WINTER PUBLIC TELESCOPE TOURS
Pick your season. Summer nights are the least cold and offer a greater variety of deep-space objects. Winter nights are especially frigid, but cold air is also the most transparent, resulting in stunningly bright stars. Moonless nights during December thru March offer the rare view of the Orion Spur, the closest but dimmer arm of the Milky Way -- a subtle but sublime sight few humans have or will ever see with their own eyes. Scroll to the bottom of the page for pricing and cancellation policy.
Summer Telescope Tour (May - October)
These public Summer Telescope Tours are offered nightly at the Dark Ranger Observatory (adjacent to, but NOT inside Bryce Canyon National Park).
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Summer sky is dominated by the beauty of the Milky Way's Sagittarius Arm, fully extending to the horizons on moonless nights. It is so expansive, it's best viewed not through our telescopes, but from a Zero-gravity lounger add-on. With our BIG telescopes we can show a variety of other distant galaxies, exploded stars, star-birth nebulae, and awesome star clusters. Close-up and colorful views of the planets are possible year-round, but best in summer when they are highest above the horizons.
Nightly Tour Format:
DRESS WARMLY, so you don't get tired or bored early!
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Winter Telescope Tour (November - April)
2-hour Winter Telescope Tours are offered at the Dark Ranger Observatory (adjacent to, but NOT within Bryce Canyon), on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday (plus holiday Sundays):
Need a Monday, Wednesday, Friday, or Sunday winter night? EVERY winter night, can be booked as a Small Private Telescope Tour. Small Private Telescope Tours reduce risk of COVID, stranger-danger, offer the added benefit of using our auditorium as a warming hut, and the option of enjoying an indoor live, multimedia show.
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While cold air is best for telescopes, it's challenging for humans. Our winter nighttime temperatures can be 10°
to -10°F (-12° to -24°C). DRESS VERY WARMLY! Unless you are a Yeti / Wampa you will need: - Multiple layers of clothing including a ski hat - Snow boots or hiking boots with toe-warmers - Ski gloves or winter gloves with hand-warmers Nightly Tour Format:
NOTE: Due to Antivaxxers' efforts to extend the COVID-19 Pandemic, our auditorium will be CLOSED to public tours during winter of 2021-2022. Please choose a Small Private Telescope Tour if you want the added benefit of using our auditorium as a warming hut, and see an indoor live, multimedia show.
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full moon hike (suspended until further notice)
Our Full Moon Hikes begin & end at the Dark Ranger Observatory (adjacent to, but NOT within Bryce Canyon) and are offered during full Moons:
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Please standby while we develop new hiking routes
Our hikes are conducted on 3 different routes of varying difficulty, ranging from 1.5 (2.5 km) to 3.5 miles (5.5 km) in round-trip length -- the first to book a given night will be contacted and invited to pick the route. All hikes fully immerse you in the nocturnal realm. Indeed, flashlights & headlamps are NOT USED! Instead you will trust in the guidance of your fearless Dark Ranger and your innate, if untested, ability to safely explore the night. And of course, you'll also get to use our BIG telescopes -- before and after the hike.
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Click here to purchase $1/Ticket Alternate Night Booking
4-ticket Minimum:
For ALL activities a 4-ticket minimum must be met each night.
For example, if you are the first person to book for a particular night and you only buy 2 tickets you will not be charged until the minimum of 4 is met. If by 6pm the night of your tour, nobody else has booked 2 more tickets, the tour will be cancelled and you will not have been charged. Alternatively, if you decide to book 2 extra tickets (for 2 imaginary friends) the show will go on. If later, somebody else books 2 or more tickets for the same night, your 2 imaginary tickets will be fully refunded, after the tour takes place.
For example, if you are the first person to book for a particular night and you only buy 2 tickets you will not be charged until the minimum of 4 is met. If by 6pm the night of your tour, nobody else has booked 2 more tickets, the tour will be cancelled and you will not have been charged. Alternatively, if you decide to book 2 extra tickets (for 2 imaginary friends) the show will go on. If later, somebody else books 2 or more tickets for the same night, your 2 imaginary tickets will be fully refunded, after the tour takes place.
Standard Ticket Prices
NOTE: Pricing includes Utah sales tax. Depending on your bank, 3-6% Non-refundable transaction fees will also be assessed.
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Our Standard Cancellation Policy
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Why the weird prices and cancellation windows? It's a Douglas Adams thing...
