Stargazing Joshua Tree — Local services in Joshua Tree

I booked a stargazing tour as a “grand finale” for my wife and I’s mini honeymoon. We did it on a whim, hoping that if anything it would be memorable and fun way to close out our vacation. We were pleasantly surprised and enjoyed our experience immensely! While I have a pretty decent background in astronomy already (I minored in it in college, and currently work as an optical engineer that tests space based telescopes) my wife did not, and despite our different levels of familiarity we BOTH came out at the end of the night having learned a lot! Our guide, Devon (hopefully I spelled that right), was very knowledgeable and obviously experienced in identifying the constellations and other key objects, clearly tracing them out for us with her laser and even giving us some of the greek/roman history facts associated with them. She also did a great job using various analogies to aid the listener in comprehending the true vastness of the scales of the universe (distance, lengths of time, etc). The stargazing area was cozy, with hot drinks available and extremely comfortable bean bags. Multiple telescopes were set up, and while Devon pointed us toward various objects of interest, her partner Kramer set up each telescope to view different night sky objects. Some of the telescopes were just the optics alone (light collected from the telescope goes right to your eye with no electronics in the loop) while others had actual sensors/detectors in them that did live image stacking to produce improved views of the sources they were imaging (these were especially cool to me). By the end of the night we had viewed several galaxies, nebulae, the moon, stars, Saturn, and Jupiter. Somehow, while all this was going on, Kramer also got awesome photos of the whole setup, candid pics of us as we looked into the telescopes, and a couple personal posed pictures with the stars in the background. All the photos were sent to us in email the following day, including the images of deep sky objects collected by the telescopes (with titles!). Both guides were personable, friendly, and easy-going which made the experience that much better. Overall, this was an awesome experience that is absolutely worth the money, especially when you consider the top of the line gear being used, the photography, and the information you can get out of it. I’m super happy that we got to be some of their first customers out in Joshua tree, and will definitely be recommending them to anyone I know that is going out there. Thank you for the memories, and for reminding us what’s out there to see if you just take some...

This stargazing experience took my time in Joshua Tree to the next level of greatness! Aaron was a superb guide. The informative hike to the viewing area was a fun way to acclimate everyone to the dark as well as break up the short trail for those who may need it to be a stop-and-go trek due to mobility challenges. The variety of ways we experienced the night sky added to the layers of goodness, as we listened to Aaron's knowledgeable presentation, used binoculars to find various objects, had all our questions addressed, and enjoyed up close and personal time with telescopes trained on a variety of celestial delights. It was entertaining, engaging, educational, and inspiring. The well-organized and supplied viewing camp was perfect. There were snacks and drinks as well as comfy seating. Aaron was thoughtful and considerate, knowledgeable and entertaining. We saw things through the telescopes that were wonderful added treats to the already magnificent desert night sky. We knew it was going to be a great experience to just BE in Joshua Tree at night, but this experience made it even better because it was comfortable, and we had our very own astronomer there to make the most of it! Shout-out to the photographer as well; the pictures sent afterwards are marvelous keepsakes that will help us revisit this lovely, lovely time under the stars! Thanks for the priceless memories. Keep your...

A superb experience in every way. The night sky in Joshua Tree is one of the wonders of the USA, and this company has found a way to present it that's entertaining, enlightening, and elegant. For this family of four, including kids aged 12 and 17, it was a wonderful night that we'll remember forever. First: fantastic and clear communication from the start, including day of, when cloud cover added uncertainty (it dissipated well before the tour started, as predicted by staff). Second: detailed and easy driving directions, plus wayfinding signs on isolated dirt roads that made us feel confident and got us there without a hitch. Third: a thoughtful set of amenities on site: ground cover, beanbag chairs, blankets, binoculars, and hot drinks. Finally: an amazing presentation. Devon is smart and charming, truly knowledgeable not only about astronomy but also about the mythology behind the constellations and their stories. She found the perfect balance between information and uplift, and she fielded questions from all ages with grace and skill. The other astronomers were also generous with their knowledge. And the telescopes are high-end, delivering breathtaking imagery of planets, stars, galaxies, and nebulae. I've been visiting JT and 29 since the late 1990s, and this is one of the best experiences I've ever had out here. ...