Stargazing Together: Upcoming North American Starfests 2025–2026
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Oct 14–19, 2025 — Enchanted Skies Star Party (Magdalena, NM)
• What you can see: Autumn constellations (Andromeda, Triangulum, Double Cluster), early winter constellations rising, deep sky objects in dark desert skies
• Avg temps: ~70 °F high / ~39 °F low (October in Magdalena)
• Organizer: Magdalena Astronomical Society
• Official website: enchantedskies.org
• Moon phase at midpoint (~Oct 16–17): ~Waning Crescent / New Moon (low illumination) -
Oct 17–19, 2025 — Nightfall Star Party (Borrego Springs, CA)
• What you can see: Desert-sky deep sky objects, good horizons, milky way features
• Avg temps: ~92→81 °F high / ~61→52 °F low
• Organizer: Riverside Astronomical Society
• Official website: nightfallstarparty.com
• Moon phase midpoint (~Oct 18): ~Waning Crescent / New Moon -
Oct 17–23, 2025 — Chiefland Astrofest (Chiefland, FL)
• What you can see: Autumn Milky Way, nebulae, galactic centre low but rising late
• Avg temps: ~83 °F high / ~62 °F low
• Organizer: Chiefland Star Party Group
• Official website: chieflandastro.com
• Moon phase midpoint (~Oct 20): ~New / Waxing Crescent -
Oct 20–25, 2025 — Eldorado Star Party (Eldorado, TX)
• What you can see: Dark-sky DSOs, wide field nebulae, Milky Way arcs
• Avg temps: ~82→72 °F high / ~59→49 °F low
• Organizer: Eldorado Star Party, Inc.
• Official website: eldoradostarparty.org
• Moon phase midpoint (~Oct 22): ~Waxing Crescent toward First Quarter -
Feb 16–22, 2026 — Winter Star Party (Scout Key, FL Keys)
• What you can see: Winter constellations (Orion, Taurus, Gemini), planetary views, nebulae, Milky Way stretching south
• Avg temps: ~75–77 °F high / ~66–68 °F low
• Organizer: Southern Cross Astronomical Society
• Official website: scas.org (Winter Star Party section)
• Moon phase midpoint (~Feb 18): Waxing Crescent (~1–3% illumination) TheSkyLive+2Moon Phase Tonight+2 -
Apr 12–19, 2026 — Texas Star Party (Fort Davis, TX)
• What you can see: Spring galaxies (Virgo cluster, Coma, M101, etc.), wide fields, Milky Way arcs late night
• Avg temps: ~73→80 °F high / ~41→49 °F low
• Organizer: Texas Star Party, Inc.
• Official website: texasstarparty.org texasstarparty.org+1
• Moon phase midpoint (~Apr 15): Waning Crescent (~4.7% illuminated) Moon phases+1 -
Jun 6–13, 2026 — Grand Canyon Star Party (North & South Rims, AZ)
• What you can see: Full Milky Way season, nebulae, star clouds, globular clusters
• Avg temps: ~76→84 °F highs / ~37→46 °F lows
• Organizers: Saguaro Astronomy Club (North Rim), Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association (South Rim)
• Official site: saguaroastro.org (Grand Canyon Star Party)
• Moon phase midpoint (~Jun 9–10): ~First Quarter to Waxing Gibbous -
Jun 10–14, 2026 — Green Bank Star Quest (Green Bank, WV)
• What you can see: Summer Milky Way, imaging sessions, radio astronomy tie-ins
• Avg temps: ~77 °F high / ~56 °F low
• Organizer: Central Appalachian Astronomy Club at Green Bank Observatory
• Official website: greenbankstarquest.org
• Moon phase midpoint (~Jun 12): ~Waxing Gibbous / approaching Full Moon -
Jun 10–14, 2026 — Rocky Mountain Star Stare (Gardner, CO)
• What you can see: High altitude summer skies, crisp Milky Way, faint galaxies & nebulae
• Avg temps: ~75–85 °F high / ~45–55 °F low
• Organizer: Colorado Springs Astronomical Society
• Official site: csastro.org (Rocky Mountain Star Stare page)
• Moon phase midpoint (~Jun 12): ~Waxing Gibbous -
Jun 11–14, 2026 — Cherry Springs Star Party (Coudersport, PA)
• What you can see: Dark-sky Nebulae, summer Milky Way, deep-sky imaging
• Avg temps: ~70→75 °F high / ~52 °F low
• Organizer: Astronomical Society of Harrisburg
• Official website: ASH / Cherry Springs Star Party pages
• Moon phase midpoint (~Jun 12–13): ~Waxing Gibbous -
Jul 12–17, 2026 — Nebraska Star Party (Merritt Reservoir, Valentine, NE)
• What you can see: Dark skies in Sandhills, Milky Way, nebulae, clusters
• Avg temps: ~87→89 °F high / ~60→62 °F low
• Organizer: Nebraska Star Party, Inc.
• Official website: nebraskastarparty.org
• Moon phase midpoint (~Jul 14–15): ~Waxing Gibbous / Full Moon -
Jul 14–18, 2026 — Washington State Star Party (Jameson Lake, WA)
• What you can see: Western sky clarity, summer deep sky, Milky Way arcs
• Avg temps: ~85 °F high / ~55 °F low
• Organizer: Table Mountain Star Party Association
• Official website: tmspa.com
• Moon phase midpoint (~Jul 16): ~Full Moon / Waning Gibbous -
Aug 13–16, 2026 — Starfest (Mount Forest / Ayton, Ontario, Canada)
• What you can see: Peak Milky Way season, nebulae, clusters, summer sky
• Avg temps: ~72–75 °F high / ~54–59 °F low
• Organizer: North York Astronomical Association (NYAA)
• Official site: NYAA / Telescopes Canada Starfest pages
• Moon phase midpoint (~Aug 14–15): ~Waxing Gibbous / Full Moon