Each month, on the first clear night in the week before the new moon, stargazers gather with Don Jolley in the Giacomini Wetlands & listen to astronomer Don Jolley’s spellbinding stories about billions and billions of celestial bodies. Park at 3rd and C Streets and follow the candles to the spot.
Participants no longer need to pre-register or prepay. Follow Don’s Weather Reports at DarkSkyPointReyes.com for frequent announcements of exact date. Please bring exact amount to the event. Requested donation is 10 or 20 dollars.
“Window of opportunity” = when the sky is the darkest to conduct naked-eye stargazing.
- Date: Exact date is always determined by the fog
- Time: About an hour after sundown & announced each month in Don’s weather reports.
- Place: Giacomini Wetlands (3rd & C Sts),
- Donation: $10-$20, nondeductible donation. Please bring exact change to the event.
What to bring:
- Warm clothes
- Chair, blanket, sleeping roll, or sleeping bag
- Print out of night sky map with names on it.
- Flashlight prepared as in instructions below or red lamp
- Your curiosity
Flashlight preparation: A headlamp or flashlight with a red bulb option will work just fine. To modify an ordinary flashlight, cover the flashlight’s lens with masking tape, and color the tape with a red marker. It may take a few layers to get the light to quiet down. You’ll want enough light to read your star chart in the dark, but not so much that it blinds your vision of the stars.
Presented in concert with Point Reyes National Seashore & Point Reyes Station Village Association
Please watch for Don’s updates on the home page and come on down. We’ll be so happy to see you there!
Future new moon windows of opportunity. Mark your calendars:
January 13-21, 2023
February 11-19, 2023
March 13- 21, 2023
April 11-19, 2023
May 11-19, 2023
June 9-17, 2023
July 9-17, 2023
August 8-16, 2023
September 6-14, 2023
October 6-14, 2023
November 5-13, 2023
December 4-12, 2023
Don’t forget to download Don’s monthly handout.