Star Party and Guest Speaker at Homolovi State Park

Homolovi State Park

2nd Saturday of the Month, April - November   7 p.m. (April-Aug.) | 6 p.m. (Sept.-Nov.)

The Winslow Homolovi Observatory

Homolovi State Park's astronomy events take place on the second Saturday of each month and are free with paid park entry. Each event features a guest speaker during the first hour; presentations are held in the park's visitor center and museum. Following the presentation, telescope viewing is available through the Winslow Homolovi Observatory's Moore Telescope (Celestron 14" Schmidt-Cassegrain). Night sky targets will be announced for the evening and may include deep space nebulae, star clusters, and more.

Thank you to the Little Colorado River Valley Astronomy Club for supporting these astronomy events. Learn more about them at  www.lcrvac.org  or nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/clubs/lcrvac.

View the Winslow Homolovi Observatory newsletter for information on the upcoming Star Party guest speaker, as well as to preview night sky targets for telescope viewing.

Camping reservations for the night of the events can be made online at azstateparks.com or by calling (877) MY-Parks (877)-697-2757. Information about guest speakers will be updated as it becomes available.

2026 Schedule

November 14, 2026 at 6-8:30 p.m.

*See guest speaker/program information below.

Night sky as seen from Homolovi State Park Telescope

 Program Information

Presenter, November 14, 2026: 

Kevin Schindler, the historian and public information officer at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, is our guest speaker. Over his 32-year career at Lowell, Kevin has dedicated himself to sharing the observatory's rich history of research and exploration through his writing and public presentations. He authors articles for numerous publications, pens the bi-weekly astronomy column "View from Mars Hill" for the Arizona Daily Sun, and has written seven books, including Pluto and Lowell Observatory. In recognition of his diverse contributions, Kevin has the unique distinction of having both a fossil crab and an asteroid named after him. 

Founded by Percival Lowell 18 years before Arizona achieved statehood, Lowell Observatory is a world leader in astronomical research and education with an impressive scientific heritage. In this upcoming program, Kevin will:

  • Introduce some of the observatory's most exciting current research projects.
  • Provide an update on the new Astronomy Discovery Center.
  • Share historical insights into Clyde Tombaugh, who discovered Pluto at Lowell Observatory in 1930.
  • Discuss the vital role northern Arizona has played in protecting our dark skies.

After the lecture, we will open the observatory. Evening observation targets through the Moore 14" SCT telescope may include, as night sky weather conditions permit:

Planetary Highlights

  • Saturn: Standing as the prime planetary target of our evening, Saturn will be high in the southern/southwestern sky right at 7:00 PM. This is an ideal window to view its magnificent ring system through the Moore telescope before it sinks lower toward midnight.

Deep-Sky Objects (High in the Sky)

  • The Andromeda Galaxy (M31): Located nearly directly overhead (zenith) by mid-evening. As the closest major galaxy to the Milky Way, it is easily visible to the naked eye as a faint smudge from Winslow's dark skies, and reveals its vast elongated shape through binoculars or low-magnification telescopes.
  • The Pleiades Star Cluster (M45): Rising in the east-northeast right around sunset, this dazzling "Seven Sisters" open cluster will be well above the horizon by 7:00 PM. It is one of the most stunning targets for binoculars or wide-field telescope viewing, showcasing a cluster of bright blue stars.
  • The Double Cluster in Perseus (NGC 869 and NGC 884): High in the northeastern sky between the constellations of Perseus and Cassiopeia. Through binoculars, it splits into two distinct, dense regions packed with hundreds of sparkling diamond-like stars.
  • The Orion Nebula (M42): the constellation Orion will clear the eastern horizon. The stellar nursery inside Orion's sword is the brightest nebula in the night sky and reveals spectacular dust lanes even in modest telescopes.

Meteors and Early Winter Rising Targets

  • Taurid and Leonid Meteor Showers: November 14 sits just days before the peak of the Leonids (November 17–18).

MORE EVENTS