A few years ago, we fell in love with the night skies. We had a friend with a massive telescope, and he’d have a “Star Party” every time there was an eclipse or other celestial event. Soon, we were identifying constellations and learning the names of stars. We’ve written more about that, here. That’s why we were very excited to hold a Star Party with Rocky Mountain Astronomy Tours.
This little company is run by a student of optics who transports his telescope to a spot near you, and then takes you on a tour of the night sky. Tanner is more than just a telescope owner, though. He knows so much about the sky. We showed up with a group of about 10 people, include kids, teens, and adults. Tanner answered all of our questions and expanded on every one, which kept the kids interested. He also taught us about how the telescope worked, and then pointed it to a few of the jewels that the night sky has to offer.
The sky had so much to offer! We loved seeing the comet that was in the night sky late in 2024. Saturn made a perfect picture in the large telescope, too. We saw the Andromeda Galaxy, double stars, and globular clusters. It was such a beautiful tour. We also enjoyed the pacing, which was quick enough for the kids, but thorough enough for the adults.
You can arrange your own personalized star party at Rocky Mountain Astronomy Tours. Tanner told us that he will travel, and often does shows as far south as Bryce Canyon and as far north as Idaho, though he is based in Bountiful. The cost for star parties depends on the length of time, travel distance, and number of people in the party.
Tips for Families
Here’s a few tips for arranging your own Star Party.
- Be aware of the season. The sun sets late in summer, so kids have to stay up late, but it gets cold after the early sundown during winter. Be prepared for the cold or the late night depending on your choice.
- Talk to your kids about the night sky and respecting the equipment beforehand. The more they know, they higher their interest and the better they’ll do when you get to the party.
- Rocky Mountain Astronomy Tours also does day time tours where you can learn more about this sun and enjoy solar viewing safely.
Contact Tanner and let him work with you. He is a student working hard on this small business, and he is really flexible and willing to make your Star Party great. We were so impressed with all of his knowledge and how great he was with the kids. Rocky Mountain Astronomy Tours would be so fun for a family reunion, friend gathering, or for anyone who loves the stars (or wants to know more about them).
