Mountain view with fence

Stargazing and Astronomy in Sky Meadows State Park

Washington, DC has more than its fair share of parks and greenery but sometimes it takes a trip to the rolling hills of Virginia to get a real taste of the outdoors. For me, this generally means a trip to a winery or making a drive to Shenandoah. But one of the best-kept secrets about a trip like this is a special kind of nightlife. Once a month on a Saturday, you can join Sky Meadows State Park with NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) for an evening of stargazing.

Upcoming 2024 Dates

January 13, February 3, March 16

Astronomy For Everyone

Sky Meadows State Park is about 90 minutes away from Washington, DC’s center. While it is far enough away to escape the city lights, it is not far enough to require a lot of advanced planning. The event begins about an hour before the sunset, giving your eyes plenty of time to adjust to the dark.

We attended this event a few times several years ago when they were called Saturday Star Parties but they are now simply called Astronomy for Everyone. When we attended more recently, we were pleased to find this event was just as fun and friendly as we remembered.

This event is perfect for an off beat date night or evening event for the whole family. During the first half hour, NASA JPL presents the “Junior Astronomer” program, which engages the audience in space facts and trivia. While it is designed for the little ones, everyone can join in. We thought watching all the parents try to answer the questions was entertaining. The next 30-45 minutes cover what you’ll see that night in the sky and general information about current discoveries. This program is appropriate for all ages. You can also spend this time lounging in the grass, enjoying the sun set, and watching amateur space enthusiasts set up their telescopes.

Depending on the season, weather, and galactic events, you will always get a different experience each time you go. On some occasions, the focus was more on mythology and storytelling. Other times, we spent more time interacting with the local astronomers and looking through the telescopes at views of planets, star clusters, and galaxies within view.

People laying in the grass
Families set up on the grass and wait for dark.

What to Bring for Astronomy in Sky Meadows State Park

Dress for the weather! Each time we have visited, the weather cooled down substantially after dark. Do not be fooled if it is a warm afternoon in DC. In the summer months, bring a light jacket or sweatshirt. In the cooler months, bundle up in hats and mittens – lots of people have hot chocolate in thermoses as well! Pack a dinner picnic or snacks. Most guests arrive anywhere between 30 to 90 minutes before dark to enjoy the scenery and let their eyes slowly adjust to the dark. Fill the time with a picnic dinner or spread of snacks. Remember not to bring alcohol and to bring your trash with you!

Bring lawn chairs or a blanket. While we like to clean up any snacks we have before it gets too dark, it is nice to have a place to sit. You may wander a little bit to hear stories but it is also nice to just sit and look up at the night sky.

cropped-Sky-Meadows-State-Park-Road.jpg
Views of the park

Telescopes, star apps, and red lights. Many people will bring telescopes and are willing to tell other guests about them but feel free to bring your own. There are also many star finding apps you can use on your smartphone to help navigate the skies. However, remember to bring red filters for your white lights or get a special red light for the occasion. Too much white light will mess with everyone’s night vision!

This event runs once a month on Saturdays year-round. The skies change with the seasons so different constellations will be in view each time you go. The hours of the event also change as the sun sets later in the spring/summer and earlier in the fall/winter, so be sure to check the website before you go. The event is free but there is a $10 parking fee per car. If it rains, only the Junior Astronomer program is presented. You can search for future stargazing dates by looking for “Astronomy for Everyone” on the Virginia park calendar.

The gate to the park is not always staffed so we personally request that you still honor the park fees with exact change if you visit. This helps keep the park running and organize online events. Parking is $7 on weekdays and $10 on weekends April to October per vehicle.

At a Glance

  • Good for families and date nights
  • 11012 Edmonds Lane
    Delaplane, VA 20144
  • $10 parking per car

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