Join us for the Dark Sky Festival 2024!

Schedule of Events:

Sequoia National Park: Giant Forest Area

Silent Auction opens!

Friday 12:00pm - Sunday 5:00pm
Location: Beetle Rock Center
New this year! Discover unique items and experiences, all while supporting the Dark Sky Festival and Sequoia Parks Conservancy. Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity to bid and win.

Dark Side of the Giant Forest

11:00am - 11:20am
Location: Giant Forest Museum
Join a ranger to explore various topics that happen after sunset in Sequoia National Park.

The Antikythera Mechanism: the 2000-year-old Eclipse computer

2:30pm - 3:30pm

Presenter: Khaled Alktob
Location: Beetle Rock Center

One hundred years ago, sponge divers discovered a rusted bronze mechanism off the Greek island of Antikythera. After decades of mystery, an international team of astronomical historians discovered that this mystifying object was the oldest computer in the world. Come see a working model of this 2,000-year-old eclipse computer and learn of its history.

2:30pm - 4:00pm: NPS Ranger Meadow Walk

Location: Giant Forest Museum (Walk to Round Meadow)

4:00pm - 5:00pm: All about Telescopes

Presenter: Darren Bly
Location: Beetle Rock Center

Darren has been an amateur astronomer from the age of 11. He has spent over 50 years observing the night sky specializing in visual observation. As a 45 year member of the Kern Astronomical Society, he has been President, Vice President, Events Coordinator and Equipment Chairman. His greatest joy is organizing public events to share his love of astronomy.

Sequoia National Park: Lodgepole

3:00pm - 4:30pm: Nocturnal Animal Critter Talk and Table

Location: Lodgepole Visitor Center

Join a ranger to learn about some of the animals that are active and night and what adaptations they use.

8:00pm - 9:00pm: TBA: NPS Night Sky Program

Location: Lodgepole Amphitheater

Jeremy Evans is a professional photographer, filmmaker, amateur astronomer and delegate for Dark Sky International. When not working on TV shows and documentaries he's often out backpacking or living off the grid enjoying nature and dark skies.

Sequoia National Park: Wuksachi

7:00pm - 8:30pm: Comets

Presenter: Terry Himes
Location: Wuksachi Lodge Alta Room

In this talk, we'll explore the mysteries these fascinating icy bodies hold, from their origins in the distant Oort Cloud and Kuiper Belt, to their fiery journeys toward the Sun. These celestial travelers, known as comets, have captivated human imagination for millennia. Comets are not just beautiful spectacles in the night sky; they are ancient relics, holding clues to the earliest days of our solar system's formation. We will talk about the JPL missions that flew into deep space and intercepted some of these celestial bodies.

Kings Canyon National Park: Grant Grove

7:00pm - 8:00pm: Walk Among the Giants - Night Hike

Sequoia Parks Conservancy
Location: Grant Tree Loop

Astrophotography Workshop

Astrophotography Workshop with Jon Norris

Presenter: Jon Norris
Date: Friday, September 6, 2024
Time: 7:00pm - 10:00pm
Location: Wolverton Parking Lot

Kick-off the Dark Sky Festival weekend with an astrophotography workshop led by renowned landscape photographer Jon Norris.