Bortle 1-2 dark sky sites, guided small group expeditions
Guided stargazing tours under a truly dark sky, finally
Nightfield runs small group stargazing expeditions past the last streetlight. Six telescopes, one guide, and a horizon with nothing between you and the Milky Way.
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Stargazing tour options
Three ways to spend a night outdoors
Every guided stargazing expedition is limited to eight guests, so there is real time behind the eyepiece.
The deep sky night
Galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters through 10 to 14 inch reflector telescopes, timed to a moonless window for the best contrast.
New moon traverse
An overnight trek to a remote plateau, timed to the darkest three nights of the month. Sleeping bags, not hotel beds.
First light session
An introduction for beginners: how to read a star chart, find Polaris without an app, and hold a telescope steady.
Upcoming stargazing dates
Upcoming dark sky windows
Expeditions are scheduled around the new moon at three sites.
| Date | Moon | Site | Sky quality | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 10 to 11 | 2 percent illuminated | Cedar Ridge Plateau | Bortle 1 | Reserve |
| Sep 24 to 25 | 11 percent illuminated | Willow Basin | Bortle 2 | Reserve |
| Oct 9 to 10 | New moon | Cedar Ridge Plateau | Bortle 1 | Reserve |
| Oct 23 to 24 | 14 percent illuminated | Marlow Overlook | Bortle 2 | Reserve |
Guest field notes
What guests have seen
Notes left in the logbook we keep at each site.
Cedar Ridge, August 14
Saw Saturn's rings for the first time. Nobody rushed us off the eyepiece.
Logged by a first time guest
Willow Basin, July 30
The guide pointed a laser at Scorpius and suddenly the whole shape made sense.
Logged after a New Moon Traverse
Marlow Overlook, July 12
Andromeda as a smudge with the naked eye. Through the 14 inch, it had structure.
Logged after a Deep Sky Night