Stargazing at the East Pinnacles National Park

** RSVP opens Friday, Sep 12, 2025 9:00 AM **

San Jose Astronomical Association (SJAA) and the Pinnacles National Park are proud to jointly sponsor a Stargazing with Telescopes and Binoculars event to be held at the East Entrance of the Pinnacles National Park.

Spend the day at Pinnacles National Park, where the possibilities for discovery are limitless! Climbing and hiking among the breathtaking spires and rock formations that gave Pinnacles its name, is only the beginning of what the park has to offer. Come seek out the California Condor in the high peaks.

When it begins to get dark, come look at the night sky from this truly dark site. The Summer Milky Way would be blazing overhead as the event commences. Observe deep sky objects such as The ET Cluster, The Dumbbell Nebula, The Andromeda Galaxy and planets such as Saturn and its moons, using the telescopes and Binoculars that will be setup by our docents. It's a truly amazing experience that you will not soon forget!

If you own binoculars, please do bring them and we will teach you how to spot a few objects by yourselves, but PLEASE DO NOT BRING TELESCOPES as the spaces are already filled by our docents who are hosting the star party.

The Pinnacles National Park fee is $30 per car and must be purchased online at the following Link. The Visitor Station closes at 5pm, but you can arrive later. When you arrive, park your car and there should be staff and signs to guide you to the amphitheater where the program will start. The program will start promptly at 7:30 PM. Please do not be late.

As the weather is always changing, please check back here on the day of the event for more info, in case bad weather causes us to cancel it.

Dos
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1. This is a family friendly event, and although younger children are welcome, this activity is best suited for children aged 5 years and older.
2. Please plan to arrive no later than 30 mins before the start of the event. Give yourself extra time to get down there. The weekends can have more traffic through the Gilroy to Hollister part of the trip.
3. It can get cool in the evenings so bring extra layers to keep you warm just in case
4. Do bring binoculars if you have them.
5. Leave no trash, stay on designated paths, and protect the natural environment.
6. Ask a lot of questions. We Astronomers love to share !

Don'ts
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1. Do not bring your own telescope (binoculars are welcome).
2. Please do not bring bright lights or white flashlights. They will ruin your night vision and everyone's ability to see the night sky objects.
3. Please do not touch the telescopes or eyepieces without checking with the Astronomers.
4. Do not shine any light (white or red) on the telescopes
5. No smoking and no pets.
6. No flash photography.