Blog created in partnership with the Meet the Mentor Program. Waverley Colville visited Greater Palm Springs in April and shared her experiences below.

Greater Palm Springs is renowned for some of the most magnificent stargazing opportunities in the region. While many visitors assume they need to make the hour-long trek to Joshua Tree National Park to experience the night sky,  incredible astronomical adventures are possible right here in Greater Palm Springs, even without a telescope. From observatory visits to mountaintop viewing, this desert oasis offers countless ways to connect with the stars without venturing too far out of the valley. 

Starting Your Stargazing Journey

For newcomers to astronomy, learning a few basics can enhance the stargazing experience.

The Rancho Mirage Library & Observatory provides a fantastic introduction to stargazing, with free public tours every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday at 3 p.m. Visitors can explore the Observation Deck, Cosmic Office, and the dome, which houses their CDK 700 telescope and theater to learn about the cosmos. 

“You see different exhibits and representations of the night skies, and you get to read articles, and I think it’s a wonderful introduction,” says Steve Caron, the founder of 29Palms Astronomy Club, an organization that hosts private stargazing events locally. “You can even go in the middle of the day if you don’t want to wait until nightfall.” 

Because it’s open during the day, the observatory is a perfect first step to learn important background knowledge that can enhance the experience when venturing out at night. 

Another helpful step is downloading a star tracking app. These apps use your phone’s camera to label constellations, planets, and celestial objects in real-time as you point it at the sky. Popular options include SkySafari, Night Sky 11, Star Walk 2, and SkyView Lite. 

“They all show an accurate representation of the sky and work regardless of light pollution,” Caron adds. “The planets are going to look just like stars to most people. So to have an app to show you which of those is a planet can be very useful, and [it] can be used even in downtown Palm Springs.” 

The Best Places to Stargaze in Greater Palm Springs

There are several places to stargaze within Greater Palm Springs.  While not an official International Dark Sky place, the sky is still quite dark, and you can see many stars and planets.

The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

One of the most accessible stargazing locations in Greater Palm Springs is on top of Mount San Jacinto, just a 10-minute ride up the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. Not only can you get beautiful views of the Coachella Valley and Chino Canyon on the ride up, but you can also get fantastic views of the stars. “ As you're high above the city lights, the stars do shine much brighter from up there,” Caron says, adding, “It’s also certainly a great place to watch the moon rise, which is another wonderful thing to do in the desert.”

Winter months provide the best opportunities, as darkness falls earlier in the day. If the sun sets around 5 p.m. in the winter, and the last tram down the mountain is at 9:30 p.m., it leaves you with over four hours of stargazing time. Summer viewing is still possible, though the shorter window of darkness before the last tram, which departs at 9:30 p.m. during weekdays and 10:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, will limit viewing time. 

Highway 74

If you rent a car during your stay or drive to the destination, Highway 74 offers excellent viewing spots along the mountains, with several points to pull off and admire the stars, such as Coachella Valley Vista Point and Cahuilla Tewanet Vista Point. 

These viewpoints have parking spots and sweeping, panoramic views of the night sky that will take your breath away. Be sure to turn off your headlights once you’ve parked to avoid disrupting the experience for other stargazers. 

Indio Hills and the Coachella Valley Preserve

North of Greater Palm Springs, Indio Hills and the Coachella Valley Preserve offer excellent stargazing.  It's a bit further away from city lights but not as far as Joshua Tree. 

The Coachella Valley Preserve encompasses 20,000 acres of protected land filled with wildlife, diverse plant species, and desert oases. There are plenty of places to pull off on the side of the road, walk through trails, and enjoy the bright, beautiful night skies. 

“You want to be very careful, as you will be near main roads and thoroughfares in a lot of cases. So, extra caution always is duly observed in the evening hours,” Caron says. 
 

What can you see in the sky in Greater Palm Springs?

Though the night sky can vary depending on the amount of city light present, time of year, and weather, you’ll be able to see a lot of stars, constellations, and planets with just your naked eye. 

The closest planets to Earth — like Mercury, Venus, and Mars — are visible most months of the year, and even a more distant planet like Jupiter can also be seen with your eyes. You can also spot constellations like Orion, the Big Dipper, and the North Star. 

One of the most important parts of stargazing is managing expectations on what you will actually see. 

“ Our world is a little overwhelmed with animations, and the night sky and astronomy is often portrayed as this very fantastical world, and it is a lot more subtle than that in reality,” Caron explains. “So, I think managing expectations is definitely a very important thing. If you look at Instagram pictures all day long, that’s not what you’re ever going to see in the actual night sky.” 

Who is stargazing for?

Even if you’ve never been stargazing before or aren’t interested at first, it certainly doesn’t mean that you won’t have a good time. 

“Stargazing is for everybody,” Caron says. “All ability levels, all ages. This is a time-honored human tradition. The universe is very vast indeed, but it’s also very manageable and it can be understood on a multitude of levels, which I think is a very important part of astronomy. All people of the world really should feel that their part in the universe is important. It’s not that we are this tiny insignificant creature down there. We play a big part in our universe, and it’s amazing that we are able to observe it.”
 

Once you've stargazed throughout Greater Palm Springs, venture out to the California deserts for more dazzling stargazing adventures!