DARK SKY ACTIVITIES
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ABDNHA DARK SKY activities
ABDNHA sponsors a variety of Dark Sky related activities during the season which runs from October to May. These include Star Parties; Talks by Experts in Astronomy and Effects of Light Pollution; Moonlit Walks; Webinars; and Telescope Viewings. ABDNHA also hosts the Borrego Dark Sky Coalition and the Borrego Astronomy Club that hold meetings and field trips in season. All of these meetings and events are listed on this page during the season.
Additionally, the Borrego Dark Sky Coalition is a member of the San Diego Dark Sky County Chapter group under DarkSky International. Also in this county cluster is Julian Dark Sky Network, with Fallbrook, Mission Trails Regional Park, Valley Center, and Laguna Mountain Recreation Area preparing applications for DarkSky International certification. Night time splendor is spreading! These organizations and other environmentally focused groups hold Dark Sky relevant events throughout the year, many during Borrego’s off-season months. These events are also listed here.
San Diego County Dark Sky Events
| Date/Time | Event (click for more information) |
| June 20, 2026 8:30 pm-10:30 pm | Anza-Borrego Under the Stars: Peg Leg Smith Monument |
| June 20, 2026 7:30 pm-9:30 pm | Mission Trail Regional Park: Summer Twilight Walk |
| June 27, 2026 7:15 pm-10:00 pm | Anza-Borrego Night Hike: South Fork Palm Wash |
| June 27, 2026 (check link for times) | Special Bat Donor Event: Peutz Creek Preserve |
| July 10, 2026 7:30 pm-10:00 pm | Anstine Nature Preserve: Anstine After Sunset |
| July 24, 2026 6:30 pm-10 pm | Silverwood Wildlife Sanctuary: Silverwood After Sunset: Owls, Moths, and more! |
| July 25, 2026 8:00 pm-10 pm | Mission Trail Regional Park: Ranger-led Night Walk |
| July 25, 2026 (check link for times) | Special Bat Donor Event: Grant Park |
| August 22, 2026 7:00 pm-9:00 pm | Grant Park Bat Walk |
| August 29, 2026 7:15 pm-9:15 pm | Mission Trail Regional Park; Ranger-led Night Walk |
San Diego County Organizations with Year-round Dark Sky Activities
- The Anza Borrego Foundation (ABF) Offers a variety of programs related to the Dark Sky, please visit their website at www.theabf.org.
- The Julian Dark Sky Network, which became a dark sky community in 2021, is very active in county activities. It has a website at juliandarkskynetwork.com.
- DarkSky San Diego County is a chapter of DarkSky International and advocates for the protection of the region’s dark skies. They also participate in activities such as Dark Sky Festivals and provide information about events throughout the region. Please visit their website at www.darkskysandiego.org.
- San Diego State University – Department of Astronomy operates the Mount Laguna Observatory. They have a summer visitors program, with Star Parties on Saturday nights, that will start on May 23, 2026. Please also visit the SDSU website for more information: Mount Laguna Observatory Facilities – Department of Astronomy
- Palomar Observatory, 35899 Canfield Rd, Palomar Mountain, CA 92060. Tours are available on Saturdays and Sundays to see their powerful telescopes and learn about their world-renown research. More information at Palomar Observatory
- Palomar College Planetarium – Offers planetarium display of current night sky; Full-dome movies every Friday evening shown on a rotating schedule; telescope viewing on patio on Friday evenings, weather permitting. https://www.palomar.edu/planetarium/