Anza-Borrego Expands Dark Sky Experiences with Free Monthly Star Kits
There’s a growing buzz around the value of dark skies, communities, scientists, and travelers alike are seeking places where the stars still shine as they did centuries ago. Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, located just east of San Diego, isn’t just part of this buzz—it’s the center of it. Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is California’s largest state park, spanning more than 650,000 acres of desert landscapes, rugged mountains, and hidden canyons. It is also the state’s most biodiverse park, home to a wide range of plants, animals, and cultural resources. The Park protects fragile desert ecosystems while offering visitors unmatched opportunities to explore wild open space, both day and night. With its International Dark Sky Park designation and unmatched natural quiet, the Park sets the gold standard for what it means to protect both the view above and the quiet soundscape.
“Anza-Borrego is unlike any other place in California. Here, you can still experience a night sky filled with stars and the kind of natural quiet that has almost disappeared elsewhere. Protecting these rare qualities is central to our mission, and we’re proud to share them with visitors from around the world,” shared Bri Fordem, executive director, Anza-Borrego Foundation.
To help visitors make the most of Anza-Borrego’s incredible night skies, the Park’s nonprofit partner, Anza-Borrego Foundation, now offers free monthly Star Kits. Each kit guides stargazers through the highlights of the current month’s night sky.
Every kit includes:
- A star chart to help identify constellations and bright stars.
- A celestial scavenger hunt with fun challenges for all ages.
- Tips and safety guidelines for enjoying the night sky while respecting wildlife and other visitors.
Kits are available in two easy ways:
- Download a free PDF each month at https://theabf.org/free-star-kit/
- Pick up a free printed copy at the State Park Store (587 Palm Canyon Dr., #110, Borrego Springs, CA 92004) during store hours, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. starting October 1.
As the desert starts to cool down after a hot summer, now is the ideal time to start planning a cooler-weather adventure. In fall, winter, and spring, the days are mild, the nights are cool, and conditions are perfect for stargazing. Below, you’ll find must-do experiences, top viewing spots, expert-led programs from the Park’s nonprofit partner, Anza-Borrego Foundation, camping options, and essential safety and etiquette tips.
Thanks to minimal light pollution and expansive, open vistas, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park offers an ideal setting for a wide range of nighttime experiences:
- Amateur astronomy: Gaze through telescopes or binoculars to spot constellations, planets, and deep sky objects.
- Astrophotography: Capture star trails, galactic cores, and silhouettes of sculptures (in Borrego Springs) in one of the most photogenic nightscapes in the West.
- Meteor showers: Watch the Perseids, Geminids, and other annual showers in their full brilliance.
- Lunar observations: Witness moonrises, eclipses, and supermoons far from artificial glow.
- Soundscape immersion: Experience the healing stillness of desert silence, broken only by owls, coyotes, or wind through the creosote.
- Workshops and star parties: Join Anza-Borrego Foundation’s Dark Sky Events for hands-on experiences with astronomers, educators, and desert storytellers.
Anza-Borrego Foundation (ABF) is the official nonprofit partner of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. ABF is dedicated to supporting the Park through direct financial support, education, outreach, and conservation. For more information, visit www.theabf.org
Category: Events, family, Historical, Local News, Nature, Wild Life
