A night sky viewing, ‘Stars and Sweets’ is 7-11:45 p.m. July 5 at Valles Caldera National Preserve. Courtesy/NPS

NPS News:

The National Park Service (NPS) invites everyone to visit Valles Caldera National Preserve on the evening of July 5 for a special night sky viewing event, “Stars and Sweets”.

The event runs 7-11:45 p.m. and includes special ranger programs, cultural performances from local pueblo communities, telescope viewing thanks to local astronomy clubs, and pastries and night sky items for sale.

“As an International Dark Sky Park, Valles Caldera has some of the best dark skies in the region,” Superintendent Jorge Silva-Bañuelos said. “We continue to explore ways to provide opportunities for visitors to safely experience this magnificent resource. This year, besides our periodic ranger-led night sky programs, we are excited to offer this event that is open to all.”

The park will reopen the gates starting at 7 p.m. and remain open until 11:45 p.m., though visitors are asked to arrive by 9 p.m. to minimize bright lights and maximize the enjoyment of the night sky.

All event activities will take place near the Entrance Station. Parking is limited, so carpooling is  recommended. As this event takes place at night, bringing red lights is recommended to aid in navigating the event area.

The event is weather-dependent, so watch the event listing for any updates:  https://www.nps.gov/vall/learn/news/july-5-night-sky