File:Grand Canyon National Park 2012 Star Party 1140 (7457588672).jpg

Grand Canyon's 22nd Annual Star Party was held on both South and North Rims from June 16-23, 2012. NPS Photo by Kristen M Caldon..

Thanks to all who helped make the 2012 Star Party a huge success! We had eight clear nights, over 100 astronomy volunteers, 35 - 54 telescopes each night and several by day, a full theater every night, and over 1,400 visitors in attendance the last night alone. . For eight days in June, park visitors and residents explored the wonders of the night sky on Grand Canyon National Park's South Rim with the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association and on the North Rim with the Saguaro Astronomy Club of Phoenix.. . Amateur astronomers from across the country volunteered their expertise and offered free nightly astronomy programs and free telescope viewing. . . Visitors had the chance to view the planet Saturn along with a wide assortment of star clusters, galaxies, and nebulae by night, and the sun and planet Mercury by day. Grand Canyon is one of the best night sky observing sites in the United States because it has some of the darkest skies and cleanest air in the country.. . On the South Rim, events included a slide show nightly at 8:00 p.m., followed by telescope viewing behind the Grand Canyon Visitor Center. Parking was available in lots 1 through 4, and the Village Route shuttle bus ran every half-hour until 11:00 p.m. . . On the North Rim, telescopes were set up on the porch of the lodge every evening, There were additional events: star talks and special slide show programs in the Grand Canyon Lodge auditorium. . .