Small Group Stargazing in Sedona's Coconino Nat'l Forest
Our tour uses modern, highly sensitive CMOS camera sensors coupled with large aperture photographic telescopes. This allows us to observe very faint objects that just don't show up well to the human eye.
Often, your first peek at a galaxy or nebula through a traditional eyepiece is disappointing. You only see a faintly glowing wisp, devoid of form or color. It may be difficult to tell that the scope is pointed at anything at all.
Our "eyepiece" is a 42" 4K OLED TV. No one has to wait for a turn at the eyepiece, and the images show clarity, color, and detail inaccessible to regular scopes. This form of observation is a lot friendlier to eyeglass wearers and anyone has difficulty bending over an eyepiece in the dark.
Our activity blurs the line between regular telescopic observation and astrophotography, allowing you to view the deep sky in real time while simultaneously saving photos to keep.
Options
Small Group Stargazing in Sedona's Coconino Nat'l Forest
What's included in Small Group Stargazing in Sedona's Coconino Nat'l Forest
(Subject to Option Inclusions)We offer a modern astronomy experience led by experienced astronomers. Your guide will begin with an exploration of the constellations. Using a laser, they will point out star patterns, share the mythological stories about them, and explain how the bright stars and constellations act as signposts to interesting areas in our sky. Once we've given you an overview of the sky, we will observe a selection of deep sky objects using real-time astrophotography. Our telescopes capture live video of celestial objects, which we display on a 4K OLED TV for you to view. This reveals details you simply cannot see in regular telescopes. You can see the colors in supernovae remnants, dust lanes laced through nearby galaxies like Andromeda, colorful clouds of dust and gas in stellar nurseries, and the structure of galaxies located tens of millions of light years away. Your guide will describe each object and share interesting facts about them. The astrophotography images on this page were captured by our telescopes, and are representative what you will see on our tour. At the end of the tour, you will receive copies of all the images we captured during your tour.
Inclusions
- A pair of Canon 15x50 Image Stabilizing Binoculars (per session)
- Chairs and red flashlights
- Observation with an observatory-class 14" catadioptric tracking telescope
- Astrographs specially customized for real time video astronomy
- Digital copies of all astrophotography captures
- Coffee and/or Tea
- Snacks
- Service animals allowed
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- This activity may not be suitable for participants under seven years of age.
- This activity may not be suitable for anyone with difficulty negotiating uneven terrain in low light conditions.
Meet
Pickup and Dropoff
You will make your own way to the meeting points
Meeting / End Points
- Our astronomy tour guide will meet you in the parking lot behind Famous Pizza and Beer's West Sedona location. You will then follow our vehicle to the dark sky site, which is located in the Coconino National Forest. Our observing sites are accessible to regular vehicles.
