A: On our events page or our Facebook Event Calendar: https://www.facebook.com/pg/skysthelimit29/events

​A: No, Sky's The Limit has free public star parties only on the Saturday nights when the Moon is not full (or near full). 

​A: Sky's The Limit public star parties are only on Saturday nights. The campus is always open, however, to explore during the day or to enjoy an evening under the awesome desert sky.  You are welcome to bring your own telescope or binoculars. No overnight stays or camping is allowed on campus.

​A: Sky's The Limit does not have star parties on the Saturday nights where the moon is full, or very close to full. The bright moon washes out the sky and detracts from observing the stars. 

​A: There is no set program for our events; you may come and go as you please. Most guests are satisfied with 1 to 1.5 hours of telescope viewing.

​A: Star parties at Sky's The Limit Observatory are free of charge. The only exception is the Night Sky Festival fundraiser in November. Proceeds from that event sustain us throughout the rest of the year.

​A: No registration or sign up is required for our free public star parties. 

​A: Docents are at Sky's The Limit every Saturday from 10am - 2pm, and an average of three Saturday nights per month, from approximately sunset to 3 hours after sunset (Please note, our evening hours change throughout the year.) The campus is always open – to explore during the day or the enjoy and evening under the awesome desert sky. No overnight stays or camping is allowed anywhere on the property.

​A: The start time for star parties varies with the season. The viewing starts approximately 30 to 40 minutes after sunset. Viewing lasts approximately 2 hours.

​A: You may arrive at any time during the estimated event times, but we strongly urge you to come shortly after sunset to get oriented and to have an Orrery tour before dark. If you arrive after dark, please be aware that your headlights and the dome light inside your car are painful for the guests whose eyes are accustomed to the dark (night vision), so please use parking lights and drive very slowly until your own eyes adjust.

​A: No, dogs and pets are not allowed at any Sky's The Limit event. This is for the safety of other guests and the very valuable equipment (leashes and tripods don't mix) as well as the safety of the pet. The desert has plants and animals that are dangerous; pets are also dangerous to desert wildlife.

​A: Of course, it depends on the maturity of your child, but our experience is that kids younger than 6 have a very hard time looking through a telescope. Their natural tendency is to grab the scope or the eyepiece, which, of course, throws it out of alignment and can take a few minutes to bring back around. Even if the child can be trusted to keep hands behind their back, it is still difficult to find the object and get it in focus. Plus, the campus is kept very dark for optimal viewing, and young kids can get bored with the slow pace of the evening.

If kids are of an age that they are learning about the planets and constellations, the night viewing session will be meaningful.

Saturdays 10 - 2 at STL is great for all ages. Even very young kids can enjoy hopping along the stepping stones of the planets' orbits in the Orrery and can appreciate hearing about cactus and desert plants on the Nature Trail. Grade school kids will know a lot about the Solar System and will appreciate the scale of the Orrery. Almost everyone can see the Sun (safely) through the Solar Scope. The Nature Hike, however, is recommended for ages 12 and above.

​A: Yes, the dome houses our 14" Celestron Schmidt–Cassegrain telescope, which is in operation during star parties.

​A: Attendance at typical star parties during the summer ranges from 100 - 200 guests. During the winter months, the attendance is smaller. We encourage guests to carpool, as our parking is limited to about 100 cars. If you plan to bring a large group, please let us know ahead of time so we can be prepared.

​A: Camping or overnight stays in any vehicle are not permitted anywhere on Sky's The Limit property. 

A: Sky's The Limit does not regularly schedule events around meteor showers, supermoons, or eclipses. The campus is always open, however, so visitors may enjoy these celestial events. Please be respectful of other guests and the environment.

​A: No, please refrain from touching the telescopes unless the astronomer specifically gives you permission. Even a slight touch can send the equipment out of alignment, often requiring a few minutes to bring back around.

​A: Sky’s The Limit telescopes are set up for viewing only at our free events. A camera requires a special kind of mount that requires taking the eyepiece set up off the telescope, and would take away from the viewing experience of others.

​A: Yes, Sky's The Limit is always available to amateur astronomers who wish to use the campus as a dark sky site. 

​A: Red lights do not upset people’s night vision, and when we are outside in the dark it is important that we do not disturb others’ night vision. All of the volunteers use red flashlights and we encourage guests to do so at well. ​

A: Our astronomers would be happy to recommend a telescope. Expect to spend around $500 for a quality piece of equipment you can enjoy. Telescopes priced less than this won't provide a satisfactory viewing experience. Several brands make quality telescopes in this price range, such as; Orion, Celestron and Meade. ​

​A: No, Sky's The Limit does not provide the teaching necessary for scouts to earn their Astronomy Merit Badge. ​