Top San Diego Stargazing Locations

San Diego is known for its remarkable sunsets, but most people pay little attention to the serene beauty the night sky provides. There are numerous astronomy clubs, professional observatories, and dark desserts in San Diego County which create opportunities to get away from the city lights and truly view the cosmos. Whether you’re a recent beginner or an avid expert, stargazing in San Diego’s beautiful night sky should be an item on your "to-do" list. Not sure where to start? Don’t worry, we’ve crafted a list of recommended astronomy associations and best places to go view deep space. 

Our first recommendation is the non-profit educational organization, the San Diego Astronomy Association (SDAA). Their goal is to further the education of its members and the general public about astronomy, the related space and physical science, and to increase public awareness and enjoyment of these sciences. Once a month, an educational lecture program and general meeting is presented for members and the general public. These meetings are held at the Visitors Center at Mission Trails Regional Park and informs guests about the current equipment and gear available for novices or advanced amateurs interested in stargazing. 

The SDAA also hosts an event on the first Wednesday of each month at Balboa Park called Stars in the Park. The event follows the monthly "Sky Tonight" show in the Reuben H. Fleet Space Theatre and SDAA members set up telescopes west of the Fleet on The Prado for free public sky viewing. Though the sky is not as dark and clear as one might hope, viewers can enjoy a variety of sights from the moon and planets to the brighter stars. Plus, watching the stars shine in the night sky is very romantic and great for a unique date night activity. 

Additionally, every August the SDAA hosts the Julian StarFest. The StarFest is free to the public if you arrive between 7:00 to 9:00 pm, and includes a constellation tour using the telescopes set up in the viewing area. Experts in Julian will be on hand to answer questions about what you're looking at and about the telescopes. Parking is available nearby and it’s advised you bring a red light flashlight to guide yourself to the observing area. If you don't have a red light flashlight, red film will be provided to cover a white light flashlight as white light flashlights are not permitted in the observing area.

For a local professional observatory located in north San Diego county, I advise checking out the Palomar Observatory. Sitting among lush greenery atop the Palomar Mountain, this observatory is a center of astronomy research owned and operated by the California Institute of Technology. It houses three active research telescopes that vary in size. The first is the the 200 inch (5.1-meter) Hale Telescope which was the largest effective telescope in operation for decades and is the only telescope open to the public. The second is the 48 inch (1.2-meter) Samuel Oschin Telescope, and last but not least is their 60 inch (1.5-meter) telescope.

The Palomar Observatory’s state-of-the-art astronomical instrumentation allows for clear views of the bright colors displayed from the Milky Way. Conceived almost a hundred years ago, the Observatory has been at the forefront of astronomical research since the mid-century. Today, the Observatory operates every clear night and has remained an iconic facility for scientific advancement, instrument development, and student training. The observatory is open everyday of the week from 9 am to 3 pm. The facility is surrounded by breathtaking views of vegetation and even has a nice, quiet picnic area for families to enjoy lunch. 

For those willing to drive a ways, the Anza Borrego Desert State Park is ideal for avid stargazers. Borrego Springs is the first International Dark Sky Community in California, having earned that distinction by restricting and modifying lights on public streets, outside of businesses, and even on residents’ front porches. Bring a blanket, binoculars (if you have them), and a flashlight (with a red light or lens, if possible, to preserve your night vision). Or take a tour with the Borrego Night Sky Tours, which is led by noted astronomer and syndicated columnist, Dennis Mammana. 

Expect to see bright stars, out-of-this-world colors, planets, star-forming nebulae, Earth-orbiting satellites, distant galaxies and more. The Borrego Night Sky Tour allows you to see across our galaxy––and beyond––through a 14-inch diameter (0.36-meter) f/4.6 Dobsonian telescope. Its giant primary mirror is made of low-thermal-expansion glass which can quickly reach a stable temperature for producing crisp views of the heavens above. Its optics can resolve detail as fine as the width of a dime seen from a distance of nearly seven miles, and a variety of eyepieces make it capable of magnifying more than 500 times under optimal conditions.

Yet another Julian stargazing gem is the Observers Inn, which also doubles as a quaint Bed & Breakfast. It is nestled in the beautiful oak and pine covered mountains of Julian in a peaceful, 4.5 acre retreat for those who wish to escape and appreciate nature. They have their own private observatory and their own hiking trails, making it the perfect spot to observe both birds and the cosmos.

The Observers Inn tour begins with a laser guided, informative discussion under the night sky with an experienced astronomer pointing out the prominent stars and constellations. Generally, about 12 objects are viewed in the hour, including a planet, open star cluster, globular cluster, nebula, planetary nebula, galaxy, several star systems, and the moon, when observable.

Whether you head out to an empty dessert or take a guided tour, stargazing in the night sky is truly a beautiful opportunity and experience. This unique after hours adventure will leave you with a new perspective of the universe that we live in and will leave you truly in awe of our amazing solar system.