The Geminids — the most active meteor shower of the year!

Join us for the most active meteor shower of the year — the Geminids! This event will feature three nights of camping onsite under dark skies, and two nights of huge telescopes and nightscape photography workshops. There will be one or two space-themed movie nights (to be determined), and also onsite will be a giant two foot chess set with LED lights, a SHIFTPOD XL mini arcade, and a free WiFi zone courtesy of Starlink!

A new moon means dark, dark skies!

This year the peak of the Geminids falls right after a new moon, which means dark, dark skies and maximum visibility for meteors! Not only is the Geminids the most active meteor shower of the year with up to 100+ meteors per hour, but it also traditionally features long, streaking fireballs like the one pictured above.

Event activities include:

• View the cosmos through huge telescopes on Friday & Saturday nights, along with solar viewing during the day

• Space-themed movie night on Friday and/or Saturday nights (working on this — to be determined)

• Arrive as early as 1:00 pm on Thursday the 11th to enjoy an extra night of camping under the peak of the Geminids

• Nighttime photography workshops on Friday and Saturday nights with UCSC Astronomy Research Fellow Samuel Kahn offered as an optional add-on

• Giveaways TBA

• T-Shirt are pre-order only! We don’t expect to have more than just a few extras to sell onsite, so if you want to secure a t-shirt, please order one here. Last day to do so before they’re ordered is November 28th.

• Onsite camping included in ticket price for all attendees — you bring your own tent/RV/camper van/favorite camp setup. There are no RV hookups available at this primitive location.

• There is no water or electricity onsite — bring everything you would need for your camping setup

• Please pack it in and pack it out at this primitive location — there are no trash or recycling services

• Vast desert views and amazing sunsets as well as endless nearby day trips to pursue on your own in Death Valley, Trona Pinnacles, Darwin Falls, and the list goes on!

• The forecasted temperatures are daytime highs in the mid - high 60s, with overnight lows around the high 30s to low 40s

• Dark skies and good company!

• Small campfires are allowed as long as they are small and don’t disturb the dark skies for your neighbors

• Friendly dogs are welcome

• Clean porta-potties comprise our restroom accommodations

• The last 8 miles to get to the location are on a county maintained dirt road which any vehicle can navigate. More info below.

• Check-in is anytime after 1pm on Thursday the 11th, and check-out is by noon on Sunday the 14th.

You bring your own camping setup — tent/RV/camper van, food, water, lawn chairs for movies if you want them, headlamps (preferably with a red light option), etc., and we’ll bring the porta-potties, a location with amazing views and dark skies, and all the goodies mentioned above.

*** Please note that this is primitive camping aside from the porta-potties — there is no water or electricity or trash collection onsite.

Located just west of Death Valley in scenic Panamint Valley, the event will take place on 80 acres of pristine private property (Google map link here as well as below). Any vehicle can navigate the county maintained dirt road to get there. More detailed direction can be found below.

A county maintained dirt road that any vehicle can traverse

The route to this site includes a county maintained dirt road for the final 8 miles which is maintained in good condition. Although, please note that some sections can be “washboard” from time to time. Any type of vehicle can make it, but larger trucks and trailers will want to enter from the south through Ballarat, as the road is wider than coming in from the north (both are about 8 miles in distance).

Depending on your vehicle type, and if you have a trailer, one can generally travel about 10-40 mph on this final 8 miles. Arrival time is anytime after 1 PM on Thursday, October 12th, and check out time is by 1 PM on Sunday, October 15th. This event is being held at our Death Valley Starcamp, which is just west of the national park boundary near the ghost town of Ballarat, California. Click here for a map of the location. Any type of vehicle can navigate the county maintained dirt road to this location. RVs are fine as well.

Great winter weather

The forecasted temperatures are daytime highs in the mid - high 60s, with overnight lows around the high 30s to low 40s

Early Bird Tickets On Sale Soon!

***T-Shirts are by pre-order only and will not be sold at the event.

All Sales Final

Please note that all sales are final and no refunds or credits will be given. If the event has to be canceled for some crazy reason from our end, your ticket(s) will indeed be credited towards any future Panamint Valley or Sage Valley, Nevada star parties.

Sponsored by:

Awesome day trips in the area

There are several awesome places in the area to explore during the day as well, including the Trona Pinnacles, the ghost town of Ballarat, Death Valley itself, Darwin Falls, and countless canyons with old structures and mining ruins.

See you at the Geminids Meteor Shower Party!

***T-Shirts are by pre-order only and will not be sold at the event.

All Sales Final

Please note that all sales are final and no refunds or credits will be given. If the event has to be canceled for some crazy reason from our end, your ticket(s) will indeed be credited towards any future Panamint Valley or Sage Valley, Nevada star parties.