Wyoming has some of the darkest skies in the country, which make it the perfect location for stargazing. We spent the last evening of our 3-night stay in Jackson Hole on a private stargazing tour with Wyoming Stargazing, a local non-profit. Our tour guide was an astronomer with incredible knowledge and interesting facts — which we couldn’t get enough of.
The private tour is a luxurious way to enjoy the stars. Our tour guide picked us up in a large van at the Four Seasons Jackson Hole and drove us into Grand Teton National Park. Stepping out of the van into the dark wilderness was a little unnerving at first. But after a little while, and with the use of our flashlights we embraced the darkness and the beautiful night sky.
While our tour guide was setting up the huge telescope, we were given chairs, blankets, and iPads with a stargazing app to begin our adventure. Once the telescope was set up, we were ready to start. Unfortunately, the night I reserved our tour was a full moon. It was beautiful, but because it was so bright it was hard to see many of the stars.
The telescope they use is legit, and for certain views, you had to stand on a ladder to see through it. And you don’t just get to see incredible things, you get to learn about it too. On our tour, we were able to see many star clusters, craters on the moon, and even the rings on Saturn!
In total, including tip, the cost was $1,000. The Four Seasons also has a private stargazing tour, which can be on site, and is similarly priced. Would we do it again? Yes! But I’ll make sure there’s no full moon.
Tip: If you decide to enjoy this tour, which I recommend, make sure to bring warm layers, snacks, and your beverage of choice. We went in the fall, and it was very cold at night.
To read about where we stayed, then view this post on the Four Seasons Jackson Hole.
