Evenings at PARI

Experience the wonders of the night sky 🪐

As the Earth makes its journey around the Sun, our views of the sky change. Each season brings its own set of wonders to discover. From planets and moons to galaxies and nebulae, even a meteor shower with lights blazing across the sky, something unique and breathtaking is always ready to rise above the horizon. Enjoy our dark skies and mountain peaks for breathtaking views of the night sky. Our astronomers will guide your experience and point out the best of what each season has on display.

Event Details

April 24^th, 2026 - Lyrids Meteor Shower

The Lyrids offer a quiet elegance rather than a storm. For a few spring nights, tiny grains of ancient comet dust strike Earth’s atmosphere and briefly flare into light, tracing fleeting lines that connect modern observers with millennia of skywatchers who saw the same celestial sparks and wondered at their origin.

The Lyrids are one of Earth’s oldest recorded meteor displays, observed for more than 2,700 years. It occurs each April as our planet passes through a stream of debris left behind by Comet C/1861 G1 (Thatcher). The meteors appear to radiate from the constellation Lyra, near the bright star Vega, and typically produce 10–20 meteors per hour under dark skies. Lyrids are known for their fast speeds and occasional bright fireballs.

The night will also feature bright Jupiter in the constellation Gemini, and the Moon nearby at an ideal phase for viewing with binoculars. Spring constellations like Boötes the Herdsman and Corona Borealis, the Northern Crown, will be rising in the East.

Check-in for Evening Only tickets for this 8:30 pm to 9:00 pm.

May 8^th, 2026 - Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower

The Eta Aquarids arrive each May as Earth glides through the dusty wake of Halley’s Comet, colliding with its ancient particles to produce swift, elegant streaks of light. These meteors are among the fastest of the year, hitting our atmosphere at nearly 150,000 miles per hour and often leaving long, glowing trails.

Their radiant point is in the constellation Aquarius. If you traced the lines of each streak of light across the sky, it's from there they would seem to point.  And though Aquarius itself won't rise until the early morning, the Eta Aquarids meteors can appear anywhere in the sky at any time of the night.  Since the Moon won't rise until after 2am, the early evening will be the best time to spot them against the deep dark of the moonless sky.

Join us as we watch these tiny grains of ancient comet paint the sky with wonder.

Check-in for Evening Only tickets for this 8:30 pm to 9:00 pm.

Ticket Types

Choose how you would like to experience the event

Cabin Package

This package allows TWO people to attend the two-hour, astronomer guided event, plus:

• Stay overnight in one of our well-appointed private cabin rooms. Rooms include private bathrooms, individually controlled heating and cooling, microwave, mini-fridge, Keurig pod compatible coffee maker, and complimentary bottle of wine.
• Enjoy a PARI provided dinner.
• Join PARI scientists for event related educational programming after dinner.
• Stay up late if you wish for more observing.
• Enjoy a PARI provided breakfast the following morning.
• Cabin check-in begins at 4:00 pm and ends at 5:00 pm the day of the event.

Additional attendees may join you in your cabin room by purchasing the ticket Cabin Additional Adult or Cabin Additional Child as appropriate. These must be purchased with the Cabin Package ticket. If you need to add them after your purchase, please contact us for assistance.

Camping Package

This ticket allows one person to attend the two-hour, astronomer guided event, plus:

• Stay overnight in your own tent at a campsite at PARI.
• Enjoy a PARI provided dinner.
• Join PARI scientists for event related educational programming after dinner.
• Stay up late if you wish for more observing.
• Enjoy a PARI provided breakfast the following morning.
• Camp site check-in begins at 4:00 pm and ends at 5:00 pm the day of the event.

Evening and Dinner Ticket

This ticket allows one person to attend the two-hour, astronomer guided event, plus:

• Enjoy a PARI provided dinner.
• Join PARI scientists for event related educational programming after dinner.
• Dinner check-in begins at 6:15 pm and ends at 6:30 pm the day of the event.

Evening Only Ticket

This ticket allows one person to attend the two-hour, astronomer guided event.  See individual event description for event start time, which will depend on sunset.

How does this event work?

Our Evenings at PARI events are rain or shine. If weather or sky conditions do not allow for outdoor viewing, the event will still be held and will include alternate actives. These activities may include a combination of: planetarium shows, presentations or guest speakers, special tours, and hands-on science activities.

We recommend reviewing our Frequently Asked Questions before purchasing your tickets.  Please take special note that our campus is a dark sky site and outdoor lighting is extremely minimal to preserve the darkness for both viewing and research.

The viewing portion of the event is outdoors, please dress accordingly for the season and weather.  Viewings are adjacent to a building with heat and restroom facilities.  Seating is provided for the event, though you are welcome to bring your own outdoor folding or camp chairs if you like.

Food preference and allergy questions need only be answered if you choose a ticket package that includes meals. No food is provided for ticket types that do not specifically include it.

Add-on ticket options Cabin Additional Adult and Cabin Additional Child must be added to a Cabin Package purchase. These tickets will not be honored if they are purchased without a Cabin Package.

Transactions will include a single $6 registration fee.