Sedona can be a dark, dark place. It's not dark, as in gloomy and dangerous, but dark, as in, the town is small, it shuts down early at night, and there is not much going on. That is good because the light pollution is low and it also means the stargazing is probably far better than probably wherever you came from. So, for the "tour," you drive out to the middle of nowhere--to a school, actually--then you walk with your group and guides to a field where they have chairs, blankets, and a bunch of massive telescopes set up. The blankets help but dress warm. In fact, dress warmer than you think. With the wind, it was very cold out during our experience. Now, for stargazing purposes, it is definitely better if the moon is not full, and it is also better if it is not cloudy, but nature constantly reminds us who is in control. We had an almost full, extremely bright moon, and plenty of clouds. But we still had a great time checking out the various stars and planets and even the moon itself. If you are able to plan your tour, try to do it when the moon is at its darkest. The entire tour, if you want to call it that, lasts about an hour. It is not a thrill a minute experience but it is educational and, for those into astronomy, fascinating. This is definitely not for younger kids but mature teens might enjoy it. Plus, you almost certainly will see at least one falling star. read more

Sedona Stargazing Tours - This was taken at about 9:45 p.m. and the moon was incredibly bright. Almost surreal. - Tours Near Me

It was amazing how little light there was in Sedona where this tour took place. The stars were out and very bright with the absence of light pollution. There were three telescopes set up, and 6 people sharing. It was really cool how the guides could just push a button and the telescopes would adjust to view the particular spot they were describing. The guides seemed really knowledgeable. My advice is to wear warm clothing. It was really cold when we went in late May. Our tour was at 10pm. They do provide chairs and blankets, which was much appreciated. Like other reviewers, my negative would be the cost. It was $150 each for a one hour presentation. It was a neat experience, but not worth that much in my opinion. read more

Sedona is a magical place to begin with. It also is a dark sky area which lends itself to stargazing. Wes, our guide, was knowledgeable and entertaining. The evening weather in mid-September was beautiful and made the experience that much better. Of course you could find a dark place and enjoy the night sky yourself, but the company provides high powered telescopes and commentary to explain what you are seeing, as well as facts about the formation of stars, galaxies, black holes and other interesting phenomena. read more

This was a huge highlight of our Sedona trip, and it's a rare instance where my not having pictures to share is a testament to that. My top-tier chum who literally went to the school of hospitality booked this a week or two beforehand on the recommendation of another friend. We didn't have a lot of time to play with so we unfortunately ended up doing this after a solid day's worth of travel and minimal food. So the fact that we were on the brink of exhaustion and malnourishment and still had a great time? I can't even imagine what this would have been like fully rested, but seeing the stars this way was very revitalizing in the moment. We signed up for the 9PM slot last Saturday night. Coming from the NYC metro area, it was a little jarring (in a good way) to drive through this area south of Sedona in almost complete darkness. They are not about their light pollution over here. We found the parking area by the high school easily (it helped that a few other people were already parked and ready to go), and the guides were nearby to check everyone in. There was also a path with red lighting off to the side to make it easy to find the official stargazing spot a short walk away. I'm not sure what I was expecting (probably literally just hanging out staring at the sky and being told what I was looking at?) but it was much more interactive. There were about four big telescopes set up - much more advanced than anything I've dealt with before - and a row of seats with blankets on them. These telescopes were sophisticated enough where the guides could just type in coordinates and they'd automatically move to that requested spot for a specific star or planet. I think we did about six of those, and shared our telescope with a very nice family from Indiana that had a nerdy astronomy dad who was more into this than anyone else. There were a lot of cool sights, but my favorite was Saturn. The guides pointed it out to the naked eye, and it just looked like a bright star. But when we looked in the telescope, we could literally see its rings. Really awesome bucket list stuff. We were also able to see Jupiter and four of its moons all lined up like an eclipse, and the moon looked pretty pockmarked from my vantage point. The guides were awesome. We had Owen and Jeff; Owen I believe is majoring in astronomy right now, and Jeff seemed to be sort of the Robin to his Batman. I didn't get the impression that he was formally studying the stars, but he was very comfortable and knowledgeable about the equipment and what we should be seeing for each round of stargazing. Owen fielded the majority of questions - and we had a pretty inquisitive, intelligent group - in a way that demonstrated his skillset but in a palatable way that was easy for everyone to understand. I can't tell you how many times someone has pointed at the sky and I've tried in vain to look exactly where they want me to, so it was pretty cool to have Owen's laser pointer going right to the spots (avoiding planes so as not to get carted away by the authorities). Up until this point, my experience with laser pointers exclusively involved playing with cats, so this was definitely a step up in weight class. The whole session took over an hour, I'd guess close to 80 minutes or so. It was DEFINITELY getting nippy towards the end so whereas we were just putting the blankets on our laps at the beginning, I had the whole thing wrapped around my body as I walked around by the time Owen told us it was over. Even with Sedona still being close to 100 degrees during the daytime, do not hesitate to bring layers to this. I imagine most detractors of this are going to quote the price, which was about $120. Honestly? I thought it was 100% worth it. You're literally not going to do something like this often, and it's one of those instances where you feel incredibly small but also empowered. Give it a shot; the sky will never look the same to you (and was a helpful reminder that there's a lot more to this world than the glowing rectangle we stare at for most of the day). read more

NOT recommended! The family was all disappointed. The views were NOTHING like the pictures they list on their website. It was hard to see anything but blurry, bright dots. It was an expensive disappointment and the owner refuses to give a refund. STAY AWAY!! read more

We enjoyed our evening of star gazing. The guys were informative and friendly. There are 5 high tech telescopes for 6 to share and then two sets of binoculars to share as well. We had only 4 in our area so was nice. The telescopes are pre set for each viewing item. We also saw some shooting stars which was pretty cool! They provided chairs and the plus was a nice warm blanket for each guest because it does get chilly at the late evening time. So that was really nice. Was cool to see Saturns rings and the moon surface as well as other things. Yes in a high school field but end of the day you're traveling, and using their "stuff" so was worth it to us! read more

We signed up for a tour in early November. We made sure that the moon wasn't going to be up at this time for the tour. We wanted to see a lot of objects. I am sure that they would still have a great tour if the moon were there, but it was REALLY dark. The weather was super clear and there were so many stars! The weather and being properly dressed really can make this great or not. Dress warm. They brought blankets. The tour had about 27 people with Chris as the guide with an assistant. Chris did a great job explaining what we would see. Very engaging tour. I think we saw 5 different objects. Nebula, star cluster, galaxy, Saturn and Jupiter. Chris had a laser pointer that was incredible to point out what we were looking at, constellations and other points. Lots of meteors. The images were really good, but level set, this isn't the Hubble. Yet, able to see the details really well. Only draw back is that it is expensive. Worth it, but would have liked to maybe see two more objects. read more

The guide could have done a better job. There was no one assisting us with the telescope. It was adjusted once and there was no follow up on whether we could see it. Not worth the money we spent. Very expensive. read more

We had such a great night with Wes and Kim this past weekend! We enjoyed hearing about the night sky that is visible this time of year and saw incredible stars, star nurseries, clusters etc. It was absolutely beautiful and it was so interesting to hear not only the answers to our questions but everyone else's in the group. You really get a ton of cool information and learn things maybe you wouldn't have thought to ask. Their telescopes are so cool and they were kind enough to let me snap a photo of the moon through one of them at the end of our session. I would definitely recommend this experience in Sedona. Dress warmly even if it's not that cold, you will be sitting still although they do provide chairs and blankets as well! read more

Sedona Stargazing Tours - Our view of the moon through their telescope. - Tours Near Me

9 out of 10. Very informative, very friendly staff. There were 6 telescopes and about 5 people per telescope, didn't feel like it was too much. We had enough time to view everything. The staff answered everyone's questions. Gave it 4 stars because I wish we could've had at least 1 picture of what we saw. All we have are our memories, also the price is a bit high. read more

Awesome experience. Learned a lot about the different planets and galaxies. The guide was kind enough to show me the different astrology constellations that were present for that time of year when I asked. It was so beautiful!! If you're into the night sky this is a must do when you're in Sedona. read more

What an amazing night we had!!! Our guide Christopher was a well of information. Absolutely must do while in Sedona!!!

Phenomenal stargazing with very high tech gps telescopes. Very informative tool with beautiful views of nebulas, stars, and constellations. Highly recommend! read more

Wes and Mariano were simply awesome, knowledgeable and helpful. Wes explained thoroughly every step of the way and answered any question we had going above and beyond. The area is so dark we could see an endless amount of stars in the nights sky. Coming from a city like Los Angeles where you barely see any due to the city lights this was breathtaking. Once you get to look into the high powered telescope you see nebulas and galaxies with Wes guiding all along the way. Tip , it does get cold out there. We had not even out on a sweatshirt the whole time we were in Sedona but we needed our sweatshirts and coats and still were a little cold so dress in layers and plan on it being cold. All in all a MUST do tour when your in Sedona. read more

Highly recommend Sedona Stargazing Tours when visiting the area if you're looking for a top notch experience that's unique and educational. These tours are popular so it's important to sign up well in advance. Usually they offer two different times a night and I opted for the 7:30 tour. The whole operation was well run and they will confirm with you the day off that it's still on (weather can affect or cancel your tour) and provided easy to follow, detailed instructions on driving to their site, parking and how to dress. In October, the temps dipped down once the sun set, so layering was key. Upon arriving at the designated field, they divided guests in to groups of about 10-12 and assigned your tour guide. They walked us out to a field where the night sky was unlike anything you normally see in an urban or suburban area-so many stars even without their telescope to be seen. Our guide was excellent. Not only did she exhibit clear knowledge of astronomy, but was also an engaging story teller. Guests took turns viewing the planets (I got to see Saturn!), nebula and stars, while our guide made sure the telescope was pointing at them properly and everyone had a turn. They provided chairs, parkas and extra blankets for our comfort as well. If you're not interested in space or science than maybe this tour isn't for you. However, if you're the slightest bit curious about what's out there and how vast the universe is, Sedona offers amazing night sky viewing opportunities. And with that, Sedona Sky tours is at the top of their game with providing a memorable experience. 5 star service, value and experience all the way! read more

Best customer service and "tourist experience in Sedona, as a local and visitor. The from the GPS guided equipment to the expert astronomers guiding us made the night. Highly recommend Sedona Star Gazing for anyone wishing to "look up" can connect with the cosmos! read more

First, I spoke with Cliff, the owner of the organization, to let him know about our VERY negative experience. I was told that I was in the wrong!! Terrible customer service - he ended up with what could he do for me? How about an apology?? Our "tour astronomer" was dull, ineffectual and unintelligible most of the time. He droned on for 75 minutes. The owner told me that this was impossible as "Dave" was one of the co-owners. I taught school for 45+ years, and I can tell you that Dave is not a good teacher or facilitator of information. Much of the time we could not hear him - he had a minimal voice - might have been ill - but he spent the time talking to the air in front of him. Our microscope was behind him. I am so disappointed. First, because we were looking forward to an interesting and educational eveing, and second because of the rude way I was treated on the phone by the owner. After having him almost hollering at me on the phone, I finally said goodbye and that I would finalize my complaint on yelp....something I really wanted to avoid. I DO NOT recommend this organization - your experience should not be hit or miss, nor should the owner let me know how I was in the wrong!! read more

So much fun. The goggles were great. Got to see many stars, Saturn, the milky way and numerous satellites. they provided us with blankets and chairs. Would definitely recommend. Just a fun night and the gentleman giving tour was super nice and knowledgeable read more

skip this. $550 dollars for my family, 3 adults, 2 kids. They took me to a soccer field. I almost died of shock and rage! The guide was knowledgeable and nice- but I cringe every time I think of this waste of money. read more

Very informative staff and well organized stargazing overall. The telescopes are automatically programmed and easy to use/peer into. We saw some awesome things and had a great experience. Bring a jacket or sweater as it gets chilly! read more

Our family did the stargazing tour with Wes in mid-June and it was amazing. The sky was clear and we could feel the warm summer breeze coming from the red rocks mountains nearby, mixing with the cool night air. We saw the oldest thing ever in our lives through his 12" reflector telescope, along with a bunch other celestial objects. He is very knowledgable about the sky, in fact, you can tell he's crazy about astronomy. We enjoyed all the stories and data he shared throughout the evening. My daughter is talking about taking an astronomy class after the tour. Thank you for a magical night at Sedona. P.S. Contrary to the negative reviews on communication, we didn't have any problem at all. The email confirmation had all the details. On the day of the tour, the text update is also very clear. We texted them back on a couple of clarifications and got answers right away. read more

Arizona is a good place to look at stars. Sedona has a lights-out ordinance, so there are no street lights here. The night sky is as immediate in town as it is in the countryside. We decided to take the "Tour of the Universe" and have a professional tell us what we were looking at. $60/person got us an astronomer from the Sedona Charter School, with his own 21" reflector telescope, to show us the sights from the Culture Center parking lot west of town. In two hours we saw double stars, nebulae formed from star explosions, nebulae in which new stars were forming, the comet Holmes, Mars, and details of the moon. It was well worth the price, and as the sky is changing constantly, I may one day take Rick's invitation to tour the Universe again. read more

First of all I have to say is OMG the Sedona sky at night through these telescopes is amazing I would recommend trying this one we've done so many activities here I don't know what one is my favorite but this I would recommend you have to see the stars from Sedona read more

A bit pricey ($60 per adult), but if you've never looked at the stars through a telescope, it's a must see tour! We got to see a few constellations, Jupiter, and the moon up close. Our tour guide was very informative, and definitely had the science background to educate us about our solar system (He used to work at NASA, and the telescope he uses is one he built himself, and has lasted since 1980). It can get a bit chilly at night, but they provide you blankets if you need them, and it might require some patience if it is a cloudy night as you wait for the clouds to clear. P.S. You can request an adults only tour if you do not wish to deal with little tykes in your group. They are very accommodating! read more

We were excited for this tour and had several people recommend it to us, not to mention to countless positive reviews on trip advisor and yelp. We were kind of disappointed though. Not sure what we were expecting - maybe some more basic facts, general knowledge, more story telling or history? If you're someone who would enjoy endlessly lining up to view stars in a telescope, then you will like this. It wasn't just our group who was disappointed I think either. Many in our tour stopped going up to telescope after the 4th or 5th one and we still had about an hour or so to go. People fell asleep. We could hear the other half of the tour group that night with a different guide a little ways away and that group was laughing a lot so maybe it just depends on which guide you get. I did really enjoy being out in the middle of nowhere and seeing SO many stars and actually getting to see them twinkle. But you don't really need a tour for just that. Maybe this tour is more for people who already know a lot about stars and the solar system and know what questions to ask? The guides were super knowledgeable, I just wished it had been more entertaining and less like a school class. read more

Not a bad experience, but definitely not worth the price. The sky is beautiful, but can be seen from other spots. The astronomers are knowledgeable, but no where worth the price. read more

Kind of a mixed experience. Our "guide" Wes, was extremely knowledgeable about astronomy. We learned some very interesting facts and the night sky was beautiful. The communication on arrival could have been a lot better. Emails state that they start on time so you should be a bit early. We get there early only to sit in a line of cars on a dirt lot with absolutely no communication from staff. There is no one around to ask. Finally, about 10 minutes after the start time men start walking toward cars and asking how many in the party so they can make up the correct group size. Weird. One tip. They tell you to dress warmly...they mean it. We dressed warm and they provide a parka and a blanket, but you are sitting in a camp chair on a soccer field for more than an hour. It is COLD, at least when we went. I'd recommend long underwear or a cushion to sit on to keep your butt warm as well as a warm hat and good gloves. read more

A special activity in a special place, hosted by professionals. We had family members from ages 10-53 and all enjoyed. Everything is set up in advance. Strong COVID-19 safety protocols in place. Highly recommend layers. Only provided 4 stars b/c of price, a little high for the duration. read more

Here are the facts that make this the highlight of any trip to Sedona: Sedona is rated #1 in some sites as the best Star Gazing Spot - true, you can see the entire Galaxy on the right night. We went on a night when the moon was set to rise later that night after the tour, so it was good. If you want to see the stars plan a trip when the moon is not full. On full moon nights the tour focuses more on the moon. So plan accordingly. Rick was great! Detailed but not over the head of my 9 year old son. Lots of facts and details pointed out with an incredible laser pointer. He was very knowledgeable about the stars and even has a published book on this very subject. The tour is easy to find - at the end of a residential street in the field of a private school - grass area and only about a 100 ft walk from your car. About 5 miles from the main road in Sedona. Comfortable chairs, blankets and parkas provided. Lighted and clean portable bathrooms if needed on the field. Prepare to look thru a telescope and see the light spectrum of some stars - truly amazing. Also get to know the night sky in great detail. And have a look at the Milky Way and Andromeda Galaxy thru the telescope. See shooting stars and satellites, we say both on our tour. Bottom line - if you want to see the Milky Way Galaxy in a clean relaxing and highly enjoyable way I would recommend this. read more

My boyfriend and I went last week and I felt absolutely compelled to write a review. We weren't sure what to expect and thought we'd probably just get to look at the stars from a cool viewpoint. Oh how we were wrong! Rick, our guide, seemed to know every single star in the sky. He was extremely knowledgeable on everything from constellations to how many light years away each star is. We got to look through a professional telescope and see stars up close while he told us their significance. Rick has been studying astronomy for over 60 years, and trust me - it shows. If you find astronomy interesting, or even if you simply enjoy stargazing with an incredible view, I would highly recommend you try this. It is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience and is worth every penny! read more

Communication was great - it was nice to know that you would be informed for cloudy skies with enough time to plan around changes. Directions were clear and the astronomer guides helped to make sure everyone parks easily and gets to the chairs in the dark without falling down. The red rope lights along the ground made a huge difference. Even in early October (mild and warm during the day) and dressing in our sweatshirts, the blankets were an essential and much-appreciated touch. Chairs were all set out when you get up to the field. There's no restroom once you're out there, so be aware. The visibility is downright amazing for being so convenient to town. I'm giving this four stars because the talk was a very limited overview of what you are looking at, though the astronomer we had speaking answered questions well and readily. If you have your whole family with you, it's easy to enjoy without understanding or being well acquainted with much astronomy beforehand. I wanted a deeper dive, especially for the price, but I love starstuff. read more

Don't even get me started. My girlfriend and I spent her birthday weekend in Arizona recently. We wanted to go on a tour to see the night sky, upon our research we found this place. It had amazing reviewed and was rewarded one of the top tours in the area. We booked our tickets and mistakenly put the wrong email down, we tried effortlessly to contact the company (literally 25 calls and 4 emails) to correct that so I can get the confirmation. They never contacted us back. Finally 4pm day of the tour rolls around. Only to get this text from what appears to be an iPhone, so one would think to text back. They didn't answer that either. Finally after a few more calls that hour they answered. Some woman answered the phone with complete aggression. Saying that she saw our messages but didn't answer them and that they are waiting on the "astronomer" to make the call as to if the tour would be happening. After another hour long wait we get a text that it has been canceled. The way they communicated with us was very unprofessional. If you own a business that is highly rated I suggest making sure you answer your phone calls or emails. Even if it's an automated response. Don't just leave your paying customers in the dark. I still have yet to get my refund and will be following up with my bank. This was exactly a week ago. read more

Sedona Stargazing Tours - The first set of texts. - Tours Near Me

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One of the first things I did while planning my trip to Sedona was to book this tour. This was to be the highlight of our trip, and even though we didn't get to see much because of cloud cover, we still had a great time. All the guides were very polite and our astronomer was incredibly knowledgable. They had chairs, blankets and parkas for us to wear because it was quite cold. We got to see another galaxy and a constellation, but because of cloud coverage, we didn't get to see much else. Our guide called it a "wash" and apologized and let us know we'd receive a refund. I woke up this morning to an email letting me know my refund has already been processed. Thanks, Cliff! For those of you who believe in creation, you have to understand that this tour is very scientific and explains things the way a scientist would, not the way a pastor or priest would. read more

First I want to say the tour did deliver on what the website promised , We saw beautiful planets and had an opportunity to look into the telescope many times each . On the contrary , I have a family of 5 with with 3 children and we are followers of Jesus Christ and we believe God created the world like many other people that come to this tour I'm sure . We did let our kids know that there would be some weird constellation stories that wouldn't line up with our beliefs but the astronomer kept saying that when our sun blows up one day we will all be stardust and that the world is 13.8 billion years old which is an opinion . I'd just clean those couple things up and I'd rate the tour better. read more

This was my first time participating in this type of tour. Although I've always liked star gazing, I only knew the basics (our solar system and maybe 1 or 2 stars). Our guide Matt made the tour really fun and easy to understand for someone like me yet keep it interesting for more advanced participants. We saw several stars and galaxies but I was really impressed with looking at Saturn. I knew how Saturn looked like through books but it's kind of weird seeing the same image through a lens. It's as if the sky is a one big book and the stars are drawings in that book. I wonder how Earth looks like from Saturn. On the last note, I hope Evening Sky Tours will consider providing reclining chairs or inflatable beds. The current chairs are not very comfortable when looking up. read more

Do yourself a favor and take this "tour" during your stay in Sedona! We had a fantastic time. You meet at this soccer field outside of Sedona (not too far, ~20min drive) and are provided with chairs and blankets. Our guide, Matt, was entertaining and knowledgeable. Coming from the city, it's uncommon for us to get such great views of the stars, but out here, the sky really opens up. Expect amazing views of the stars, shooting stars, and planets with the naked eye. We started with a quick orientation to the visible constellations, followed by viewing of deep sky objects (galaxy clusters, the moon, planets, binary stars) through the telescope. Matt used this awesome laser pointer to highlight objects in the sky (where can I get one of those things?! That pointer is way stronger than the usual laser pointer), and he did a great job. You'll have a lot of fun with this tour, I'd say as an amateur astronomer or someone that's totally clueless. A bit pricey ($60/person), but worth it. Our tour started at 9PM and lasted a little over 90 minutes. Another word of advice, dress warmly - even with the blanket, it was pretty chilly. Don't forget some thick/layered socks! read more

Ever seen the rings of Saturn? Mars? The rocky surface of the Moon? Shooting stars? Different galaxies? The Milky Way? Constellations and ancient stories of Ursa Major and Minor, Hercules and Perseus? This is the experience for you. On a trip through Red Rock Country, Sedona stargazing was the perfect nightcap. Our guide Matt, met us at our cars in the parking lot near a high school soccer field, and takes you to the location. Using a high powered telescope, you can things 100 MILLION miles away!! Matt gave such a great lecture, pointing to the night sky using a laser pointer and showed us all the different constellations and the stories to match (plus the scientific stuff). A great educational experience, great for families and kids, and adults! Also a romantic place for a date too (you can request group of all adults). Tips: Dress really warm and a hat is recommended. Chairs and blankets are provided. If you go on a night when the moon is dark or crescent you will see more stars! If the moon is too bright, the visibility of stars is dimmer. read more

We really loved this experience. We thought 60 bucks a person was a little pricey, but it was so worth it. Our guide, Wes, was like an encyclopedia of knowledge on every aspect of space. He blew my mind with some of the stuff we was telling us. Even though he was super scientific and sometimes explaining theories That were hard for me to grasp..light years and math equations, he took the time to answer our questions and explain until we did understand what he was trying to say. He showed us Star clusters and Jupiter through his telescope and using a very powerful laser pointer to show us what we were looking at. Well worth the money and most definitely one of the best parts of this trip. read more

Very pricey!!! ($190 for family of 4). Ridiculous for 1 hour of star gazing. Reviews said Arizona stars are amazing?!?! Pack your bags and head to the Colorado mountains for star gazing for FREE. Colorado is way more impressive -no telescope needed. It was windy and partly cloudy. Also cold for my taste. Drove for a while to meet the tour and ended at the local elementary school soccer field with lawn chairs and blankets. Sort of thought I was headed into the Sedona mountains for a hike and to sit on rocks. Telescope and guide with laser pointer was good but overall for the price, location and lack of stars not worth it. read more

My brother and his wife bought me a ticket to this star gazing experience as part of my wedding gift. We went last night and I have to say out of all the trips that I have made to Sedona, this has been my best experience so far. The star gazing takes place at a soccer field and it's very dark. They bring red flashing lights so that you can see without messing up your night vision. Groups are small, only 12 to a group so that it makes it easier for everyone to hear, and to maximize telescope time. I was very impressed by the fact that the guide not only brought chairs, but brought blankets for everyone since Sedona can get cool at night. Our guide was very knowledgeable and very animated. You could tell that he loves what he is teaching about. He told us all about the constellations, nebula, galaxies, twin stars, etc, pointing out the constellations with a green laser pointer, and letting us take turns looking at Jupiter, Mars, Saturn, twin stars, a nebula, a galaxy and more through the telescope. This was a thoroughly enjoyable experience for adults and young adults and some children as well. My brother says he has never seen so many stars. It was beautiful. Visited June 2014 read more