Question 1

What is included in your stargazing tour?

Accepted Answer

Our Professional Stargazing Tour (https://www.stargazingjtree.com/tours)includes the following:
Professional Astronomy Guide, Night Sky Assistant, State-of-the-Art Telescopes, Personal Yogibo, Hot Beverages, Blankets, Binoculars, Deep Sky Images & Long Exposure Photography following your tour.

For mobile tours and/or private tours, please contact us directly about details for what is included.

For special event tours, like Astronomy & Sound, please contact us directly about details for what is included.

Question 2

What is your cancellation policy?

Accepted Answer

Your booking is 100% refundable up to 48 hours in advance. We do not provide refunds for cancellations less than 48 hours in advance of your scheduled tour.

Regarding bad weather, we provide 100% refund if we cannot complete the tour due to weather or any other reason. Please rest assured that if the weather is not suitable for stargazing, we will not operate the tour and you will receive a full refund automatically as per our standard operating policy. We closely monitor the forecast and make final decisions the day of the tour to ensure the best possible experience.

All cancellations and refunds must be requested by email for Stargazing Joshua Tree.(info@stargazingjtree.com)

Question 3

What time do stargazing tours begin?

Accepted Answer

Stargazing Tours in Joshua Tree start about 45 minutes after sunset, unless notified otherwise. Times are listed under the bookings under our Book Now tab. You will receive an email confirmation with the tour start time, and then a follow-up email or text from staff about final reminders and logistics prior to your trip.
 
Please note that tour times can change on the day of the tour due to weather, special night sky events, and times for astronomical twilight and darkness. Our stargazing tour duration is approximately 2 hours.

Question 4

What happens if it is cloudy on the night of our scheduled tour?

Accepted Answer

If the weather does not cooperate on your scheduled night we offer you the option of rescheduling your reservation to an alternative date, or provide you with a full refund. We closely monitor the forecast and make final decisions the day of the tour to ensure the best possible experience.

Reschedule: Back up dates are on a space available basis. We do not guarantee back up dates. If we cannot get you rescheduled during your visit to Joshua Tree, we will provide a 100% refund.

Refund: If you are unable to reschedule, we will process a 100% refund.

Question 5

Do you operate stargazing tours with a full moon?

Accepted Answer

Yes! On evenings with the full moon, we are still able to view planets, stars, and deep space objects with our telescopes. The moon's brightness does impact the amount of stars we see compared to a completely dark night, but often times it is still more stars than what most people are able to view at home in a city. When it is a full moon, we also spend some time looking at the moon up-close with our telescopes. Joshua Tree is a certified International Dark Sky Park, so even with a full moon, Joshua Tree has some of the darkest skies in the United States.

Question 6

How do I get there? Do you provide transportation?

Accepted Answer

We are located on a private piece of property in the beautiful Pioneertown area. We do not provide transportation.

Ubers are unreliable in the area. We highly suggest reserving a ride with our recommended car services:

-  Rides (https://www.nicolasrides.com/)
- Trypps(https://www.trypps.com/)

The last 2 miles into our site are along remote dirt roads with no cell service. All roads can be navigated in a standard sedan.

We are about:
- Joshua Tree, 25 minutes 
- Twentynine Palms, 40 minutes
- Yucca Valley, 15 minutes
- Palm Springs, 40 minutes

Directions are included in your confirmation email once you book your Joshua Tree stargazing experience, and again in your booking reminder email. It is crucial to follow these detailed directions as our site is away from street signs and cell service.

Question 7

Do you have restrooms at your stargazing location?

Accepted Answer

There are no bathroom facilities, or portable toilets on site at our observation site. Please plan accordingly. There are bathrooms in the towns of Yucca Valley and Pioneertown on the way to the stargazing tour.

Question 8

What do I wear stargazing in the desert?

Accepted Answer

We always recommend closed-toed shoes! Even though the walking is minimal during our experience, we are out in the desert landscape. Uneven surfaces, as well as desert flora and fauna are best navigated with an enclosed shoe. As for your layers, read below for what to wear during which season.

June-September: Warm Months
Nightly temperatures can range from the low 70s to the high 90s. Comfortable clothing and closed-toed shoes will make for an enjoyable evening.

October-May: Cool Months
Nightly temperatures can range from high 30s to the high 50s. Warm clothing is key for a positive stargazing experience during cooler months. With stargazing tours being in the evening, we recommend long pants, jackets and sometimes even hats and gloves. Always be prepared for chilly weather. Despite being in the California desert, the nights can be cold during the winter, sometimes in the low 30s during the middle of winter. It is always better to de-layer than wish you came with more. Hand warmers will be available at our stargazing location in Joshua Tree, but we highly recommend coming prepared.

Question 9

Can I bring my own food and drink? Can I smoke at your site?

Accepted Answer

You may bring your own beverages and food. Our stargazing tours includes a hot beverage station that we provide for guests to enjoy a hot chocolate, tea or coffee throughout the evening.

Smoking is prohibited at our dry, desert location. We ask that you be a good steward of our environment and keep respect for our fellow guests.

Please leave no trace.

Question 10

Do you serve drinks?

Accepted Answer

We provide hot water for hot chocolate, coffee and teas as well as cold water to fill personal bottles. You are also welcome to bring your own beverages to enjoy while viewing the constellations, nebulae and dark skies of Joshua Tree.

Question 11

Are you handicapped accessible?

Accepted Answer

Our experience requires a short walk on unpaved terrain. We spend a lot of time standing to look through the eyepiece of the telescope, however many of our telescopes have a detachable tablet to view objects being seen in the eyepiece. Although our stargazing tours are not considered handicap accessible, please don't hesitate to reach out and we will do everything we can to accommodate you.

Question 12

Can we bring our dog or pet to the stargazing experience?

Accepted Answer

We love pets but out of respect for our guests who might not like pets we do not allow pets on our stargazing tour.

Question 13

Do you accept reservations for more than 18 guests? What about just 1 guest?

Accepted Answer

Bookings can be made for less than 4 guests, however our operations require a minimum of at least 4 guests total to be booked on any given evening to operate.

Our tours are designed for intimate gatherings and to allow individuals a truly special experience, our tours are limited to 18 total guests. If you wish to book a private tour, or groups larger than 18, please contact us directly at 760-919-2149.

Question 14

Will I have cell service during the stargazing tour?

Accepted Answer

We are located in a remote location with no cell service starting approximately 10 minutes from our site. It is of extreme importance to have detailed directions downloaded and ready before setting out.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FOR A STARGAZING TOUR IN JOSHUA TREE

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