Dark Sky Excursions

As part of all excursions, AHA will include two (2) hours of planning and preparation beforehand for basic packages, and up to five (5) hours for VIP packages - after which a discounted hourly rate would apply. During the planning phase we will communicate by Google Meet and/or by phone, and we will help you pick a dark-sky location that is best suited to your group’s needs and preferences. This could mean finding an area with various daytime recreation options, a location that meets specific physical/accessibility needs, or just proximity to certain points of interest like an airport, grandma’s house, or a waterfall. We are happy to make any location work within reason, but there will be additional travel fees based on the distance from zip code 80528.

Please note that camping and reservations for any outdoor activities can be very tricky to secure in Colorado, especially on short notice. After-Hours Astronomy is currently in the process of establishing partnerships with various sites around the state to make this easier, but until we have streamlined this process and established these sites we cannot guarantee any events with less than 4 weeks notice in which AHA handles the booking. If you are able to secure a location this limitation will be waived.

At this stage we also cannot guarantee facilities with specific amenities or accessibility requirements. We will be happy to assist you in finding locations/facilities that meet your needs, and we are happy to help you secure reservations in real-time through Google Meets, but the final confirmation will need to be yours.

Guests will be required to provide their own camping gear including RVs, tents, chairs, toiletries, etc…. If you would like to find a location with on-site lodging this can be arranged with enough lead time as well. However, guests will be responsible for any fees or costs related to lodging options beyond a traditional campsite. Food and snacks will be made available for all VIP packages, and various packages can be added on to any basic excursion to include meals as well.

If you will be traveling from out of state, you are always welcome to ship any gear to After-Hours Astronomy ahead of time. And if you require any new gear for this trip you are welcome to purchase it in advance and have it shipped directly here as well. All excursions will include detailed, hands-on instruction regarding the setup and operation of any gear being used, whether it’s gear belonging to After-Hours Astro or your own equipment.

Sky View Tents:

After-Hours Astronomy has partnered with Sky View Tents to offer an amazing deal on some seriously amazing gear! Sky View Tents offer a truly unique star-gazing experience with their invisible mesh and a patent-pending internal rain-fly design, plus they hand make their tents under the dark skies of Buena Vista, CO! They offer both a full size XL tent and smaller “backpacker” model, both of which can be had for a 5% discount using the link below (even if you don’t end up joining us for an adventure). These make the perfect addition to any Dark Sky Excursion, and you’re welcome to have them shipped to AAH for delivery to any event.

• Basic Group Package = $1200 for one night or $2000 for two nights.

  • Includes up to 5 people, but others are welcome to join at the cost of $75 per person (per night) up to a total of 15 extra people. Kids who will be asleep before stargazing are not counted towards this total.

  • One or two nights of personalized sky tours, equipment operation, and astronomical observation/imaging. This will be anywhere from 3-6 hours depending on the time of year and the energy levels of any participants.

  • The basic package includes any four telescope setups as seen on our Available Equipment page. Additional equipment beyond these four setups can be added as upgrades. All equipment operation and guest instruction will be provided by After-Hours Astronomy unless instructed otherwise.

  • This packaged includes snacks and refreshments, with dinners available as an upgrade (you will be asked about any dietary restrictions during planning). Energy drinks, coffee, and tea will be available too!

  • For two-night excursions, After-Hours Astronomy will remain at the campsite during the second day to watch any equipment, leaving guests free to explore the area or go on a hike.

  • The Basic Group Package includes one framed photographic print of any objects captured during this event. Additional prints will be available to order during and after the event. These will be drop-shipped directly from the printer and will be available in various materials, finishes, and sizes from 4x7 inches up to 48x96 inches (priced upon request).

  • Red headlamp flashlights will be available for $20 to anyone who wants one.

  • 10% discount off all merchandise and any prints from our Gallery.

• VIP Group Package = $2250 for one night or $4000 for two nights.

  • Price includes up to 8 people, but others are welcome to join at the cost of $100 per person (per night) up to a total of no more than 30 people. Final count for attendance is required within 48hrs of the event.

  • One or two nights of personalized sky tours, equipment operation, and astronomical observation/imaging. This will be anywhere from 3-6 hours depending on the time of year and the energy levels of any participants.

  • The VIP package includes any four telescopes or any of the prepackaged bundles seen on our Available Equipment page. Additional equipment beyond these four setups can be added as upgrades, with a 25% discount being applied to any additional gear that is added to your VIP excursion. All equipment operation and guest instruction will be provided by After-Hours Astronomy, unless you or your guests plan to bring your own equipment.

  • The VIP package includes dinners, snacks, and refreshments (you will be asked about any dietary restrictions during planning).

  • VIP excursions include one “light painting” session that can involve any and all interested guests. High-quality photo prints will be made for all group members after the event.

  • All VIP excursions include a basic solar astronomy setup for interested parties. This includes a dedicated solar telescope, as well as a white light filter for any available scopes that are already part of your package (such as the 9.25” SCT or the 120mm APO Binoculars).

  • If you had any telescope setups that were used for astrophotography during your excursion, all RAW data will be made available to the group for downloading up to thirty days after the event.

  • VIP Group Packages include two framed photographic prints of any object(s) captured during the event, as well as one XL metallic print (20x20 or 20x24) that will be drop-shipped. Additional prints will be available to order during and after the event. These will also be drop-shipped directly from the printer and will be available in various materials, finishes, and sizes from 4x7 inches up to 48x96 inches (priced upon request).

  • After-Hours Astronomy will offer basic image processing and equipment maintenance tutorials once per day to any interested parties. If there are other topics you would like to learn about or improve upon we can discuss them in the planning phase. Please note, these activities are included but not mandatory.

  • For two-night excursions, After-Hours Astronomy will remain at the campsite during the second day to watch any equipment, leaving guests free to explore the area or go on a hike.

  • Red headlamp flashlights will be available for $10 to anyone who wants one. Please provide a final count

  • 20% discount off all merchandise and any prints from our Gallery.

Cancellation Policy for In-Person Events:

• 7 days notice or more = Reschedule for free -OR- cancel for a 90% refund

• Less than 7 days notice = Reschedule for $250 -OR- cancel for a 50% refund

• No cancellations or refunds available with less than 48hr notice.

  *The only exceptions to our cancelation policy will be in cases of severe weather events or natural disasters. This would not be for just a passing shower or thunderstorm, but rather a weekend of rain, tornadoes (in the East), fires, etc…. If there is any question we will reach out to you to discuss on a case-by-case basis. However, if there is evidence beyond a reasonable doubt it will be provided to you by email, and AAH reserves the right to cancel any such event or excursion up until the scheduled start time. All parties will be offered a full refund or free rescheduling should this occur.

Contact Us with any questions or to make a reservation