Saturday, 1 November 2025, a star party was held at Oracle State Park, a DarkSky International "International Dark Sky Park". There was a waxing gibbous Moon and some thin clouds in the sky.

Park Ranger Malana Starr swore in two new Junior Rangers who came for the star party.

The setting Sun in the western sky and the Galiuro Mountains to the east at sunset.

It was a magical evening of stargazing and ambient, immersive, and meditative music from musician Jamie Miller (Hypnopad) on the ranch house patio. His electronic, rhythmic music provided a very special experience under some of Arizona's darkest skies.

The Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association (TAAA) provided education and views of the Moon, Comet Lemmon (discovered on Mt Lemmon, just south of the Park), planets, stars, and deep space objects through high-powered telescopes. Park Volunteer Mike Weasner demonstrated how to use a smartphone to photograph the Moon through one of the telescopes.

The Moon as seen through one of the telescopes (handheld iPhone photo)

Although Comet Lemmon was too faint to see in the western sky with just the eye, the iPhone was able to photograph it.

Mouseover or tap on image for pointer to comet

This is Comet Lemmon as seen through a TAAA member's electronic telescope.

The Andromeda Galaxy as seen through a park visitor's electronic telescope.

The park's electronic imaging telescope was set up on the Kannally Ranch House patio and projected a live view of the night sky on the wall inside the ranch house living room. Unfortunately, a technical glitch with the telescope prevented it from doing that properly. Park Ranger Malana Starr showed some previous images she had taken with the telescope. She and Park Volunteer Mike Weasner described the objects being shown. As a Dark Sky Advocate, Mike also talked about the importance of protecting the night sky.

The last of the park's 80 visitors left by 8:30pm. This is the view they saw from the parking lot of the Pleiades (Messier 45, "Seven Sisters") star cluster over the Galiuro Mountains.

Mouseover or tap on image for pointer to the Pleiades

Many thanks to members of the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association for providing telescopes and expertise and to the Friends of Oracle State Park.

Photos by Mike Weasner.

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