Chasing Comets, Finding Galaxies
Saturday, September 12, 2026
7:30 – 10:30 PM
Red Rock Canyon Visitor Center
Charles Messier was a prolific comet hunter whose search was often interrupted by faint, stationary objects that resembled comets through his telescope. To prevent these celestial distractions from interfering with future observations, he began cataloging them. His list eventually grew to 110 star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies which are now known as the Messier objects. Observing all 110 remains a celebrated challenge for amateur astronomers.
This program will explore Messier’s life and introduce several of the remarkable objects he cataloged. Together, we will journey through the night sky and discover some of the extraordinary wonders hidden throughout our universe.
Chad Hoing is an interpretive park ranger with the Bureau of Land Management at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. He has previously worked at Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, and Kaibab National Forest. His fascination with the night sky began during a camping trip in Wyoming, when he looked up on a dark night and saw the glowing band of our home galaxy, the Milky Way, stretching overhead. Today, Chad leads programs throughout the conservation area, helping visitors form their own meaningful connections with the night sky.
Ready for More Stargazing in 2026? We Need Your Help!
Our 2025 Star Parties were a massive success, bringing over 1,200 people together under the beautiful dark skies of Red Rock Canyon. This year, we’re planning even more opportunities to connect our community with the cosmos, but we can’t do it without you!
We are launching a fundraising initiative to support our goal of achieving the Urban Night Sky Place designation from DarkSky International.
Your donation will directly fund:
- Expanded Programming including night hikes and more frequent star gazing parties
- Essential Supplies like lighting, informational materials, and equipment to run safe and engaging star parties
- Educational Presentations from expert speakers on astronomy, light pollution and more
- Scientific Data Collection in order to successfully complete our application
Help us make 2026 our biggest and brightest year yet! Your support lights the way for conservation, education, and the protection of Red Rock Canyon’s breathtaking night sky.
Donate today and help us preserve the night sky experience at Red Rock Canyon!
Photo credit: Ben Robertson
Donate to the Project
Learn More
For details on the definition of an Urban Night Sky Place and eligibility criteria, visit the Dark Sky International website:
