On Saturday, 19 September 2026, a star party was held at Oracle State Park, a DarkSky International "International Dark Sky Park" since 2014. This special event was to celebrate "International Observe the Moon Night". The Moon was just past First Quarter phase.

The late afternoon sky showed promise of being an incredible night at beautiful Oracle State Park.

The Moon was just past First Quarter phase.

Some Park residents enjoyed dinner as sunset approached.

Members of the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association began setting up telescopes and Park visitors began learning about amateur astronomy.

The "Belt of Venus" (the pink band above the eastern horizon) made for a nice view of the Galiuro Mountains as the sun set in the western sky.

The planet Venus just above the southwestern horizon was a showcase observation piece for Park visitors.

Shortly after sunset Park visitors were treated to special views of the night sky. First was some bright "crepuscular rays". Then a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The rocket passed near the planet Venus.

A highlight of the night, it being "International Observe the Moon Night", was the Moon. This iPhone photo was taken through one of the telescopes and shows what visitors saw with their eye.

With the sky becoming darker (although still bright from the Moon), visitors of all ages viewed other objects using the telescopes and binoculars. They saw star clusters, the planets Venus and Saturn, and galaxies.

As visitors stargazed, they enjoyed ambient, meditative music from musician Jamie Miller (Hypnopad) on the Kannally Ranch House patio. His electronic, rhythmic music definitely added a special background to the night's experience at Oracle State Park.

In the Kannally Ranch House living room, Oracle State Park Ranger Malana Starr offered hands-on Moon materials.

The promise of the daytime sky provided 150 adults and children an incredible night at Oracle State Park under the moonlit and starry sky.

Thanks to members of the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association for supporting Oracle State Park.

Photos by Mike Weasner.

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