Entry No. 61 — the Fort Collins file — filed under: after-dark

Northern Colorado Astronomical Society Dark-Sky Star Parties

NoCo Astro is the local volunteer astronomy club, and they haul telescopes out to the darkest natural areas ringing Fort Collins for free public observing nights. Locations rotate among Bobcat Ridge, Lory State Park, Fossil Creek Reservoir and Horsetooth Mountain Open Space, with club members running scopes the whole night. They also hold monthly indoor talks under the dome of the Otterbox Digital Dome Theater at the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery.

The move: Check the club calendar for the next dark-sky observing night, pack a blanket and a thermos, and drive out to a foothills natural area to look through members' telescopes under genuinely dark skies.

📍 Before you go Event dates and exact locations rotate and depend on weather; check the club's Calendar & Events page before heading out.

• 📍 Fort Collins foothills
• 💸 $
• ⚡ Low-key
• 🌗 Outdoors

Where: Rotating: Bobcat Ridge Natural Area, Lory State Park, Fossil Creek Reservoir, Horsetooth Mountain Open Space

Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.

⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Proof: source 1 · source 2 · source 3 · source 4

last checked: 2026-06-23