Entry No. 11 — the Monterey file — filed under: stargazing

Garland Ranch Star Parties (MIRA Astronomy Club)

Roughly once a month, MIRA (Monterey Institute for Research in Astronomy) volunteers set up telescopes near the Garland Ranch Regional Park visitor center in Carmel Valley and let anyone from the parking lot look through them for free — at the moon, galaxies, and star clusters — with the whole thing called off by email if rain, fog, or cloud cover moves in over the valley.

The move: Register free through the MPRPD website, park in the roadside lot off Carmel Valley Road, and walk to the visitor-center clearing at dusk — bring a blanket and split the wait between telescope views of Saturn's rings or a nebula and just sitting in how dark the chaparral gets along the Carmel River after sunset.

• 📍 Carmel Valley
• 💸 $
• ⚡ Low-key
• 🌗 Outdoors

Where: 700 W. Carmel Valley Rd, Carmel Valley, CA 93924

Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current hours before you go.

⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Further reading: nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov · Official site

last checked: 2026-07-20