Once or twice a month from April through October, the Forest Service hosts Explore the Stars at Palomar Observatory Campground. The event consists of amateur astronomers from San Diego, Orange, and Riverside counties setting up telescopes for the campers and visitors on Friday and Saturday nights. Friday, is usually informal as most of the amateur astronomers don't arrive till Saturday. Saturday is the official event and includes a sunset presentation at the campground’s amphitheater. Most people in attendance are camping at Palomar Observatory Campground our at one of the nearby campgrounds. Some people drive up for just the evening.

Reserved camping sites are provided for free to astronomers sharing their telescopes. In the past, a good turnout of astronomers have made these events more astronomy friendly, meaning a favorable telescope-to-Coleman-lantern ratio ( Note: Nothing wrong using your lights, but the astromoners ask that you shield them when camped near the observing sites, e.g., set a cooler or other object in line of sight between your lantern and the observing sites).

You can find Palomar Observatory Campground by going to Palomar Observatory. The campground is on the same road that leads to the observatory but about a couple miles before the observatory.

The remaining event dates for 2008 correspond to weekends near new moons.

July 4,5
Aug. 1,2
Aug 29,30
Sept. 26,27
Oct 24,25