Stargazing in Central Iowa: Best Views, Observatories, Astronomy Club

If you have a budding astronomist on your hands, you’re in luck: Des Moines is home to a myriad of scenic outdoor stargazing locations, as well as a couple of public observatories and an astronomy club for the truly dedicated. With the proper equipment, information, and planning, your family can get an up-close look at planets, star clusters, and the moon.

For even more ideas for outdoor fun this summer visit our Calendar, check out the Summer Fun Guide and sign-up to receive the Weekend Fun Guide.

Stargazing Spots in Central Iowa:

Des Moines Astronomical Society and the Ashton Observatory

Ashton-Wildwood County Park • Mingo, IA 50168

The night skies are waiting for you at the Ashton Observatory! The Des Moines Astronomical Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating the general public about astronomy and astrophysics. The club operates the Ashton Observatory in Ashton-Wildwood Park in Jasper County. The observatory features two 16 inch diameter telescopes and a classroom.

DMAS offers FREE Public Night events at the Observatory every Saturday evening, April through October. (Except for first Saturdays of each month.) Evenings begin with a classroom program at 8:00 pm and opportunities to view the night sky once it’s dark. You can also schedule private group visits for a small fee. It’s about a 30 minute drive from Des Moines to the Ashton Observatory, be sure to contact DMAS or watch their Facebook Page to confirm there that there will be a Public Night viewing.

Drake Municipal Observatory

4898 Observatory Road • Des Moines, IA 50311 • (515) 271-3141

The Observatory is operated jointly by the City of Des Moines and Drake University. The building contains an eight and a half inch refracting telescope, which was built in 1894 and donated to Drake University by Francis Marion Drake.

Drake Municipal Observatory is located on the grounds of Waveland Golf Course and is open to the public during Public Night, a series held during the spring, summer and fall on Friday nights. Lectures begin at 8:00 pm and skyviewing begins at dark, if the weather is clear. This series is FREE and open to the public. Children 15 and younger must be accompanied by an adult.

Science Center of Iowa

401 W Martin Luther King Jr Parkway • Des Moines, IA 50309 • (515) 274-6868

Explore the solar system at the Science Center of Iowa’s Why the Sky? Exhibit and enjoy a show in the Planetarium.

Families can also attend one of the Center’s FREE Solar & Star Parties for some before and after-hours fun. SCI staff and members of the Des Moines Astronomical Society will set up telescopes at the Science Center, at Ewing Park in conjunction with Des Moines Park and Recreation or at Ashton Observatory. Please note Star Parties are weather dependent and are subject to cancellation. Check SCI’s Facebook page for updates on the event.

SCI 2024 Solar Parties:

FREE SCI Solar Parties are held during the Downtown Des Moines Farmers Market on the north side of the Science Center near the SCI main entrance.

Saturday, July 6 from 9:00 to 11:00 am
Saturday, August 3 from 9:00 to 11:00 am
Saturday, September 7 from 9:00 to 11:00 am
Saturday, October 5 from 9:00 to 11:00 am

SCI 2024 Star Parties:

Each SCI Star Party is held at a different location around the Des Moines Metro. Tickets and registration are not required to take part in the Star Party activities. See below for the dates, times and locations for this year’s schedule.

Friday, June 28: The Moon, Stars and Constellations @ SCI from 8:00 to10:00 pm
Friday, July 19: Planets – A Chance to See Mercury through a Telescope @ Drake Municipal Observatory from 8:00 to10:00 pm
Saturday, August 10: Perseids Meteor Shower @ Ewing Park from 6:00 pm to Midnight
Thursday, September 19: The Moon (Full and Super Moon) @ Des Moines Forest Avenue Library from 7:00 to 9:00 pm.
Friday, October 18: Double/Binary Stars @ Drake Observatory from 8:00 to 10:00 pm

Thomas Mitchell Park – Full Moon Hike

4590 NE 108th Street • Mitchellville, IA 50169 • (515) 967-4889

This Polk county park has a campground, two picnic shelters, universally designed play area, fishing pond, and the 1-1/2 mile Devotie Trail. The park entrance is located on NE 108th Street just south of NE 46th Street between Altoona and Mitchellville. Summer hours are from 6:30 am to 10:30 pm.

On June 21, 2024, at 8:00 PM, join Polk County Conservation for a full moon hike and explore the night using your senses to learn what it takes for nocturnal creatures to survive. No registration is required, and the event is free of charge.

Yellow Banks Park – Meteor Shower Watch

6801 SE 32nd Avenue • Pleasant Hill, IA 50327 • (515) 266-1563

This 576-acre park awards its visitors with a medley of recreational opportunities such as camping, picnicking, hiking, play-grounds, fishing, ball fields, and two boat ramps for both pond and river access. Summer hours are from 6:30 am to 10:30 pm.

Learn all about asteroids, meteors, and meteorites at the upcoming Meteor Shower Watch event. Participants will have the opportunity to spend time gazing up at the night sky during the Perseid meteor shower, as well as observing the moon and any visible stars. To ensure a comfortable experience, attendees are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or blanket. The event will take place on Sunday, August 11, 2024, at Yellow Banks Park, Prairie View Shelter.

Whiterock Conservancy

1436 Hwy 141 • Coon Rapids, IA 50058 • (712) 684-2697

Whiterock Conservancy is about an hour and 20-minute drive from Des Moines and has some of the darkest skies in Iowa. Find a quiet hill and look up to take in the spring or summer night sky, the myriad of stars never fail to please. Weather you have a telescope or not, the Milky Way can be seen by the naked eye most nights.

The public is invited to join the Conservancy’s Star Party Public Viewing Night on Friday, October 5, 2024 at 7:30 to 10:00 pm. If you have a passion for the stars in sky and the mysteries that they hold, then, you’ll enjoy a night of looking at the dark sky through telescopes set up by the Ames Area Amateur Astronomers. Bring your friends and family to be entertained by a starry night.

Local Parks

If you live near town, the glare of the lights can make it hard to see the stars in the sky at night. Local county and state parks located in rural areas make a great place to stargaze with the family. Look up what constellations are showing online or use a sky map to help locate stars in the sky. Sit back and relax in the great outdoors and you’ll be amazed how many stars you can see. Check out our article Astronomy for Families for additional stargazing tips.

Here’s where you can find a list of local parks: