Events
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Speaking Engagements
Vicky Derksen is available for speaking engagements, virtual presentations, podcasts, and media interviews. Please contact Night Sky Tourist at hello@nightskytourist.com.
2023 Events
STARGAZING HIKE
JANUARY 27 | 6:30 PM
This event is a partnership with the Sonoran Conservancy of Fountain Hills and the Town of Fountain Hills. Reservations are required and space is limited. Stay tuned for details
STARGAZING HIKE
FEBRUARY 26 | 6:30 PM
This event is a partnership with the Sonoran Conservancy of Fountain Hills and the Town of Fountain Hills. Reservations are required and space is limited. Stay tuned for details
FOUNTAIN HILLS DARK SKY FESTIVAL
MARCH 25, 2023 | 4:00 – 9:00 PM
Join us for an evening to appreciate and learn more about the night sky and the importance of keeping it dark. Featuring fascinating keynote speakers, live nocturnal animals, interactive exhibits, beer and wine garden, food trucks, live music, and so much more.
STARGAZING HIKE
MARCH 29 | 8:00 PM
This event is a partnership with the Sonoran Conservancy of Fountain Hills and the Town of Fountain Hills. Reservations are required and space is limited. Stay tuned for details
STARGAZING
APRIL 14 | 8:00-10:00 PM
Join me on the lawn at Adero Scottsdale Resort for free stargazing. Make it a really special night by getting dinner and delicious signature cocktails at Cielo Restaurant overlooking the lawn.
EARTH DAY STAR PARTY
APRIL 20 | 7:00-9:00 PM
I’m celebrating Earth Day at the Fountain Hills Library. My fellow Star Dudes and I will have telescopes in Centennial Circle for a great evening for all ages. Admission and parking are free. Located at 13001 N. La Montana Drive in Fountain Hills, AZ.
STARGAZING HIKE
APRIL 27 | 8:00 PM
This event is a partnership with the Sonoran Conservancy of Fountain Hills and the Town of Fountain Hills. Reservations are required and space is limited. Stay tuned for details
STARGAZING
MAY 12 | 8:00-10:00 PM
Join me on the lawn at Adero Scottsdale Resort for free stargazing. Make it a really special night by getting dinner and delicious signature cocktails at Cielo Restaurant overlooking the lawn.
SCORPIONS, SCORPIUS, AND STARS
JUNE 23 | 8:30-9:30 PM
I am partnering with the Sonoran Conservancy of Fountain Hills for a unique opportunity to hunt for scorpions on the ground and in the sky. Learn about the constellation Scorpius while learning about the impact of light pollution on our desert scorpions. End the night by searching for scorpions and looking at the moon through a telescope. Registration is required and is handled by the Town of Fountain Hills.
THE MILKY WAY & SUMMER TRIANGLE
SEPTEMBER 5 | 8:00-9:00 PM
Eighty percent of the people on Earth can no longer see the Milky Way from where they live. If the conditions are just right, we might be able to catch a trace of it from the McDowell Mountain Preserve on this night. I’ll also show you how to find the Summer Triangle, a special grouping of three bright stars that can be used to find the Milky Way. As always, I’ll share some star stories associated with those three stars and their constellations. This event is in partnership with the Sonoran Conservancy of Fountain Hills. Registration is required. Stay tuned for registration info.
PRESENTATION
SEPTEMBER 10, 2023 | 1:00 PM
You’re invited to hear me speak at Tempe Public Library. I’ll be sharing some stargazing tips, giving suggestions for great night sky locations near Phoenix, and talking about ancient cultural astronomy and how those stories can inspire our own stargazing.
STARGAZING HIKE: First Quarter Moon
OCTOBER 21 | 7:00-8:30 PM
This event is a partnership with the Sonoran Conservancy of Fountain Hills and the Town of Fountain Hills. Reservations are required and space is limited. Stay tuned for details
STARGAZING HIKE: Moonless
NOVEMBER 8 | 7:00-8:30 PM
This event is a partnership with the Sonoran Conservancy of Fountain Hills and the Town of Fountain Hills. Reservations are required and space is limited. Stay tuned for details
STARGAZING HIKE: First Quarter Moon
DECEMBER 16 | 7:00-8:30 PM
This event is a partnership with the Sonoran Conservancy of Fountain Hills and the Town of Fountain Hills. Reservations are required and space is limited. Stay tuned for details