Entry No. 79 — the Des Moines file — filed under: after-dark
Star Parties at the Science Center of Iowa
The Science Center of Iowa runs free Solar and Star Parties where staff and volunteers set up high-powered telescopes for the public to view the Sun, Moon, planets, double stars and meteor showers. Solar parties pop up downtown by the museum during the farmers market, while evening star parties rotate among the Science Center, Drake Municipal Observatory and the Ashton Observatory out near Mingo. Pair it with the center's 50-foot domed Star Theater planetarium and its live "Iowa Skies Tonight" sky tour, and you get an indoor immersive sky show plus real telescope time, with guides on hand to help you actually find targets. No tickets or registration required for the star parties.
The story
You do not need a research grant or your own backyard observatory to get eye-to-eye with Saturn’s rings or the jagged rim of a lunar crater. The Science Center of Iowa runs free Solar and Star Parties that take heavy-duty, high-powered optics out of locked storerooms and set them up directly on the pavement for anyone walking past. During daytime hours, solar parties pop up right outside the downtown museum footprint alongside the farmers market—outfitted with safe filters so you can look straight at the Sun's surface—while evening sessions shift focus to night sky targets like double stars, planets, and meteor showers.
The evening gatherings move around a tri-location circuit depending on the date: right on-site in Western Gateway, over at Drake Municipal Observatory, or out in the darker rural fields at Ashton Observatory near Mingo. To maximize the experience, sync an evening party with a visit to the museum's 50-foot domed Star Theater planetarium for their live "Iowa Skies Tonight" presentation. You get a guided digital breakdown of the local night sky under the dome first, then walk outside to let society volunteers point real glass at the exact targets overhead.
What it's like
Expect a relaxed, come-and-go setup where you don't need tickets, reservation codes, or a dime in your pocket. You walk up to a line of tripod-mounted telescopes operated by staff and local astronomical society guides who will happily adjust eyepiece heights, explain what you're looking at, and dial in faint deep-sky objects for you. The main catch is Midwest weather—cloud cover or rain kills outdoor optical viewing immediately, so checking the Science Center's event calendar right before you head out is mandatory.
The move: Catch a planetarium show under the dome, then step outside to the free star party and let a society volunteer point a telescope at the Moon's craters for you.
📍 Before you go Star parties are scheduled, weather-dependent events (free) held at varying locations, so check SCI's calendar for the next date and venue. Planetarium shows are ticketed separately during regular hours.
- 📍 Downtown Des Moines (Western Gateway)
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: Science Center of Iowa, 401 W Martin Luther King Jr Pkwy, Des Moines, IA 50309
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Rook Room Game Lounge & Cafe — Walk a single block over before or after stargazing to grab a drink and play through a massive wall of tabletop board games.
- Good News, Darling — Trade peering into deep space for a dark, quiet cocktail inside a 26-seat hidden parlor tucked four blocks north.
- The Haunt — Swap the cosmic void for a drink inside a basement speakeasy hidden within a haunted house venue three blocks away.
Good to know
Do I need to buy tickets or register in advance?
No. The outdoor Star Parties and Solar Parties are completely free public events with no tickets or registration required. Indoor planetarium shows during regular museum hours are ticketed separately.
Where are the star parties held?
Locations rotate depending on the calendar. Daytime solar parties usually sit right outside the Science Center in Downtown Des Moines. Evening star parties rotate between the Science Center grounds, Drake Municipal Observatory, and Ashton Observatory near Mingo.
What happens if it rains or is overcast?
Outdoor telescope viewing is completely weather-dependent. If clouds or rain block the sky, outdoor viewing is called off, so confirm conditions on SCI's schedule before traveling.
What will I actually be able to see?
Depending on the time of day and celestial alignment, you can safely view solar features during daytime events, or examine lunar crater lines, visible planets, double star systems, and meteor showers at night.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: sciowa.org · nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov
last checked: 2026-06-23