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When people think of Grand Junction, they often conjure up images of mountain biking, canyon hiking, and rock-climbing excursions. Yet for those interested in an out-of-this-world experience, there’s a reason to venture outdoors after dark. Celestial bodies can be seen year-round in Grand Junction’s night sky. Explore the different types of celestial bodies visible overhead and discover the best places to experience stargazing in Grand Junction.
Bring a blanket, reclining camp chair, or sleeping pad and give your eyes 20–30 minutes to adjust to the darkness. The longer you stay away from artificial light, the more stars, constellations, and even the Milky Way will gradually come into view. Downloading a stargazing app, like Stellarium Mobile Star App, before you head out can also help you identify planets, constellations, and other celestial objects overhead.
Celestial Bodies Meaning
Celestial bodies, also sometimes referred to as heavenly or astronomical bodies, are natural objects found in space. Asteroids, stars, planets, satellites, comets, meteors, and galaxies are all considered celestial bodies.
Although many cannot be observed by the naked eye, eager stargazers can explore distant galaxies and colorful planets with the help of a telescope or binoculars. Don’t have either? Join the Western Colorado Astronomy Club at a public stargazing event.
Colorado Stargazing
While stars may look like twinkling specks in the night sky, in reality, they’re massive spheres of hot gas that produce their own light and energy. The hotter the star, the more white or blue it will look while cooler stars often appear red or orange. If you’re a first-time stargazer, Sirius is great to start with because it is the brightest star in Earth’s night sky, making it one of the easiest to locate.
Visible Planets
The Milky Way Galaxy includes eight planets, and Pluto. However, Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006. Do you know why Earth and Mars are considered planets, and Pluto no longer is? Based on the 2006 findings, planets must meet three requirements. First, planets must orbit a star and, in our solar system, that star is the sun. Second, it must be large enough to have the gravity needed to create a spherical shape. Third, it must be so large that its gravity forces all objects similar in size out of its path of orbit around the sun. Pluto wasn’t large enough to clear objects out of its orbit, making it a dwarf planet. Pluto is smaller than Earth’s moon and 3.3 billion miles away.
Orbiting Satellites
Satellites are objects that orbit planets. There are two types of satellites: natural (like moons orbiting planets) and artificial (like the Hubble Space Telescope). Since almost every planet has satellites, there are plenty of opportunities to spot them while exploring the night sky. The most recognizable and easiest to spot is obviously Earth’s moon. If you want to challenge your satellite spotting skills, head outside right before dawn or after dusk. The International Space Station is one of the more famous satellites and NASA has provided a handy tool to find it while searching for celestial bodies.
Comets in the Sky Over Grand Junction
Comets are chunks of ice and rock left over from the formation of solar systems. As these frozen balls orbit closer to the sun, their ice melts, creating a captivating tail behind them. Comets are often very faint, and most require a telescope to view. However, on rare occasions, stargazers can spot particularly bright comets with binoculars.
Asteroids in Space
Photo by: Alex Murphy
Asteroids are small space rocks made of minerals and metals that orbit the sun. While there are many asteroids in the solar system, most of them are found in the asteroid belt between Jupiter and Mars. With the naked eye, most asteroids just look like stars. However, with the help of a telescope, you may be able to distinguish between a star and an asteroid.
Meteors and Meteorites
If you’ve ever seen a shooting star race across the night sky, you’re actually not seeing a star at all - you are seeing a meteor. Meteors create streaks across the atmosphere, making it appear as if a star is racing through the galaxy. Some meteors are large enough to reach Earth and create an indent called a crater. Once a meteor makes its way to Earth’s surface, it’s known as a meteorite. Since they are best observed without a telescope, spotting one is easy for beginning astronomers who are patient enough to wait around for the show. However, for city dwellers, this is virtually impossible because of light pollution. Thankfully, Grand Junction is far enough away from any major cities, which makes the night skies prime for catching a glimpse of a meteor. You can find out when the next big meteor shower is by clicking here.
Galaxies Visible from Earth
Photo by: Steve Traudt
Galaxies are vast groups of stars, dust, and gas held together by gravity. Earth, the sun, the solar system, and nearby planets are all part of a galaxy known as the Milky Way. Although difficult to fathom, there are thousands of galaxies outside of it. On dark, moonless nights, onlookers can spot the spiral-shaped Andromeda Galaxy without a telescope, between the Cassiopeia constellation and the star Alpheratz. The Andromeda Galaxy (Messier 31 or M31) is the nearest galaxy to the Milky Way, about 2.5 million light-years away. For more about Messier 31, check out this helpful article.
Best Times of the Year to See Celestial Bodies
Photo by: Ryan Riesterer
If you’re hoping to view celestial bodies during your visit to Grand Junction, knowing when to go will impact how much you can see. Astronomers recommend looking to the sky when it’s at its darkest. These are typically the nights leading up to and during a new moon. A new moon is essentially the opposite of a full moon. Since the light from the moon isn’t obstructing the sky, more celestial bodies will be visible to the naked eye.
Autumn, winter, and spring are the best times to seek out great space views. This time frame is often referred to as the “observing season” by experts. During the fall, the nights get longer until the beginning of spring. This provides ample opportunity to get outside and observe the night sky. It’s a bit trickier to spot celestial bodies during the summer because this is when the night sky is at its brightest. As the weather warms, twilight and dusk grow longer, blocking the night sky with light from the sun.
Best Places to Look for Celestial Bodies in Grand Junction
Looking to learn more about the night sky?
Photo by: Ryan Riesterer
The Western Colorado Astronomy Club welcomes beginners and experienced astronomers. Founded in 1989, the nonprofit organization is dedicated to sharing the wonders of astronomy through monthly meetings, educational programs, and free public observing events throughout the Grand Junction area. You don't need a telescope, or any prior experience, to participate. Club members are happy to answer questions, demonstrate telescopes, and help visitors identify planets, constellations, galaxies, and other celestial objects beneath some of western Colorado's darkest skies.
Be sure to put the Highline Lake State Park Star Party on your calendar. Meet on August 8, at 9 p.m., at 1800 11 8/10 Road, Loma, CO 81524. The event is held in the parking lot past the entrance, just look for the telescopes.
If you can't make it to the Highline Lake State Park Star Party, you can still experience the beauty of the night sky through the Western Colorado Astronomy Club's public art exhibit at Grand Junction City Hall. The exhibit features 29 astrophotography images showcasing a variety of award-winning photography, including the Milky Way, landscapes, deep-space objects, nebulae, galaxies, the sun, the moon, and planets. The exhibit is on display through January 28, 2027.
Colorado National Monument
Photo by: Nick Bietz
Right outside of Grand Junction is the breathtaking Colorado National Monument, often compared to the Grand Canyon. While it’s best known for its red rock canyons, enormous spires, and panoramic views, it’s also a magnificent place to escape the city light and explore the night sky. For stargazers wanting to get the full experience, you can book a campsite at Saddlehorn Campground. Campsites at Loop B are available year-round, while campsites at Loop A are open Early-April to Late-October, and campsites at Loop C are open Early-May to Mid-October.
Miracle Rock
Photo by: Steve Luther
Tucked behind the Colorado National Monument is one of Colorado’s hidden gems, Miracle Rock. This 84-foot-tall boulder looks as if it could topple over at any second—don’t worry, it’s not expected to fall any time soon. It appears to be balancing on just a few inches of surface area despite just how large it is. This unique site sparks the imagination, and its dramatic silhouette becomes even more striking beneath a canopy of stars. When visiting Miracle Rock at night, be sure to pack a flashlight since there’s a one-mile hike to the rock’s location.
Out of This World Views in Grand Junction’s Backyard
Grand Junction is surrounded by beautiful, remote locations that provide awe-inspiring views of space. Check out more ideas for your trip to Grand Junction in the Official Grand Junction Visitor Guide.