Image 1 of 8
Image 2 of 8
Image 3 of 8
Image 4 of 8
Image 5 of 8
Image 6 of 8
Image 7 of 8
Image 8 of 8
Event Title: Night Sky Exploration Tour, April 17, 2026
Location: North Frontenac Astronomy Park, North Frontenac Township, Ontario
Pick-up and Drop-off Location: Desmarais Building (Parking Lot), 55 Laurier Ave E, Ottawa, ON K1N 9B9, Google Maps
Duration: 7-8 hours
Time: 06:30 PM – 01:00 AM
What to expect
Join us for a relaxed, immersive night under some of the clearest skies near Ottawa. We’ll be heading out to North Frontenac Astronomy Park, one of the region’s true dark-sky gems, for an evening of quiet exploration and stargazing.
With low light pollution and wide-open skies, you’ll get to see deep-sky objects through quality telescopes, guided by astronomy enthusiasts who love sharing what they know. Throughout the night, we’ll point out galaxies, nebulae, star clusters, and any planets in view, along with the stories and science behind them.
Feel free to bring your own binoculars, telescope, or camera — our team will happily help you set up if you’d like.
Important: All event updates, rescheduling, cancellations, and post-event photographs will be shared through our dedicated Discord channel. We kindly request that you join our channel by clicking on this link to stay informed and access all participant resources.
Expect a calm, meaningful, and memorable night with the stars.
Activities & Highlights
Guided Night-Sky Tour: A friendly walk-through of the night sky, with experts showing you what’s visible that evening.
Access to Telescopes: Use professional-grade telescopes on-site or bring your own gear.
Pristine Dark Skies: Enjoy one of the darkest and clearest sky-viewing locations within driving distance of Ottawa.
Itinerary
6:30 PM: Depart from Ottawa
8:30 PM: Arrive at North Frontenac Astronomy Park
8:30 PM – 10:00 PM: Stargazing and exploration
10:30 PM – 10:45 PM: Wrap-up
11:00 PM (latest): Depart for Ottawa
1:00 AM: Arrive back in Ottawa
Transportation
Round-trip travel is included. We’ll meet at the Desmarais Building parking lot and head out together at 6:30 PM and will be back in Ottawa before 1:00 AM.
Special Offers
10% Discount for Families (3+ members).
Simply fill out the form below, and our team will get back to you promptly to confirm your discounted rate.
Discount Form
Rain Dates
In the event of poor weather, the following rain date will apply. Please make sure you are available for the rain date to accommodate any changes due to bad weather:
Rain date: Saturday, April 18, 2026
Cancellation & Weather Policy
We want every guest to enjoy a magical night under the stars. As this is a weather-dependent experience, please review the policy below before booking. By purchasing a ticket, you agree to these terms.
Weather-Related Changes
We monitor weather conditions (including cloud cover, smoke, and safety factors) approximately 8–10 hours before the event.
If conditions are not suitable, the event will be postponed (not cancelled) to the designated next-day rain date, and all bookings will automatically transfer at no additional cost.
If the event cannot proceed on both the original date and the rain date, participants may choose to:
Transfer to the next scheduled experience, or
Request a refund
Refunds in this case will be issued at 90% of the ticket price.
A 10% non-refundable portion is retained to cover administrative and third-party operational costs.
Final decisions are made based on on-site assessment, consultation with astronomy experts who are based on site, and the most up-to-date forecasts to ensure safety and the best possible experience.
Participant Cancellations
More than 72 hours before the event: 90% refund (10% retained as administrative/booking fee)
Within 72 hours of the event: non-refundable
No-Show Policy
If a guest does not attend the event and does not notify us at least 1 hour before departure, the booking will be considered a no-show and is non-refundable.
Cancellation by Lightbahn (Non-Weather Related)
In the rare case that Lightbahn cancels an event for reasons unrelated to weather, guests will receive a full (100%) refund.
FAQs
-
The bus leaves right at 7:00 PM, so we recommend arriving about 15 minutes early. This gives you time to settle in and get comfortable before we head out.
-
Not at all! This event is completely beginner-friendly. If needed, our astronomy guides and astrophotographers will walk you through everything step-by-step.
-
We suggest wearing warm, layered clothing. The park is in a rural, forested area and temperatures can drop quickly at night, even in the summer months.
-
Yes, everyone receives a small stargazing kit with water and light snacks. Please make sure to check for allergies before consuming anything.
-
Yes! The event is family-friendly, but children must be supervised at all times.
-
Yes, there are septic washrooms available on-site.
-
No need, equipment will be available. But if you’d like to bring your own telescope or camera, feel free!
-
Yes! Our astrophotography team will be there to take portraits under the stars.
-
We’ll share real-time updates about sky conditions and any schedule changes on our Discord channel. Join beforehand so you’re fully up to date.
-
A dedicated private Discord group will be created for all event participants. We’ll share a secure download link in that group 1–2 days after the event, so you can easily access and save your images from the night.