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What to expect
Join us for a relaxed, immersive night under some of the clearest skies near Ottawa. We head out to North Frontenac Astronomy Park, one of the region's true dark-sky gems, for an evening of quiet exploration and stargazing.
With minimal light pollution and wide-open skies, you'll observe deep-sky objects through quality telescopes, guided by passionate astronomy enthusiasts who love sharing what they know. Throughout the night we'll explore galaxies, nebulae, star clusters, and any planets in view, along with the stories and science behind them. Whether you're a first-timer or a seasoned stargazer, the pace is relaxed and the night is genuinely memorable.
Feel free to bring your own binoculars, telescope, or camera, our team is happy to help you set up.
Stay in the Loop
This is an outdoor, weather-dependent experience. We post all updates (weather decisions, rescheduling notices, and night-of details) to our Discord channel, and we strongly recommend joining before your event date so you never miss anything important.
Itinerary
7:00 PM: Depart from Ottawa
9:00 PM: Arrive at North Frontenac Astronomy Park
9:00 PM – 11:30 PM: Stargazing and exploration
11:30 PM – 11:45 PM: Wrap-up
12:00 AM (latest): Depart for Ottawa
2:00 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 7:00 PM. Return time is before 2:00 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
We aim to reschedule rather than cancel to ensure you still get the full stargazing experience. 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, May 23, 2026
Cancellation 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 Cancellations
Stargazing depends on clear skies, so we use the Clear Sky Chartfor the Astronomy Park, a trusted forecast tool used by astronomers, to help guide our decision-making. We check the Clear Sky Chart approximately 6 to 8 hours before the event.
If the chart forecasts more than 35% cloud cover during the event time, or if conditions are not favourable for any other reason (e.g. smoke, safety concerns), the event will automatically be rescheduled to the next applicable rain date and your booking will transfer to that date at no additional cost. Weather updates and any rescheduling notifications will be posted to our Discord channel, we recommend joining before your event date to receive timely updates.
If the rain date also cannot proceed due to weather or unsafe conditions, you will have the option to either:
Transfer your booking to any future scheduled experience at no additional cost, or
Request a full refund of 100% of the ticket price
Refunds will be processed within 15 days of your request.
Participant Cancellations
We understand that plans change. If you need to cancel your booking:
More than 72 hours before the event: You may request a full refund, or transfer your booking to any future scheduled experience at no cost.
Within 72 hours of the event: Tickets are non-refundable. However, you may transfer your booking to any future scheduled experience. Please contact us as soon as possible so we can accommodate you.
To cancel or request a transfer, please contact us at info@lightbahn.ca.
No-Show Policy
If a guest does not attend the event and has not contacted us at least 1 hour before departure, the booking will be considered a no-show. No-show bookings are non-refundable and are not eligible for transfer.
Cancellation by Lightbahn (Non-Weather Related)
In the rare case that Lightbahn cancels an event for reasons unrelated to weather, all guests will receive a full 100% refund, processed within 15 days.
Research Note: To help us improve future experiences, we may collect anonymised observational notes during the event and send an optional post-event survey. No personally identifiable information is ever shared or published.
FAQs
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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.
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Not at all! This event is completely beginner-friendly. If needed, our astronomy guides and astrophotographers will walk you through everything step-by-step.
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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.
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Yes, everyone receives a small stargazing kit with water and light snacks. Please make sure to check for allergies before consuming anything.
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Yes! The event is family-friendly, but children must be supervised at all times.
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Yes, there are septic washrooms available on-site.
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No need, equipment will be available. But if you’d like to bring your own telescope or camera, feel free!
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Yes! Our astrophotography team will be there to take portraits under the stars.
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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.
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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.