FAQ

Southwest Skies is a new public festival celebrating the dark skies over the Southwestern United States and the unique research, lifestyles, and environments those dark skies make possible.

Why not? Green Valley is a quiet community with a dark skies ethos. It is home to hundreds of astronomers and other individuals who previously lived elsewhere in the United States, and to dozens of volunteers in the astronomical community, who all moved to live under dark skies. We couldn't think of any better place to host the very first Southwest Skies astronomy festival.

There are plenty of great places to stay in and around Green Valley that fit every taste and budget. You can check out some places closest to the festival locations here, or check out the Green Valley Chamber of Commerce's member directory for a wider list of options.

Green Valley makes a great base camp for launching out to explore Southern Arizona. It's close to Amado, Tubac, Nogales, and Tucson, as well as mountain trails, and is still within driving distance of larger cities like Tempe and Phoenix. You can check out a few things close by on our locale page.

Exhibitor booths for Southwest Skies are open *FOR FREE* to non-profits and community organizations serving astronomy, dark skies, STEM, space science, and environmental science. Exhibitor registration is closed for 2026.

Absolutely! Even if you're not providing a booth, there are a lot of ways to participate in and support the festival. You can host themed trivia, paint nights or other activities, create themed meals or themed drinks, sell space-themed merchandise, provide parking if you're near a venue for the event, offer free rides for people attending events. Have a different idea? Let us know by emailing flwo-pubaffairs@cfa.harvard.edu 

This year marks the first annual Southwest Skies astronomy festival. While we don't know the exact foot traffic, we are working with multiple tourism groups and chambers, and with our community partners and exhibitors to spread the word. Please expect an increase in foot traffic to your business during the festival and the days surrounding it.