Don’t miss out on the Bay Area’s stellar stargazing.
When you recall of San Francisco , you believably do n’t think of stargazing . After all , even on the clear night , the metropolis has a fair amount of idle defilement , and , well , it ’s not like this town is exactly know for its endless night skies thanks to our annoying and persistent ( but loveable ) fog .
Still , do n’t get that deter you from seeking out the wonders of the night sky . If anything , our weather is extremely mercurial , so it ’s not unheard of for the fog and cloud to be there one minute and gone the next . SF also has some amazing urban parks and turgid amounts of candid land near the ocean , which helps with star - sighting .
And , if you ’re looking to spiel amateur astronomer ( or UFO watch ) , the best prison term to do so is late August to early October when the fog tends to go on holiday and the sky are clear . When that materialize , you’re able to see all of the classic ( Big Dipper , Little Dipper , Orion … ) , plus some you may have never see , such asthe Draconids Meteor Shower .
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If you ’re rum about what you might see in the sky above the Bay Area on any give night , this websitewill tell you which planets you may see , andthe Academy of Sciences has a seasonal “ Skywatcher ’s Guide”with synodic month stages , stars , and more .
Now , for where you ’ll want to go to actually wish well upon a star or two , we have some testimonial below and a backsheesh : call back to dress up heartily and work a flashlight or headlight to help you navigate trails .
Stargazing Spots in San Francisco
Corona Heights Park
Corona HeightsThis park that sit down at the top of the hill between Buena Vista Park and the Castro is most visited by enthusiastic pup eager to play in the debate - in dog parkland , but it also offers some of the most striking panorama of the city if you ’re unforced to put in a minimum amount of “ hiking ” effort . A jolly rough ( so , again , a headlamp or flashlight is needed at nighttime ) one - mile dirt course lead up to the tiptop , which sit 520 feet above ocean level and declare oneself 360 - degree view of the city . And you have intercourse what 360 - arcdegree views mean — hopefully , an endless sky full of stars . And the park does n’t fill up until midnight , so you ’ll have wad of time for whizz - spotting even in the summer .
Land’s End/Point Lobos
SeacliffThe Land ’s End trail , which winds along jolting cliffs that hover about the Pacific Ocean , is one of SF ’s most popular urban tramp for salutary reason — stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge , Headlands , and Sutro Baths — and though you ’ll only be able to see the former at night , what you ’ll get instead , thanks to minimal light interference , are views of the night sky to the west and the north . Go right before sunset for maximum California star counting enjoyment . The area is approachable 24 60 minutes a day , but parking lots near at sunset .
Main Parade Lawn
PresidioIf you desire likely starlight with very minimal effort , direct to the Main Parade Lawn in the Presidio , which has views of the Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge . It might not seem like the most obvious place because the sprawling grass field is surrounded by historical buildings , but it is commonly pretty drear at night . Pretty much any of the depressed - sparkle areas in the Presidio will potentially be good spots for stargazing , include Crissy Field , Tunnel Tops , and Immigrant Point .
San Francisco State University Observatory
Park MercedIf you take your stargazing seriously , head to SF State ’s Observatory , which is open to the public and free two or three Night a week during the school yr when the sky are light . There are several telescopes on the roof where you could see different star clustering , phases of the Moon , Saturn ’s ring , and Jupiter ’s four moons , all reckon on the time of yr , of course .
Strawberry Hill
Golden Gate ParkIt make consummate sensory faculty that the highest distributor point in Golden Gate Park , Strawberry Hill , which rises 430 feet above sea spirit level , is an excellent berth for stargazing . The hill , which is surrounded by Stow Lake and approachable by two bridges , is wooded , but there are still some passably spectacular view of the metropolis at the peak , and thanks to the fact that the parking lot has very little artificial light , the chance of seeing stars on a clean dark is pretty safe . Sadly , the observation tower that was built on the summit in 1891 and visited by citizenry in horse - drawn carriages was demolish in the 1906 earthquake . But luckily , Golden Gate Park is open 24 hours a day , as is the parking lot by the Stow Lake Boat House .
Twin Peaks
Twin PeaksTwin Peaks is the second highest spot in SF ( 922 understructure in aggrandizement ) and has amazing 180 - degree views of SF and , if you ’re unforced to hike up to the top of one of the peaks ( and deal with the wind ) , 360 - degree view . The potential for stargazing is a little hit or overlook because the city lights do flash in the length , but on a clear night , you ’ll likely get lucky . Any spot with a view like that is going to attract a comme il faut amount of people at night , but most people do n’t leave the parking draw . Just be certain not to leave alone anything in your car because , unfortunately , it ’s far-famed for ruin - and - grabs .
Stargazing Spots Just Outside San Francisco
Chabot Space & Science Center
Oakland HillsChabot is domicile to three large telescopes that sit on an observatory 1,500 foot above the Bay , let in a 36 - in reflector scope , a 20 - column inch telescope that is the tumid refractor in the western United States , and an 8 - inch Alvan Clark refractor , the original 1883 musical instrument donated by beginner Anthony Chabot . you’re able to look through them every Friday and Saturday night from 7:30 to 10:30 pm , weather permitting . aloofness from SF : 30 moment
Lick Observatory
Mount HamiltonThis peak in the South Bay reach 4,265 feet into the sky and is home to the world ’s first permanently use up mountain - top lookout , which the world can call three to four night a calendar month for a four to six - hour tour that include a sojourn to the mountain ’s large telescope , the 3 - meter Shane Telescope , and the historic 36 - column inch Great Refractor Telescope . The observatory is about a one - hour drive from San Jose , and although there is raise concern about the amount of light pollution , you may give thanks your lucky adept that it ’s still less light - contaminated than many other observation tower . Distance from SF : 2 hours
Mount Diablo State Park
ClaytonYou’ll have to plan an overnight sojourn if you need to stare at the virtuoso from this 4,000 - foot improbable peak in the East Bay , but it ’s a total bucket list camping berth and one of the tall peaks in the Bay Area , so you ’ll be above the lights with a exculpated thought of the sky . On clear days , you’re able to see as far as 200 miles away , including 35 of California ’s 58 area , including , if the weather cooperate and you have a unspoiled pair of opera glasses , Yosemite ’s Half Dome . Distance from SF:1 hours 30 second
Mt. Tamalpais
Mill ValleyMt . Tam ’s elevation of 2,579 feet means daytime opinion of the Farallon Islands 25 miles out to sea , the Marin County hills , San Francisco Bay and City , the East Bay , Mount Diablo , and on rarefied days , the Sierra Nevadas . At night , it sits above the light defilement of the Bay , which means excellent views of the solar organization . Like Mount Diablo , if you desire to crack out the Nox sky , you ’ll need to pack overnight because the commons closes at sundown . Distance from SF:30 transactions
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Photo courtesy of Laurie Hatch © Lick Observatory
