UCLA Students Will Escape Light Pollution on Nov. 6

The Astronomical Society at UCLA will host a stargazing excursion to Mount Pinos for 60 students.

Updated on Oct. 11, 2026 in Space

Bold vector editorial illustration of a telescope on a mountain ridge under a dense, star-filled night sky, representing amateur astronomical observation. — The Astronomical Society at UCLA has organized an overnight stargazing trip to Mount Pinos on November 6 to observe celestial phenomena away from city lights. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Do you make an effort to seek out dark skies away from your city's light pollution?

The Astronomical Society at UCLA has scheduled an overnight stargazing trip to Mount Pinos for November 6, 2026. This expedition offers 60 students a chance to view the night sky away from the light pollution of Los Angeles.

Why it matters

Los Angeles light pollution often restricts visibility to just 10 or 20 stars, masking the celestial detail accessible from high-altitude, remote sites like Mount Pinos. These trips serve to reconnect students with astronomical observation under optimal dark-sky conditions.

The excursion bypasses the light-saturated Los Angeles sky, where observers typically discern only 10 or 20 stars, to reach a dark-sky environment. Participants spend approximately two hours traveling to reach the site where the Milky Way is visible by 2 a.m.

The players

Astronomical Society at UCLA

A student organization that conducts public outreach, solar telescope shows at Royce Hall, and academic stargazing expeditions.

The details

The Astronomical Society coordinates carpooling and logistics to transport university-owned telescopes to the remote Mount Pinos location. The club utilizes specialized equipment provided by the UCLA Department of Physics and Astronomy and the Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences to capture deep-sky imagery. These tools allow students to perform observations that are physically impossible within the city center.

Wednesdays: Weekly telescope shows on the Math Sciences Building rooftop.
Fall and spring quarters: Regular overnight stargazing trips to Mount Pinos.
Nov. 6, 2026: The next scheduled Star Party trip.

The Tech Race

This effort parallels institutional outreach initiatives by the UCLA Department of Physics and Astronomy to bridge the gap between classroom theory and observational practice. It functions as a recurring benchmark for student engagement within the broader Los Angeles academic community.

The trip provides 60 students with a two-hour transit to a clear-sky location that replaces the minimal visibility of the urban Los Angeles night. Participation is limited to members of the club, who also have access to weekly rooftop telescope shows during the academic term.

The takeaway

The event highlights the necessity of traveling beyond urban centers to conduct meaningful celestial observation. Students interested in future participation should monitor the organization's schedule during the fall and spring quarters.