Big Bear Valley Astronomical Society

BBVAS Club Meeting over Dinner – Public Invited
2026-07-09 17:30 - 19:00, 2026-08-13 17:30 - 19:00, 2026-09-10 17:30 - 19:00, 2026-10-08 17:30 - 19:00, 2026-11-12 17:30 - 19:00, 2026-12-10 17:30 - 19:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Benny’s Family Restaurant, 41196 Big Bear Blvd, Big Bear Lake, CA, CA, 92315, United States
The Big Bear Valley Astronomical Society monthly club meeting is being held over dinner at a local establishment “Benny’s Family Restaurant” 41196 Big Bear blvd. This meeting is open to the public so come join us and learn what we are about, ask questions and get to know us.
Attendees are encouraged to arrive by 5:30pm and patronize this venue with a purchase which allows us our meeting space free of charge.
Our Zoom option will still be available for remote engagement for those who are unable to make our meetings in person starting at 6pm.
Zoom Link: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/73747635200?pwd=[REDACTED]
Bring your astronomical aspirations, your questions and your ideas to our round-table discussions with your fellow hobbyists and neighbors, the “Big Bear Valley Astronomical Society”

BBVAS Dark Sky Star Party – Open to the Public
2026-07-11 20:00 - 22:00 | The High Chaparal, 76C5+F3V Baldwin Lake, California, CA
This Saturday July 11 at 8pm – Volunteers from the Big Bear Valley Astronomical Society (BBVAS) will be setting up telescopes on this dark moonless night at one of our favorite dark sky sites in the Big Bear Valley, “The High Chaparal.”
The public is welcome to join us and mingle with us under the stars and telescope on this the darkest night of the month. Feel free to bring your own telescope or binoculars if you have one (not a requirement) and come talk astronomy with your local amateur astronomers. Bring your astronomical aspirations, your curiosity and a comfortable chair and join us.
The High Chaparal is a dirt cul-de-sac not meant for large groups, please be quiet and respectful to the neighborhood, thank you.
All astronomy events are free, begin at dusk and are weather permitting.

Sidewalk Astronomy – In the Village
2026-07-25 20:00 - 22:00, 2026-08-22 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-09-19 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-10-17 18:00 - 20:00, 2026-11-14 17:00 - 20:00, 2026-12-19 17:00 - 20:00 | Big Bear Lake Village – Sidewalk Astronomy, 40754 Village Dr, Big Bear Lake, California, 92315
Volunteers from the Big Bear Valley Astronomical Society (BBVAS) will be setting up telescopes on the sidewalk in front of the Barrel 33 Wine Shop in the village for free telescope views of the moon and planets.
Tourist and locals alike are invited to meet with and talk astronomy with a local amateur astronomer, view the 1st quarter moon, the planets and whatever else might be visible on this particular evening through a telescope.
The public is encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity and attempt taking a cell phone pic of our cratered moon through a telescopes and see where Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin (Man) first landed on another terrestrial body in the heavens, always a fun souvenir.
Disclaimer: All astronomy events are free, begin at dusk and are weather permitting – Always refer to this site for event status and cancellations.

Annual Perseid Meteor Shower Star Party
2026-08-08 19:00 - 22:00 | Ski Beach Park/Meadow Park, 41216 Park Ave, Big Bear Lake, CA 92315, California, 92315
Volunteers from the Big Bear Valley Astronomical Society will once again be hosting this free annual event the Perseid Meteor Shower Star Party. Come on out on this warm Big Bear night, bring a chair or blanket to sit on, dress warm and peer through our club telescopes at various celestial objects you have probably heard of but never seen yourself. This year we will be blessed with a dark and moonless night, the perfect condition for peering through a telescope.
This year the peak of the Perseid Shower in happening on the evening of the 12th through the early hours of the 13th but fear not as this shower technically starts 1-2 weeks prior to the peak and continues 1-2 weeks after the peak. Only the peak is ever listed so yes you will see shooting stars just not as many as the peak.
Come on out, view some shooting stars, peer through a telescope at some celestial wonders and talk astronomy with your local amateur astronomers

Skyfest Big Bear at the Big Bear Lake Convention Center
2026-08-14 12:00 - 16:00, 2026-08-15 12:00 - 16:00, 2026-08-16 12:00 - 16:00 | Big Bear Lake Convention Center, 42900 Big Bear Blvd, Big Bear Lake, CA, 92315, United States
The BBVAS will be setting up a booth along with other guest vendors at the Big Bear Convention Center for this weekend long event, Skyfest Big Bear. Event hours are between 12 noon and 4pm.
Come visit various exhibits, talk astronomy with your local amateur astronomers and experience a mobile planetarium exhibit while you are here.
In the evening (8pm-11pm) come experience a rare opportunity and ride the chair lift to the top of snow summit for a panoramic view of Big Bear Lake and peer through telescopes of various celestial objects that will be visible on this particular night.

Skyfest Big Bear – Stargaze at the Summit
2026-08-14 20:00 - 23:00, 2026-08-15 20:00 - 23:00, 2026-08-16 20:00 - 23:00 | Snow Summit, 880 Summit Blvd, Big Bear Lake, CA, 92315, United States
This event is being hosted by “Care For Big Bear.”
In the evening (8pm-11pm) come experience a rare opportunity and ride the chair lift to the top of snow summit for a panoramic view of Big Bear Lake and peer through telescopes of various celestial objects that will be visible on this particular night.
Experience Big Bear Lake from an elevation of 8800 ft. It’ll take your breath away.

BBVAS Dark Sky Star Party – Open to the Public
2026-09-05 19:00 - 22:00 | The High Chaparal, 76C5+F3V Baldwin Lake, California, CA
This Saturday September 5 at 7pm – Volunteers from the Big Bear Valley Astronomical Society (BBVAS) will be setting up telescopes on this dark moonless night at one of our favorite dark sky sites in Big Bear, “The High Chaparal.”
The public is welcome to join us and mingle with us under the stars and telescope on this the darkest night of the month. Feel free to bring your own telescope or binoculars if you have one (not a requirement) and come talk astronomy with your local amateur astronomers. Bring your astronomical aspirations, your curiosity and a comfortable chair and join us.
All astronomy events are free, begin at dusk and are weather permitting.
The High Chaparal is a dirt cul-de-sac not meant for large groups, please be quiet and respectful to the neighborhood, thank you.

BBVAS Dark Sky Star Party – Open to the Public
2026-10-10 18:00 - 21:00 | The High Chaparal, 76C5+F3V Baldwin Lake, California, CA
This Saturday October 10 at 6pm – Volunteers from the Big Bear Valley Astronomical Society (BBVAS) will be setting up telescopes on this dark moonless night at one of our favorite dark sky sites in the Big Bear Valley, “The High Chaparal.”
The public is welcome to join us and mingle with us under the stars and telescope on this the darkest night of the month. Feel free to bring your own telescope or binoculars if you have one (not a requirement) and come talk astronomy with your local amateur astronomers. Bring your astronomical aspirations, your curiosity and a comfortable chair and join us.
The High Chaparal is a dirt cul-de-sac not meant for large groups, please be quiet and respectful to the neighborhood, thank you.
All astronomy events are free, begin at dusk and are weather permitting.
