Borrego Night Sky Tours
Borrego Night Sky Tours
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Borrego Night Sky Tours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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5.0
120 reviews
Excellent
113
Very good
2
Average
4
Poor
0
Terrible
1
Barbara D
Long Beach, CA9 contributions
Jan 2020
I've always looked up in the sky with wonder and curiosity, never quite knowing what I was looking at. After Dennis' presentation of the Borrego Springs Dark Sky, I now look up to the sky and actually know what I am looking at. I know the humorous stories behind the names of constellations, the number of light years they are, and how big our galaxy is, let alone the universe. It was a wonderful, well organized experience that left me, for a moment, with an even greater sense of awe and wonder at how small we are and how big Spirit, Source, the Universe is. We also received a nice follow-up email with links to other sources of information connected to our learning of that night. Excellent adventure!
Written January 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Melanie J
7 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
My boyfriend fancies being able to look up into the sky and see the stars, which is generally not possible in our part of Illinois. So we booked the trip not knowing what to expect. Dennis gave very easy instructions on how to get there. He explained what we would be seeing, how we were seeing it, and provided feedback to any questions anyone had. We were able to see Venus, some star clusters and a couple galaxies. Depending on the time of year you go, different planets/stars are available to be seen. Dennis was very passionate about his work and his community, and it made the experience unique and special. Would definitely recommend if you are looking for something different that will leave you awestruck!
Written February 25, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Susie
San Diego, CA1 contribution
Jul 2021
There is so much to love about this experience. The ability to learn about the night sky and explore the deeper parts of space is exciting and profound. Dennis is very experienced and knowledgeable. He has a great passion for sharing the world of astronomy with people. However, be prepared for a certain amount of rudeness. I found it strange that someone who clearly enjoys teaching felt the need to be so derisive of people for asking what he characterized as stupid questions even though in the end he was interested in answering these questions. Perhaps Dennis might say he’s “being funny” but it just seemed rather sad that a night full of so much wonder and learning was undermined by someone who must make himself feel superior to people in this way. That said, I would consider attending again because the night sky tour outweighs the negative of dealing with this element of unpleasantness but I also have to say that when I got home I started looking online to see if there were other astronomers who did these tours. I didn’t appreciate his attitude and I expect better of a lifelong astronomy educator.
Written July 11, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Don'tWaitForRetirement
California5,649 contributions
Oct 2020
Unfortunately, we were disappointed with Borrego Night Sky Tours.
We attended the program in October 2020 having booked it months in advance. We followed the instructions and all COVID precautions that we were sent in advance such as 'Do not arrive before 7pm', 'Check out the sight earlier in the day so you know where you're going', 'Bring chairs and wear solid shoes', 'Bring hand sanitizer and face covering', etc. The directions given to Borrego Springs and the specific sight were very helpful.
The instructions also said that when we arrive, we would be directed where to park. We sat in our car for 10 minutes waiting to be instructed while Dennis was still setting up. He didn't once turn around to see we were there (Along with 2 other cars). After a while we called out the window to him to ask where we should park. Still nothing. We decided to park where we were and get out the car. We later discovered that Dennis is very hard of hearing.
The next issue was Dennis was having a problem with something on his telescope and asked if any of the men could help as it required some strength with removing something. Fortunately, someone in our group was able to help. This happened twice. This delayed the program somewhat.
Unfortunately for us, we had a VERY bad sky the night we visited. We would have been none the wiser, however Dennis decided to repeatedly tell us how bad it was (About a zero on a scale of 1-10!). We were peeved that we had spent money on a hotel room to stay overnight and this was our 'main event'. Knowing what the sky and conditions were going to be like, could we have not had a phone call 2-3 days prior so that we could have rescheduled? We felt like we completely wasted our money.
The location in Borrego Springs is up a small road out in the middle of nowhere, however the 'glow' from surrounding cities like L.A. and San Diego was disappointing. We've been on other star-gazing programs that had better, darker skies.
We took turns between the lecture part of the program to look through the telescope. (I looked through the telescope approx 5 times). I honestly felt like he didn't trust me walking up to the telescope, like I was going to fall over and knock it down! Due to the poor conditions, the images were somewhat fuzzy.
I didn't find the lecture very exhilarating and any time questions were asked it was very clear Dennis was so hard of hearing that I realized it was best not to ask questions. About 15 minutes into the program, I realized this was not going to be the evening that I'd hoped for and really couldn't wait for it to be over.
Note: We ate in town at a Mexican Restaurant prior to the program near Christmas Circle. There are no restrooms at the tour site, so make sure you go beforehand. Other dark sky programs we've been on have offered snacks and drinks, which makes it extra fun, but nothing like this was offered.
We attended the program in October 2020 having booked it months in advance. We followed the instructions and all COVID precautions that we were sent in advance such as 'Do not arrive before 7pm', 'Check out the sight earlier in the day so you know where you're going', 'Bring chairs and wear solid shoes', 'Bring hand sanitizer and face covering', etc. The directions given to Borrego Springs and the specific sight were very helpful.
The instructions also said that when we arrive, we would be directed where to park. We sat in our car for 10 minutes waiting to be instructed while Dennis was still setting up. He didn't once turn around to see we were there (Along with 2 other cars). After a while we called out the window to him to ask where we should park. Still nothing. We decided to park where we were and get out the car. We later discovered that Dennis is very hard of hearing.
The next issue was Dennis was having a problem with something on his telescope and asked if any of the men could help as it required some strength with removing something. Fortunately, someone in our group was able to help. This happened twice. This delayed the program somewhat.
Unfortunately for us, we had a VERY bad sky the night we visited. We would have been none the wiser, however Dennis decided to repeatedly tell us how bad it was (About a zero on a scale of 1-10!). We were peeved that we had spent money on a hotel room to stay overnight and this was our 'main event'. Knowing what the sky and conditions were going to be like, could we have not had a phone call 2-3 days prior so that we could have rescheduled? We felt like we completely wasted our money.
The location in Borrego Springs is up a small road out in the middle of nowhere, however the 'glow' from surrounding cities like L.A. and San Diego was disappointing. We've been on other star-gazing programs that had better, darker skies.
We took turns between the lecture part of the program to look through the telescope. (I looked through the telescope approx 5 times). I honestly felt like he didn't trust me walking up to the telescope, like I was going to fall over and knock it down! Due to the poor conditions, the images were somewhat fuzzy.
I didn't find the lecture very exhilarating and any time questions were asked it was very clear Dennis was so hard of hearing that I realized it was best not to ask questions. About 15 minutes into the program, I realized this was not going to be the evening that I'd hoped for and really couldn't wait for it to be over.
Note: We ate in town at a Mexican Restaurant prior to the program near Christmas Circle. There are no restrooms at the tour site, so make sure you go beforehand. Other dark sky programs we've been on have offered snacks and drinks, which makes it extra fun, but nothing like this was offered.
Written February 4, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sharlin C
1 contribution
Feb 2024 • Family
What a wonderful experience this night tour/cosmic adventure was for my husband, daughter and myself! Dennis was a great host, he made sure everyone was safe and that each person got an excellent view through the telescope. Dennis is a fantastic speaker and so knowledgeable and humorous too. We highly recommend this tour. Be sure to dress extra warmly (thermals, heavy coats, wool socks) as it can get quite chilly!
Written February 20, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Linda P
1 contribution
May 2024 • Family
The stargazing tour was amazing! Dennis (the astronomer) was very knowledgeable and helpful with his explanations of what we would view through the telescope. He would show us a picture on his I Pad of what the star or galaxy looks like so then we knew what we were seeing through the lens of the telescope. He answered all of our questions and even got back to us after the tour to explain something we saw in the sky which ended up being a satellite. This was included in a total recap of the evening including every star, galaxy and satellite we saw which was great since there was so much information exchanged and now we have a written record of it. The best part of the night was getting to see a SpaceX launch of a satellite at the same time the International Space Station was moving across the sky! I would highly recommend this experience to anyone who loves learning about what we see in the sky at night.
Written May 12, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jackie B
5 contributions
Jan 2020
This was a very informative and well organized down to the last details. We were given excellent instructions on how to find the place for viewing. We had opportunities to view various celestial objects through the telescope and Dennis told us a bit about what we were seeing and some interesting facts. We were never rushed and had plenty of time to view things and ask questions. Seeing the space station flyby was fantastic!
Written January 26, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Priscilla M
2 contributions
Aug 2021
Dennis is a fine stargazing host! As a professional astronomer with a passion and delight for his Borrego Night Sky throughout the seasons, you can't go wrong booking a "tour" with him! I've taken 2 so far and plan to embark on many a 3 hour journey looking up with his expert guidance, and looking into the telescope, for images within our solar system & galaxy -- and far far far beyond. Mind blowing. Heart expanding. Simply divine!
Written August 15, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
maryjay
14 contributions
Jun 2023 • Couples
My husband and I saw a half dozen shooting stars, Venus, two different galaxies, a globular cluster and a nebula tonight. Dennis is very knowledgeable about his field and took the time to explain everything and answer our questions. If you are planning on booking, he provides very detailed instructions on where and when to meet, make sure to follow them and you will have absolutely no problems.
Written June 18, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Julie H
Cypress, CA4 contributions
Aug 2021
My husband and I really enjoyed our evening under the stars with Dennis. His knowledge and presentation was enjoyable and interesting. He has a great way of sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm of the night sky! i am also only a casual star observer and he was able to keep me interested and engaged for the entire 2.5 hours. I highly recommend a night under the sky with Dennis!
Written August 6, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
IvyPup
Chicago, Illinois
We will be staying in San Diego and can't stay overnight in the Borrego area. Will this be a problem getting back? His website says the roads can be dark/winding.
Written September 2, 2018
It’s not a huge problem if you drive safely and make sure your gas tank is filled before you leave. You can count on at least a 10-mile drive to get over the mountains as you leave Borrego, and then another 40-mile drive until you reach a major community with services (Ramona). But remember, it’s this relative isolation that makes our sky so dark and beautiful, and well worth the drive! —Dennis
Written September 2, 2018
It’s all outdoors but I’m not sure whether dogs would be allowed. It may be disruptive to the tour but I would email Dennis the host and ask him
Written March 21, 2018
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