astronomy events travel astrotourism consultation

Glamping with the sea - Cocagne, NB

Glamping by the sea - Cocagne, NB A Preferred Dark-sky Destination Partner

Deep Sky Eye Observatory - Quinan, NS

Deep Sky Eye Observatory is a Preferred Dark-sky Destination Partner.

Falcon Ridge Inn - Alma, NB

Falcon Ridge Inn is a Dark-sky Destination Partner.

Storeytown Cottages - Doaktown, NB

Storeytown Cottages is a Premiere Dark-sky Destination Partner.

Saint John Region Private Star Party

Enjoy an astronomical journey with an expert astronomer without investing thousands of dollars in equipment or spending hundreds of hours learning the hobby, the science, the equipment and more. See the Moon, planets, nebulae, galaxies and star clusters. You'll have an edu-taining time learning about the night sky and our universe in an interactive experience that is both engaging and will stimulate your imagination. Perfect for kids and adults of all ages. We bring sophisticated equipment and technology and more. A typical star party lasts two hours and accommodates approximately 12 people. We can also customize it for your special event or occasion. You'll also get daily weather updates in the week leading up to your chosen date. The only thing we can't control is the weather, so should your party be clouded over or have poor weather, we ask you to please be flexible in moving it a day forward or simply rescheduling. Your experience is important to us, so we wish to ensure the conditions are ideal. You can book year-round, as the night sky changes with the seasons. You'll also receive a list of targets we will pursue on the evening of your star party. Bookings can be made by email and paid by e-transfer or major credit card over the phone. Contact ceo@cliffvalleyastronomy.com for more details.

C$300

Fredericton Region Private Star Parties

Enjoy an astronomical journey with an expert astronomer without investing thousands of dollars in equipment or spending hundreds of hours learning the hobby, the science, the equipment and more. See the Moon, planets, nebulae, galaxies and star clusters. You'll have an edu-taining time learning about the night sky and our universe in an interactive experience that is both engaging and will stimulate your imagination. Perfect for kids and adults of all ages. We bring sophisticated equipment and technology and more. A typical star party lasts two hours and accommodates approximately 12 people. We can also customize it for your special event or occasion. You'll also get daily weather updates in the week leading up to your chosen date. The only thing we can't control is the weather, so should your party be clouded over or have poor weather, we ask you to please be flexible in moving it a day forward or simply rescheduling. Your experience is important to us, so we wish to ensure the conditions are ideal. You can book year-round, as the night sky changes with the seasons. You'll also receive a list of targets we will pursue on the evening of your star party. Bookings can be made by email and paid by e-transfer or major credit card over the phone. Contact ceo@cliffvalleyastronomy.com for more details.

C$300

Moncton Region Private Star Parties

Enjoy an astronomical journey with an expert astronomer without investing thousands of dollars in equipment or spending hundreds of hours learning the hobby, the science, the equipment and more. See the Moon, planets, nebulae, galaxies and star clusters. You'll have an edu-taining time learning about the night sky and our universe in an interactive experience that is both engaging and will stimulate your imagination. Perfect for kids and adults of all ages. We bring sophisticated equipment and technology and more. A typical star party lasts two hours and accommodates approximately 12 people. We can also customize it for your special event or occasion. You'll also get daily weather updates in the week leading up to your chosen date. The only thing we can't control is the weather, so should your party be clouded over or have poor weather, we ask you to please be flexible in moving it a day forward or simply rescheduling. Your experience is important to us, so we wish to ensure the conditions are ideal. You can book year-round, as the night sky changes with the seasons. You'll also receive a list of targets we will pursue on the evening of your star party. Bookings can be made by email and paid by e-transfer or major credit card over the phone. Contact ceo@cliffvalleyastronomy.com for more details.

C$300

Miramichi Region Star Party

Enjoy an astronomical journey with an expert astronomer without investing thousands of dollars in equipment or spending hundreds of hours learning the hobby, the science, the equipment and more. See the Moon, planets, nebulae, galaxies and star clusters. You'll have an edu-taining time learning about the night sky and our universe in an interactive experience that is both engaging and will stimulate your imagination. Perfect for kids and adults of all ages. We bring sophisticated equipment and technology and more. A typical star party lasts two hours and accommodates approximately 12 people. We can also customize it for your special event or occasion. You'll also get daily weather updates in the week leading up to your chosen date. The only thing we can't control is the weather, so should your party be clouded over or have poor weather, we ask you to please be flexible in moving it a day forward or simply rescheduling. Your experience is important to us, so we wish to ensure the conditions are ideal. You can book year-round, as the night sky changes with the seasons. You'll also receive a list of targets we will pursue on the evening of your star party. Bookings can be made by email and paid by e-transfer or major credit card over the phone. Contact ceo@cliffvalleyastronomy.com for more details.

C$300

St. Stephen Region/Charlotte County Star Partiies

Enjoy an astronomical journey with an expert astronomer without investing thousands of dollars in equipment or spending hundreds of hours learning the hobby, the science, the equipment and more. See the Moon, planets, nebulae, galaxies and star clusters. You'll have an edu-taining time learning about the night sky and our universe in an interactive experience that is both engaging and will stimulate your imagination. Perfect for kids and adults of all ages. We bring sophisticated equipment and technology and more. A typical star party lasts two hours and accommodates approximately 12 people. We can also customize it for your special event or occasion. You'll also get daily weather updates in the week leading up to your chosen date. The only thing we can't control is the weather, so should your party be clouded over or have poor weather, we ask you to please be flexible in moving it a day forward or simply rescheduling. Your experience is important to us, so we wish to ensure the conditions are ideal. You can book year-round, as the night sky changes with the seasons. You'll also receive a list of targets we will pursue on the evening of your star party. Bookings can be made by email and paid by e-transfer or major credit card over the phone. Contact ceo@cliffvalleyastronomy.com for more details.

C$300

Péninsule Acadienne/Bathurst Star Parties

Enjoy an astronomical journey with an expert astronomer without investing thousands of dollars in equipment or spending hundreds of hours learning the hobby, the science, the equipment and more. See the Moon, planets, nebulae, galaxies and star clusters. You'll have an edu-taining time learning about the night sky and our universe in an interactive experience that is both engaging and will stimulate your imagination. Perfect for kids and adults of all ages. We bring sophisticated equipment and technology and more. A typical star party lasts two hours and accommodates approximately 12 people. We can also customize it for your special event or occasion. You'll also get daily weather updates in the week leading up to your chosen date. The only thing we can't control is the weather, so should your party be clouded over or have poor weather, we ask you to please be flexible in moving it a day forward or simply rescheduling. Your experience is important to us, so we wish to ensure the conditions are ideal. You can book year-round, as the night sky changes with the seasons. You'll also receive a list of targets we will pursue on the evening of your star party. Bookings can be made by email and paid by e-transfer or major credit card over the phone. Contact ceo@cliffvalleyastronomy.com for more details.

C$300

PRIVATE STAR PARTIES

Private Star Parties are available for 2 or 3 hours for groups of up to 12 people. We come to you or a nearby dark sky location. We bring a high-powered telescope outfitted with the latest technology and accessories so your group can see the night sky like an expert astronomer. Email ceo@cliffvalleyastronomy.com for more details.

CORPORATE EVENTS

Looking for a unique event idea for your staff or clients? Try an awe-inspiring viewing of planets, galaxies and nebulae. We customize events to meet your goals and vision. Email ceo@cliffvalleyastronomy.com for more details.

ASTROTOURISM CONSULTING

Atlantic Canada enjoys some of the most beautiful natural settings in its rural and coastal regions that provide some of the darkest skies perfect for stargazing. We work with tourist operators, tourism boards and departments as well as municipal, provincial and federal partners from parks to agencies. Ask us how a strong astrotourism segment strategy can help achieve your goals for growth and sustainable development. Email ceo@cliffvalleyastronomy.com to begin the conversation of how to improve your bottom line by having your clients look up.

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$50 Gift Certificate

C$50

For Private Star Parties
Perfect for Christmas or Birthday gifts!

Order Now

$100 Gift Certificate

C$100

For Private Star Parties
Perfect for Christmas or Birthday gifts!

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$300 (2-hour Private Star Party)

C$300

Covers total cost of a 2-hour Private Star Party!
Perfect for Christmas or Birthday gifts!

Order Now

New Brunswick, Canada
Serving New Brunswick and beyond.

In late 2021, about two full years into the Covid pandemic, Stéphane Picard, by now an avid and proficient astronomer and astrophotographer, saw an opportunity and potential niche market for providing stargazing events and Private Star Parties and giving people a chance to see the night sky as a well-seasoned astronomer can.

Now everyone can enjoy the beauty of the night sky without spending thousands of dollars and putting in hundreds if not thousands of hours needed to become a proficient astronomer. Out of that vision and fired by an entrepreneurial mind with almost 25 years in marketing and sales, he launched Cliff Valley Astronomy. His inspiration came from his backyard, which has a cliff overlooking a valley while providing a low Southeast horizon. The perfect setting for any astronomer and one of the main reasons he fell in love with astronomy.

Initially, Cliff Valley Astronomy began offering Private Star Parties for small groups and saw early success and higher-than-expected bookings. It surpassed all expectations, which led to exploring and taking a closer look at branding out additional services. He understood the need to provide special events and astrotourism destination packages. It has now expanded to consulting with tourism operators and other tourism-related organizations.

Cliff Valley Astronomy Cares. Stéphane has an extensive corporate background, and with that in mind, he wanted to share more than his passion for astronomy and wanted to make sure Cliff Valley Astronomy should and would be a good corporate citizen. He firmly believes in giving back to the communities that support Cliff Valley Astronomy. By creating Cliff Valley Astronomy Cares, he pledges 5% of annual gross revenues for initiatives to give back to our communities. Cliff Valley Astronomy has partnered with the Saint John Regional Hospital Foundation and the George Dumont Hospital Foundation to help them fundraise by doing special events where donations are collected or donating its services as prizes for auctions. All proceeds raised go directly to both organizations. In its first year, Cliff Valley Astronomy Cares has raised nearly $1,000.

Cliff Valley Astronomy coverage in National Post and Post Media major market dailies across Canada

25/10/2023

The total eclipse will last for over two minutes in Fredericton, the capital of New Brunswick. Florenceville-Bristol is hosting a viewing event with astronaut Chris Hadfield as a scheduled speaker. They will also be launching a balloon-borne solar telescope that should be able to capture images even if it gets cloudy. The solar eclipse will last more than three minutes in Miramichi, which is also planning to host Astronomy East 2024, Atlantic Canada’s first astronomy conference and trade show April 5-7, 2024. Doaktown is hosting Sky Experience 2024, an all-inclusive three-day retreat April 7-9 that includes accommodations, meals and drinks, activities, presentations, a star party, astrophotography, a viewing party and more. The solar eclipse will last more than three minutes in Doaktown. Nova Scotia The total solar eclipse will only be visible from the northeastern tip of Cape Breton Island. Cliff Valley Astronomy has chartered a deluxe motorcoach, they have dubbed the Solar Eclipse Express to take eclipse enthusiasts from Halifax and Truro to Miramichi on the day of the total solar eclipse.

Entrevue avec Isabelle Robichaud of Radio-Canada's La Grande Virée

25/04/2023

Excited to have joined Isabelle Robichaud on Radio-Canada's La Grande Virée to discuss everything Cliff Valley Astronomy and astrotourism and astronomy in New Brunswick. The interview is in French.

First Canadian Guest on The Night Sky Tourist Podcast with Vicky Derksen

28/03/2023

I am thrilled to have been Vicky's first Canadian guest on her amazing podcast to discuss Cliff Valley Astronomy, Private Star Parties, Dark-sky Destination Network and partners and Sky Experience 2024. I encourage you to subscribe to her e-newsletter and podcast on Spotify. Vicky has a contagious passion for the night sky and dark-sky preservation in Arizona and across North America!

Cliff Valley Astronomy sponsors Sunday Night Astronomy Show's Biggest Contest Ever!

21/11/2022

The perfect Christmas contest for stargazers of all levels and all ages! Anyone 13 years and up, take a picture of the Moon and submit it to SNAS@astronomybythebay.ca for your name to be entered. If you also take a picture of a planet you get a second entry. The prizes are: -Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 114mm AZ (value $300) -Royal Astronomy Society of Canada 2023 Calendars (2x each value $25). -Royal Astronomy Society of Canada 2023 Observer's Handbook (value $35). -Monopoly Space board game (value $30). For 12 years old and under. If you had a Star Party, draw what you think you would see through the telescope. Parents must submit pictures of their entry to be eligible for the draw at submit it to SNAS@astronomybythebay.ca. Prizes are as follows: -Two hour Private Star Party for up to 12 people PLUS a Celestron 50 mm Travel Telescope (total prize value $400). -60 mm Celestron Travel Telescope (approx. value $100). -50 mm Celestron Travel Telescope (approx. value $100).

Astrotourism on Sunday Night Astronomy Show, November 13th, 2022

14/11/2022

Appeared as guest with fellow astro-preneur Tim Doucette of Deep Sky Observertory in Quinnan, NS to discuss with Chris, Mike and Paul the potential of astrotourism and what it means for Atlantic Canada.