April 19-20, 2025
Wild Under the Stars
Lyrid Meteor Shower
With some of the darkest skies in the greater Triangle and Triad area, the Animal Park at the Conservators Center offers superb viewing conditions for astronomical events and phenomena. In the evening of Saturday, April 19, 2025, and into Sunday morning, join us in the activity Field and Green Space by our Visitors Center to view the Lyrid Meteor Shower! You’ll have an unobstructed view of the sky with opportunities to view the entire event throughout the late night and early morning. This time of year also presents excellent viewing opportunities for the Moon as well as some of the planets and many other Deep-Sky Objects—like other galaxies, nebulae, and binary star systems—with your binoculars or telescope!
What makes this viewing party unique, however, is the company you’ll keep. Our park of over 60 animals features a large population of vocal, social carnivores including lions and wolves, as well as other vocal species like jungle cats, a coyote, and New Guinea singing dogs, who will all keep you enthralled with their chorus of howls, roars, and calls. It’s an experience unlike any other!
We invite ticketed guests to arrive at 5:30 pm for a unique Twilight Tour that starts at 6:30pm before the viewing party begins, or skip the tour to set up camp with your tent and telescope before dark! Whichever options you choose, you’ll have an excellent viewing opportunity of this event and the other celestial objects available in the night sky. (Please keep in mind that there is no meal provided as part of this event. Guests who come for the Twilight Tour are encouraged to bring a dinner meal or to plan to pick up a dinner meal in Mebane, NC after the tour and return for the Viewing Party.) The best time to view the meteor shower will be just before sunrise, early on Sunday morning, so make it an evening of star gazing before bed and then get up early to see the meteor shower!
Please note: The Wild Under the Stars Tour is different from our normal Twilight Tours! This is an abbreviated tour that lasts roughly 45 minutes to an hour and serves to introduce the tour group to the animals in the park and the sounds they make that visitors may hear throughout the night. We do not discuss many science-heavy topics nor animal stories. For these experiences, we encourage visitors to return to the Park for one of our Adventure or Twilight Tours available each weekend.
Please note that Wild Under the Stars dates are subject to local weather and viewing conditions. Cancellations due to weather will be made at least 24 hours in advance of viewing events, please keep an eye on our social media accounts and check your email for details before each event.
Wild Under the Stars offers a discounted (additional purchase) pre-viewing party tour through the Animal Park for visitors who will be purchasing admission to the starlight viewing party and also, for an additional fee, the opportunity to camp out all night and enjoy the entire meteor shower. All participants will have access to the Visitors Center throughout the event for restroom access.
Pre-registration is required, guests will not be admitted without a ticket.
Viewing party event is contingent on weather conditions, cancellation due to weather will be communicated to ticket holders by email 24 hours in advance if necessary. Guests are responsible for bringing their own telescope, binoculars, or other viewing equipment, The Animal Park will not have extras available for use. Please arrive on time to set up your viewing equipment; our exterior lights will go RED at sunset.
3-Day Clear Sky Forecast
Click on the forecast image above to go to www.ClearDarkSky.com to learn how to read the forecast graphic. Admission
$8
5:30pm – 3am
Join us for the viewing party in the Green Space and Activity Field just outside the park next to our Visitors Center.
Admission & Tour
$18
5:30 pm – 3 am
Arrive early to come along on a special, pre-viewing party tour.
Admission & Camp Out
$23
6:30pm – 8:00am
Camp out in the Activity Field during and after the viewing event, enjoy the stars all night long.
Full Experience
$30
5:30 pm – 8 am
Arrive early, stay late! Come along on the pre-viewing party tour, watch the stars, and camp out afterwards to enjoy the stars all night long.
Viewing Accessories
This may be your first astronomical viewing party, or you may be a seasoned veteran, but we have a few suggestions to help you enjoy the night under the stars regardless of your experience level. You may want to bring some, if not all, of the following items with you to the star party:
- A Camera & Tripod
- Binoculars
- A Telescope
- Folding Chairs
- Blankets
- Star Maps
- A Compass
- Insect Repellant (seasonally)
A camera is a great, fun way to enjoy a star party. See what you can capture while you watch the sky! Binoculars and telescopes are also a great way to enjoy the evening under the stars for obvious reasons, even if the star party’s main event is a meteor shower, it’s always fun to get a closer look at planets, nebulæ, stars, the Moon, and other objects in the night sky. Chairs, blankets, and towels are an essential part of any star party viewing experience, as well as something to stay hydrated and snack on. And a star map and compass will help keep yourself oriented and find what you’re looking for in the night sky! Dress appropriately for the season and the weather, and come prepared to enjoy the evening.
You are welcome to bring a propane camp stove to cook out on site. Charcoal grills are not allowed. Camp stoves must be manned and maintained at all times.
Please remember the golden rule of any outdoor excursion, “Pack In, Pack Out.” Dispose of any trash you generate in the appropriate receptacles at the Visitors Center to help keep our Green Space clean.
Event Viewing Opportunity
Lyrid Meteor Shower
EarthSky
Other Viewing Opportunities
The Moon
Rise: 14:58, 20 April
Set: 02:29, 21 April
Magnitude: -5.29
Pluto
Rise: 23:37, 20 April
Set: 09:27, 21 April
Magnitude: 14.45
Saturn
Rise: 01:43, 21 April
Set: 13:08, 21 April
Magnitude: 7.9
Mars
Rise: 02:00, 21 April
Set: 13:43, 21 April
Magnitude: 0.8
Neptune
Rise: 02:14, 21 April
Set: 14:11, 21 April
Magnitude: 7.95
Important Information
Know Before You Go
Learn more about your upcoming visit to the Animal Park at the Conservators Center.
Accessibility, Safety, and Pets
The Animal Park is not wheelchair accessible; however, accessibility accommodations are available for visitors with mobility issues. Please note that we are not able to allow unauthorized vehicles, including scooters or motorized wheelchairs, in the Park. Find more information about disability accommodations and access in the Tour FAQ on our Plan Your Visit page.
If you are planning to visit the Animal Park, please take a moment to review your confirmation email and text to complete our online tour waiver. Waivers will also be available in the gift shop for visitors to complete during check-in.
For safety reasons, the Animal Park cannot allow visitors to bring pets on site. Any visitor who brings an animal to the Park will be asked to leave immediately. No animals may be left unattended in a vehicle.
Due to the uneven surfaces of our tour path, for children’s safety, we cannot allow them to ride in wagons in the Park, and we encourage child sling carriers over strollers. Strollers are allowed, with children secured inside, but at the parent’s sole discretion.
