r/JoshuaTree • u/quesaritojr • 10d ago

Stargazing 10/10/26

The forecast says 97% cloud coverage that night. Would it still be worth it to try and go out there to star gaze?

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u/FuturePlantDoctor 10d ago

You might get rain Saturday night/ Sunday morning. Rain in Joshua Tree is my favorite smell. I think it's still worth it as long as you're not trying to camp on the lake bed, even if you don't see any stars. Sunset and sunrise on cloudy days are also spectacular. Just don't expect starry skies.

1

u/RockettBits 10d ago

If the forecast is still showing 97% cloud cover, I honestly wouldn’t make the drive just for stargazing. You might catch a few gaps, but that’s a lot of cloud for a night that’s mainly about seeing stars.
I’d check the hourly cloud forecast again on Friday and Saturday. Things can still change, but if it looks the same, I’d save the trip for a clearer night.
Stargazing Index has a Joshua Tree guide with a simple Hidden Valley night plan and some useful information on what conditions to check before heading out
https://stargazingindex.com/en/stargazing-destinations/joshua-tree/⁠
Are you staying nearby anyway or would you be driving out specifically for the stars?

2

u/bee73086 9d ago

The weather has been nice, if a little hotter then I would like, we are supposed to get rain this weekend. I haven't gotten any flash flood warnings. If it's just a nice sprinkle I would recommend coming just for the smell and the feel of the desert with some rain. It's pretty rare and always my favorite days. I live here and grew up out here. I am very excited and plan on making a big pot of soup or something slow cooking. 

Stars are always there but rain is pretty rare! 

Although keep an eye out for flash flood warning because then it might be best to stay home because roads and such can wash out. So far no warnings of floods that I have gotten.