Located on the South Rim of Grand Canyon in Arizona, the Astronomer in Residence program at Grand Canyon National Park offers astronomers and dark-sky advocates from diverse fields—including science, technology, and conservation— the opportunity to practice and share their discipline with park visitors under one of the most pristine night skies in the United States. Through educational outreach and creative connection, the program hopes to inspire visitors to see the value of night skies, spread awareness about the threats of light pollution, and explore society's complex relationship with natural darkness.

The program is tied directly to the National Park Service Interpretation and Resource Education goal of dark sky preservation and Grand Canyon Conservancy’s goal to inspire generations of park champions to cherish and support the natural and cultural wonder of Grand Canyon.

Astronomers, both professional and amateur, scientists from ecologists to geologists, dark-sky advocates, educators, writers, and other practitioners with expertise in the night sky are encouraged to apply. We seek a variety of voices and strategies for engaging our visitors with dark sky preservation.

In 2026, three “astronomers” will be selected to live and work on the South Rim of Grand Canyon in Arizona. Astronomers in Residence deliver at least two public programs per week during their stay. 

Residency Period

Astronomers may indicate their preferred dates and scheduling conflicts. Because residencies are awarded in order of a person’s acceptance to the program, preferred dates cannot be guaranteed. Please note that we do not schedule residencies between December 16 – January 31 due to weather conditions or the first few weeks of June, due to our annual Star Party event.

Provided Resources:

• Free private accommodations for you + one guest. ADA housing will be provided, pending availability, for those who are unable to use stairs.
• $500 stipend per week
• $250 stipend for travel
• Supply reimbursement up to $300
• Staff support
• Special staff access to park roads and trails
• Access to archives and park staff including scientists and historians
• Marketing exposure (~ 850K online audience + PR opportunities in TV, radio & print)
• Opportunities to work with Lowell Observatory (Flagstaff), Grand Canyon School students (the only K-12 school inside of a National Park), and Grand Canyon Conservancy members.
• Alumni are invited to participate in additional opportunities, such as alumni gatherings, proposal reviews, webinars, blog posts, and return visits.

Selection

Proposals are reviewed by a peer panel of alumni and dark sky advocates. Three astronomers will be selected for 2026. Those selected will be contacted with an offer in the Fall of 2025. Spaces are offered in order of selected proposals and based on the applicant’s preferred time of year.

Priority will be given to:

• Experienced scientists, researchers, and educators who are enthusiastic about working with the public.
• Applicants who are knowledgeable about darkness, dark sky preservation, astronomy, or a related study area.
• Proposed programs that are clear, creative, impactful, and focused on dark skies.
• Experienced presenters who can distill complex information into easily understandable material for an international audience.

Application Requirements

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Astronomers should prepare to provide the following: 

General information: demographics, contact information, communication preferences, online account info (website, social media handles, etc.), birthdate, and accessibility needs. *If applying as a team of two, please provide contact info for the primary contact.

Brief Bio (1000 characters max)

CV or resume

Astronomer Statement or Teaching Philosophy (optional)

Documentation of astronomy-based work: Samples that detail your work with the public are optional but encouraged. Up to 5 images, pages, and/or media minutes with titles, dates, medium, and descriptions. Items may be uploaded as PDFs. Links may be provided for media samples. 

Press / Media: Articles, publications, relevant media (optional)

Program Descriptions: 

Please provide a brief marketing description of 2-3 different public programs (or experiences) you'd like to provide while on site, including a title and a 1-2 sentence description of each (1000 characters max). 

Responses to the following questions:

• Have you been to Grand Canyon National Park?
• How would your work on-site advocate for the Grand Canyon's dark skies? (1000 characters max)
• Are there any personal projects you’d like to work on while in residence? If so, please describe. (1000 characters max)
• What are your top three preferred residency dates? (Provide start and end dates for each residency)
• Do you have any substantial scheduling conflicts in 2026?

Application Fee – Donation of $1 or more

Instead of an application fee, we ask that you give a gift in any amount to the Astronomer in Residence program through Grand Canyon Conservancy. While you will be asked to include proof of your gift in the application, your donation amount will not be shared with the review panel or relevant to the decision-making process. Donations associated with your proposal must be received no later than July 15, 2025. 

Please follow this link to donate online: bit.ly/3GWmSfZ 

You may also donate by phone at (928) 556-5300 or mail a check/money order to: GCC Residency Program, 4 Tonto, Box 399, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023.

In “Donation Comments,” please indicate this is for the 2026 Astronomer in Residence application.

QUESTIONS?

Please see our Residency FAQ.

You can find our alumni list here. 

If you have questions about completing your proposal or require support, please email us:

     Senior Residency Program Manager, Clover Morell, cmorell@grandcanyon.org

     Residency Program Specialist, Dennis Alvarez, dalvarez@grandcanyon.org

For more information about Grand Canyon Conservancy, the official nonprofit partner of Grand Canyon National Park, please visit grandcanyon.org.

Eligibility Criteria

Applications must be completed before July 15, 2025. Do not wait until the last day to apply. Technical support may not be available if you run into any problems with your application or the application software. Applications will only be accepted through Call for Entry. If you are unable to apply using Call for Entry, you may request submission by email or snail mail no later than July 10, 2025 by emailing: 

     Senior Residency Program Manager, Clover Morell, cmorell@grandcanyon.org

     Residency Program Specialist, Dennis Alvarez, dalvarez@grandcanyon.org

People (over 18) who have a demonstrated history of working with dark skies and delivering public programs are welcome to apply.  

Astronomers who have already worked extensively in the park are not likely to be selected for this opportunity. We'd like to provide opportunities to as many astronomers as possible.